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Gilbert, AZ, Wants to Minimize False Alarms; Offers End-User Classes

At a time when Gilbert, AZ, officials are struggling with tight finances, local police are trying to reduce a costly drain on officers' time and the department's overall efficiency: false signals from security alarms in homes and businesses.

Even as overall calls for police assistance have declined for three straight years, false alarms have been steadily rising.

Robert Shubert, an alarm specialist with the Gilbert Police False Alarm Unit, said time wasted by a police officer called to a false-alarm equates to "dollars and cents." 

"It's a waste of what we call resources when we have officers being tied up on alarm calls and there has been no evidence of a crime being committed," Schubert said.

False-alarm calls have been on a steady increase since 2005, when 4,743 were recorded by police, statistics show. The following year, such calls increased by 893, and advanced even further in 2007 to a total 6,727. 

Gilbert police dispatchers fielded 8,212 security-alarm calls through 2008, yet only 92 percent of calls signaled a legitimate threat to a home or business. 

Of those calls in 2008, 7,576 were considered false alarms, according to police statistics. That's on average 684 alarm calls per month, 23 per day and an estimated 131.43 hours of patrol time per year.

"Police respond to all alarm calls and investigate as if they are legitimate calls for service until it is known otherwise," said Sgt. Mark Marino, a Gilbert police spokesman. "The time spent on each call varies from a few minutes to 30 minutes or more depending on the size, layout and type of property that we are being dispatched to."

While false-alarm calls to area residences and businesses have increased, the overall number of calls are on a three-year decline. 

In 2007, dispatchers received 8,554 alarms and that decreased to 8,212 in 2008. Last year, those numbers decreased even further to 7,359. 

"I believe we can attribute this to the fact that there are a lot of vacant homes," Schubert said. "We have seen many closed accounts. (However) there seems to be an increase now of new alarm permits coming in."

Home and business owners alike who install security alarms are required to register with the town to receive a $10 permit, which is renewed every two years. The town has about 13,000 permit holders.

To ensure the fewest number of false-alarms, Gilbert police offer a 90-minute course to help residents and business owners use their security alarm systems more efficiently. 

During the course, the first of which begins Wednesday, users learn the numerous ways alarms are tripped and can signal a police response, Schubert said. 

On many occasions the sensitivity of motion sensors is set too high, Schubert said. Such is often the case when the air conditioner kicks on inside a closed business and the air moves a hanging sign or other object, tripping the alarm. 

Wind from a ceiling fan can cause a curtain to move and pets wondering inside a home in the night can also set off an alarm. 

"We show people how to cancel an alarm when it's set off accidentally," Schubert said. "It's also making sure children know how the system works."

Most of the town's repeat offenders are businesses, Schubert said. Home and business owners are allowed two false-alarms per year, but are charged $50 on the third occurrence. The fine increases by $50 every time thereafter. Those successfully passing the false-alarm prevention course are given a $50 voucher toward their first fine. 

"The police are here to serve the community," Marino said. "Our time is better spent patrolling, investigating reports of criminal activity, preventing criminal activity and contacting suspicious people as well as enforcing laws."