Longmont Police Department, Crime Prevention

Longmont Private Property False Alarm Reduction Program

As the City of Longmont grows, so does the installation and use of home and commercial security alarm systems. Unfortunately, the number of false alarms also increases.

Ninety-eight percent of all alarms are false. Most of these false alarms were caused by user error or inaccurate contact lists provided to the security alarm company by the alarm owner.

Many alarm owners do not realize the contract they sign is with the alarm company, not the police department. The police department responds at the request of the alarm company. Therefore, it is crucial that the alarm owner develops clear instructions for responses to their alarm "with their own alarm company."

Effective October 1, 2005 all Boulder County Law Enforcement Agencies have officially adopted a County-Wide False Alarm Reduction Policy, better known as Enhanced Call Verification. In order for a police response to occur, the alarm businesses must follow the procedures developed by the Central Station Alarm Association, which were approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for the monitoring and reporting of alarms. This requires multiple calls to separate numbers, in an attempt to verify the validity of the alarm prior to requesting a response from law enforcement.

Therefore, all residential and commercial alarm users must provide at least two telephone numbers to their alarm company to contact before the alarm company contacts the Longmont Emergency Communications Center. It is the responsibility of the alarm owner to update these telephone numbers with their alarm companies.

What is a False Alarm?

A False Alarm is any alarm caused by human error or equipment problems requiring police response, with no evidence of an actual crime having been committed.

What are the most frequent human errors that cause alarms?

Residential

Use of incorrect key pad codes.
Failure to train other authorized users (i.e., house sitters, relatives, children, visitors, etc.).
Failure to secure doors and windows before turning on alarm.
Failure to cancel alarm with monitoring facility.

Commercial

Use of incorrect key pad codes.
Failure to train other authorized users (i.e., employees, janitors, delivery personnel, etc.).
Failure to cancel alarm with monitoring facility.
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.

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What are the most frequent equipment problems that cause false alarms?

Improper application or installation of interior motion detectors.
Improper application or installation of outdoor beams.
Improper charging or checking of batteries.
Faulty equipment (i.e., panels, detectors, key pads, etc.).

What can you do to reduce false alarms?

Make sure everyone is familiar with alarm system operations.
Secure doors and windows before turning on system.
Be aware of changes in the environment (i.e., new animals, design changes, seasonal decorations, plants, etc.).
Notify monitoring facility of any and all changes (i.e., house guests, name changes, new employees, termination of employees, etc.).
Equipment should be routinely inspected, and maintained by qualified personnel.

The following link provides Alarm Ordinance Information:
City of Longmont Municipal Code, click here for Chapter 6.98 PRIVATE ALARM SYSTEMS.

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For more information on the Longmont False Alarm Reduction Program, please contact the Longmont Police Department, Police Programs Coodinator at

303 - 774 - 4440.