The argument for having an alarm system for your business that is “top notch” is obvious for someone who has had the unfortunate experience of being the victim of a break-in, especially is they had previously relied on a system that was purchased on the basis of price alone.
There’s a good chance that the result of that encounter included them being notified of the loss long after the thieves had left the premises, possibly even the next day when an employee noticed some physical damage on arrival.
But what about the police, you ask?
One concern that continues to rise is the significant number of false alarms and specifically the impact it is having on law enforcement resources.
The result of this concern is having its logical effect: the response time in cases where an alarm lacks the verification technology that would indicate an actual break-in is underway are not treated in the same way as those where a verified alarm exists.
That “response differential,” it turns out, can be quite significant.
A sampling of cities across the U.S. shows that alarm systems that are verified with video surveillance systems results in a police response that is, on average 15 minutes faster in many jurisdictions, a key difference when it comes to reducing claims resulting from property crime.
In Boston, Mass., as one example, a traditional alarm response time of 21 minutes was shortened to just 7 minutes, 38 seconds when a video alarm was in place, a difference of 13 minutes, 22 seconds.
In Salinas, Calif., the difference was even greater, with a traditional alarm taking 39 minutes, 25 seconds to see a police presence. A video verified alarm, on the other hand, produced a police response in 2 minutes, 54 seconds.
Again, time is of the essence when the issue of police response is involved.
Essentially, a verified alarm system becomes a “virtual eyewitness” to a crime that is in progress, which greatly increases the likelihood of police presence making a difference, and, these examples show, how quickly law enforcement responds.
For insurance companies who accept the risk associated with the reality of property loss from crime, the key takeaway is being able to understand the increasing importance of a verified alarm system.
To the property owner, there’s an inherent comfort in having the practical confidence that their business is under “watchful eyes” even when they can’t be there to check on things themselves.
