March 17, 2014

Association Events

• NTAA Expo – March 20, 2014
  11:30 AM to 2:00 PM- The Victoria Restaurant 13435 Bee Street Farmers Branch, TX 75234- More Info
• TBFAA CTC – Tuesday 3-18-14
  Big Daddy’s Burgers & Bar- www.bigdaddysaustin.com- 12-1 with some hob knobbin beginning at 11(ish)- Mr. Mark Gilmore from System Sensor will be joining us as our guest speaker. His topic to present, Knowing CO!

Door to Door Sales

• OH: Police investigate scam calls about burglar alarms
  3.12.14 -ThisWeekNews – Reynoldsburg police are investigating reports of several phone calls where the caller attempts to discover if certain homes have burglar alarm protection. More Info
• MO: Police warn residents about door-to-door alarm sales
  3.12.14 – KMBC Kansas City – Police said there have been several reports over the last few days across the metro of people going up to homeowners, claiming to be employees of an alarm … More Info
• MO: Pair charged in door-to-door alarm sale case
  3.13.14 – KMBC-TV Kansas City – Prosecutors have filed felony charges of financially exploiting the elderly against a man and woman from Utah in connection with what police said is a door-to-door scam selling alarm systems. More Info
• Police warn of home alarm system scammers
  3.13.14 – Amarillo.com – Police said they have received at least five calls in the past two days about suspicious activity by door-to-door home alarm salesmen. The reports state that the …More Info

Public Safety Updates

• CA: Source: False alarms an issue at Lincoln High School
  3.14.14 – 10News – The source told Team 10 false alarms happen so often at Lincoln High School that people stopped paying attention to them during a real emergency. More Info
• IL: Champaign officials trying to avoid costly false alarms
  3.12.14 – Champaign/Urbana News-Gazette – Police say they spent $111,717 responding to alarms at residential and commercial properties in 2012, the most recent data available. The problem is that only a … More Info
• NM: Village officials alarmed over illegal alarms
  3.14.14 – Ruidoso News – Ruidoso’s code enforcement officers are cracking down on alarm companies, whose representatives are canvassing neighborhoods without a business license and are installing alarm systems without permits and assurances that they will comply with village rules. More Info
• OH: Cincinnati City Council requires all banks to register foreclosed …
  3.12.14 – Cincinnati Business Courier – The fee is reduced to $50 if the bank installs an alarm system. Wetterich covers government and politics, transportation and downtown development. More Info
• OH: City police phasing out alarm service
  3.12.14 – Marietta Times-Marietta’s Police Department is phasing out its security alarm service, citing a low number of subscribers and a high cost to replace the department’s aging alarm … More Info
• OH: Columbus acting to reduce false alarms
  3.10.14 – The Columbus Dispatch – In an ongoing effort to curtail costly and time-consuming false alarms, Columbus public-safety officials plan to revisit the ordinance that penalizes the city’s worst offenders. And in the next few weeks, the Police Division will begin training patrol officers to better identify and document those problem homes and businesses. More Info
• VA: Time Change May Account for Additional False Alarms
  3.10.14 – WHSV Harrisonburg – The time change make have taken an hour of sleep from you Sunday, but Monday it tired out emergency responders. More Info
• WY: Casper fire crews may stop responding to excessive false alarms under new ordinance
  3.14.14 – Casper Star-Tribune – Fire Inspector Dean Jackett noticed a lot of signs sprouting in the front yards of Casper homes last year. More Info

Industry News

• Annual survey finds ‘unprecedented growth’ in monitoring sector
  3.12.14 – Security Systems News – Yarmouth, Maine—If anything stands out about the fourth annual Barnes Associates/SSN/CSAA wholesale monitoring survey, it’s that overall growth was gaudy. Did the cableco/telecom influx play a role in the unusual 19 percent hike in monitoring accounts last year? More Info

Legislative News

 

State & National News

• CO poisonings in two states may lead to expanded detector requirements
  3.12.14 – Security Systems News – Yarmouth, Maine—Calls to expand mandates for carbon monoxide detectors in commercial buildings in New York and Maine have resulted from recent cases in those states of poisonings by the deadly gas—one of them fatal. What do fire alarm companies in those states suggest as safe and cost-effective solutions? More Info
• Big data and law enforcement: Was ‘Minority Report’ right?
  3.5.14 – Wired – Other law enforcement agencies from the national level all the way down to the municipal level are using available data to catch criminals and — in some cases — even prevent crime. A rising number of cities and towns in the U.S. are starting to use predictive policing. More Info
• Arkansas Embraces a Mobile-First Approach
  3.12.14 – The State of Arkansas has launched an ambitious initiative to make mobility the centerpiece of its emerging business strategy. More Info

