False alarms down after registration push

False burglary alarms have been reduced by more than 20 percent in Cobb County over the past year, a result of stepped-up enforcement efforts by the Cobb County Police Department.

Citizens and businesses are required by county ordinance to register business or residential alarms. So far, more than 41,000 have done so, according to Sgt. Brody Staud, who heads the False Alarm Reduction Unit. If an officer responds to an alarm where the business or residence is not registered, a $100 fine is assessed.