ADT introduces second-call verification in Los Angeles
By Derek Rice
Updated Fri August 1, 2003
BOCA RATON, Fla. - ADT Security Services Inc. announced last month it would begin making an additional phone call to verify burglar alarms before notifying Los Angeles police.
The decision came in response to the non-response policy recently debated by the Los Angeles Police Commission (see story on page 1).
ADT’s new procedure has been endorsed by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, which has said a reduction in false alarms would free up police resources to focus on more pressing matters.
This latest measure is in keeping with the Central Station Alarm Association’s position on alarm verification. Recognizing that false alarms are a bane to monitoring companies and police alike, the organization advocates a two-call verification before alerting law enforcement. Studies have shown that enhanced alarm verification procedures like this can reduce false alarm dispatches by as much as 50 percent.
ADT will provide verification electronically for its customers who subscribe to video monitoring services as an alternative to the company’s second-call verification policy.
Over the next year, ADT plans to introduce this enhanced call verification to its 6 million customers nationwide.
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