Community Policing

When shopping for a burglar alarm system, use these guidelines to check out the system you are considering as well as the dealer:

___ Is the business local?
___ Do they have a state license?
___ Do they offer 24-hour service?
___ Will the business work with your insurance company for reduced rates?
___ Is there a warranty?
___ Is there a service contract?
___ If the system is monitored by a central station, is it a person or tape recording?
___ If you are out of town, or the system is for a commercial premise, will the company have someone respond to the location to assist the police?
___ Are there several complaints on file with the Better Business Bureau of South Florida (telephone number (561)842-1918. )

___ If you have pets, you may want to avoid motion detectors.
___ Is it electrically or battery operated?
___ If electrically operated, does it switch automatically to battery power without activating (in the event of a power failure)?
___ If activated, will it automatically shut itself off, will it reset for another attack?
___ If the control box is exposed, will it activate if tampered with?
___ Are all wires protected from the elements and rodents?
___ If an audible system, is it loud enough for neighbors to hear?
___ Does the system have a time delay to allow time to activate or deactivate without false alarms?
___ Is the system approved by Underwriters Laboratory (U.L.)

Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation
Electrical Contractors and Licensing Board
1940 Monroe Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0771

Alarm Association of Florida
1349 E. Lafayette Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32307
904-681-3200

If you are a resident of Lighthouse Point and need further assistance selecting an alarm system, contact your Crime Prevention Officer at 954-784-3416.

Some residential systems are designed to ring a bell and/or illuminate the area to scare off an intruder. These local systems send a signal from a sensory devise directly to a light system or to a bell or siren located in your attic or on the outside of your home.

When a sensory device detects an intruder, the sounding device is activated and/or the house lights are turned on. It is hoped that the lights or sound will alert the homeowner (if at home), a neighbor or a cruising police unit. Since the typical residential burglar is not a professional, a local system will usually scare him from the premises.

Many companies will install a combination system that includes a local alarm (bell and/or lights) and a central reporting alarm. The advantage of having the central reporting alarm system is that an alarm company is constantly monitoring it. If the alarm goes off, the alarm company notifies the police department.

It is a good idea to have at least one smoke detector built into your alarm system. Smoke is the primary killer in fires and a smoke detector placed in a hallway between bedrooms can save lives.

Added protection is provided by a back-up power supply in the event of a power failure and a built-in ability to test the system regularly.

You get what you pay for. In this regard, be sure that the sensor device (magnetic contacts, motion detectors, pressure mats, screens, etc.) to be in stalled are Underwriter Laboratories (U.L.) approved for burglary protection.

There is usually two costs involved when dealing with an alarm company: an installation charge and a monthly service charge. It is not recommended that you buy or lease a system from a company, which does not offer a contract for continuing maintenance and service.

Once the alarm company representative has made an appraisal of your security needs, ask him for a written proposal and a copy of the contract you will have to sign. Take some time, look it over, and think about it. Check the alarm company’s reputation by calling Better Business Bureau, or contacting the Florida Department of Business Professional Regulation or the Alarm Association of Florida. For further details, see our web page: ALARM PURCHASING GUIDELINES. You should also consider two additional estimates from reputable companies and compare costs.

Never sign a contract that does not list all points of protection and does not itemize the equipment to be installed.

There are laws in some areas that prohibit anyone from having a device attached to their telephone that will automatically call the police or fire departments in an emergency situation. A system that calls a security company is legal and they will in turn notify the police.

Remember: A good alarm system is an investment in your security and personal well-being. The mere presence of an alarm is often a deterrent. Advertise the fact that your home or business is alarmed by using a warning decal.

A security system can greatly reduce the chance of having an unwanted intruder in your home, and loss of property. Remember, the system is only as good as the quality of the components and installation. 99.9% of the alarms reported to the Lighthouse Point Police Department are false! Each one must be handled as a real threat until it is determined otherwise. False alarms add unnecessary risk to the responding officers and the public in general.

False alarms are very expensive to the tax payers of Lighthouse Point. The following table illustrates why each security system owner should strive to eliminate false alarms:

CITY OF LIGHTHOUSE POINT FALSE ALARMS IN 2006
False Alarms	970
Approximate Work Hours Responding to False Alarms	324
Approximate Cost of False Alarms	$12,618.51

Because of the high cost and risk incurred by responding to false alarm calls, the city of Lighthouse Point has enacted a False alarm ordinance 26-58 The intent of this ordinance is, simply, to reduce the number of false alarms received by the Lighthouse Point Police and Fire Departments.

HOW TO REDUCE FALSE ALARMS

Have all loose fitting doors and windows with sensors tightened. A loose fit may break the sensor contact, even without opening the door/window.

Insure everyone who has access to your house, has the code and knows how to arm and disarm your security system.

Have your alarm company check and service your alarm system regularly. Notify hem immediately if you think the system is not working properly.

If the alarm goes off accidentally, notify the alarm company and/or your local law enforcement agency immediately. In Lighthouse Point just dial 954-942-8080.

BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME

Close and lock all doors and windows tightly
Keep pets, balloons, fans and heaters away from motion sensor areas.
After activating your system, wait a few moments to insure your security system armed itself properly.

Identity theft or identity fraud is the criminal act of taking a victim's identity for the purpose of obtaining credit, credit cards from banks and/or retailers, stealing money from the victim's existing accounts, applying for loans in the victim's name, establishing accounts with utility companies, leasing automobiles and residences, filing bankruptcy, and/or even obtaining employment.

Identity thieves often steal thousands of dollars from unsuspecting victims, in the victim's own name, without the victim knowing about the fraud for months or sometimes years. If you feel you are a victim of Identity theft, click here for more information on what to do.

The R.U.O.K. Program is a computerized telephone system that calls Lighthouse Point residents every morning, at a time set up by the resident, to check on their welfare. If a resident does not answer the telephone after three calls, an alert is issued by the program. The dispatcher will then send an officer to the resident’s home to check on their welfare. The program contains valuable information on program participants such as key-holders to the residence, doctor’s name and contact information, and relatives’ name and contact information. In the event of an emergency, officers will have the appropriate information available to them to better assist the resident.

This effective system has been in operation in Lighthouse Point since 1997. The system has helped save lives and is highly recommended for people who live alone or with a handicapped person. The program is free of charge. To become a program participant please contact Crime Prevention Detective Larry Hawkins at (954) 784-3416.

Click this link to learn more about this offer from your Police Department. Click Here.

If you have information regarding a crime that occurred in Lighthouse Point, call the Lighthouse Point Police Department at (954) 942-8080. For crimes that occurred outside of Lighthouse Point you can call this Department or CrimeStoppers at (954) 493-TIPS. You don't need to give your name or any information about yourself. You can remain completely anonymous.

Harassing Telephone Calls

Bellsouth now offers a website with instructions on how to report, and in some cases, prevent these calls from becoming a problem in the first place. Please click on the link below to view the Bellsouth Annoyance Call Center Home Page. http://contact.bellsouth.com/acc

Telephone Solicitors

We would like to remind you that we DO NOT solicit donations by phone. We recommend you DO NOT donate money to telephone solicitors representing themselves as police officers. These professional phone solicitors contribute very little of the money they raise to the actual organizations that they claim to represent.

The National Do Not Call Registry gives you a choice about whether to receive telemarketing calls at home. Most telemarketers should not call your number once it has been on the registry for three months. You can register your home or mobile phone for free. Your registration will be effective for five years. To register your phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry, click here.