This means that reaction officers spend most of their day responding to false call-outs. This is according to Nelspruit ADT Security managing director Mike Kidson.
“The six most common causes of false alarms are: faulty equipment, human error, low batteries, doors and windows not secured correctly, incorrect installation, and pets, rodents or insects triggering the alarm,” he pointed out.
Yet Hi-Tech Security operations manager Mr Vernon Lancaster stated they found it was more a case of “finger error” as most of their clients tended to enter the wrong codes which led to alarms going off.
Kidson and Lancaster agreed that getting the right security system and learning how to use it correctly were essential.
“We realise that false alarms will happen from time to time. Cancelling the alarm call-out telephonically before a response vehicle is dispatched, will greatly assist in reducing the pressure caused by false alarms.
Ultimately, however, you want to get to the root of the problem.
Please remember that you would want the fastest reaction time in the event of an emergency so help us provide this by reducing accidental alarms and ensuring our resources are deployed where they are needed most – emergencies,” concluded Kidson.
Lancaster stated that they were also
aware that some criminals deliberately set off false alarms to check on security's response times.
“We will phone our clients after every alarm and if we do not get an answer, we immediately respond, so if it is definitely a false alarm, the public could help us by contacting us immediately.”
