News Release

WINNIPEG POLICE INTRODUCE VERIFIED RESPONSE

February 9, 2004 - Beginning May 3, 2004, Winnipeg Police Services is implementing a verified response policy. With the verified response policy, Winnipeg Police will respond burglar alarms only after criminal activity had been verified by audio or video communication, or by a third party such as a guard or alternate responder. Police will also respond to burglar alarms if two separate monitored zones are activated and an attempt to verify the alarm is unsuccessful. Police will still respond to distress alarms after there has been an attempt to verify the call. No change has been made to the response for hold-up signals. For more information please visit the Winnipeg Police website at www.city.winnipeg.mb.ca/police.

The police response policy will not affect how SecurTek currently responds to alarms. When we receive a signal from a premise, we will continue to call the site to confirm whether it is a valid or false alarm.

The penalty for false alarms to which police have responded will also rise with the policy change. A false alarm will now result in a $75 fine and an increase in court costs from $22.50 to $30.00.

In order to ensure our customers continue to receive premier service, SecurTek partnered with a national, reputable Guard Service company to provide our customers with an alarm response option. When an alarm call is received from your premise, a trained professional will inspect your premise and police will be called only if needed. This will ensure you receive prompt response with every alarm call and will help you avoid false alarm penalties. The Guard Service program is a more cost-effective option for customers, virtually eliminating all false alarm penalties from the police service. For more information please check out the Guard Service section of the SecurTek website.

To help reduce false alarms:

  • Stay by the phone if you accidentally set off your alarm.
  • Ensure all doors and windows are closed and locked prior to arming your system.
  • Ensure objects such as decorations are not hung near air conditioners or vents, which could cause them to move and set off motion sensors.
  • Ensure arming delay is set for a reasonable period.
  • Replace back-up battery every 3-5 years.