A Heritage of Technical Innovation
The company known today for detecting burglars had its roots in pest control of a different sort in the late 1950s.
Robert Baxter, of Anderson, Indiana, installed microphones within the walls of a building to listen for termites and pinpoint their location. Baxter invented other sound-related devices, too. On June 16, 1960, he incorporated “Sonitrol”, from the words sound and control, to manufacture and market his innovations.
Law Enforcement Legacy
In 1963, Baxter met Al Cronk, a local police officer who owned an alarm company. Cronk was frustrated with systems that seemed to let the perpetrators get away. He hired Baxter, the inventor, to develop new ideas for the alarm company. Baxter responded with the audio sensor, and Sonitrol was born as a security company.
Success Spreads
Today, Sonitrol provides tailored local business and home security service in approximately 180 cities throughout the United States and Canada. Now the third largest commercial security company in North America, Sonitrol is the clear leader in verified electronic security.
