AlarmForce Blog

AlarmForce VideoRelay Catches Stroller Thief on Tape

admin — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 22:06:47 +0000

Tues Nov 8th at 12:19am by the Bathurst/St. Clair area of Toronto, a man who is clearly seen in the video/pictures approached an AlarmForce VideoRelay protected home and stole a double baby stroller from the customer’s porch. The whole event was caught on the customer’s AlarmForce VideoRelay. The video shows him approach the house, examine the stroller and then walk off with it.

If you have any information please contact Toronto Police 13 Division @416-808-1300, as we are attempting to catch him and get the homeowner’s stroller back.

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AlarmForce teams up with the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves

Richard — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 14:16:54 +0000

AlarmForce is very proud to announce its partnership with the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association. For this 2010-11 season, AlarmForce will be the presenting sponsor for T-Wolves Basketball on KFAN AM, Minnesota’s #1 sports radio station. Whether it’s the “Defensive Play of the Game”, or a recap during “Wolves Minute”, you can count on AlarmForce to present it all.

Here’s to an exciting and successful season. Let’s go Wolves!

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AlarmForce wins Readers Choice Award!

Richard — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 20:27:53 +0000

AlarmForce is proud to announce that it has been voted a winner in the 2010 Calgary Herald Readers Choice Awards, for the category of “Best Home Security Company”.

Now in it’s 17th year, the Herald’s Readers Choice Awards allow the people of Calgary to weigh in on their favourites, with many categories such as restaurants, hair salons and hotels among others.

With over 22 years in the business of securing canadian homes, and now protecting over 250,000 people, it is no surprise that AlarmForce is recognized as the best home alarm company.

Call 1-800-267-2001 today for free installation and Two-Way Voice Security!

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Beware the Door-To-Door Salesperson

Richard — Mon, 03 May 2010 18:29:42 +0000

Too often in the home alarm industry, we hear of innocent consumers who are lied to and cheated by door-to-door salespeople. This is largely because of the routine use of high-pressure sales tactics and outright lying to gain a sale. Often there are often hidden fees which are never discussed. Sometimes the door-to-door salesperson will quote one rate for monitoring service, then raise that rate after you sign up. Most will never explain to the consumer that they are outsourcing the monitoring to another company. What we have is a series of broken and false promises, with all sense of ethics and quality control thrown right out the window.

At AlarmForce, we never go door to door. Consumers are free to call 1-800-267-2001 to get all the information on the phone with no pressure.

The following article comes from Security Systems News (May 2010 Edition), and is one of many examples that exposes the deceit and manipulation associated with door-to-door home alarm sales. We will keep posting these articles as they come in the future.

REMEMBER, NEVER TRUST DOOR-TO-DOOR SALES PEOPLE. Here’s why…

Pinnacle settles with Illinois AG

Pinnacle says it ‘will create a new industry standard that will be proven out over time’

By Martha Entwistle - 03.25.2010

CHICAGO—The Illinois Attorney General’s office announced this week that it had settled an October 2009 lawsuit against summer sales model company Pinnacle Security.

The lawsuit charged that Pinnacle door-to-door salespeople targeted customers of competitors, particularly ADT customers, and used deceptive sales tactics to switch customers from ADT to Pinnacle.

“Many Illinois homeowners who signed up for home security products as a result of Pinnacle’s false claims were stuck paying for services they didn’t need,” said Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan in a statement. “This agreement is intended to put an end to those fraudulent sales practices, require the company to police its sales force more closely and provide some relief for customers.”

Under the settlement, Pinnacle has agreed to pay restitution to eligible Illinois consumers who entered into security contracts as the result of deceptive sales tactics.

Additionally, Pinnacle has agreed to ensure that its sales people accurately represent for whom they work, the service terms of a contract, and any termination fees they may be liable for if they currently have a contract with another home security company. Pinnacle also agreed to not pay commission to sales personnel who obtain contracts through fraudulent tactics.

