My Burglar Alarm Is Going Off! Are The Police On Their Way? Nope! By: Vince Nigro vince@biznetonline.com

Fellow Citizens,

Los Angeles Police Chief Bernard Parks has recently recommender cutting LAPD costs with a very dangerous proposal, that would cease police response to burglar alarm systems being tripped!

Burglar alarm systems were invented to assist the police in apprehending criminals before they left the scene of the crime. If this proposal passes, we will have to find alternative methods to protect our homes and businesses.

Under the currant draft proposal, alarm calls must be have physical verification via:

1. Video
2. The Property Owner
3. The Alarm Provider

1. Video Verification is very costly, with the average cost per camera of $2000.00, small to medium size businesses would require a minimum of 5 cameras to adequately cover all of the points of interest. Resident installations would be at a much greater cost - with invasion of privacy being a huge issue.
2. The Property Owner is rarely on the premises to witness the crime!
3. The Alarm Provider would have to hire trained and experienced guards, which will greatly increase your monthly bill!

Should Chief Parks recommendation be approved The City of Los Angeles would only be a start! Many other cities will see this precedent and go forward with the same bad idea.

It wasen't long ago that the Police Department would patrol our streets and file accident reports for all traffic accidents. These services are now gone. Yet our taxes have not gone down, nor has crime. The only time we see police now IN our area is for alarm systems going off. It is true that many of the alarms are false, and people do make mistakes, But those that have alarms are paying for the mistakes.

The City of Los Angeles charges $31.00 per year for a burglar alarm permit and $80.00 for each false alarm.

So the City of Los Angeles is making a profit.

All of us get a police car to patrol from time to time, so why is the chief trying to get rid of this if they are making money? The answer is simple - THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DOESN’T GET ANY OF THE MONEY! It all goes into the CITYS general fund that iscontrolled by the city counsel.

If this goes into effect? Businesses will move out of the city, which will cost jobs. Homes owners will look for a safer city to raise their families, thus lower taxes to the city so we will need additional cuts!

Only one problem left???

Those that will stay in The City of Los Angeles will be forced to respond to their own burglar alarm with their own weapon’s! Look out everyone as we return to the old west.   

Please take the time to write or E-mail a personal letter to Chief Parks and your city counsel person, as well as the Mayor of Los Angeles and the newspapers so that your opinion can be voices! Please view the list below for street and e-mail addresses.

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For more information please visit the LABFAA at www.labfaa.com

For Further Information E-mail Mr. Vince Nigro At: vitalservice@earthlink.net

Editors note: Mr. Nigro, with over 26 years of experience, is the treasurer and past president of the Los Angeles Burglar and Fire Alarm Association. The LABFAA is an industry trade group and one of their missions is to keep member companies up to date on changes in the law and technology. Mr. Nigro is the only fully certified instructor in the LA School District. He teaches on the subject of alarm installation. Mr. Nigro has also assisted the LABFAA, in cooperation with the City of Los Angeles, in setting up a series of "false alarm schools" to help teach home owners how to use their alarm systems. For more information on the LABFAA go to www.labfaa.com.

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Last modified: November 08, 2002