Today, it is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our founding owner, Dr. William “Doc” Standring.

It was 1969 when Al Cronk and Robert Baxter reached out to Doc to start a Sonitrol franchise in Evansville. Though a successful dentist, Doc jokingly said that he bought in because he wanted to have something to do after retirement. Today, the business that he started with part-time sales people and part-time installers, has now grown into full time employment for over 30 people. He was a leader and a forward thinker.  Before the internet, blogging, white pages and alike, Doc was mailing letters to his customers. Via a typewriter, he would share his knowledge regarding home safety, business security and how to reduce false alarms. Until the end, Doc was a part of Sonitrol, emailing ideas from home and inquiring on how to reach more people with social media.

He was a leader, mentor, guide, humanitarian, entrepreneur, and ahead of his time.

He will be greatly missed!

Click here for Doc’s full obituary.

Sonitrol of Evansville would like to invite you to sit in the operator’s chair on a verified security alarm.  See what they see.  Hear what they hear.

This new verified security system, uses audio and video to confirm a burglary in progress.  This allows law enforcement to respond with the knowledge that there is an unauthorized individual in the building.  It also reduces false alarms.  How does that affect our law enforcement departments?

Let’s look at the numbers.  According to the Evansville Police Department’s 2013 annual report:

• Alarm calls received by dispatch – 5020
• False alarms – 3274
• Canceled alarms – 1682
• Live alarms – 64

These are the statistics for ONE department.  3274 alarm calls were false!  By having a security system that verifies an actual break in, police can respond with the knowledge that an arrest is possible.  By not responding to false alarms, police can respond to actual crimes.  It saves their departments time and money.  Plus, when law enforcement arrests the individual on the scene and the burglary is solved. Getting the burglar off the street prevents him/her from committing other crimes.   And sometimes, it solves past crimes that he/she may have committed.

If you would like to hear more about verified security, contact us.

And a warning for you bad guys out there: stay out of buildings bearing the emblem of Sonitrol!  We will help police catch you!

For so many of us, parking lots have become a familiar venue. We have become so accustomed to frequenting these places, that we may have, perhaps, lost track of how vulnerable we can be. A parking lot, especially at night, can be a lonely place.

1. If there are options, we should, first and foremost, chose a parking lot with sufficient lighting and security coverage. The presence of cameras in the parking lot is certainly an indication that the security of their patrons is of major concern, and acts as a significant deterrent to crime. Park in a well lit section of the parking lot, in easy view of security cameras and as close to the exit, or the attendant’s kiosk, as possible.
2. When you park, make sure that you have stored any valuables in your trunk and out of view.
3. If the parking lot offers an escort service, feel free to avail yourself. If no escort is available, proceed with caution.
4. Upon leaving your car, walk quickly and confidently toward your destination, allowing no distractions, such as using your cell phone.
5. Be aware of your surroundings, and of any other parties in the parking lot.
6. If you must leave your car key with the attendant, leave only your car key, never a key ring with house or office keys attached. It is very easy to obtain your home address from your vehicle registration, and you don’t want to hand over such easy access to a potential thief.
7. Upon returning to the parking lot to retrieve your vehicle, exercise the same caution you did upon entering. Look around for possible threats. Make note of any individuals who lie within the path between you and your car.
8. Carry your car keys in your hand, ready for use. You don’t want to have to fish around in your purse.  Your keys can also serve as an impropmtu weapon if you need to defend yourself.
9. Choose a path which keeps you within the range of security cameras, and well lit areas.
10. Upon arrival at your vehicle, check both inside and out, and even under, for possible threats.
11. If there is a van or the like parked on your driver’s side, you might feel more secure entering on the passenger side. Better safe then sorry.
12. As soon as you are settled in your vehicle, lock the doors and windows, and leave the parking lot immediately.
13. If you feel you are being followed, drive to the closest police station.

Your safety is our concern.  If there is a safety question that we can answer, feel free to contact us on Facebook!

Business owners walk a fine line when respecting an employee’s right to privacy intersects with the very real need to prevent incidents of workplace violence from occurring.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation defines workplace violence as a “murder or other violent acts committed by a disturbed or aggrieved employee or ex-employee against co-workers or supervisors”.  Incidents of workplace violence have been well-documented by the media over the course of the last three decades.

