A comprehensive study of five years of statistics by researches at the Rutgers University School of Criminal Justice (SCJ) in Newark found that residential burglar alarm systems decrease crime. While other studies have concluded that most burglars avoid alarm systems, this is the first study to focus on alarm systems while scientifically ruling out other factors that could have impacted the crime rate. The study, sponsored by the Alarm Industry Research & Educational Foundation, indicates an installed burglar alarm makes a dwelling less attractive to the would-be and active intruders and protects the home without displacing burglaries to nearby homes.
"The Rutgers study and subsequent data collected by our team, indicate the great effectiveness of home security systems," said Stan Martin, Executive Director of the Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC). "By working together, the alarm industry, law enforcement and local officials have addressed concerns that responding to alarms was a burden on some local police departments. We have been able to reduce the number of police responses, while at the same time, retaining the alarm systems’ effectiveness and proven ability to protect life and property."
SIAC (www.SIACinc.org) worked with many municipalities to create a successful model alarm ordinance. This ordinance advocates proven alarm call reduction items such as enhanced call verification (ECV), annual alarm permitting and a policy limiting the number of free alarm responses. These measures combined with technological advances, such as the CP-01 alarm panel, have proven to dramatically reduce police calls.
Recent data released in several municipalities across the country echo the effectiveness of security systems and SIAC’s model alarm ordinance in lowering crime and reducing police calls. For example, Marietta, Georgia, reported in March 2010 a reduction of alarm calls by 65 percent and an overall drop in crime by 19 percent.