False Alarm Events

What is a False Alarm

According to the Loudoun County's False Alarms Ordinance, Chapter 655, a false alarm is any alarm, whether audible or silent, to which the responding deputy finds no evidence or situation requiring a response by law enforcement, such as an attempted crime, a crime in progress or a crime that has just occurred.

A false alarm includes a site where one or more doors or windows are found unsecured and there is no evidence of unlawful entry. Alarms that are activated due to a power outage are also considered false. Silent robbery alarm set-off by owners or employees to report an incident other than a robbery is also a false alarm.

Other False Alarm Events

Other examples of false alarm events include:

  • An overly-sensitive system that activates when persons rattle a door or window
  • Animals locked inside and moving about the premises
  • Doors or windows left open or ajar
  • Drapes or balloons blowing in the breeze
  • Errors by the alarm monitoring (central station) service
  • Mail being dropped through a door mail-drop slot
  • Malfunctioning alarm systems
  • Owner, visitor, real estate agents, cleaning crews, or other employee error in disarming the alarm system
  • Power outages coupled with improper battery back-up system
  • Telephone line problems