Pinnacle COO Steve Hafen said his company “worked closely with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office to investigate, identify and eliminate instances where individuals acted outside of our established code of conduct.” He emphasized that the settlement is specific to certain personnel and there was “no overarching issue with our products or services.”

In addition, he noted that Pinnacle has, over the past several months “implemented sweeping changes in compliance and protocol that address the areas of personnel, training and detection and enforcement which continue to be implemented nationwide, including in Illinois, and are resolving current issues and dramatically reducing the potential for further incidents.”

Hafen said Pinnacle believes its internal initiatives “will create a new industry standard that will be proven out over time.” Further, he said that Pinnacle Security “would not tolerate individuals that behave outside of our code of conduct.”

Pinnacle’s has created new ways to get feedback directly from its customers to improve service. “One of several initiatives we have recently implemented is a customer service survey to better gauge ongoing levels of satisfaction,” Hafen said. While all complaints are taken seriously, Hafen pointed out that the number of complaints is a small percentage of Pinnacle customers: “The new protocols and compliance initiatives were created to resolve issues representing less than 0.5 percent of our growing clientele. We are not comfortable with any level of dissatisfaction.”

http://www.securitysystemsnews.com/?p=article&id=ss201003msABqW

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AlarmForce Receives A+ Rating From The Better Business Bureau

admin — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 23:32:23 +0000

At AlarmForce we take the customer service we provide seriously. Our goal is to give each of our customers the most outstanding service and security possible. From the moment a customer first calls in for product information to the installation of their system to our central station monitoring, we understand that the customer experience is paramount.

AlarmForce is proud to announce that this focus on excellence has garnered us with the distinction of having an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

The Better Business Bureau assigns ratings by evaluating business in more than 20 criteria. To receive an A+ rating some of the criteria examined include:

Low volume of complaints reported by customers compared to industry standards.
The action plan companies have in place to respond to customer complaints.
Whether the company honours commitments to mediate disputes and comply with arbitrators decisions
That the company is in good standing and is accredited by the Better Business Bureau.
The length of time the business has been in operation and in good standing.

Grades for all criteria are measured with scores ranging from A to F.

The AlarmForce team is very proud of our A+ rating and pledge to all of our customers that our outstanding customer service and home alarm monitoring will continue to maintain only the highest level of excellence in the future.

To learn more about the criteria set out by the Better Business Bureau please visit this site.

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AlarmForce Announces the Adoption of a Shareholder Protection Rights Plan

Richard — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:22:54 +0000

AlarmForce Industries Inc. announces today that the Board of Directors of the Company has approved the adoption of a shareholder rights plan, effective March 3, 2010. The purpose of the shareholder rights plan is to ensure, to the extent possible, that all shareholders of the Corporation are treated equally and fairly in connection with any initiative to acquire control of the Corporation.

The purpose of the rights plan is to encourage a potential bidder to make a “Permitted Bid”, having terms and conditions designed to meet the objectives of the rights plan, or to negotiate the terms of an offer with the Board of Directors of the Company. A Permitted Bid is a take-over bid that is made to all holders of voting shares of the Company (other than the bidder) for all of the voting shares held by them, by way of a take-over bid circular prepared in compliance with applicable securities laws, that remains open for acceptance by shareholders of the Company for 60 days, and that satisfies certain other conditions.

The Company is not aware of any specific take-over bid for the company that has been made or is contemplated. The rights plan is not intended to and will not prevent a take-over of the company.

The rights plan must be confirmed by shareholders within six months of its effective date. The Company currently plans to seek shareholder approval of the rights plan at its annual and special meeting, expected to be held on April 14, 2010. The listing of the rights is subject to acceptance by the Toronto Stock Exchange.

