All residential and commercial alarm users must provide their alarm company with at least two telephone numbers for individuals associated with the property alarm before the alarm company contacts the Longmont Emergency Communications Center (LECC).

What is a False Alarm?

A False Alarm is any alarm caused by human error or equipment problems requiring police response, with no evidence of an actual crime having been committed.

What are the most frequent human errors that cause alarms?

• Use of incorrect key pad codes.
• Failure to train other authorized users.
• Failure to secure doors and windows before turning on alarm.
• Failure to notify monitoring facility of unscheduled openings or closings (for businesses).

Your alarm goes off, now what?

Your alarm company begins calling your contact list on file when they are contacted. If the alarm company is not able to reach a contact, they call police. Most owners are not aware that alarm companies have no contractual agreement with police or fire for response. Emergency services respond at the phone request of your alarm company, as if you had personally dialed 9-1-1 or a non-emergency number for response.

In Longmont, 98% of all calls made by alarm companies are false alarms. Since the alarm company calls the individual on file, we see the following:

• Alarm owners are not updating their contact list. As a result, the lack of updated names and telephone numbers are preventing police from response in a timely manner.
• Individuals at the property cannot find the alarm company contact information. Place the phone number of your alarm company dispatch center in a location that is easily found. If the alarm goes off by accident, call the alarm company. Please do not call the police department as we cannot take the word of a person on the other end of the phone.
• Individuals on scene are unable to operate the alarm system. Please take the time to review the system with anyone who is unfamiliar and may be placed with entering or leaving the property.
• Secure all doors and windows before turning on system.
• Be aware of changes in the environment which may set off the alarm (i.e., new animals, balloons, design changes, seasonal decorations, plants, etc.).
• Please have your alarm equipment routinely inspected and maintained by qualified personnel.
• If you own an audible alarm, it must shut off by itself within 20 minutes.

False Alarm Charges per City Ordinance

In a calendar year:

False Alarms 1, 2, and 3 are billed at $100 each

*After three false alarms in a calendar year, alarm owners are notified they are being placed on a DO NOT RESPOND list until the alarm owner fixes the alarm equipment problem and/or accesses training on how to set and use the alarm properly.  An alarm owner may request to be removed from the DO NOT RESPOND list after sending a letter to the Public Safety Chief indicating this request and that the false alarm issues have been addressed.

False Alarms 4, 5, and 6 are billed at $250 each

False Alarms 7 and above are billed at $400 each

For more information regarding false alarms please email or call (303) 651-8525.