Intruder False Alarms Florida
#31
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2013
Location: Athens GA
Posts: 2,134
Re: Intruder False Alarms Florida
Gosh you guys get good service, I don't think anyone takes a blind bit of notice in the UK if an alarm goes off! Certainly shop alarms will go on for hours.
My sister has a very good security system (alarms/CCTV) but I don't think it has ever been triggered accidentally, even though she's got a cat.
I think in the UK the idea is just that burglars would be put off by an alarm from even attempting breaking in. After all, why burgle a house with an alarm when there are plenty that haven't got one? Even if there is an alarm activation I believe it is a private company who do the monitoring and only if they verified a genuine alarm situation would police be called.
My sister has a very good security system (alarms/CCTV) but I don't think it has ever been triggered accidentally, even though she's got a cat.
I think in the UK the idea is just that burglars would be put off by an alarm from even attempting breaking in. After all, why burgle a house with an alarm when there are plenty that haven't got one? Even if there is an alarm activation I believe it is a private company who do the monitoring and only if they verified a genuine alarm situation would police be called.
Others go to a monitoring station where the response will depend on the contract between the property owner and the monitoring centre. I had one like this for my UK business and it worked really well.
Here in the US, for my home, I have a monitored system for break-ins, fire and medical emergencies and my company always refers on to the appropriate emergency service.
#32
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 14,577
Re: Intruder False Alarms Florida
Im a little confused. There are local ordinances in Florida that set out rules for false alarms. You are fined if police/sherif have to attend a false alarm.
In the UK the Police are only called if the alarm is confirmed either by way of CCTV image or if two or more sensors have been activated.
Is this the same for the US or do police attend all activations
In the UK the Police are only called if the alarm is confirmed either by way of CCTV image or if two or more sensors have been activated.
Is this the same for the US or do police attend all activations
You may also need to register the alarm with the county you live in. I had a system installed and before I'd registered it my daughter opened the door one morning before we had turned the alarm off and my phone was on silent so I didn't answer the call-center. Two cops turned up about 30 minutes later; I got an $80 fine in the mail the next week - part of that was for non-registration.
#33
Re: Intruder False Alarms Florida
I don't know about the UK. I believe there are a lot of outsourced alarm handling centers that "monitor" residential alarm services but I've never heard of one that allows you to specify how many sensors are triggered before police are called.
You may also need to register the alarm with the county you live in. I had a system installed and before I'd registered it my daughter opened the door one morning before we had turned the alarm off and my phone was on silent so I didn't answer the call-center. Two cops turned up about 30 minutes later; I got an $80 fine in the mail the next week - part of that was for non-registration.
You may also need to register the alarm with the county you live in. I had a system installed and before I'd registered it my daughter opened the door one morning before we had turned the alarm off and my phone was on silent so I didn't answer the call-center. Two cops turned up about 30 minutes later; I got an $80 fine in the mail the next week - part of that was for non-registration.
#34
Re: Intruder False Alarms Florida
I just added panic buttons to my hospital and had many options available to us. We chose the silent alarm with immediate dispatch when a panic button is pressed, we don't utilize any sensors as we are open 24/7/365. Our first 3 'false alarms' per year are free, then it is a sliding scale where you pay more for each of subsequent false alarms.
Contact your alarm monitoring company and ask them.
#35
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 14,577
Re: Intruder False Alarms Florida
Oh, and here in Miami the fine goes up maybe 2x or 3x for the second false alarm and at some point they will ignore calls if your system keeps triggering false alarms.
#36
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2008
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
Posts: 4,913
Re: Intruder False Alarms Florida
I guess that I kind of amazed by the number of people who appear to have alarms installed ...
Am I the only person who doesn't have one (and who has never even considered getting one)?
Am I the only person who doesn't have one (and who has never even considered getting one)?
#39
Re: Intruder False Alarms Florida
I live out in the Boonies on acreage and an alarm is worthless. It would take 30 to 45 minutes on a good day, if the police did respond at all.
If we are home then it is not going to be a good day for the intruder. If we are out then the house insurance will cover it.
#40
Re: Intruder False Alarms Florida
We just started out with a basic package of door sensors and a couple of motion detectors, but we are contemplating upgrading it with a window/smash audio detector and a fire detector.
#41
Re: Intruder False Alarms Florida
The main reason we have it is we have the smoke and heat detectors linked to it. Not only will one of those trigger the house siren which you can't sleep though, a fire alert is an automatic call the fire department. With wooded houses I consider such a system a must, it might just save the house from serious damage if anything happened while we were out.
#42
Re: Intruder False Alarms Florida
Our alarm was already fitted when we purchased the house, although we have improved on it.
The main reason we have it is we have the smoke and heat detectors linked to it. Not only will one of those trigger the house siren which you can't sleep though, a fire alert is an automatic call the fire department. With wooded houses I consider such a system a must, it might just save the house from serious damage if anything happened while we were out.
The main reason we have it is we have the smoke and heat detectors linked to it. Not only will one of those trigger the house siren which you can't sleep though, a fire alert is an automatic call the fire department. With wooded houses I consider such a system a must, it might just save the house from serious damage if anything happened while we were out.
#43
Re: Intruder False Alarms Florida
Not only that, jumping from a second storey (UK) is far from a life-threatening trick either, and I recall a few years ago the BBC reported the case of a pensioner in the UK who jumped from a second storey flat window to escape a fire, ..... and he then ran to fetch a ladder to rescue others! For me that puts it all in perspective.
#44
Re: Intruder False Alarms Florida
Unless you lived in a three storey (UK) house that was likely unnecessary. It is quite easy to climb out of a second storey (US) window, and indeed that was a stunt that I and several friends did on more than one occasion when we were students.
Not only that, jumping from a second storey (UK) is far from a life-threatening trick either, and I recall a few years ago the BBC reported the case of a pensioner in the UK who jumped from a second storey flat window to escape a fire, ..... and he then ran to fetch a ladder to rescue others! For me that puts it all in perspective.
Not only that, jumping from a second storey (UK) is far from a life-threatening trick either, and I recall a few years ago the BBC reported the case of a pensioner in the UK who jumped from a second storey flat window to escape a fire, ..... and he then ran to fetch a ladder to rescue others! For me that puts it all in perspective.