AlarmForce private security guy vs real cops ?

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I saw a documentary on CBC last night, where someone was accusing
AlarmForce to be utilizing private security people, as opposed to
calling the real cops.

Apparently, the police charges around $86 for each false alarm.
AlarmForce might be circumventing this charge by using a non-police
privately hired security guy.

My obvious concern - how long does it take for this private guy to
drive across town towards your house? The police is well connected
with lots of cruisers all nicely radio'ed together through a central
dispatch system. Surely, a few private pickup trucks with a picture
of a pitbull on the side can't compete with that?

What's the scoop here? Any know a little more about exactly who and
what's dispatched with the various companies?

 

[Mark Leuck]

I saw a documentary on CBC last night, where someone was accusing
AlarmForce to be utilizing private security people, as opposed to
calling the real cops.

Apparently, the police charges around $86 for each false alarm.
AlarmForce might be circumventing this charge by using a non-police
privately hired security guy.

My obvious concern - how long does it take for this private guy to
drive across town towards your house? The police is well connected
with lots of cruisers all nicely radio'ed together through a central
dispatch system. Surely, a few private pickup trucks with a picture
of a pitbull on the side can't compete with that?

What's the scoop here? Any know a little more about exactly who and
what's dispatched with the various companies?

Yea the guy's name is Fred Barnes

 

[[email protected]]

In Houston the average response time to alarm calls is more than two hours
with many calls actually over three hours although the police dept always
tells everyone the average response time to 'high-priority' calls is less
than 30 minutes - of course alarm calls are not high-priority.

Wauw! That *IS* a slow response time.
I'd like to know what the response time up here in Canada, Toronto
area is.

Most burglars are gone within 60 seconds of the actual breakin and
in my 40 years of experience I have never seen a case where the burglars
remained on the premises more than 5 minutes.

Indeed. The documentary I saw timed a burglar from the moment just
before he started to pry open a window, and the time he left with the
goods. 2+ minutes.

Up here in Canada though, a (caught, and in jail) burglar said he
passed up houses with a home alarm sticker.

How about a dog, that's gotta help.

Or how about cameras and a sign saying there are surveilance cameras.

Or how about putting that film on the windows, so it can't be broken,
and firm window frames that are very hard to open.

Any other deterrants?

 

[Mark Leuck]

"thesatguy" <[email protected]> wrote in message

Wauw! That *IS* a slow response time.
I'd like to know what the response time up here in Canada, Toronto
area is.


Indeed. The documentary I saw timed a burglar from the moment just
before he started to pry open a window, and the time he left with the
goods. 2+ minutes.

Not a common criminal if he only takes 2 or 3 minutes, from what I've seen
they ransack the entire house if they can

Up here in Canada though, a (caught, and in jail) burglar said he
passed up houses with a home alarm sticker.

Thats common

How about a dog, that's gotta help.

Until they break out the mace

Or how about cameras and a sign saying there are surveilance cameras.

As effective as the stickers for prevention, would work great for
documenting the robbery as long as they don't steal the DVR and provides no
notification or alarm

Or how about putting that film on the windows, so it can't be broken,
and firm window frames that are very hard to open.

Works great except most of the time from what I've seen they go through
doors

Any other deterrants?

Low yield tactical nuke

 

[Croco Stimpy]

Right on.

I was going to speak up, but I figured "what's the point".
Public opinion, and laws, are set by the media anyway.

Glad you said it, though.

I've driven across 3 counties and still arrived before the Sherrif's dept.
And they rolled up and told me they just got dispatched "5 minutes ago". I
checked into a few cases like that one, and they had no other calls stacked
up. Dispatchers routinely take alarm calls and "hold them" for 45 - 90
minutes for no apparent reason. I've seen it in P.G. and A.A. counties in
Maryland.

 

[alarman]

Croco Stimpy wrote

Dispatchers routinely take alarm calls and "hold them" >for 45 - 90 minutes

for no apparent reason. I've seen it in P.G. and A.A. counties in

Maryland.

Dispatchers will sometimes hold alarm calls to keep officers available for
higher priority calls depending on staffing levels, time of day, and what is
happening at the present time.
js

 

[Croco Stimpy]

I understand. But I have asked them on 3 occasions and the officers said:
"we weren't doing anything. Just driving around."
And the dispatcher held the alarm call for over an hour. The two officers
on that beat had nothing else waiting for them.

When the officers actually get the message over the radio, then they are
there in minutes.

And it has happened repeatedly. And it happens in different jurisdictions.

 

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Dispatchers will sometimes hold alarm calls to keep officers available for
higher priority calls depending on staffing levels, time of day, and what is
happening at the present time.

Perhaps there isn't enough incentive for the alarm companies.
How about an arrangement, where each call is charged, and if there's a
burglar caught, a reward charge?

If the alarm company catches a real burglar in the act, I have no
problem paying and extra $100 for instance.

 

[alarman]

Croco Stimpy wrote

I understand. But I have asked them on 3 occasions and the officers said:
"we weren't doing anything. Just driving around."
And the dispatcher held the alarm call for over an hour. The two officers
on that beat had nothing else waiting for them.

When the officers actually get the message over the radio, then they are
there in minutes.

And it has happened repeatedly. And it happens in different

jurisdictions.

The officers do not see the whole picture. I'm not necessarily defending
them, just saying the beat cop does not know about all factors involved in
making a decision to dispatch a unit to a given call. Also, in my area two
units must be sent to an alarm call. If only one is available in the area of
the alarm call, PD will wait for a second unit before dispatching.
js

 

[alarman]

Perhaps there isn't enough incentive for the alarm companies.
How about an arrangement, where each call is charged, and if there's a
burglar caught, a reward charge?

The chances of anyone catching a burglar at the scent of an audible alarm
are very slim.

If the alarm company catches a real burglar in the act, I have no
problem paying and extra $100 for instance.

Wow! $100. Not I can get that operation.
js

 

[Mark Leuck]

"alarman" <[email protected]> wrote in message

Perhaps there isn't enough incentive for the alarm companies.
How about an arrangement, where each call is charged, and if there's a
burglar caught, a reward charge?

If the alarm company catches a real burglar in the act, I have no
problem paying and extra $100 for instance.

And they'd lose several grand in the process if they don't catch a burgler
and in the end the customer foots the bill

 

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And they'd lose several grand in the process if they don't catch a burgler
and in the end the customer foots the bill

Do alarm companies disclose how many calls they've had and how many
burglars have been caught? And if so, is this information considered
accurate?

 

[Mark Leuck]

"Mark Leuck" <[email protected]> wrote in message

Do alarm companies disclose how many calls they've had and how many
burglars have been caught? And if so, is this information considered
accurate?

They do in the office but I'm not sure if thats made public