Business owners know the importance of security, from detecting break-ins to preventing damage and vandalism.
A property may be outfitted with the latest in motion-detecting cameras, carefully configured access controls, and even utilizing sensors to identify environmental hazards before they become larger problems. Routine inspections and onsite maintenance may be completed to ensure all components of the security system are in good working order.
Comprehensive, preventative property security complete with alarms and 24/7 monitoring can save a business from the expense and stress of a break-in and burglary, but only if those alarms can be transmitted to the Emergency Monitoring Centre. Whether your approach to property security is simple or elaborate, it is inherently weak protection if it depends only on a telephone line to transmit alarms.
What happens if trespassers cut the telephone line, severe weather disrupts service, or the line is disabled in error during maintenance? Your business is no longer monitored!
Unfortunately, these types of communication services interruptions are happening now more than ever. Savvy thieves have learned to cut phone lines outside the buildings to prevent any triggered alarms from being received by the security companies they depend on for security monitoring. Commonly targeted businesses include pharmacies, retail stores, and even large warehouses. Severe weather events are unpredictable and restoring phone service after an environmental disruption can be a prolonged process. Errors during routine telephone line maintenance are another common cause of outgoing alarm failures.
- For business break-ins like pharmacies, thieves have become increasingly bold. In a recent pharmacy burglary, not only were the phone lines cut, but once inside the thieves proceeded to damage the alarm panels. Had there been a backup method of alarm transmission, the initial break-in would have triggered an alarm even though the telephone line had been cut.
- Backup transmitters can save businesses from substantial financial losses due to equipment failures and power-outages. A restaurant recently experienced a cooler malfunction, resulting in food losses amounting to thousands of dollars. Without an active outbound method of alarm transmission, monitoring for appropriate temperatures in any kind of facility will be ineffective if there are no staff onsite to respond.
- Essential service providers like ambulance companies operate in stressful circumstances, and are frequently in contact with distressed and unpredictable members of the public. Implementing a wireless alarm transmitter ensures that the ProTELEC emergency monitoring centre receives any duress alarms that employees may need to trigger, even if the phone line is compromised due to maintenance or service outage.
Phone line tampering or damage can’t be completely prevented, but the solution to this particular security challenge is simple and affordable.
Backup transmitters are installed onsite, configured to relay alarm signals to our Emergency Monitoring Centre using ULC approved radio or cellular networks. Redundancy in alarm transmission is best achieved with this wireless solution, remaining operational and effective even if telephone lines are disabled.
Approaching property security with a philosophy of prevention is the most effective way to protect your bottom-line. Including communications redundancy enables monitoring services and business owners to count on receiving alarms from their security system, ensuring a timely response to emergency situations.
Not sure if your security system includes backup alarm transmission, or want to learn more about what kinds of line security would work best for your property?