For many in the alarm industry a verified alarm simply prevents a needless dispatch to a false alarm. The term generates confusion between groups because of what they actually seek to verify — a crime or a false alarm. The same term is used in two different ways; sometimes broadly referring to false alarm reduction and sometimes narrowly referring to validating a crime-in-progress.
False alarms are a huge industry problem. Cities deal with it in different ways but generally with fines that get expensive. There are some ways to reduce the error rate.
But the problem is not the definition of verified alarm. It’s that alarms are an inadequate security measure for commercial businesses. In comparison live video monitoring security is verified by definition. A Stealth Monitoring operator can see unusual activity, activate an audible warning to deter thieves, and call the local police about live crimes in-progress. Stealth video surveillance can see criminals on the property outside before criminals would trip an alarm and before the crime happens. Police can be called sooner when surveillance operators see them (not after they trip the alarm inside the building) and with better response because it’s not a false alarm. The result is stronger police relationships.
Video monitoring avoids the verified alarm discussion because verification is part of the process. In an era of reduced resources, police chiefs and sheriffs fighting property crime consider video verification as a force multiplier that enhances arrest rates and helps their officers be more effective providing life safety to their community. It is an increasingly effective security measure that has become both more popular and more affordable to mainstream commercial property owners.
Stealth Monitoring proactive live surveillance can detect and deter crime while reducing security guard and other expenses. Please contact Stealth today for more information to protect your commercial real estate. Visit our web site to see actual videos of criminals being apprehended.
