February 10, 2014

Association Events

• 2.11.14 – STAA Monthly Meeting
  Clear Springs Restaurant – More Info
• 2.13.14 – HGCAA – Feb 13, 2014 Meeting
  Guest Speaker: Mike Montgomery Harris County Fire Marshall’s Office. More Info
• 3.5.14 – OKBFAA Member Meeting
  Wednesday, March 5th.  Details on the meeting forthcoming.  To RSVP, click here.  

Door to Door Sales

None this week

Public Safety Updates

• CA: Merced residents could be fined for false burglar alarms
  2.4.14 – KFSN-TV Fresno – Burglar alarms are designed to prevent crimes, but city leaders in Merced say excessive false alarms are taking officers away from real emergencies. More Info
• CA: Proposal in Calif. city would allow police access to private cameras
  1.27.14 – Security Info Watch – Under a recent proposal introduced by a city councilman in San Jose, Calif., property owners could voluntarily register their surveillance cameras for a new database that would enable the city’s police department to quickly access video footage of nearby crimes.  More Info
• IA: Galesburg Cracking Down on False Alarms
  2.4.14 – KWQC-TV 6 Davenport – Galesburg City Council voted Monday night to change the alarm system ordinance, eliminating an outdated registration fee and increasing fees for repeat false alarms. The changes, respectively, are meant. More Info
• MI: Fines possible for faulty alarm systems in Benton Harbor
  2.3.14 – WNDU-TV – Benton Harbor Ordinance changes in Benton Harbor mean folks could be fined if their alarm systems go off for no reason or if they allow litter to pile up on … More Info
• MO: County’s uniform crime numbers are down by 18.9 percent
  2.4.14 – Neosho Daily News – The alarm calls (were a) big increase in alarm calls, 784 (in 2013), that is because more private homes are putting in alarm systems,” Copeland said. “And that … More Info
• MT: Whitefish considers fines for false alarms
  2.4.14 – KCFW Kalispell – In a work session Monday evening the Whitefish City Council is taking up an ordinance that would impose a fee on false alarms that create extra work for emergency responders. More Info
• OH: Akron Police Try To Crack Down On False Alarms
  2.3.14 – WCBE 90.5 FM – The city of Akron, where 98 percent of security alarms turn out to be false, is beginning a new policy requiring confirmation of a possible crime. The Akron police … More Info
• OH: Akron, Ohio Police: Security Alarm Verification Required for Response
  2.3.14 – Insurance Journal – Akron, Ohio, where 98 percent of security alarms turn out to be false, is beginning a new policy requiring confirmation of a possible crime. The Akron police … More Info
• OH: False Alarm Offenders Pay Hefty Fees
  2.3.14 – WCMH Columbus – Emergency crews always respond to alarms from businesses, but false alarms are frustrating and time consuming. More Info
• TX: 9 times out of 10, a burglar alarm means no crime
  2.7.14 – The Eagle – IN this Feb. 21, 2013 photo, Austin police officer Ray Kianes, enters a house on Doc Holliday Trail in Austin, Texas. Kianes was responding to a burglar alarm at … More Info

Industry News

• Security tech stands out at CES 2014
  2.4.14 – Security Info Watch – Latest devices range from TVs that can control home security systems to robot guards… More Info
• ASG acquires in a new region
  2.5.14 – Security Systems News – Beltsville, Md.—ASG Security has acquired a “platform for hyper-growth” and moved into another state with a Jan. 31 acquisition. Which company did ASG acquire and where, and why does ASG predict the buy will propel ASG to $10 million in RMR by the end of 2014? More Info
• How to Measure Cable Length Accurately in the Field
  2.6.14 – CEPro – Field-based cable length measurements using hand-held devices provide accurate billing information, reducing time required to issue invoices. Either Capacitance or TDR technology are the best measurement methods. More Info

Legislative News

 

State Trends

• GELSSA to Georgia lawmakers: Table low-voltage licensure bill
  2.5.14 – Security Systems News – Atlanta—John Loud, the immediate past president of the Georgia Electronic Life Safety & Systems Association, is rallying support against a bill that would dramatically expand the number of Georgia contractors eligible to perform low-voltage installations, but could also lead to more false dispatches. Learn the details. More Info

