The Dallas Police Department received approximately
62,000 burglar alarm calls
in 2004
Approximately 32,300 from residential permit sites,
averaging approximately 0.56
per permit
Approximately 29,700 from commercial permit sites,
averaging approximately 2.0
per permit
Of these calls, 97.2% (approximately 60,100) turned out
to be false alarms
Responding to these false alarms took approximately
47,000 police officer hours
Using DPDs calculation of 4.4 hours of active work per 8
hour shift, that is 41 police
officer FTEs at a cost of approximately $3.485 million in police
time
These statistics are not unusual, but are seen in police
departments across the
nation
The vast majority of alarm calls between 94 and 98
percent are false (higher in
some jurisdictions) (U.S. Department of Justice)
In Dallas, 86% of the citizens and businesses do not
have alarm permits; 14% have alarm permits