Local crime watch on guard against scams

We encourage community activism, especially in the area of crime prevention. Good neighbors make good security.

A member of the Firethorne Community Crime Watch Committee near Katy, Texas, recently contacted us after receiving a Monitronics postcard warning of door-to-door scammers. They thanked us for the head’s up and said they’re taking action. We appreciate the shout-out and want to share their community notification:

DON’T BECOME A SUMMER SECURITY SCAM VICTIM
Firethorne Community Crime Watch Committee Warns of Door-to-Door Scammers

At least one security alarm company is warning its customers to beware of door-to-door salespeople this summer in Firethorne. Monitronics, a Dallas-based alarm monitoring company, recently called many Katy-area customers to warn about possible con artists.

These scammers, shady representatives of other alarm security providers, often offer fraudulent “deals.” Victims that fall prey to these scams can end up with double bills, non-working systems, and the huge headache of trying to get out of the situation.

According to representatives at Monitronics, these double dealers will knock on your door and likely claim that your current security provider is out of business or that they have a better deal for you if you will switch providers. They use high-pressure sales tactics to get you to agree to a “free upgrade” or other system bells and whistles. These swindlers often urge you to do the “upgrade” the same day.

Monitronics has a dedicated Summer Alert Hotline further describing this scam at 800-396-9815. You can also visit http://www.monitronics.com/SecurityScam.

The Firethorne Community Crime Watch Committee (CCWC) reminds residents to beware of any door-to-door salesperson. Residents should contact their own alarm provider to verify their contract status before making any changes. According to the Kim Rendon, Chair of the CCWC, “It’s not that we recommend one alarm company over another. There are many companies available like Monitronics, ADT, Broadview, and Brinks. However, we do recommend at least a yearly review of your home alarm system.”

If you do have a door-to-door salesperson on your doorstep, the Fort Bend Sheriff’s office recommends you politely ask them to leave. If they refuse or you feel threatened, call 9-1-1 for an emergency or 281-341-4665 if you suspect any criminal mischief, vandalism, or spot any suspicious activity.

Katie Sparkman, Firethorne’s HOA Manager, offers Firethorne residents home alarm system company information. “We currently have a flier we can hand out to residents about some alarm companies in our area.  We also will be putting that information on the website for our residents,” she said. “While we can’t recommend one company over another, we always encourage residents to have their homes monitored with a legitimate alarm service provider.”

There are other important alarm tips to keep in mind to stay safe this summer. CCWC member Alex Guajardo recommends testing home alarm systems monthly. “You should contact your alarm system provider about how to test your system,” he said. “They can help you make sure that everything is working correctly.”

For Monitronics customers, that can be done online with a MyMonitronics account at www.monitronics.com or by calling 800-447-9239. For other providers, visit the “Electronic Security Association” website (www.alarm.org).

Another tip: Never announce on social networking sites (Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo, Buzz, and others) that you do or do not have an alarm system or if you’re away from home. These sites are never fully private and there are suspected instances of home burglaries tied to “status updates.”

The Firethorne Community Association (CAI) is the governing entity of the community. It enforces the restrictions within the governing documents of the community in order to protect property values and owner’s rights. The CAI manages all of the common areas of the community, which includes all parks and amenities. It also manages the community utilities for such things as street lights and irrigation. For questions about association services, contact Katie Sparkman at 281-693-0003 or ksparkman@firethorne.info.

Founded in 1994, Monitronics International is one of the nation’s largest, fastest-growing alarm monitoring companies. Headquartered in Dallas, they provide monitored security system services to more than 750,000 residential customers and commercial clients through their network of independent authorized dealers in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Their blog is blog.monitronics.com.

The Monitoring Center is the heart of operations at Monitronics, which has consistently met or exceeded all UL, National Fire Protection Association, and Central Station Alarm Association standards. With our state-of-the-art equipment and highly trained team, we’ve earned accolades and awards and offer our customers world-class service. For more information, please visit www.monitronics.com or call 800-447-9239.