National News

• Mall security in the spotlight in wake of shootings
  1.28.14 – Security Info Watch – Experts say open, free-flowing facilities like malls are inherently difficult to protect… More Info
• Age, experience of officers killed in the line of duty in 2013
  1.23.14 – IACP – There were 111 state, local, tribal or federal law enforcement officer line-of-duty deaths last year, the lowest recorded number in over 50 years. While this notable decline is encouraging, even one death of a law enforcement officer is unacceptable. More Info
• New surveillance technology can track everyone in an area for hours
  2.5.14 – The Washington Post – As Americans have grown increasingly comfortable with traditional surveillance cameras, a new, far more powerful generation is being quietly deployed that can track every vehicle and person across an area the size of a small city, for several hours at a time. More Info
• NAHB Forecasts Housing Starts Up 24% to 1.15M in 2014
  2.5.14 – CEPro – National Association of Home Builders predicts 822,000 single-family housing starts (up 32%) for 2014, and 1.16M single-family starts in 2015. Total starts (MDU + single-family) predicted at 1.15M this year. More Info
• US employers add 113K jobs; rate dips to 6.6 pct.
  2.7.14 – Washington Post – The U.S. economy added 113,000 jobs in January, according to a Labor Department report released Friday morning. The nation’s unemployment rate ticked down to 6.6 percent.  Analysts expected the report to show that the country had added 180,000 jobs last month, and that the unemployment rate remained at 6.7 percent. More Info

Business Tips

• How to Improve Your To-Do List
  1.31.14 – CIOInsight – At the start of your work day, identify the one task on your to-do list that you most fear doing–and start your day by being eliminating the task right away. More Info
• 5 questions every leader should ask about organizational design
  1.23.14 – Harvard Business Review Blog Network – Once upon a time, “organization design” meant bringing in a slew of consultants to oversee a large-scale organizational restructuring, most often intended to take out big chunks of cost during an economic downturn. Although that kind of redesign is still required periodically, leaders today are more typically confronted with the challenge of how to find cost efficiencies in certain parts of their organization to invest in other parts of the organization that drive growth. More Info
• Managers Must Deal With Dissatisfied Workers
  2.5.14 – Baseline – Workers are increasingly unhappy at their jobs and many plan to change employers this year. Managers who address the causes of resentment will be in a good position to avoid an exodus. More Info

Fire News

• CA: Fire trucks respond to alarm in Union
  2.9.14 – The State Hornet – The Sacramento Fire Department responded to a fire alarm at the union at 12:40 p.m. on Saturday. More Info
• NC: Churches not required to have carbon monoxide detectors
  2.4.14 – WSOC-TV Charlotte – Contractors were at Shiloh Institutional Baptist Church Monday where six people got sick from carbon monoxide this weekend.   Churches are not required to have carbon monoxide detectors.   But Eyewitness News spoke to several people, including a lawmaker, hoping for changes soon.   The parking lot at Shiloh Institutional Baptist Church has been empty since Saturday.   Even Sunday services were … More Info
• NY: Fire and water flow alarms sounding at Petco and Bed Bath & Beyond
  2.7.14 – The Batavian – Automatic alarms of fire and water flow are sounding at both Petco and Bed, Bath & Beyond. The Town of Batavia Fire Department … More Info
• NY: Unnecessary Calls Plague Rockland Firefighters
  2.7.14 – Patch.com – Chris Kear and Gordon Wren Jr. talk about Rockland County’s false alarm problem with George Dacre, at WRCR in Pomona, NY, Jan. 31, 2014 … More Info
• PA: Smoke alarms alert family to fire in Devon home
  2.8.14 – Main Line – “The husband and wife and their two dogs were alerted by their smoke alarm,” said Berwyn Fire Chief Eamon Brazunas. “This is significant, the house was … More Info
• TX: News 3 Investigates: Smoke Detector Safety For Kids
  2.4.14 – KBTX 3 Bryan – College Station – Would your kids wake up on their own if the smoke detector sounds in the middle of the night? News 3 experiments with traditional and programmable talking smoke alarms to see if some Bryan kids wake up. More Info
• TX: Smoke alarm alerts family
  2.9.14 – Seguin Gazette-Enterprise – Seguin – A family was alerted to a fire in their home by the blaring sounds of a smoke detector on Saturday morning. More Info