A complete copy of the rights plan is available upon request. Shareholders wishing to receive a copy of the rights plan should make their request by telephone at (416) 445-2001, by facsimile at (416) 445-9381, by email at investorreltations@alarmforce.com or by mail to AlarmForce Industries Inc., 675 Garyray Drive, Toronto, Ontario M9L 1R2, Attention: Ms. Margaret Brady. A copy of the rights plan will be filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

AlarmForce Industries Inc.
Investors Relations Department
416-445-2001 ext. 225
416-445-9381 (FAX)
investorrelations@alarmforce.com

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Break and Entering: Top 20 Toronto Neighbourhoods

Richard — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:19:16 +0000

Using crime statistics gathered from 2004 to 2009, the following list shows the top 20 neighbourhoods in Toronto for break and enters. It is interesting to note that the neighbourhoods with the highest rate of break ins are not necessarily the wealthiest, as you might expect. There are many factors which may contribute to a higher crime area.

Recent police studies have shown that a home with a security system is more than three times less likely to suffer a break and enter. At AlarmForce, Live 2-Way Voice installation is FREE and the monitoring is only $25 per month!

Top 20:

1 University
2 Bay Street Corridor
3 Kensington-Chinatown
4 Moss Park
5 Bridle Path-Sunnybrook-York Mills
6 East End-Danforth
7 Casa Loma
8 York University Heights
9 Annex
10 Church-Yonge Corridor
11 Waterfront Communities-The Island
12 Rosedale-Moore Park
13 Woodbine Corridor
14 Clairlea-Birchmount
15 West Humber-Clairville
16 South Riverdale
17 Little Portugal
18 Roncesvalles
19 The Beaches
20 Forest Hill South

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How Can Motion Sensor Alarms Improve My Safety?

admin — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 06:35:51 +0000

Many people ask us questions everyday about the products and services that we use at AlarmForce. In this feature our goal is to educate you on the importance of using motion sensors as part of your security solution.

What are Motion Sensor Alarms?

Motion Sensor Alarms detect movement in a specified area or beam of coverage. These types of alarms will analyze patterns, sense irregularities in common patterns and report them. They come in various types including light sensors, radar sensors or systems using sound waves.

Parts of a Motion Sensor Alarm

Motion Sensor Alarms consist of a sensor, controller and a speaker. The Controller controls the system, it can be used to activate / inactivate the alarm. The Controller requires a password for authentication.

Sensors monitor the area to be protected. We can program the system to switch off during certain parts of the day. Advanced systems allow the owner to send signals via a SMA code using the mobile system to disable the motion alarm system.

Motion Sensor Alarm Installation

Some Motion Alarm Systems can be monitored via an online interface as well. You can install motion sensor cameras which record movements. The motion sensor analyzes the pattern in the specific area of the house using light waves, soundwaves and sometimes radar waves. As soon as an irregularity in the pattern is sensed this set of the alarm. Usually the best places to install the motion sensor alarms are doors, big windows, hallways, radiators, stairs etc.

Why use a Motion Sensor Alarm?

Burglar alarm systems help to turn away intruders. In fact, homes that have burglar alarm systems are 3 times less likely to be robbed than those without. The motion sensor alarm usually senses the disturbance and sets off the alarm alerting the owners and neighbours too. But there are certain advanced motion sensor alarms that notify an emergency situation to the local police station. Some of the advanced burglar systems can even tell the difference between intruders and animals (usually house pets).

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Burglar Alarm Systems for Apartments

admin — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 06:00:55 +0000

Apartments are easy pickings for burglars. Most apartment buildings do not have a monitoring system at the entrance. Some require an access code to get in. It is difficult to prevent non-residents from getting into the building. All day long there is foot traffic; someone might ask to be let in because they couldn’t reach their friend or pretending to be a delivery person. When we do let them in, it is difficult to ensure if it was a genuine visitor or a burglar.

Apartment residents have to consider their safety very carefully. One of the safest and easiest ways is by installing a Burglar Alarm System in the apartment.

If you look at the statistics we have posted on our Blog entitled “How To Prevent Burglaries”, you will notice that crime rate is still pretty high in most countries.

Here is another graph showing violent crimes by province, in Canada.

