• The security system activates


• The security system may wait for 15 to 45 seconds allowing the homeowner a chance to deactivate the system


• If not deactivated, the security system goes into alarm and sends a message to the monitoring company over telephone lines


• The monitoring company receives the message, determines the nature of the alarm and verifies the alarm, generally by placing a phone call to the home


• If they do not receive the proper password or do not receive an answer, they call the police


• The police receive the monitoring company's call and respond

Caution: A monitored alarm uses the phone line to call the monitoring company. If personal safety were at risk when the alarm sounds, a business or home owner would be unable to call 911 or call for help by phone while the alarm system is communicating through the phone line with the monitoring company. The only way to keep this from happening would be to have more than one telephone line into the business or house or have a cellular phone available