Crime News

• AL: Burglars break into store early Sunday morning
  2.9.14 – WSFA 12 Montgomery – Huntsville police responded to a burglary at a store early Sunday morning. More Info
• AL: Huntsville police: Rental store on Bob Wallace burglarized
  2.9.14 – The Huntsville Times – A store alarm alerted officers to investigate, and upon arrival they noticed that the side glass had been broken out. More Info
• AL: Overnight burglary at Super Target in Huntsville
  2.3.14 – WAAY-TV Huntsville – Huntsville, Ala. (WAAY) — Police are searching for a man who broke into the Super Target on University Drive and stole items from the store early Monday morning. More Info
• CA: $60,000 painting reported stolen from gallery garage
  2.5.14 – Laguna News Post – Here are recent Police Department reports from Laguna Beach: FEB. 2 Suspicious person/circumstances. 3:45 a.m. A resident said his alarm went off and that upon checking, he saw three people with hoods on hanging out nearby…. More Info
• CA: Caught On Camera: Thief Pushes Employee to Ground in $1000 …
  2.7.14 – NBC Southern California – That suspect had set off the store alarm while attempting to exit, according to police. “There’s four suspects total, two females and two males. The main person … More Info
• CA: Home Burglary in Westchester Captured on Surveillance Video: Police
  2.9.14 – KTLA-TV Los Angeles – Los Angeles police are asking for the public’s help in identifying three burglars who ransacked a home in Westchester. Surveillance video shows three males “scouting” the house on the night before the burglary, which occurred on Jan. 28, the Los … More Info
• CA: Mill Valley Woman Comes Face-To-Face With Home Intruder
  2.9.14 – CBS San Francisco – Believing the heavy winds and rain may have triggered her alarm, the woman walked downstairs to investigate and came face-to-face with an intruder. More Info
• CA: Thieves steal prescription drugs from pharmacy
  2.3.14 – Burbank Leader – Police are investigating a commercial break-in in which several bottles of prescription drugs were stolen from a Burbank pharmacy on Friday. More Info
• CA: Torrance robbery suspects take $1K in merchandise from Marshalls
  2.7.14 – abc7.com – When one of the suspects tried to leave the store, the security alarm went off. The suspect then asked a nearby employee if she would like to check her purse. More Info
• CT: Rash of gym break-ins continues
  2.6.14 – WTNH-TV New Haven – For the last couple of weeks there’s been burglars ripping off people while they are working out at the gym. More Info
• FL: Burglars hit Lake City store, steal $40,000 in phones
  2.4.14 – The Gainesville Sun – Lake City police are searching for two men they say broke into a T-Mobile store on Sunday and stole $40,000 worth of phones. More Info
• FL: Burglars steal $40K in phones
  2.3.14 – WJXT Jacksonville – The Lake City Police Department is searching for two people that burglarized the T-Mobile sometime early Sunday morning. More Info
• FL: Orange County restaurant burglaries have business owners on edge
  2.9.14 – WFTV 9 Orlando – Deputies said they’re investigating a string of restaurant burglaries in east Orange County and one man is believed to be responsible for them. On Sunday, a burglar was caught on surveillance video smashing his way through a glass window at Rice and Beans on Alafaya Trail after workers and customers cleared out for the night. He tried to pry open the cash drawer with a crowbar, but eventually … More Info
• IL: Elk Grove Police: Thieves Breaking into Homes through Unalarmed Top Floors
  2.5.14 – FOX40 Sacramento – Elk Grove- More than two dozen homes in Elk Grove have been broken into since October. Monday night, a home was the latest break-in. Police say the crooks are using things found on the property to gain … More Info
• IL: Forest Grove police log: Poisonous CPAP, mysterious mirror movers and frightened poultry
  2.4.14 – The Oregonian – The following is a list of calls, provided by the Forest Grove Police Department that officers responded to during the past week. JAN. 26 A woman reported that her alarm company is disarming her alarm and allowing her bread to be taken. More Info
• IL: String of burglaries target Knoxville businesses
  2.6.14 – WQAD Moline – Just South of the Quad Cities, a small community is dealing with a big time problem. Nine burglaries and enhanced… More Info
• IL: Taylor: Thief robs Firestone in daylight heist
  2.3.14 – The News-Herald – Taylor — Police were dispatched to Firestone on a showroom motion alarm at 8:41 a.m. Jan. 26. More Info
• IN: Phones taken during burglary
  2.3.14 – Fort Wayne Journal Gazette – Fort Wayne police were investigating a burglary at the ATT Mobile store on the city’s northeast side early Thursday. More Info
• KY: Snowy footprints lead officers to multiple arrests
  2.4.14 – WAVE – He got the call from his alarm company. “When I got here the police showed up on the scene about five or ten minutes afterwards, they told me there were foot … More Info
• MA: Attleboro plow driver helps police nab break-in suspect
  2.7.14 – The Sun Chronicle – Attleboro – A city plow truck driver enabled police to nab a break-in suspect early this morning, moments after they were dispatched to a burglar alarm at a South Attleboro smoke shop. More Info
• MD: Police looking for man who burglarized businesses in Gaithersburg, Rockville — Gazette.Net
  2.4.14 – Gazette.net – Montgomery County Police are investigating a series of commercial burglaries throughout Gaithersburg and Rockville. Police said the burglaries occurred on Dec. 10 and 11, and the same man is believed to be responsible for all of the incidents. More Info
• MI: Two Monroe County Businesses Burglarized Early Sunday
  2.3.14 – Monroe Evening News – Deputy William Broman responded to a front door alarm at the business. Upon arrival, he discovered the door glass broken out. The owner reported medication … More Info
• MN: Burglary reported at Park Avenue Thrift
  2.3.14 – The Enid News & Eagle -On Jan. 25, a burglary was reported at Park Avenue Thrift. More Info
• MN: Caught On Camera: Burglars Steal $20K In Jewelry While …
  2.9.14 – CBS Local – One of them is also shown cutting alarm and power cables to the home. Cindy Hench, who helps operate a neighborhood watch, posted a video of the burglary … More Info
• MT: Burglars charged in Washington, Lake County