Common workplace violence issues

Workplace violence issues can occur when co-workers become upset with each other and the confrontation escalates to physical violence. These types of confrontations are usually sparked by bad performance reviews or personality clashes between individuals.  One of the earliest examples of mass workplace violence occurred on Aug. 28, 1986. Patrick H. Sherrill, a part-time letter carrier was facing dismissal due to poor work performance.  He walked into an Edmond, Oklahoma post office and shot 14 people to death before turning his gun on himself.  In March of 1998, four state lottery workers in Connecticut were killed by a co-worker and in December of 2000 seven people were killed by a disgruntled software engineer in Wakefield, Massachusetts.

Workplace violence can also occur when the domestic problems of an employee are brought to the workplace. That’s what happened on Nov. 8, 2001 when Ana Melina Kolic was stabbed 29 separate times by her husband while at work in a Baltimore, Md. hair accessory shop.

The question then becomes what can a business owner do to ensure the safety and security of employees while they are at work. Technology can provide an answer.

Electronic access systems

Sonitrol managed access systems automatically regulate access to buildings and other sensitive areas of your facility.  This will provide a safer work environment for your staff members with an increased level of security for your valuable information and other proprietary data.

The electronic access systems offered by Sonitrol include access cards and fobs. This will save a business from changing the locks every time an employee leaves. The fobs and cards also protect you against internal theft by limiting employee access to certain areas within your facility.

IP Cameras

While cameras are notorious for “catching” workplace violence, they also are a preventative measure.  Disgruntled employees may be less likely to come to the business to start trouble if they know they will be caught on camera.  However, if the worst case scenario does play out, having the right camera system in place is a necessity.  Clear footage and proper placement are necessary to not only catch the incident, but perhaps catch it early to help lockdown a facility with an access system.  Having a skilled professional review the area for the right camera can also save a business owner money;

• One 360 degree camera instead of two
• A heavy-duty camera in a harsh environment that will not have to be replaced in a short period of time.
• A low light camera instead of an infrared

Verified detection

Disgruntled employees may also feel the business “owes’ them something and try to retrieve it after hours.  Employees can be savvy on the systems layout and if there is a security system.  If there is only door and window contacts and motion detectors, an employee may know the placement of these devices and break in through an entry point like a roof or a wall.  Sonitrol’s verified alarm systems are built so that they can catch someone trying to break in, in an unconventional manner.  Because it is a verified burglary, police will respond up to 38 minutes faster than a conventional motion-based system.

More importantly, many security systems can be equipped with a panic button that will instantly and quietly dispatch police when reaching to call 911 is not an option.  Many panic buttons only send the alarm.  But when the panic button is pressed on a Sonitrol verified system the company’s monitoring professionals can listen in and provide necessary details to responding law enforcement. This can help law enforcement to formulate a plan of action to protect them and better assist those inside the building.

For more information on helping you help those working for you, contact us.

Commanding officers from Los Angeles, Kern Co. California, Akron Oh. and Highland Park, TX., share their views on verified security:

At 1:09 am, April 9th , Sonitrol’s local central station received a verified security audio alarm from a pharmacy customer’s place of business. Operator heard breaking glass and what sounded like footsteps on breaking glass. Evansville Police Department was immediately dispatched. Upon arrival officers found a male suspect with latex gloves and tools in his pants. Suspect was attempting to enter through the drive through window, but was unable to gain entry. Once again, law enforcement’s excellent response time was critical in the capture of this would be burglar.

Verified security systems increase police response time by an average of 38 minutes. 20% of all apprehensions are made BEFORE the suspect enters the building. Sonitrol operators can provide law enforcement dispatch with detailed information to minimize loss to the customer.

So, before you install a security system, answer these questions:

1. How important is a security systems that catches burglars?
2. If your property was broken into, would it be important to you to actually catch intruders?
3. Is it important for you NOT to be awakened in the middle of the night for false alarms?
4. If your property was broken into, would it be worth paying a slight premium to get police on site 75% faster?

