What is a False Alarm?
| What is a False Alarm?
A false alarm is any alarm caused by human error or equipment problems resulting in police response, with no evidence of an actual crime having been committed. |
What are the most frequent human errors that cause false alarms?
Residential
- Use of incorrect keypad codes.
- Failure to train other authorized users (sitters, relatives, children, visitors, maintenance personnel).
- Failure to secure doors and windows before turning on the alarm.
Commercial
- Use of incorrect keypad codes.
- Failure to train other authorized users (employees, janitors, delivery personnel).
- Failure to notify monitoring facility of unscheduled openings or closings (for businesses using set schedules).
- Failure to update authorized personnel list with monitoring facility.
- Failure to secure doors and windows before turning on alarm.
What are the most frequent equipment problems that cause false alarms?
- Improper application or installation of interior motion detectors (sensors are set too sensitive).
- Improper application or installation of outdoor beams.
- Improper charging or checking of batteries.
- Faulty equipment (panels, detectors, keypads).
What can you do to reduce false alarms?
- Make sure everyone is familiar with the alarm system operations.
- Secure doors and windows before turning on the system.
- Be aware of changes in the environment (new animals, design changes, seasonal decorations, and plants).
- Notify monitoring facility of any and all changes (houseguests, name changes, new employees, termination of employees).
- Equipment should be routinely inspected, by both the alarm user and maintained by qualified personnel (check all contacts and routinely dust motion detectors, where spiders like to live).
