Q. Why do I need a monitored security
system?
A. Homes without security systems are
about 3 times more likely to be broken into than homes with security
systems. (Actual statistic ranges from 2.2 times to 3.1 times, depending
on the value of the home.) Businesses without alarm systems are 4.5
times more likely to be burglarized than commercial locations with
electronic security in place. Losses due to burglary average
$400 less in residences with security systems than for a residence
without security systems.
Source: Simon Hakim, Temple University, 215-204-7476
Even the police know that monitored security
systems decrease burglaries: 90 percent of police believe alarms
deter burglary attempts.
Source: STAT Resources, Inc., Boston, Mass., 617-734-2000
In 1994, the International Association
of Chiefs of Police passed a Board Resolution stating that professionally
installed and monitored alarm systems are useful instruments to deter
crime and provide peace of mind for residential and business owners.
The organization also pledged to work with the alarm industry to help
reduce the problem of false alarms.
Source: International Assoc. of Chiefs of Police,
Alexandria, Va., 703-836-6767
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Q. Aren't security systems expensive?
A. Security systems used to be expensive,
costing hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Due to a competitive
marketplace and advances in technology, these days you can get a top
of the line security system installed in your home for little or no
money down and monitoring service for about a dollar a day. Contact
us for more information about pricing.
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Q. Can I save money on my homeowners
insurance by having a monitored security system?
A. Yes, most insurance companies will
give you a 10-20% discount on your homeowners insurance for having
a monitored security and/or a monitored fire system in your home. Please
contact your insurance agent to see what savings you can receive on
your homeowners policy.
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Q. How exactly does the monitoring service
work?
A. After the alarm has sent the alarm
information to the central station, it appears on the computer screen
of a professionally central station operator. On a burglar and
fire alarm, the operator will call your home to see if you are ok. If
you answer the phone, they will ask you for your password, this is
a word you have given to us so that we can verify that it is indeed
the homeowner. If
the person who answers the phone can not provide the correct password
or there is no answer, the police or fire department will be dispatched
to your home and the people you have listed on your call list will
be notified of the alarm and authority dispatch. The procedure on a
panic alarm is a bit different in that the dispatcher will not call
the house before dispatching the authorities.
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Q. I already have many smoke detectors
in my house, why do I need another one?
A. The smoke detectors in you home are “local” detectors. That
is, when they detect smoke, they make noise but nothing more. If
a fire starts while you are not home, they aren't going to do you any
good.
The smoke detectors installed by Pinnacle
Protection are actually two detectors in one designed to detect heat
changes (rate of rise) as well as smoke (particle density). When
a potential fire is detected, the Central Monitoring Station will be
notified and the fire department will be dispatched to your home as
quickly as possible, regardless of whether or not you are home at the
time.
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Q. How does my alarm communicate to
the central station?
A. Your security system communicates
to the central station over your regular phone line. When the
alarm is tripped, it will seize your phone line, dial the central station
and send in the alarm information. This process takes 8-10 seconds. Once
the information has been sent to the central station, the alarm will
release your phone line allowing you to use your phone like normal.
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Q. What do I do if I set the alarm off
accidentally?
A. You can do one of two things. You
can either call the monitoring facility and cancel the alarm or wait
for them to call you, which should happen within one minute of the
information being received at the central station. As long as
you can provide the dispatcher with the proper password, the police
will not be sent to your home.
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Q. Will the police charge me for false
alarms?
A. Generally speaking, no. Although
the ordinances are different for each city and county police department,
most allow consumers five false alarms per year before there are any
fines. The only alarms that count towards this number are ones
where the police are dispatched to your house and there are
no signs of forced entry. As long as you answer the phone and
provide the dispatcher with the proper password when the alarm is set
off accidentally, you will never have to pay a false alarm fine.
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Q. What if my electricity goes out?
A. All systems come with a back up battery if you should
have a power outage.
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