If you are interested in a verified security system that helps police BEFORE a break in, contact Sonitrol of Evansville for a FREE consultation.

The next generation of alarm verification is coming and it is going to be huge.

For over 50 years, Sonitrol has had audio alarm verification.

Sonitrol’s verified alarms are sound-based – not motion-based – so when an alarm is triggered,our monitoring professionals can actually listen-in to determine whether a break-in is in progress, or whether a false alarm has occurred. (www.sonitrol.com).

Now the partnership with 3xlogic, Sonitrol will be able to offer a huge advance in verified alarm technology, audio and video verification. Being able to see and hear what goes on at the protected premise will allow Sonitrol operators to share with police what they are walking into even more than ever before. The Sonitrol operators will get a verified video alarm and a live look-in. Eyes and ears protecting your property.

Having worked in and around a Monitoring Station has allowed me to hear actual verified audio alarms in progress. You hear glass break and voices talking inside a property that is armed. The operator, dispatches the police and informs them they hear two individuals inside near the west side entrance. Then the audio of the police apprehension. And Sonitrol has done that over 172,000 times. More than any other alarm company. Listen to actual clips.

Now bring video integration into the mix. A panic alarm comes into the monitoring station from a bank. Audio comes in over the speakers, “put the money in the bag”, and video is available where the operator can not only see the recorded video of the alarm incident, but gets to see live views as well.  What they are wearing, how many the operator sees, how many customers appear to be there, and if there are outdoor cameras even make and model of a vehicle. That information will be of great benefit for the police coming on site.

Sonitrol of Evansville is testing this solution now, and hope to be offering it to customers soon. Sonitrol customers already receive the benefit of the lowest false alarm rate in the industry with the highest apprehensions. With audio and video verification, Sonitrol customers will receive even quicker response from the police to protect your property. Contact your sales consultant for more information.

According to FBI statistics, the crime rates in the United States have been on the rise. Burglary tops the list as one of the most common forms of crime. According to the latest FBI statistics, there were over two million burglaries in ONE year. Burglary in residential locations accounted for 73.9% of the overall numbers. Whether in your business or your home, burglaries are devastating.  Dealing with the insurance company, police reports and the emotional roller coaster of a stranger rummaging through your stuff is upsetting. But if you are burglarized, taking the time to mark your property can help make it a little bit easier to get it back.

Why you need to identify property

Why do most burglars take property? To sell it! Therefore, it may end up at a pawn shop or online. Law enforcement spends countless hours looking for stolen property. If recovered, having a way to identify property as yours, can keep it from sitting in police lock up or not getting it back at all. Mark your TV’s, laptops, computers, lawn equipment, and anything that might catch the eye of a burglar. You will also be helping law enforcement as your identification provides them with marked evidence of your stolen property to help with convictions.

How to identify property after a burglary

There are different ways through which you can discretely mark your property.

Permanent markers have been the most common form of identification. A postcode or name is effective in marking and making property identifiable. Be careful. Markers may wear off with time and the surfaces of some property may not allow you to write on it. Also think about where you identify your property. Choose an inconspicuous spot so that burglars are not able spot a handwritten ID and remove it before they get rid of it.

Etching is another method of marking property today. Etching is not as easily removed as marker ink. Small etchers are available at the hardware stores for as little as $10. Be sure to etch your property in a discrete area that will not bring attention to your identification.

Microdots are also commonly used to mark property thus making it easy to identify. They are basically tiny discs which adhere to the property with adhesive. Each microdot carries a unique code that is connected to a database. It is one of the most effective methods of marking property thus making it easy to identify.

Keeping your property on your property!

Of course, keeping your property on your property, and catching the burglar in the act, is the best way to keep your property! The average loss in a burglary in the United States is $2,185. The cost to have a monitored system, is considerably less; sometimes starting at around $35 per month depending on the devices and options.

Installing a security system in your home or business can also help you in other ways:

1. No loss of irreplaceable personal property – there are some personal things that cannot be replaced with money.
2. Not having to track down your property in pawn shops and police property lockup.
3. Helps police in convicting the burglars
4. Many home insurance providers offer discounts of up to 20% annually for a security system in the home.

Contact us if you would like further information on protecting your property!