Consumer Alert

Beware of Door to Door Alarm Sales

For the past few years, several out-of-state companies have brought a college-aged sales force into our local communities to perform aggressive door to door sales of their alarm systems. 

• They often misrepresent themselves as being from your alarm company or may use a well know brand name like Honeywell or GE Security.

• They may claim to have a new and better product; or that there is a problem with your current system that they are there to fix. 

• They may be pleasant, but typically use high pressure sales tactics. 

• They require you to sign a new monitoring contract that commits you to payments to a different company.

• They may offer a “no-cost” installation, but the monthly fees are exceptionally high.

• They often target senior citizens and attempt to confuse the homeowner into signing a new contract.

• This has been a nationwide phenomenon and there have been thousands of consumer fraud complaints and complaints to the BBB. Be prepared!  Go on-line and Google “alarm summer sales complaints” for a sample of their activities and tactics. 

A legitimate alarm company will never show up at your door without your knowledge and an appointment.  The representative should always be able to produce appropriate identification. 

If ever in doubt, call your alarm company to confirm the identity of someone representing them.

You have the right to ask a person to leave your home or premises and if they continue with their sales efforts after you have asked them to leave, notify the police.

Customer Appreciation Day 2012 is Coming!

S.C.I. to Host Annual Customer Appreciation Day

Shred-a-thon, Electronic Recycling & Food Drive

May 5, 2012 9:00 a.m. - Noon

Security Central invites you to its annual Customer Appreciation Day on May 5^th this year.  The fun Spring tradition will again include FREE shredding of personal paper documents, FREE electronic recycling, and a canned food drive to benefit local food banks.  Security Central will also offer FREE refreshments, monitoring center tours, and security technology demonstrations.  We simply ask that you bring donations of non-perishable food to help the hurting and hungry in our community.

Last year hundreds of customers joined us as we shredded over 12,000 pounds of personal documents, recycled 11,000 pounds of old electronics, and collected over 1,500 pounds of food for Food Works of Colorado!  It was definitely a productive day!

This year’s Customer Appreciation Day activities will be held at the Security Central building located at 7100 S. Clinton Street in Centennial near I-25 and Arapahoe Rd.  The shredding and recycling trucks will be available from 9:00 a.m. until noon on May 5, 2012.

By shredding personal documents prior to discarding them, you help reduce your risk of identity theft, so empty out those file drawers and bring your old bank statements, tax returns, and canceled checks.  In addition to properly disposing of unneeded papers, we can also help you get rid of your dusty, outdated electronics.  Discarded computers, abandoned cell phones, and obsolete TV’s can all be recycled by our client, Metech Recycling, who will be on site for our event.  Metech removes and processes the environmentally hazardous materials from old electronic items and then recycles the remaining materials.  Please note there are certain materials we cannot accept for recycling:

Acceptable Items:

Most Consumer Electronics

Computers, Monitors, Printers, etc.

Batteries

Non-Acceptable Items:

Liquids (Paint, Thinners, etc.)

Radioactive or BioHazard Materials

Large Appliances (Refrigerators, Washers/Dryers)

Mark your calendars and join us for some secure Spring cleaning.  We can’t wait to see you on Saturday May 5th from 9:00 to noon!

Security Central Helps Catch Bungling Burglars

A local electronics and furniture retailer in Lakewood is resting easier thanks to Security Central.  The popular store had experienced a frustrating and expensive string of repeat burglaries in recent months.  In each incident, the burglars would throw a large rock through a storefront window to steal the expensive flat-panel TV’s on display.

After multiple losses, the retailer hired Security Central to install an alarm system to provide early detection of such an intrusion.  Security Central installed a state-of-the-art security system that included glass break sensors as well as outdoor sirens and strobe lights.  The very next night, in a snow storm, the burglars returned for another encore performance of their previously successful burglaries.  However, this time when they threw the rock at the front window, the newly installed alarm system instantly trigged the outdoor lights and sirens and alerted our 24-hour monitoring center.  Valerie, one of our nocturnal night-time alarm dispatchers, immediately notified the Lakewood Police of the crime in progress. 

The burglars, startled by the loud flashing outdoor siren, quickly jumped into their vehicle and attempted to speed away empty-handed.  However, thanks to the layer of snow and ice that blanketed the pavement, the fleeing thieves only made it a short distance before they slid off the road and crashed into a ditch.  The not-too-bright burglars then ran from the stolen vehicle to their home a few blocks away.

It only took the police a few minutes to follow the tire tracks in the fresh snow from the scene of the crime to the abandoned vehicle.  The trail of snowy footprints then led them directly to the front door of the felons’ house.  A few minutes later, the cold and wet criminals were warming themselves in the Lakewood jail.

Thanks to Security Central and a little help from Mother Nature, one Lakewood store owner no longer has to wonder when these burglars will be back.