False alarms pose problems for security companies

“Almost 75 percent of the signals received by our monitoring centre stems from false alarms. Although most false alarms are blamed on faulty equipment, 96 percent of the time it is triggered by people,” said Maduray.

“We are committed to doing more to fight crime together with the support of the community. You will notice our vehicles patrol the streets 24 hours or stand at strategic points.”

Maduray offered tips on how to prevent false alarms:

•  Train all family members on how to use your alarm system as well as domestic workers.

• Service your alarm system on an annual basis.

• Although manufacturers say the lifespan of your battery is 12 months, we advise you to change batteries every six months if possible.

• Never leave pets in your home unless you have pet-friendly detectors installed.

• Cut/trim foliage on your electric fencing regularly.

• Ensure windows and doors are properly closed when arming the system.

• With regards to outside beams, if you have pets, make sure that the beams are installed to accommodate your pets.

• Due to the cold weather, electric fence wires become brittle and can break often, so inspect and maintain your electric fence regularly.

“Owners and residents need to test their alarm systems at least once a month by calling the monitoring centre to check if signals are going through,” said Maduray.

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