For a detailed analysis you can take a look at www.statcan.ca http://www41.statcan.ca/2007/2693/ceb2693_000_e.htm

Prevention is always and should always be the first step in avoiding personal loss. Burglars are usually looking for houses which are unattended or have no burglar system installed. If burglars notice that a home burglar system has been installed, they target the next house. It is the perfect deterrent for a house burglary.

Burglars when questioned by Crime prevention professionals have mentioned that they do not attempt to break into houses which have lots of lighting, have a television or radio on, or have an Alarm System installed.

Few tips to secure your apartment from burglars

Install automatic lights which are set to go on at preset timings in a day. This is one of the best systems to use when you are on vacation or come late from work. Light timer switches are pretty inexpensive and help give the impression that someone is at home.

Secure your doors and windows, check all locks and replace worn out locks. Deadbolt door locks are more secure than regular locks and are worth the investment.

Have a peephole installed so that you can notice who is at your door.

If you live on a lower floor make sure that the backyard is always clean and toys or other items are put away.

Install a suitable Alarm System. Paste stickers provided by your Alarm System company in visible areas. These act as great deterrents for the wary burglar.

Types of Alarm Systems

There are essentially two types of Alarm systems, hardwired and wireless alarm systems. Both are effective when installed properly. Many residents prefer Wireless Alarm Systems because they do not require any cables running through the house.

Installation is easier in wireless alarm systems, and easier to reinstall while moving your home or restructuring your house. Wireless systems require a battery to be installed which needs to be monitored and replaced from time to time.

State Of The Art Home Security With AlarmForce

AlarmForce, the most trusted name in home security, is dedicated to providing its customers with unmatched security and the most advanced technologies available. Only with AlarmForce do you get the most effective method of security, live two-way voice, free in every system! Live two-way voice provides fast communication between your home and our state of the art central station once your alarm is triggered. It has been proven that live two-way voice is the best method of home protection and is the reason why AlarmForce secures over 150,000 people across North America.

For more information please contact our customer care department at 1-800-267-2001

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Monitoring Matters In Home Security

admin — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:46:36 +0000

As with most others the home security industry also has seen advances on the technology front with the passage of time. New tools and products have been released by companies frequently that provide better protection and promise a more secure life. The good thing is that today even the average home-owner has access to complete home security systems that were used previously only by the big companies and wealthy individuals. One of the most exciting advances have been the development of monitored home alarm systems.

How Alarm Monitoring Works

A monitored home security system allows a security company to remotely monitor your home for signs of burglary, fire, carbon monoxide, or other medical emergencies. The monitoring company first installs its pre-programmed alarm system in a home. If the home already has a system that is not configured for monitoring, the company can re-program and make it ready. Now the security system starts monitoring the premises. When an intrusion takes place it sounds an alarm and alerts the company’s central monitoring station using the telephone line. The trained personnel at the station instantly contacts the police or fire service and the home-owner himself.

How Monitoring Helps

Having a monitored security system provides the optimum protection for your home. In addition to providing an extra line of defence, home security systems with remote monitoring services ensure that an intruder will have less time to steal valuables from the house in the event of a break-in. Once the alarm is sounded and the authorities are notified, the likelihood is that the burglar will leave empty handed or, better yet, be caught red handed. They also provide peace of mind to parents leaving children or elderly family members at home alone given that most monitoring services allow one-touch connection with the security company in the event of an emergency.

How AlarmForce Does It

AlarmForce uses live two-way voice technology for its monitoring service. Live two-way voice provides fast communication between your home and our state of the art central station once your alarm is triggered. In the case of a break-in, our certified central station operators are immediately notified and they establish a live audio link between them and your house. This advanced wireless alarm system allows our operators to assess any emergency situations that occur and voice threaten the intruder that the authorities are actually on their way. Live two-way voice is ideal, since it lets us understand any situation, whether a burglary, home invasion or medical emergency is occurring and then deal with the situation instantly and effectively, giving you the ultimate in peace of mind.

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