According to the Security Industry Alarm Coalition, the latest statistics from Phoenix, show the city has one of the nation’s best and most effective alarm management programs. In 2011, 84.92 percent of Phoenix alarm users did not have any false alarms and the program recovered more than $2.8 million in costs to city, SIAC stated.
Statistics show that less than five percent of Phoenix alarm sites generate multiple false alarms. The city’s alarm unit has a proactive program of educating alarm owners that has resulted in a steady decrease in false alarms. The city, in cooperation with the Arizona Alarm Association, holds Alarm Schools for citizens.
“Our citizens and local alarm industry want to do their part to reduce false alarms with a focus on education for problem systems and users,” said Becky Buckhannon of the Phoenix Code Enforcement Unit.
In addition, police detectives inspect sites where there have been multiple false alarms and provide alarm owners with false alarm protection techniques and assist with other community based policing measures to make the alarm systems more effective.
“The Phoenix program recognizes that the vast majority of alarm systems protect property and lives without ever generating calls for service from the police,” said Stan Martin, executive director of SIAC. “These best practices can be applied to any public safety agency.”
For information on SIAC’s best practices for alarm management, visit www.siacinc.org.
