Those who have residential burglary alarms in Manteca with odd number addresses need to renew their alarm permits by Jan. 31.

In doing so, under new rules adopted by the Manteca City Council earlier this month, the permits will be valid for two years through Dec. 31, 2020. Even number addresses will have to renew their permits by Jan. 31, 2020. Those permits will be valid through Dec. 31, 2021.

You can apply and renew online via the Manteca Police Department's website at

https://www.ci.manteca.ca.us/Police/AlarmPermit/default.aspx.
Commercial properties still have to renew their permits annually. The switch to two-year permits for residential properties reflect the fact they have less changes in who provides their service as well as key contacts when an alarm goes off.

The permit costs nothing nor does the renewal. It requires the name of the homeowner and contacts for two other individuals who have keys and can respond within 20 minutes after they are contacted by police.

A high number of false alarms over the years where officers responded but had no contacts on file to help determine whether the house or business was secure prompted Manteca 10 years ago to put in place a policy requiring all burglar alarms to have city permits.

Failure to obtain the permit can be costly.

During a 13-month period ending Feb. 7, 2015 Manteca issued fines totaling $176,000 for alarm violations. A sizable sum are for alarms without permits, repeat offenders who fail to get a permit after the first time police respond or that don't renew it on an annual basis with updated information as required by city ordinance.

More than 97 percent of the alarms police respond to are false. Typically they are triggered by a malfunction, faulty equipment, or something tripping the sensors such as a family pet, cleaning crews, store banners, and even spiders

Manteca adopted the permit policy in 2009. In the prior year, there were 3,587 residential burglar alarms activated of which 98.7 percent were mechanical failure or owner error with no criminal activity.

The loss in police manpower tied up in responding to false alarms was pegged at $80,000 in 2009. Police noted at the time they often did not have contact information when they responded to provide access or the ability to call. A study in 2009 noted each alarm response took an average of 18 minutes to respond, check the structure and contact the owner. Due to the nature of the calls it requires two officers. Manteca Police devoted 2,116 hours in 2009 responding to false alarms. The hours have since declined slightly since the ordinance was put into effect.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com