Alarm Goes Off – Handling False Alarm Calls
You come home, open your door, walk in, forget your groceries in the trunk of your car or perhaps have a tantruming child who needs immediate attention. You forget about your home security system that’s been beeping and calling to you in the background and you take just a little too long. Your alarm starts sounding.
What happens now? Within a minute your phone should start ringing. It will be your security system monitoring company calling. They will be asking who you are and once you identify yourself correctly, they will want your code. They don’t mean the one you key into your security system when you get home.
You should have established a code to identify yourself in case of false or accidental alarm. Once you speak that magic incantation, your security system provider can make all the noise go away and the alarm will stand down.
But what if you forgot the code? Or worse, what if it’s an alarm going off and it’s not you who accidentally triggered it?
That’s when your security system company should be springing into action. When no one answers the phone or you give the wrong code, your security system provider should call the police or sheriff to report an emergency incident at your home.
If it’s you who triggered the alarm and has had a complete mental block on your emergency code, then have your driver’s license and your best shocked and saddened face ready. Make sure the kid looks scared or tantrum-y too. You’ll get it all sorted and life will move on.
However, if the situation is a real home invasion, then the police will have some work to do. Your security system company should be staying in touch with police and of course contacting you to inform you about what’s going on at your house.
If you have video surveillance installed in your home, then your security system company should be watching the feed to see what your intruder is doing and giving as much information as possible to the police. If your burglar is apprehended, the video recordings can be used to indict and convict later.
While this concept can be very assuring, you have to be sure you’re getting a security system and company which can handle the tasks quickly, efficiently and professionally. After all, if dispatchers are sitting around watching video feed before taking action, it defeats the whole purpose of surveillance.
Look to some quality and trusted national names to know your home will be given priority and handled expertise. GE Security and Broadview Security are two of the most professional names in the business.
Before you sign up with anyone, however, make sure you go through their protocols and have them explain to you how they’ll handle your accidents and emergencies. Make sure your home security system gives you protection and peace of mind.
Photo via JaeYong