False Alarms


Help improve our public safety services!

The Thousand Oaks Police Department responds to approximately 2,900 alarm calls per year and 99.6% of these are false alarms. When alarm systems are of inferior quality or are not maintained or used properly, they are a threat to community safety and the safety of its police officers.


All alarm users are encouraged to register their alarm system annually for each property that utilizes a Police alarm system. Unregistered systems are subject to higher false alarm incident response fees.


The of Thousand Oaks partners with Crywolf to administer its false alarm program.


False Alarm FAQ

The fee is $25.00 per calendar year for each permit registration. Permits expire on December 31 of each year.


Number of Alarms in Calendar Year

Fine with a Permit

1st Alarm Call

$0

2nd Alarm Call

$0

3rd Alarm Call

$200

4th Alarm Call

$300

5th Alarm Call

$600

Any additional alarm calls

$600 each


Number of Alarms in Calendar Year

Fine without a Permit

1st Alarm Call

$50

2nd Alarm Call

$50

3rd Alarm Call

$250

4th Alarm Call

$350

5th Alarm Call

$650

Any additional alarm calls

$650 each


If fees are not paid within 30 calendar days, a 10% penalty will accrue. Each month thereafter, a 1% penalty will accrue to all fines and penalties that remain unpaid.


Any unpaid invoice will be forwarded to a third-party collection agency after 90 days.

Impacts of False Alarms

False alarms

  1. Take police and firefighters away from real emergencies. This situation endangers responding authorities and the whole community by needlessly diverting public safety resources.
  2. Desensitize communities to actual incidents of crime and can lead to neighbors ignoring your alarm when it goes off.
  3. Cost citizens time, personal security and money, as many jurisdictions assess costly fines for excessive false alarms.