Friday, August 16, 2013

To Alarm Or Not To Alarm? Are burglar alarms worth the money?



In 2011, the number of reported burglaries were higher in the USA (702 per 100,000 households) than the same year in Canada, (526 per 100,000 households).  Canada has never been far behind, and in some recent years past, we had surpassed them. 

This very un-Canadian sounding fact is frequently downplayed by think-positive, nothing-to-see-here, political/media entities who prefer to stress the feel good statistic that there has been a steady decrease in reported burglaries since 1981.

However, if asked, these same sources will also admit that an estimated 50% of break-ins aren’t reported. And it's impossible to tell if the rate of unreported incidents has risen or fallen over that same period, since  "50%" is not really a statistic at all, but a mere guess.  Sorry, but another word for a statistic based on guesswork is hogwash.


Still, even without counting the unreported burglaries, that is still works out to about one residence every 10 seconds in Canada, or one home in every 33.


So is it worthwhile considering whether or not an alarm system is worth the freight?

The following factors have contributed to my decision:

SOME BURGLARS DON'T CARE ABOUT ALARMS
I remember reading a study that suggested that about half the identified burglars (incarcerated/paroled) who were interviewed for a research project, claimed that they were or would be deterred by signs that a targeted premise was/were protected by alarms.  The other half said that signs or indications would not be a factor in deciding whether or not to burgle a house or apartment.  They reasoned they would probably be in and out long before law enforcement arrived, and are aware that unverified alarm-activations (as opposed to a verified Crime-in-Progress) take a low priority in Police dispatch triage. See: The Four-Minute Rule and three modern myths about home security.) The average time in is eight minutes, but experienced burglars like to stay under the average dispatch time of any potentially responding police.


So, if half the burglars out there don't care if the home is alarmed, fake alarm signs may be almost as effective against those who do.


This eBay listing, for example, is for 6 Alarm Stickers for $5.86, plus $3.00 international shipping, that may or may not fool some potential burglars into thinking the risks are not worth the effort, and pass on by.

I'm sure some burglars are going to look at this and think, "That's fake.  Absolutely."  But the next guy down the alley may ask himself, "Why take the chance?"  We need to bear in mind that burglars are individuals in the risk-taking business, and we don't really know what goes on in their minds. When they see a sticker, they have to speculate on the odds that a sticker is bona-fide, and that the alarm system is paid for and up to date, and not just an artifact of previous owners.  Regardless, a dummy sticker will deter some fraction of the fifty percent of burglars who are leery of homes with alarm stickers.


There are also a variety of dummy CCTV cameras, that look like the real thing, and even the real ones have come down in price, and are available for  less than a couple of hundred dollars at the big box stores.


Another free service which has been shown to statistically reduce the chances of a breakin, and that is to become part of the Toronto Police Service "Operation Identification."  Contact the Crime Prevention Office of you local Police Division, and they will lend you a hand-held, electric engraver, with with which you can discretely mark your valuables with your name, SIN, or Driver's Licence number.  This will make your property very undesirable to a criminal, and increase the chances it will be returned.
 
You will also receive window stickers, that say WARNING Valuables in this house have identification markings, and most burglars will probably opt to pass on by.  Marked items are dangerous to be caught holding, and virtually impossible to fence.


You can buy a little electric engraver of your own, for under fifteen dollars at Canadian Tire, and this will let you add to markings to any new acquisitions without a back and forth to the police station, but the stickers are what you want for burglary deterrence, and your local police will provide them for the asking.

MONITORED ALARM COSTS VS. ACTUARIAL COSTS
Insurance actuators estimate the average dollar loss for a typical North American burglary to be $1,607 per residential break in which happens to be very close to the average costs of a monitored alarm-
-system over three years. So, an unalarmed homeowner who isn’t burglarized over a three-year period, looks to be ahead of the game after about this amount of time.


Now, this simplistic theoretical equation suffers from the same flaw as most simplistic, theoretical equations do, in that it is complete, simplistic, theoretical hogwash.  It doesn't factor theoretical life safety issues, or the peace of mind that an alarm system may provide some individuals, and the actual, and emotional value of your possessions.


On the other hand, find out if an alarm will pay for itself, in a significant reduction of your policy fees.  (This was not the case with my insurer.) 

TORONTO'S $1000 DOLLAR FALSE ALARM FEE
Now consider the hidden costs of  false alarm-activations.  The fire department isn't supposed to attend burglar alarm activations, but they sometimes do.  Among other reasons, if your alarm triggers an audible alarm, your neighbours might be calling it in. 

In 1998, The City of Toronto enacted Bylaw No.133-1998 (Municipal Code, Chapter 441-1) was enacted, which identifies fees to be charged for nuisance and malicious alarms. Currently, the so-called administration fee has been upped, (again) to $1,230.00 when the following criteria are met;
• A mechanical failure
• An equipment malfunction
• Improper maintenance or installation of the system
• The negligent or intentional misuse of a fire alarm system resulting in the activation of the system (Any of a variety of “Oopsy" mistakes."

Many other surrounding municipalities have followed suit, and have their own fee schedule.

Homeowners can get a partial refund of a fine if they upgrade their systems within a year of a false alarm.   But if your insurance company foots the bill to replace malfunctioning equipment, however, you are still on the hook.  http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/55911-homeowner-fined-1g-for-false-fire-alarm/

Single-family homes used to be allowed one false alarm a year without being billed. But in February 2010, Toronto councillors approved a zero-tolerance approach. Toronto made a whopping $7.4 million off these fees last year, but Toronto council refused to budge and give up on the estimated $1 million revenue loss that a first-time exemption would cost.

You can request a review of the fine, (sorry, "Administration Fee") here: http://www.toronto.ca/fire/false_alarm_review.htm

In the event you have a police only response, (A $130.00 "Administration Fee") contact the monitoring station and request that an Alarm Disposition Appeal Request be submitted with any supporting documentation.  The Toronto Police Alarm Response Coordinator will only accept appeals that have been submitted in writing by the monitoring station. To request a review go here: http://www.toronto.ca/fire/false_alarm_review.htm

PRO's and CON's
My personal opinion, for what it's worth, leans toward forgoing the cost of a monitored system and investing a portion of that money towards physically hardening the security of my residence.  There are alternate points of view, and you may disagree.  In fact I'd like to hear alternative viewpoints, and I hope to see dissenting views in the comments.

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