  2.5.14 – Valleyjournal – The duo tried to break the glass door of Ronan Sports and Western at 4:31 a.m., but the alarm sounded. The pair drove to Depoe Junction and cut the lock on the … More Info
• NC: Police: Thief with a taste for bacon now in the pen
  2.3.14 – WBTV-The alarm went off and Joyner was seen throwing the cases of bacon over a fence. The problem for Joyner at that point was that he could not get out of the fence … More Info
• NE: Police Investigate Another Burglary Attempt at Coin Store
  2.7.14 – 1011now – The suspect is believed to have been scared off by the alarm and was not located when officers arrived. Stille said that there was no access made inside the … More Info
• NJ: Burglary at Park Ridge home is under investigation
  2.4.14 – NorthJersey.com – At 3:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 3, police officers responded to a burglar alarm at a house on Spring Valley Road near the Woodcliff Lake border, according to Park … More Info
• NJ: Lawrence: Police arrest suspect in possible burglary
  2.3.14 – The Lawrence Ledger – Paul Brown Jr., 50, of Yardville, has been charged with attempted burglary, possession of burglar tools and hindering apprehension for allegedly trying to break into the Subs and Bites shop at 12:25 a.m. Jan. 10, according to the Lawrence Township Police Department. More Info
• NJ: Police investigating theft at Bed Bath & Beyond store in Newtown Township
  2.5.14 – The Advance – Newtown Township – Police are investigating the theft of merchandise from the Bed Bath & Beyond store on Jan. 22. More Info
• NY: Two Aaron’s Rental stores robbed a week apart
  2.5.14 – WIVB Buffalo – Police are looking for information they hope will help them solve two-armed robberies at Aaron’s Rental stores. One happened January 16 in Tonawanda Street … More Info
• OH: Monroe County Sheriff’s Office investigating early morning burglaries
  2.3.14 – northwestohio.com – A deputy responded to a front door alarm that went off around 4 a.m. at Medicine Shoppe on Secor Road in Bedford Township. The owner of the store said … More Info
• OH: Police: Family Dollar burglar stole soap, scented body wash
  2.4.14 – WHIO-TV 7 Dayton – Dayton police captured a man they say broke into the Family Dollar store on North Gettysburg Avenue early Tuesday morning and stole Dove soap and Axe body wash. Kenneth Brown, 47, was booked into the Montgomery County Jail pending a charge of breaking and entering at about 3:30 a.m. Police responded to the business at about 12:45 a.m. when the alarm company called and said they were monitoring … More Info
• OH: Sheriff’s office continues to combat rise in robberies
  2.8.14 – Coshocton Tribune – He said during the struggle he pressed an button to his home alarm system, which notified police. After the attack he was taken to the hospital to be examined … More Info
• ON: Surveillance video shows clumsy crook drop TV, trip through a …
  2.4.14 – Windsor Star – The man triggered the alarm in the Cash Converters about 12:10 a.m. Thursday. Officers arrived to find a large pane of glass smashed … More Info
• ON: Theft and drug charges
  2.3.14 – Chatham Daily News – … Chatham helped police target a suspect arrested on the weekend. Police said a theft of two portable welders valued at $1,200 triggered a store security alarm. More Info
• ON: Windsor Police investigating three same-night break-ins
  2.7.14 – CBC via Yahoo! Canada News – Windsor Police are investigating break-ins at three Windsor businesses. More Info
• PA: 2 Bryn Mawr businesses hit by burglaries overnight
  2.3.14 – Main Line – An alarm at Sandy Demaio Jewelry sounded at 5 a.m.for a break-in. Pry marks were found on the first floor window but … More Info
• PA: Thieves Target Montco Business With No Power
  2.9.14 – CBS Philadelphia – A business in Wyncote, Montgomery County has been targeted multiple times by thieves after losing power. More Info
• SC: Police looking for woman accused of stealing $1500 worth of perfume
  2.3.14 – Live 5 News – Authorities say Gibbs set off the security alarm system as she walked out of the business. The store manager said she were able to identify Gibbs as the suspect, … More Info
• TN: KPD investigating Sequoyah Hills robbery
  2.6.14 – Knoxville News Sentinel – A West Knoxville homeowner woke up Thursday morning to three armed robbers in his house, authorities said. More Info
• TX: Armed Robbery in west El Paso
  2.8.14 – KFOX 14 El Paso – A 7-Eleven was robbed Saturday morning in west El Paso. According to the El Paso Police Department, the police received a call of an armed robbery taking place at around 3 a.m.at a gas station. The clerk at the gas station pressed the alarm to notify police of the incident. … More Info
• TX: Arrest made in pharmacy break-in
  2.4.14 – The San Angelo Standard-Times – For the fifth time in five years San Angelo police arrested a man in connection with a break-in, or attempted break-in, at the Medical Arts Pharmacy. More Info
• TX: Austin police officer suspended for misfiring gun
  2.6.14 – KVUE-TV Austin – Austin — An Austin police officer is temporarily suspended one day after misfiring his shotgun last November. Officer Benjamin Rohe responded to a burglary alarm at a Walgreens store at Parmer Lane in Northwest Austin While he was clearing his gun, he accidentally fired one round into the pavement. No injuries were reported. Officer Rohe’s suspension will go into effect Friday.  More Info
• TX: North Austin residents warned of daytime break-ins
  2.5.14 – KVUE-TV – Austin — The North Austin Civic Association is warning homeowners in the Lanier High School area to be aware of recent burglaries. Many are happening during the day when people are at work. A woman in the area says she went outside Monday afternoon around 1 p.m. and saw a man climbing a fence. She yelled, and he ran away. A few blocks away, just days previously, someone busted down a door … More Info
• TX: Police still searching for credit union robber
  2.5.14 – Amarillo Globe-News – Authorities are still investigating Monday evening’s robbery of Texas Plains Federal Credit Union in downtown Amarillo. More Info
• VA: Police: $5600 in Golf Cart Damage in Club Break-In
  2.3.14 – Patch.com – Unknown persons activated an alarm at 2:30 a.m. Sunday. Police were not notified when the alarm was activated, according to police spokesperson Officer … More Info

