Cranbrook city council has adopted an updated False Alarm Bylaw, aimed at giving RCMP and Emergency Services more power to determine the situation.
Council member Mike Peabody said it gives Fire & Emergency Services and the RCMP the power to discern if an incident is an actual false alarm or a legitimate break-in attempt.
“The intent was not to punish businesses that are actually having legitimate alarms go off due to people either testing the doors or trying to get through a window or something,” said Peabody. “In the past, I think there were occurrences where police would attend a scene and they wouldn’t see a break-in and that business would get fined.”
Peabody said the updated policy prevents alarms from being interpreted as false as someone may be attempting to break in.
“I think this is a bylaw that is timely, especially given the amount of crime that Cranbrook has seen over the last three years,” said Peabody.
City officials said under the previous bylaw, businesses would be fined if a break-in did not occur, which may have led to a lapse in reporting.
Alarms can be interpreted as false alarms as people test doors, windows, cut or jump fencing, etc,” said city staff. “After experiencing several attempts, a full break-in may occur at a later date after a number of these prior ‘false alarms,’ which may not receive a response.”
Now, RCMP and Cranbrook Fire & Emergency Services will be able to further discern false alarms to prevent further victimizing a business that may be experiencing a legitimate break-in attempt.
Peabody said there is also an appeal process if evidence of an attempted break-in is found after a fine is issued.
“It’s on the owners of the business to show evidence, such as camera footage, that someone did come by or try to shake the door, open a window or cut the fence,” said Peabody.
City officials said the new False Alarm Bylaw will invoice businesses for alarms that are set off due to faulty security systems and repeat offences triggered by negligence of equipment.
False alarms carry a fine of $100 for the first offence, $200 for the second, $300 for the third, and $500 for each offence thereafter. After three years with no false alarms, the penalty will be reset to $100.
Peabody said there is also an appeal process if evidence of an attempted break-in is found after a fine is issued.
“It’s on the owners of the business to show evidence, such as camera footage, that someone did come by or try to shake the door, open a window or cut the fence,” said Peabody.
“This bylaw is to make sure businesses maintain their security systems to prevent false alarms and don’t waste the time of local police.”
