Taxpayers Foot The Bill For False Alarms
CENTRAL OHIO—Security alarms screech into the night, but when police arrive, there’s no crime. You may be the one footing the bill.
NBC 4 got answers on why some false alarm fees aren’t being paid.
By the city of Columbus’ count, African Auto Sales and Body Shop on East Hudson Street had 33 false-alarm calls in 12 months.
In fact, African Auto owes more money for false alarms than any other Columbus business: $30,700.
It’s a staggering amount for a company that nearly went out of business last year.
The owners said they couldn’t afford it—even if they wanted to pay—but they don’t think they should be charged in the first place.
“It’s not fair. It’s not fair, and nobody’s going to stay in there and wait until the police,” co-owner Hamza Mohamed said.
Mohamed said thieves constantly target the business, sneaking in to steal tire rims and costly car parts, including more than 30 catalytic converters.
By the time police respond, though, the thieves are gone, and the police bill them as much as $800 for each false alarm.
“We’ve tried to schedule hearings for these folks. They didn’t respond so we have no choice but to turn that over to a collections agency,” said Sharon Gadd. Gadd is the license manager for the city’s department of public safety.
Gadd told NBC 4 the city is willing to dismiss false-alarm charges if there’s a good reason and documentation such as a police report for an attempted break-in.
African Auto has not been filing that documentation, and Gadd said the owners have made it worse by ignoring the fees, leading to extra debt-collection charges.
“They do not get out of paying by just simply not responding,” Gadd said.
African Auto isn’t alone in failing to pay.
Columbus resident Charlie Downing owes $13,000 for false alarms. When we spoke to him off camera, he blamed his former alarm company in refusing to pay.
Gadd said Downing hasn’t returned calls or answered the door when city workers and police came by.
“We are in discussions with the city attorney’s office based on his financial condition, whether we’ll be able to collect that amount,” Gadd said.
There are the companies that owe money but are out of business.
Such as Nytek Auto on Mock Road.
It’s been closed for four years.
The company owes the city $8,400 for false alarms.
Casa Fiesta Mexican Restaurant on Dublin-Granville Road owes $7,500. It’s closed.
Sammy’s New York Bagels is closed, too.
Combined, the three companies owe the city more than $24,000.
The city still is pursuing the money through collection agencies.
In total, the city still has about $300,000 in false-alarm fees that are delinquent from dozens of companies.
Four months ago, African Auto disconnected its alarm from the police. Even so, at some point, it will have to settle its $30,000 tab with the city.
“That’s a lot of money. It’s too much, too much,” Mohamed said.
“Taxpayers are paying every time police and fire respond to that user’s alarm system. We’re all paying for that,” Gadd said.
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Reader Reactions
When my alarm goes off the police generally respond in about 10 minutes, check to see if the doors are locked, and if they are, post a false alarm notice on the front door and then leave. For all they know, the perps are inside the building, having locked the door behind them. They don’t wait for me to arrive and go through the building (I get notified by phone from the alarm company). So what good are the police anyway?
Please see prior post.
I disagree that an alarm system is a luxury.
I agree that it’s a choice.
I agree that with an alarm system, I am
responsible to:
a) pay for the license,
b) make sure it functions properly and c) pay when it doesn’t, PROVIDED THAT THERE IS NO REASON ACCEPTABLE TO PUBLIC SAFETY FOR A FALSE ALARM.
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gobux90 07 July 2009 Tue. at 11:02
43026 Dad -
Having a security system in your home/business is a luxury/a choice.
If you choose to install a system in your home/business, it is your responsibility to pay for the license, make sure it functions properly and pay when it doesn’t.
I respectfully disagree with (1) & (2) of user gobux90.
(1) “... Having an alarm system is a luxury….“
In the 1940’s, folks in my lower income neighborhood had not a need to lock their doors.
In the late 1960’s, our late former next door neighbor, in a middle income neighborhood, was shot in the stomach by armed burglars when he went home for lunch and encountered them stealing.
Were he alive today, I suggest that he too would agree that an alarm system is not a “luxury.“
A lawful short barrel pump 12 gauge shot gun is far less costly than an alarm system, yet one needs to be present to pull the trigger to stop the intruding predator.
Alarm systems are helpful when one is away, and when working properly do not go off until home security has been breeched.
———————————————————-
(2) “... Having an alarm system is ... not a right.“
A properly licensed vendor of alarm systems and a consumer have a right to contract for the equipment and the service in an arms length transaction. That contract has mutual obligations by the vendor and the consumer.
I firmly believe that an alarm system IS a right, until an ordinance, statute or court decision states that it is not a right.
I agree that I am responsible for the proper operation of my system.
I agree that I am responsible for the prompt explanation of false alarms by my system.
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gobux90 27 July 2009 Tue. 10:28
“... Having an alarm system is a luxury, not a right.“
43026 Dad -
Picking up the phone and calling the police is a city tax benefit - we (homeowners) pay for it.
Having a security system in your home/business is a luxury/a choice. If you choose to install a system in your home/business, it is your responsibility to pay for the license, make sure it functions properly and pay when it doesn’t.
I have to respectfully disagree with people who think in this day and age that an Alarm system is a luxury. Its a necessity. With Crime increasing and criminals becoming bolder people need protection. Someone close to me had their front door kicked in and was robbed. They break in day or night, one woman had to rush home after calling Police cause her teenage daughter called to say Mommy someone has broken in the house. She was hiding in her room. If there had been an alarm the police would have been on the way and the crooks might have been scared off. Property can be replaced people can’t.
I would suggest that the Alarm companies pay a fee to the city. And that the Alarm service charge a fee to customers who repeatedly have false alarms if it can be determined its not due to the alarm company’s own faulty equipment.
So is it a luxury to pick up the phone and
call the police too? Explain the difference please
How about this? The city charges more for the Alarm License that is required by the city…AND if the customer (business or resident) doesn’t pay, the police don’t respond.
Having an alarm system is a luxury, not a right.
It is not like the city has to call in extra officers to respond; I’m always amazed at how they assign a cost to things like this when the cops are on duty and in the neighborhood to begin with. And how does the city know it is a “false” alarm to begin with? My business has a siren that goes off and I’m pretty sure that would scare away the perp long before the police arrive.
Probably doesn’t even make sense to have the alarm company call the police to begin with.
As a Security Systems Dealer, the majority of false alarms are due to the neglect of the user. Just last Friday I was out to a user’s property to check out the front door “false alarms” that had happened multiple times. Everything checked out fine as far as the alarm system goes. I had asked to review his Video Footage and as it turns out, The hinge on the door is bad and the door doesn’t latch most of the time. The last employee out the night before didn’t bother to pull the door shut and a customer the next morning opened the door before they had even opened. Now I know is just one case, but this is an example of a majority of the problems. I will be the first to admit, There is alot of shotty security companies out there and alot of shotty security installers to go with them. This is why we pride ourselves in being active with security associations that work to prevent these situations. I always recommend that you check the BBB and ask for referals prior to hiring a security company. And as for my personal and professional feelings towards these false alarms. The Police “already” are peing paid to do this, and yes I agree that certain entities do let the false alarms get out of hand and these parties should have nuisance charges brought against them, not fines.
Whats the problem we pay taxes so that police will respond.They are being paid anyway so why do they bill people with alarm systems?
I can see charging if it is a continual problem at the same place but my alarm has gone off before and 3 hours later the police show up and i got a letter from the safety director.
Alarms dont do any good you can clear a house before any law enforcement shows up.
Get a gun and just kill whoever is robbing you then let the police fill out the report.
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