Report on False Security Alarms for the Charleston Public Safety Council

• NCJ Number: 164909
• Author(s): G Berhie; N S Kent; C Jacobus; M Cater; R Kitchen
• Date Published: 1995
• Length: 27 pages
• Corporate Author: West Virginia Statistical Analysis Ctr
• Sale Source: NCJRS Photocopy Services; West Virginia Statistical Analysis Ctr
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The Charleston Public Safety Council (CPSC) contacted the West Virginia Statistical Analysis Center in February 1995 to obtain advice on how to survey organizations with a high number of false security alarms.

Abstract

The CPSC had two main survey objectives: (1) educate these organizations on the problems of too many false alarms; and (2) collect information about common factors in the occurrence of false alarms. Between January 1 and December 31, 1994, the Charleston Police Department (CPD) received 4,832 intrusion alarm calls. During the same period, 8,762 cars were dispatched to answer false alarm calls, consuming an estimated 2,190 man-hours or 6 man-hours a day. The CPD estimated the cost of responding to false alarms to be about $50,000 per year for manpower alone. A 15-item instrument was developed to survey 110 organizations; 66 completed forms were received, for a response rate of 60 percent. An analysis of survey responses did not reveal clear-cut answers to the problems of false alarms, and no particular type or brand of alarm system stood out as causing more problems than others. Door opening trigger devices were used by more respondents than any other type of alarm system, followed closely by motion detectors. Of the 66 respondents, 25 reported they used three types of alarm systems. About 21 percent of organizations said employees were primarily responsible for alarm systems, while 20 percent assigned this responsibility to managers. Nearly all organizations trained employees in the proper use of alarm systems, and 80 percent reported they were aware of environmental factors with the potential to trigger alarms. System malfunction ranked highest among false alarm causes, followed by power failures, thunderstorms, vandalism, animals, blowing air vents, and balloons. About one-third of respondents said police responded within 5 minutes from the time an alarm call was placed, while 27 percent reported 10 minutes. Regular maintenance was the most favored solution to reduce false alarms. The survey instrument and additional survey information are appended. Tables and figures