Crime Prevention
Is Everyone’s Business

Residential False Alarm Prevention

If your residence has an alarm you must have to register with the City of Los Altos. The cost is $37.00 for the initial year and renewable for $37.00 each year thereafter. You are allowed two (2) false alarms per year and each false alarm after that is $215.00 per false alarm.

The Los Altos Police Department responded to hundreds false residential alarms. This takes a vast amount of time and resources to handle this call volume.

• Did you know that the three major causes of false alarms are
  1. User errors
  2. Installation errors
  3. Equipment failure
• Did you know that more than 80% of false alarms are related to preventable user errors?
• Did you think alarmed locations are entitled to unlimited police response?
• Do you think you are at greater risk when police, accustomed to responding to chronic false alarms, respond to a real emergency at your location?

The reality is police resources are limited and should never be wasted. Hundreds of police patrol hours are spent investigating alarm reports that turn out to be “False Alarms”.

Residents who have alarms are responsible for the use and maintenance of their alarm systems. A well maintained alarm system would help ensure a prompt police response when an emergency really does exist.

Common causes of false alarms

1. Inadequate training of people allowed access to your security system (children, neighbors, cleaning personnel, real estate agents, guests, relative’s, babysitters service and delivery personnel, etc).
2. Weak system batteries.
3. Open, unlocked or loose fitting doors and windows.
4. Drafts from heaters and air conditioning systems that move plants, curtains and balloons etc.
5. Wandering pets.

1. Before activating your system…
• Lock all protected doors and windows.
• Keep pets, balloons, fans, heaters, plants, curtains, seasonal decorations etc away from motion sensor areas.
• Know how to cancel the alarm if the system activates.
2. Educate system users…
   All users, key holders or any person with legal access to your property must be thoroughly trained in how to operate your system, including knowledge of correct arming codes, pass codes, telephone numbers and procedures for canceling accidental alarm activations.
3. Have your security company check and service your system regularly…
• Routine maintenance can help prevent many false alarms.
4. Notify your alarm company if…
• You think the system is not working properly.
• You plan any remodeling, including replacing doors, windows, hanging drywall, sanding floors, changing phone systems, fumigating, installing wiring for cabling or other electronics, installing anything near the control panel or keypads.
• You hire domestic help, get a new pet, plan to sell your house or are testing your system.

CHECK LIST

• Are you and others who use the system fully educated on its proper operation?
• Does everyone with a key to your home know how to operate your security system?
• Do you take care to eliminate possible causes of false alarms?
• Have you rehearsed alarm cancellation procedures with all who use your system to cancel accidental alarm activations?
• Do you communicate with your alarm company regularly, advising of schedule changes, problem areas or maintenance needs?
• Do you have a security system instruction book and alarm company phone numbers readily available in order to call and cancel accidental alarm activations?

Alarm Ordinance

Registration/Questions regarding false alarms