| Home and business security systems can be a very | | | | replace them occasionally. |
| effective crime fighting tool. However, a security | | | | - Never leave floating balloons in a room with a |
| system that is constantly sending in false burglar | | | | motion detector. The biggest time of year when this |
| alarm signals is a problem for both law enforcement | | | | is a problem is around Valentine's Day. The Mylar |
| and the homeowner. Many areas charge fines for | | | | balloons trigger a multitude of false burglar alarms |
| excess false alarms, so it can also be an expensive | | | | that time of year. |
| problem. | | | | - Don't leave remotes out where they can be played |
| Unfortunately, the majority of alarm dispatches are | | | | with by children or pets. Many home security |
| false alarms. In addition, the majority of false alarms | | | | systems have panic buttons on their remotes which |
| are by 1-2% of burglar alarm owners who are repeat | | | | can easily be set off if children are playing with them, |
| offenders. This problem with false alarms is that it is | | | | or pets are stepping on them. |
| like crying "wolf". Repeated calls to a site causes the | | | | - Be careful of leaving items out that can fall in view |
| police to develop a complacent attitude when dealing | | | | of the motion. A good example would be setting |
| with these false alarms. | | | | Hallmark cards up on a counter where they could fall |
| But you as a responsible alarm operator can take | | | | off in front of the motion. |
| proactive measures to reduce the risk of having a | | | | - If you have your doors or windows replaced, have |
| false alarm. The following tips will help you reduce the | | | | a security professional reinstall your contacts and |
| occurrence of false burglar alarms at your home or | | | | magnets. If the magnets are not lined up properly, |
| business. | | | | the contact will go off intermittently. |
| - Make sure all doors and windows are shut | | | | - If the home you bought was new construction, pay |
| completely before setting the alarm. It is quite | | | | particular attention to your exterior doors after you |
| common for a door to be barely closed, and blow | | | | have been there a few months to a year. All houses |
| open after the homeowner has left. | | | | have some settling. This settling, along with the sun |
| - Ensure that everyone who has authorized access | | | | hitting the doors, may cause the doors to warp just |
| to the home or business knows the alarm code and | | | | enough to put the contact and magnet out of line |
| the password should the alarm be accidentally set | | | | with each other. If you hear your chime going off |
| off. | | | | when your alarm is not set, this is usually a sign of |
| - If the alarm is triggered, answer the phone and give | | | | this condition. Try to see which zone is chiming and |
| the monitoring company your password. Too often | | | | report it to your alarm company. |
| dispatches could have been avoided had the | | | | - Test your system at least once a month to ensure |
| homeowner simply answered the phone. | | | | that everything is working properly. Open only one |
| - Turn your alarm off quickly should you set it off. | | | | opening at a time to ensure that an opening is not |
| Many systems are set to send in a cancellation code | | | | wired on the same loop as another opening. |
| if turned off quickly. | | | | Occasionally while doing this test, you may find a |
| - If you add a pet to the family, make sure your | | | | window or door that is not chiming. This will be a sign |
| alarm company knows about it. There are pet motion | | | | of a bad contact that has "stuck or frozen" in |
| detectors available that are designed to detect | | | | security industry terms. This bad contact may unstick |
| human intrusion, but ignore animals. A word of caution | | | | itself and send in false alarms if not properly |
| however. These pet motions are designed to pick up | | | | addressed.A well designed security system should |
| a height versus width size pattern. So if you have a | | | | trigger very few if any false burglar alarms. Make |
| cat that jumps, it can fool the motion into thinking it | | | | sure that your security system fits your lifestyle and |
| is a person standing up. You may wish to consider an | | | | movement patterns. |
| alternative to the motion detector if you have a cat. | | | | Reducing false burglar alarms should be a cooperative |
| - Make sure that there are no cobwebs around your | | | | effort between the alarm system owner and the |
| motion detectors. Spiders and other bugs will cause | | | | alarm company. A little extra care when operating |
| the motion to go off if they crawl on it. A good idea | | | | your system will go a long way towards reducing |
| in some cases (especially commercial settings), is to | | | | false alarms, and make you a more satisfied alarm |
| put a moth ball up behind the motion. This will drive | | | | system owner. |
| the bugs away. But remember that you do have to | | | | |