FALSE ALARM REDUCTION - THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT PROGRAM

• NCJ Number: 53592
• Journal: Police Chief Volume: 45 Issue: 3 Dated: (MARCH 1978) Pages: 70-72
• Author(s): L V PORTESI
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 3 pages
• Corporate Author: International Assoc of Chiefs of Police
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A SURVEY OF FALSE BURGLARY AND ROBBERY ALARMS IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIF., AND EFFORTS OF THE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT TO REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF FALSE ALARMS ARE REPORTED.

Abstract

PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF A SURVEY CONDUCTED IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY OF 1973 REVEALED THAT BETWEEN 97 AND 98 PERCENT OF ALL BURGLARY AND ROBBERY ALARMS HANDLED BY THE LOS ANGELES SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WERE CATEGORIZED AS FALSE. A MORE COMPREHENSIVE STUDY WAS CONDUCTED THAT COVERED THE PERIOD FROM MARCH TO MAY 1973. OF ALL ALARM CALLS INVESTIGATED DURING THIS PERIOD, ONLY 1.5 PERCENT WERE CAUSED BY CRIMINAL ACTIVITY; 18.9 PERCENT OF FALSE ALARMS WERE TRIGGERED BY EMPLOYEES. BUSINESSES DEALING IN RETAIL SALES WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR 26.1 PERCENT OF FALSE ALARMS, 39 PERCENT OCCURRED ON WEEKENDS AND MOST HAPPENED DURING HOURS WHEN LOCATIONS WERE OPENING OR CLOSING. FIVE ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS TO DEAL WITH THE INCIDENCE OF FALSE ALARMS WERE DEVISED: TERMINATION OF RESPONSE, REDUCED SERVICE, CONTROL, THROUGH PUNITIVE LEGISLATION, CONTROL THROUGH LICENSING, AND CONTINUED SERVICE. A STUDY WAS CONDUCTED IN WEST HOLLYWOOD IN JANUARY 1974 TO EVALUATE FALSE BURGLARY AND ROBBERY ALARMS IN RELATION TO THE FIVE ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS. A LOG OF ALL BURGLARY AND ROBBERY ALARM CALLS AND THEIR CLEARANCES WAS MAINTAINED AND MONITORED. RESPONDING DEPUTIES WERE DIRECTED TO ISSUE WARNING CITATIONS INDICATING THE LOCATION OF ANY FALSE ALARMS. AFTER A SECOND FALSE ALARM AT THE SAME LOCATION, DEPUTIES CONDUCTED AN INVESTIGATION. THIS APPROACH CONTINUED THROUGH CALENDAR YEAR 1975. AS THE RESULT OF COOPERATION BETWEEN ALARM COMPANIES AND SUBSCRIBERS, THERE WAS A CONSIDERABLE DECREASE IN FALSE ALARMS. SIDE EFFECTS OF THE WEST HOLLYWOOD PROJECT WERE IMPROVED BUSINESS COMMUNITY-POLICE RELATIONS, IMPROVED ATTITUDES AND OFFICER AWARENESS WHEN RESPONDING TO ALARM CALLS, IMPROVED RESPONSE TIME TO ALARM CALLS, IMPROVED RESPONSE TIME TO OTHER POLICE CALLS SINCE UNITS WERE NOT TIED UP ON NUMEROUS FALSE ALARM CALLS, GENERAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE PROJECT AS BENEFICIAL BY POLICE STATION PERSONNEL, REDUCTION IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS INVOLVING POLICE VEHICLES, AND ADDITIONAL CRIME SUPPRESSION PATROL TIME. SUPPORTING DATA ON THE FALSE ALARM PROJECT IN WEST HOLLYWOOD ARE PROVIDED. (DEP)