The National Monitor is a service of the National Electronic Security Alliance (NESA). Member states are free to reproduce the information contained herein in print or electronic media as they see fit. Contact NESA for more information at 301.519.9237 or bradshipp@4yoursolution.com

NESA is a federation of state associations established to serve and promote the electronic systems industry at the direction of, and through its affiliated state associations. Five state associations are part of NESA – Texas Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (TBFAA), Maryland Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (MDBFAA), Kansas Electronic Security Association (KESA), Arkansas Security Alarm Association (ASAA) and Oklahoma Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (OKBFAA). For more info visit www.nesaus.org.

 

NESA Board of Directors

• President – Jordon Brown
• Vice President & Texas Burglar & Fire Alarm Assn. Director- Chris Russell
• Secretary- Kathleen Schraufnagel
• Treasurer and Arkansas Security Alarm Assn. Director – Rick Howell
• Maryland Burglar & Fire Alarm Assn. Director- Brian Shrake
• Past President –Rex Adams
• Kansas Electronic Security Alliance Director Dan Locke
• Oklahoma Burglar & Fire Alarm Assn. Director- Rick Spring
• Associate Director- Dean Coburn
• Executive Director- Brad Shipp
• Maryland Burglar & Fire Alarm Assn. Alternate- Craig Bober
• Oklahoma Burglar & Fire Alarm Assn. Alternate- Danna Fowble
• Texas Burglar & Fire Alarm Assn. Alternate- Chip Bird