Business Tips

• Guidelines for Professional Communications
  3.7.14 – Baseline – Professionals must think harder about what they’re going to discuss or write before opening their mouths or dashing off an email. These guidelines can help… More Info
• To Motivate Employees, Apply This Scientific Rule Of Leadership
  3.9.14- Forbes ‎- How to motivate employees: leadership consultant Micah Solomon writes that successful employee motivation requires you never forget the #1 … More Info
• 3 Ways to Build Customer Loyalty Using Love, Not Lawyers – Inc.com
  3.11.14 – Inc – Some companies use legal force to lock out the competition and lock in customers. But know this: Arm-twisting doesn’t build loyalty. Here’s what … More Info
• 5 ways to revamp your leadership style
  3.11.14 – Thought Leaders, LLC – No matter what your chosen career field is, without demonstrating leadership skills along with the rest of your talents the chances are that your career will be stagnant. Leadership skills are a must in any career path these days. So how to you know that what you are doing in terms of leadership is working? More Info
• Not born with it? You can still become a great leader
  2.28.14 – Inc. – No one ever said being a leader was easy. It’s not. Not only do you have to make smart decisions about products and services, marketing, financing, and other operational issues, but you also have to maximize the full potential of your employees. The good news is that you don’t have to be a born leader to be an effective leader. Just embrace these six pillars of leadership wisdom. More Info
• The Boomers are leaving: Retain their knowledge
  2.28.14 – XYZ University – We need to be honest; we’re facing a workforce crisis. An average of 10,000 Baby Boomers are retiring every day, and they have knowledge you can’t afford to lose. With a good succession plan in place, you don’t have to. Instead, facilitate a transfer of knowledge to improve your organization and support its future viability. More Info
• These Communications ‘Sins’ Hurt Productivity
  3.7.14 – Baseline – By proactively planning an oral or written exchange, you can incorporate tools that will help you drill down to the most essential information, while avoiding these five communications “sins.” More Info

Fire News

• IL: False Fire Alarm at Jefferson High School
  3.13.14 – WIFR Rockford – Rockford Public Schools reports that a fire alarm was pulled at Jefferson High School today. More Info
• NE: Lambda Chi Alpha works to stop false fire alarms after fine
  3.14.14 – Daily Nebraskan – The Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity house at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is under fire for a proliferation of false alarm calls. The chapter has had seven false … More Info
• OK: False Alarms at Okla. College Prompt Safety Complaint
  3.12.14 – Firehouse.com – March 12–Responding to a high number of fire alarms at Bacone College presents safety concerns for students, firefighters and the public, according to a union … More Info
• OK: WATCH: Forgotten system saves the day after alleged arsonists try …
  3.12.14 – kfor.com – After the flames began to grow, the fire alarm sounded and the store’s sprinkler system doused the blaze. The sprinklers put out the fire, saved the lives of all the … More Info
• TX: False Fire Alarms Routine At North Texas Apartment Complex
  3.11.14 – CBS Local – Dallas (CBS 11 NEWS) – Screeching alarms in the middle of the night, it’s a scenario that residents of one North Teas apartment complex say they are far too … More Info

