alarm monitoring | Pinnacle Security

How many people have you allowed to be in your home when you’re not around? It’s an important question in light of the fact that many of us entrust our homes and possessions to business professionals we assume are not out to steal from us. We allow contractors to work on remodeling jobs while we’re away at the office. We entrust our homes to real estate agents were showing them during open house hours. We even trust our homes and children to babysitters we assume have our best interests in mind. But that’s not always the case, as one Chicago area homeowner found out last month.

As reported by the local news, home security footage from motion sensor cameras captured the real estate agent rifling through kitchen cupboards and cabinets, apparently looking for prescription drugs. The footage shows the agent going through a drawer at first, finding a prescription bottle, then putting it down and closing the drawer. He then went to the front of the home to look out the front window, and then returned to the kitchen with a chair which enabled him to dig through the upper cupboards. Though nothing was stolen, it’s clear the agent was definitely looking for something.

It’s an Unsafe World

It’s unfortunate that we live in the kind of world we do, but that is reality. Gone are the days when we could go to bed at night and leave doors and windows open. Gone are the days when we could accidentally leave items in the yard and trust they would be there when we returned home. And gone are the days when we could blindly trust our real estate agents and other business professionals that might be in our homes alone. That’s where a security system comes in.

A minimum system will at least protect you from things like burglary, fire, and so on. As you add additional components you can protect yourself against almost anything. And as demonstrated by the Chicago story, adding video cameras to your system can help deter criminal activity while you’re away or provide evidence for prosecution should criminals decide to go about their business anyway. Some people have even been known to use video surveillance to find out what the babysitter is doing with the kids when they’re not around.

Remote Monitoring

Today’s home security systems allow a couple of options for remote monitoring. Right off the bat you would probably want home monitoring by the alarm company that installed your system. The monitoring services they offer provide real-time responsiveness whenever there’s an emergency in your home. The alarm company’s operators can assess the situation, notify the proper authorities, and even speak with you remotely to assure you help is on the way.

Alarm Monitoring

A second type of monitoring allows you to keep track of your video feeds using an Internet connection and your laptop, tablet, or mobile device. This kind of monitoring is ideal for situations like the real estate or babysitter problems where an alarm might not necessarily be triggered. You can check your video feeds at any time of the day so you always know what’s going on in your home. As an added bonus, video feeds are a great way to make sure your kids get home safe and sound from school.

If you’re installing a home security system it might be a wise investment for you to spend a little extra money on some video surveillance cameras. The extra benefits they offer make them well worth the money. Especially if you have someone in your house you may not be able to trust.

Alarm and monitoring systems for the home and business are a great tool in helping prevent burglaries. They’re also great for minimizing the damage from fires and carbon monoxide leaks. But like everything else, alarm systems can malfunction. Sometimes those problems result in false alarms that waste the time and resources of emergency personnel. In order to avoid such things it’s important to have your system checked on an annual basis to make sure it’s working properly.

Hopefully the alarm system company you do business with performs routine checks at a customer’s request. If not, you’ll need to hire an outside contractor or switch to a company that does provide such services. Regardless, the last thing you need is alarm system that either malfunctions or is not installed properly,leading to multiple false alarms.

False Alarms and Zoning Laws

A growing number of cities have specific zoning laws regarding alarm systems. In these cases the municipal code states that a business or homeowner is allowed a limited number of false alarms on an annual basis. Once that limit has been reached, subsequent false alarms can result in fines and even the revocation of a permit to operate an alarm system. You can avoid this hassle by making sure your alarm is customized to your personal habits, and to check your system regularly. To learn how to check the status of your alarm system, check out this video:

Preventing False Alarms

As you inspect your system, check windows and doors to ensure they are air-tight. Many false alarms are caused when an insecure window or door is rattled by the wind or blown open by a storm. Breezes can also knock something over, potentially setting off your motion detectors and causing a false alarm. With a regular inspection of your system these things can be avoided.

You should also be aware of your family’s behaviors. If you know your forgetful teenager will not disarm the system when they come home from school, perhaps you can put a reminder for him or her on the refrigerator, or set up text message alerts for both of you to notify you when they arrive home. You should also be aware of your pets. While motion sensors can be set for pet sensitivity, they can also be triggered when your pet jumps onto a couch or climbs the curtains. Be aware of your family’s behavior and change your alarm settings to ensure the system works with your habits, not against them.

Don’t Cry Wolf

At both the commercial and residential levels, frequent false alarms are like crying wolf. If the police respond to multiple false alarms over several weeks, they may get to the point where they no longer rush to your premises if notified by your alarm company. This is the last thing you need if you are genuinely in danger because of a burglary or fire. You want emergency teams to respond quickly and efficiently to your alarms. Checking your system regularly will help ensure this happens.

Along those same lines, frequent false alarms cause homeowners and business owners to let down their guard. Think of it in terms of the fire drills when you were in school. Most of us remember doing three or four drills annually where we had to walk outside and assemble as soon as we heard the fire alarm. By the time we got to the fifth or sixth grade we didn’t even need to be told it was a fire drill. Even today, we are so accustomed to that sound and if the fire alarm goes off in a department store people are very slow to evacuate. The same scenario will develop in your home or business if frequent false alarms are not dealt with.

Choose Your Alarm Company Wisely

In addition to annual system checks, one of the best ways to avoid false alarms is to thoroughly investigate your choices before you sign up with an alarm company. Go with one that has a good reputation for customizing a system to your family’s needs using quality equipment, someone who installs that equipment professionally and to your specifications, and who can service your system after the sale. This is one area where you don’t want to compromise on quality. We recommend Pinnacle Security due to their many years of experience and long list of satisfied customers.

Tag Archives: alarm monitoring

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