IRVING, Texas--The National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association wants to know if your company's electronic security system helped save a life, avert property damage, or prevent a crime. The NBFAA is soliciting entries for its 2009 First Line of Defense Award, which recognizes a security company's actions in a specific incident in which the right response saved a life, prevented property damage or loss, or otherwise prevented a crime.

If your story is selected, you and your customer will win a free trip to the awards ceremony. Plus, your story will be featured in NBFAA publications and your company will receive a local and national publicity campaign.

"The First Line of Defense awards a company that represents what our security industry is all about--protecting people and property," said Brink's Home Security spokesman Dave Simon, who is NBFAA public relations committee chairman, in an email interview. "The winner each year is selected based on a number of factors, often for having saved the life of a homeowner."

Interested security companies can write their story and send it to the NBFAA for a chance to win the 2009 award to be given at the 2009 Electronic Security Expo (ESX) in Baltimore, Md.

Applicants must be current NBFAA members in good standing, or apply for membership at the time of the award submission to qualify for the award. The incident must have occurred between October 1, 2007 and December 31, 2008. All entries must be postmarked by March 14, 2009.

"In a typical year, we tend to get five to ten entries," Simon said. "We'd love to see that number increase."

A copy of the complete rules, judging criteria, and additional required forms can be downloaded at the NBFAA's website www.alarm.org. Questions on the contest rules can be directed to Laurie Knox at (888) 447-1689 or by e-mail at lauriek@alarm.org.