Crime News

• AL: Arrest made in Birmingham pharmacy burglary
  3.14.14 – CBS42 – (WIAT) — Late this past Tuesday, deputies with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office responded to a burglary alarm at Corner Discount Drugs… More Info
• AL: Auburn Teens Arrested on Burglary Charges
  3.12.14 – WLTZ 38 NBC – On March 10th, at approximately 12:00 p.m. officers responded to a call of an alarm at a residence. When police arrived they … More Info
• AL: Deputies investigating smash-and-grab robbery at Corner pharmacy
  3.12.14 – North Jefferson News – When deputies responded to the alarm, they found that the glass front door was broken out. No one was inside. A check of the video showed a white male with a … More Info
• AL: Huntsville police make arrest in Target burglary
  3.15.14 – al.com (blog) – Huntsville, Alabama – Huntsville police made an arrest in connection to a burglary at Target on University Drive this morning. Officers responded to an alarm … More Info
• AL: Jeffco Sheriff’s Office investigating pharmacy burglary
  3.12.14 – WAFF- According to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the burglar alarm was tripped at Corner Discount Drugs around … More Info
• AZ: Toilet paper, beer among items stolen by Tucson burglar
  3.11.14 – Arizona Daily Star – On Monday, a burglar alarm went off at a home in the area of North Soldier Trail and East Fort Lowell Road and surveillance cameras caught a man and woman … More Info
• CA: Burglary suspect with taste for ice cream surrenders after standoff in …
  3.10.14 – San Gabriel Valley Tribune – The same man was seen pulling on several doors. He said an alarm went off in another home and officers saw an open window. There was another alarm call. More Info
• CA: Thieves steal gas station ATM in Sonoma County
  3.16.14 – KGO-TV Bay Area – Sonoma County Sheriff’s officials are investigating after thieves made off with a gas station ATM overnight. More Info
• CO: Unfazed by the alarm, he just keeps burgling
  3.12.14 – Colorado Springs Independent – Gene Richins, 31, broke into a jewelry store in Sandy, Utah, by climbing down through the ceiling but then set off a motion-detector alarm. “The alarms were … More Info
• FL: Jacksonville burglars smashing stolen trucks through storefronts on Westside; no arrests made yet
  3.10.14 – The Florida Times-Union – Burglars who have been stealing older-model pickup trucks and smashing them through storefronts on Jacksonville’s Westside hit five stores in a two-week period, police said. More Info
• FL: Jacksonville burglars smashing stolen trucks through storefronts on …
  3.10.14 – Florida Times-Union – When Patel got to Skylight Discount Beverage about 20 minutes after the alarm company called, the front door and surrounding concrete structure was smashed …More Info
• FL: Police arrest Sanford man for stolen handgun
  3.14.14 – WCSH-TV – Police also charged Ogan with burglary in relation to commercial burglaries at the Third Alarm Diner on April 21, 2013 and June 7, 2013. Police transported … More Info
• IA: Iowa City man who crashed into Scheels sentenced
  3.12.14 – The Gazette: Eastern Iowa Breaking News and Headlines – Officers responded to a burglary alarm at the store at 2:32 a.m. and discovered the SUV near the escalator. Officers delayed entering the store when the motion … More Info
• KY: Burglar leaves behind gloves, flashlight during attempted burglary
  3.14.14 – WKYT Lexington – Police are investigating after an early morning break-in at a Lexington church. More Info
• MA: Teens break into Lawrence home while owner barricades herself in room
  3.13.14 – FOX 25 Boston – Two teenagers were in court Wednesday after police say they broke into a house while a woman was home. More Info
• MD: Deer, dog chase damages Arundel school
  3.10.14 – Baltimore Sun – Students at two southern Anne Arundel County schools had the day off Monday after deer and dogs tore through the building, causing thousands of dollars’ worth of damage. On Monday morning, three deer jumped through glass doors at Southern Middle School, which also houses students from nearby Lothian Elementary, which is under construction.   More Info
• MD: Officer fires gun at driver of stolen car during burglary in Hanover
  3.12.14 – CapitalGazette.com – Police responded to a security alarm at the Baltimore Washington Auto Outlet shortly before 12:40 a.m. Officers found that the … More Info
• ME: Maine suspect’s getaway vehicle gets stuck in snow
  3.14.14 – Boston Herald – Orrington, Maine – The owner of an Orrington business says the latest snowstorm to hit Maine thwarted a burglary at his store. Warren Mitchell, owner of Kings Mountain Radio Control hobby shop, says he got a call from a neighbor who heard the store’s alarm go off at about 4 a.m. Thursday. When he got there, the alleged thief’s vehicle was stuck in the snow in the store’s driveway. Mitchell … More Info
• MI: Basement window found kicked in and other Dearborn Heights crimes
  3.16.14 – Dearborn Press & Guide- Police responded to an alarm call at a house on March 7 and found a basement window kicked in. The owner of the house said he believes a former client was responsible for the attempted break-in. More Info
• MI: Officers shoot at bank robber who tried to run them down
  3.15.14 – ClickOnDetroit – Southfield police officers opened fire on a suspected bank robber early … More Info
• MI: Southfield Police arrest bank robbery suspect
  3.15.14 – WXYZ-TV Detroit – A busted out window is the only sign left of what happened at a Comerica Bank in Southfield, early Saturday morning. According to investigators, a man broke in and swiped a bunch of cash around 5:00 am. More Info
