Let's Help Prevent False Alarms

Dunes Residents,

 

When reviewing the statistics reports for just the Dunes neighborhoods, we find that the majority of incidents requiring response from city services personnel are for "false alarms" and "animal control incidents".  Most of  the false alarms result from having home alarm systems that are malfunctioning - in need of service repair.  These systems are generating numerous false alarms within short time frames - so frequent that it should be apparent to the homeowners that they have a problem that needs to be addressed!

 

Currently, the City of Myrtle Beach has not been active in penalizing those who are allowing excessive system failures to become nuisance issues.  There are many cities who assess hefty fines for these violations!

 

Suggestions:

    Keep your alarm systems in good working order.

    Learn how to operate your system.

    Make sure that your service provider responds to alarms by first calling you, before contacting the police.

    Do not program the system to call the police.  It should initially communicate directly to your service provider, who should then respond appropriately.

 

False Alarm!

While at a community watch meeting last night we were discussing false alarm calls and how they impact us. I wanted to share some of the information I dug up on that.

Here are the citywide stats from 2009 on false alarms:

Alarm – Audible                =             5003       calls for service

Alarm – Hold-up               =             204         calls for service

Alarm – Panic                     =             134         calls for service

                                                =             5341       Total false alarms

=             53410    Minutes spent resolving false alarms (@ 10 minutes per call)

=             890         Hours spent resolving false alarms

That’s 890 actual hours in 2009 that we spent resolving false alarms and not directly crime fighting. That’s like having one police officer work fulltime for 22 weeks at 40 hours a week just handling false alarms!!

Hopefully by this stat you can see the importance of having an alarm system that is functioning properly and having everyone in your household knowing how to use it. Alarms are a good thing and I do recommend them, however lets be sure they are in proper working order!

If you have any questions, I’m always here to help!

Thank you,

PFC  Sean Fay

Crime Prevention / Crime Analyst

Myrtle Beach Police Department

Neighborhood Watch Meeting Nov. 10th

Hello all!

Those there at the Community Watch Meeting tonight I hope you all enjoyed it and the information that was shared. I have attached the revised stats for your area. I found that Pinecrest Dr was not included and have added it onto the updated stat sheet. It changed the overall calls by 1 with a burglary that everyone is familiar with.

PFC Yurkin spoke tonight and his information as well as his partner’s is below.  I am going to see if I can line them up for the April meeting.

PFC Paul Yurkin                 918-1953  pyurkin@cityofmyrtlebeach.com

PFC Heath Platt                 918-1950 hplatt@cityofmyrtlebeach.com

http://www.cityofmyrtlebeach.com/policegangunit.html <-- Gang Unit Info

http://www.cityofmyrtlebeach.com/policegang101.html <-- Gang 101 Info

For those who didn’t attend I think a lot of good information was put out tonight. Jimmy Brown the city Arborist was there and spoke a great deal about protected trees. It was very informative all around. I’m lining up a special guest speaker in March so hopefully that will work out.

Plan on attending in March! You never know who might show up or what great information might be put out. This is your city and your neighborhood so take ownership of it and let your voice be heard!

Thank you,

PFC  Sean Fay

Crime Prevention / Crime Analyst

Myrtle Beach Police Department

843-918-1806 - Office

sfay@cityofmyrtlebeach.com