With crime on the rise in major cities, the importance of security systems has never been clearer. They serve as the frontline defense, safeguarding against threats to your home or business. Installing a system can protect your property by detecting trespassers with sensors and cameras, sounding alarms to scare off intruders, and recording video footage for evidence collection and alarm verification. The days of a simple burglar alarm with motion sensors and a keypad are long gone.
Where there’s an alarm, there may not be a crime.
While window and motion sensors can register early signs of an intrusion, they do not always indicate a crime. A non-threatening intruder might be that one staff member who always forgets the shut-off password. Or it could be an environmental hazard, like a branch from a tree that blew off during a windstorm.
False alarms strain community resources and lead to unnecessary distress if you cannot verify whether there is a legitimate threat to your property. Fortunately, modern security technology offers solutions that provide peace of mind when a harmless event triggers an alarm.
Sometimes all you need is a well-placed video camera to help verify what or who triggered your alarm—whether it was a well-meaning employee or an actual burglar with intent to harm your property.
So, what are verified alarms?
Verified alarms are a useful tool for confirming that an alarm activation requires an immediate response. To verify an alarm, an alarm company will need one of the following: activation of a panic alarm, audio capture, eyewitness account, or video footage. While all methods for verifying alarms are effective, they are not created equal.
Panic Alarms
Panic alarms are the fastest solution—with the press of a button, the police will be notified that there is an emergency. Retail stores, banks, and places that hold large sums of cash commonly use this technology for employee safety. You’ve probably spotted one in your favorite heist film since they are a covert way to send an SOS in the event of a robbery. However, there is a higher risk of false alarms and unforeseen fines if the button is triggered accidentally.
Audio Capture
Audio that captures sounds like a struggle, shouting, or distress can help confirm a legitimate threat. But for this form of verification to work, the audio must be loud and decipherable. A stealthy intruder might evade detection by any audio recording devices.
Eyewitness Account
There are a few ways to get eyewitness accounts for verification, such as interviewing bystanders or responding security personnel. Bystanders may need to contact 911, while security guards may have to travel to the scene and coordinate with authorities.
Video Footage
Verification with video footage is the most reliable way to confirm a crime. If your video surveillance system is monitored by a private alarm company, they will have access to the real-time recordings of an intrusion and can communicate the urgency for police intervention as it happens. Even the craftiest intruder will find difficulty eluding a video security system.
Advantages of verified alarms.
A security system with verified alarms through a security provider has many benefits.
- Enhanced safety. Having checks in place to verify alarms can help you determine emergency protocol when there is a threat on the property. Verified alarms remove the time spent on identifying cause and allow you to focus on what needs to be done to keep everyone safe.
- Financial savings with reduced false alarms. If your system is accidentally tripped, cities can charge you for misuse of police resources. Fines can range anywhere from $25 to $250 per visit. Having checks in place to verify whether an alarm indicates a threat can reduce the chances of unforeseen costs. Some forms of alarm verification can potentially eliminate the risk entirely.
- Staying top priority with police. Major cities are experiencing a shortage of police resources in response to the rising crime rates. Overall safety is top-concern, so police have no other choice but to create systems when they are inundated with calls for assistance. If your alarms can be verified by video footage, eyewitness confirmation, panic alarms, or captured audio, police will know to prioritize your alarm activation because there is evidence an actual crime is occurring.
Cities moving to a Verified Response System.
Cities facing elevated crime adopt a Verified Response System to prioritize and preserve police resources for violent, in-progress incidents that threaten community safety. Citizens and private alarm companies must verify activated alarms with supporting evidence before dispatching police.
Many cities are moving towards a Verified Response system. Some cities that have already started requiring verified alarms are Las Vegas, Nevada; Oakland, California; and Seattle, Washington.
If you don’t have a system to verify alarms, you may face challenges if your jurisdiction follows suit. Check with your local security company to learn more about your options for verified alarms and how they can help.
Updated on: May 23rd, 2025