• MI: Two Men Arrested For Armed Robbery
  3.10.14 – The Monroe Evening News – Michigan State Police arrested two Monroe men in connection with an armed robbery of the Speedway Gas Station in Monroe Township Saturday morning after their get-away car was spotted at a nearby home. More Info
• OH: Burglars take $47,000 in merchandise from Wren House store: Chagrin Falls Police Blotter
  3.13.14 – The Cleveland Plain Dealer – Chagrin Falls, Ohio – Breaking and Entering – After responding to a 3:30 a.m. alarm call March 4, officers found a back door to a commercial building pried open. Doors were tampered with for two businesses. More Info
• OH: Man robs Fairfield bank
  3.10.14 – Today’s Pulse – Fairfield police are searching for a man who robbed a bank here today. The man entered First Financial Bank at 11:45 a.m. and demanded money from a teller who complied with the order. The suspect did not display a weapon, but advised the teller that he had a gun. The suspect fled the bank on foot. A silent hold-up alarm alerted police to the incident. No one was injured … More Info
• OH: Would-be thieves attempt unsuccessful withdrawal of ATM: Solon police blotter
  3.14.14 – The Cleveland Plain Dealer – Police responded to a burglar alarm shortly before 5 a.m. on March 5 at the Cleveland Clinic off and arrived to find an ATM had been tampered with, then abandoned. More Info
• OK: Edmond Police Hope Surveillance Footage Helps Catch Crafty Burglar
  3.14.14 – KWTV News9 – A popular sushi restaurant near the University of Central Oklahoma was burglarized early Tuesday morning and the suspect got away with more than $7,000. More Info
• ON: Drunk man breaks into Alliston LCBO
  3.14.14 – Simcoe.com – Alliston – A New Tecumseth man is facing a handful of charges after allegedly breaking into the Alliston LCBO. OPP were called for an alarm going off at the store on Young Street March 13 just before 3:30 a.m. More Info
• ON: Man caught after breaking into school
  3.10.14 – Niagara This Week – St. Catharines – Police have arrested a 42-year-old man after responding to an alarm at the Kiwanis Aquatics Centre and Library and following footprints in the snow to a nearby school, where he was found hiding. More Info
• ON: Man caught after breaking into school
  3.11.14 – Niagara This Week – St. Catharines – Police have arrested a 42-year-old man after responding to an alarm at the Kiwanis Aquatics Centre and Library and following footprints in the snow to a nearby school, where he was found hiding. More Info
• ON: Man was walking away from break-in
  3.14.14 – Barrie Examiner – New Tecumseth – On their way to check out a Young Street alarm, police arrested a man and charged him with four crimes early Thursday. More Info
• ON: WIndsor Police dog nabs break-and-enter suspects
  3.10.14 – OurWindsor.ca – At approximately 6:40 am, Windsor Police responded to an alarm coming from a portable at St. Christopher School. Officers observed …More Info
• PA: Burglary Suspects Sold Guns for Money, Drugs
  3.13.14 – Gant Daily – Police responded to the scene due to the activation of the store’s intrusion alarm and found forced entry had occurred through the glass front door. The store … More Info
• PA: Co-conspirator in robbery of Hen’s Coins in Lansdale gets jail time
  3.12.14 – Montgomery Newspapers – After about five minutes, the pair left the store and the victim activated a burglar alarm, notifying police. With the help of video surveillance footage from … More Info
• PA: Police investigate burglary at bank
  3.12.14 – WBNG-TV – Once inside, the person triggered the alarm system. It is unknown what or how much was taken from the bank. Anyone with additional information is asked to call … More Info
• SC: Panic alarm helps Rock Hill woman thwart purse snatcher
  3.12.14 – The State – Rock Hill – A Rock Hill woman told police that a man sporting a camouflage shirt and pants tried stealing her purse at gunpoint Tuesday night, but he ran … More Info
• TX: Corpus Christi police respond to break-in at Houston Elementary
  3.13.14 – Corpus Christi Caller-Times – A burglar broke into Sam Houston Elementary, breaking the building’s double glass doors, police said. More Info
• VA: Police: Man pulled knife on TJ Maxx worker in Va.
  3.12.14 – W*USA 9 – … 33-year-old Christopher Scott Kohne displayed a knife to an employee while trying to get the refund money and then left the store, triggering a security alarm. More Info
• WA: 15 sex toys found on Olympia burglary suspect
  3.13.14 – KOMO Seattle – A man suspected of breaking into an adult store in Olympia had 15 sex toys in his possession when he was arrested. More Info
• WA: Spokane hotel clerk just says ‘no’ to would-be robbers
  3.14.14 – Seattle Times – Spokane, Wash. – Two masked men who attempted to rob a Spokane hotel went away empty-handed early Friday when a clerk refused to cooperate. More Info
• WA: Tacoma man accused of breaking into Olympia adult store, stealing …
  3.12.14 – TheNewsTribune.com – Olympia police who responded to the burglary alarm found that the front door window at Lovers had been smashed out, leaving pile of glass shards both inside … More Info
• WV: Thieves again target Alum Creek pharmacy
  3.15.14 – The Charleston Gazette – Charleston, W.Va. — Two men stole prescription medications from a Lincoln County pharmacy early Friday, police said, the second burglary there in three months. Police are asking for help in identifying two men who broke in through the front doors of Me… 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