Be Prepared if Your Security Alarm Sounds Do you know what to do if your alarm system sounds? Would you be ready if it woke you up in the middle of the night? It is startling, but being prepared with a plan will make it much less stressful.
- Don’t Panic. Easier said than done, we know, but try to remain calm.
- Listen. Determine if your alarm is the sound for a burglar or fire. A burglar alarm is a constant sound, but a fire alarm is “temporal” which means is changes speed (tempo).
- If it is a fire signal, follow the steps to get you and your family out of the house safely. (We’ll have more details on this in the new year).
- If it an intruder signal, AND you have a keypad in your bedroom, go to the keypad to see what zone triggered the alarm.
- Answer the Phone. Richmond Alarm (or your security provider) will call you, so be ready to give the pass code. If you do not have a keypad in your room, you need a phone. The representative will have information about what sensor triggered the alarm.
- Decide if you need the police to come. Based on what area the alarm is from, you may decide it was likely a pet or other non-threatening cause, and choose to investigate yourself. We’ll stay on the phone with you if you choose to do this.
However if you don’t feel safe, stay where you are so you don’t risk confronting an intruder. Never hesitate to tell the security company to call the police. - Silence the alarm on the keypad. For an actual intruder, the alarm is intended to scare them off or at least make them feel unwelcome so letting it sound for a few minutes is better than turning it off immediately.
- Communicate with Police. Remember officers probably won’t know you from a potential intruder. Be prepared to provide identification to prove you are the homeowner, not a burglar trying to trick them. They will investigate for signs of intrusion, or other causes of the alarm.
The sound of a security system is intended to be annoying.