Capt. suggests more care be taken with alarms
BY DAVE BENJAMIN
Staff Writer

Jackson

JACKSON - It is alarming to police how little is known by the general public about alarm systems, how the systems operate and the permit procedures that are required.

Jackson police are now accepting permit applications for residential, commercial and apartment complex alarm systems. There is no fee for an alarm permit.

"This involves fire alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, burglary alarms, panic alarms, hold-up alarms, duress alarms (a silent alarm signal generated by the manual activation of a device intended to signal a crisis situation requiring police response) and all the alarms that are wired into a house," said police Capt. Richard Ferrarelli, alarm administrator.

Ferrarelli said an ordinance relating to alarms was adopted by the governing body in 2000.

"Most of the alarms that are activated are caused by user error," he said. "The person using it does not have the correct pass code. In businesses, employees are not properly trained."

In homes, he said, a person will set the alarm and go out. Then, he will think of something he forgot and go back into the house believing he has 30 seconds or a minute to run in, grab what was left behind and run out again. After the person drives away, the alarm goes off, the captain said.

"They didn't reset the alarm when they went back in and went back out again," Ferrarelli said. "They actually trip their own alarm as they leave. It's a big problem."

If this happens three times at one home the resident may be fined and/or directed to attend an alarm reduction class.

False alarms require a response from police and/or firefighters.

In the case of frequent false alarms, it may be necessary to have the alarm system recertified by an alarm technician.

"Sometimes we can be [at one location] three or four times in a day," Ferrarelli said.

He suggested that homeowners identify a keyholder who can meet police at the house in case the alarm goes off and the homeowner is unable to respond. The keyholder would be able to reset the alarm or identify a problem that might be causing it to go off.

Ferrarelli said he could not suggest a specific company for a homeowner who may be considering installing an alarm system, but he suggested that residents consider an upgrade from the basic package that is offered.

"You get what you pay for," he said.

Ferrarelli suggested that residents should not keep all of their valuable items in one place in their home. For an especially valuable item, he suggested using a safe deposit box at a bank.

For residents who have an alarm system it is necessary to renew the alarm permit yearly and now is the time to do so for 2007. Properly completed applications will be granted an alarm permit, which is valid for one year. Alarm permits may not be transferred between users.

For more information call Capt. Richard Ferrarelli at (732) 928-1111, ext. 3006, or Sgt. Russ Scialpi at (732) 928-1111, ext. 3022.

Alarm registration forms may be picked up at police headquarters at the Justice Complex, 102 Jackson Drive.

In 2006 there were 2,101 burglary, hold-up, panic and robbery alarms set off. There were 449 alarms for fires, carbon monoxide and medical alerts. Including auto alarms, there were a total of 2,562 alarms set off in Jackson last year.