By Jewelers Mutual® Group
Even if you have not given much thought to the components that make up an alarm system and how they work together to protect your property, you probably know your alarm system is providing you with three layers of protection.
- Perimeter protection – This includes doors, windows, and skylights where an unauthorized entry might occur. Pay extra attention to areas adjacent to adjoining property, which have been entry points for burglars lately.
- Area protection – A motion detector will sense body heat or motion when an unauthorized person is onsite at an unauthorized time.
- Object protection – This protects the safe/vault against tampering.
- Control Panel – This is the “brains” of your alarm system. All perimeter detection is wired to the control unit and it sends signals to the central station, which monitors the signals and contacts you in the event of an alarm condition.
- Motion detector – It senses unauthorized movement inside the premises.
- Door contact – It detects unauthorized opening of a door.
- Glassbreak detector – This is a device that senses an attack on that surface.
- Safe protection door contact – It detects whether a safe is open or closed.
- Electronic vibration detection (EVD) – This is a highly sensitive and specialized microphone attached directly to objects such as safes, filing cabinets and art objects, or to surfaces such as floors, walls, windows, and ceilings.
- Communicator – An essential part of your alarm that sends signals to the control panel of the unit via cell signal or internet.
When possible, choose an Underwriters Laboratories (UL) certificated alarm installation. That way, you can rest assured it meets the highest levels of quality for equipment, service design, and signal handling.
Dealing with false alarms can put stress on your security system and cost you time and additional expenses. However, an alarm not responded to can put your business at risk and if you respond to an alarm alone, you could be putting your safety in jeopardy.
One way to avoid putting yourself in danger is to have your alarm company inspect your system on an annual basis to ensure all its components are working properly. Another way is to hire a trained and reliable alarm response service to respond to activated alarms.
Jewelers Mutual® Group recently joined with Securitas, a highly regarded leader in protective services, to make the Alarm Response Program available to jewelers. This program, part of Jewelers Mutual’s JM™ Risk Services offerings, provides peace of mind knowing that trained security officers are ready and able to respond to any alarm that is activated, 24/7—whether it’s a false alarm or not.
Participating jewelers pay the same low annual fee of $599.40 for service no matter how many times alarms are responded to. Through the Alarm Response Program, every alarm is treated like it is real with no costly consequences if it is not.
According to Brian Stamey from International Diamond Center, a family business with ten stores, the Alarm Response Program has allowed him to free up his time. Now, he’s monitoring fewer stores, getting fewer calls from the alarms at the stores, and knows that someone, if there is a need, will respond.
How the Alarm Response Program Works
If your alarm system is activated, a Securitas security officer in your area will be dispatched to your location.
The responding officer will investigate the area and enact the proper response:
- If the area is clear, the officer will contact your alarm monitoring company.
- If an issue is found, the officer will contact the proper authorities.
- Real-time reporting alerts you to any security issues.
