You no longer need an alarm permit with Sumner Police. However, please continue to take steps to prevent false alarms.
Preventing False Alarms
Sumner police officers respond to hundreds of alarm calls each year, multiple per day. The vast majority of these end up being false alarms. Responding to these false alarms can cost Sumner – and its taxpayers – quite a bit of time and money each year by unnecessarily diverting police resources.
Because it’s difficult to quickly determine whether an alarm is legitimate, officers may divert from other calls in order to respond. Depending on the situation, officers on scene may have to spend quite a bit of time searching the premises for intruders or signs of a break-in, or trying to reach an owner. This causes delays in responding to those other calls and prevents officers from conducting proactive or preventative patrols.
Make sure you and all employees, residents and guests are trained on how to use your alarm system. Secure all of your windows and doors before activating your alarm.
Know and rehearse the process for cancelling an accidental alarm. Notify your alarm company immediately if you have any problems with your system. Put the alarm company’s phone number in a place that is easy for you to spot but not obvious to an intruder.
Be aware of common problems that can lead to false alarms, such as
- Maintenance or other personnel working outside business hours
- failing backup batteries
- malfunctioning systems
- open, unlocked or loose fitting doors and windows
- party decorations such as helium-filled balloons or streamers
- wandering pets