Crime Prevention Services

Alarms

The Alarm Billing Ordinance is designed to hold accountable the relatively small percentage of businesses and homeowners who were responsible for generating approximately 20% of the Police Department’s annual calls-for-service.  False alarm response continues to be a significant drain on department resources. Without this ordinance, the vast majority of Farmington Hills citizens would have to subsidize this alarm response, without benefit.

The Alarm Billing Ordinance provides for levying fees, based upon the number of false activations at a location during a calendar year.

First Alarm:  free (Warning Notice sent)
Second Alarm:  $20
Third Alarm:  $40
Fourth and subsequent alarms in a calendar year: $100 each

These fees are designed to cover the cost of sending two uniformed officers in two marked patrol cars to a false alarm.  They do not consider the administrative costs of maintaining the billing system. Fee waivers are possible if strict ordinance compliance measures are met.

The Alarm Billing System is managed by one part-time employee, dedicated to that task.  She monitors the alarm registrations, false alarm tracking by account, waiver requests, verification of emergency information, correspondence and other duties required to keep the system operating efficiently and effectively.  There are currently in excess of 5,000 alarms registered, with an additional 1,000 registrations added or amended each year.

The Alarm Billing System Ordinance requires that all alarm users register their system with the Police Department.  A registration form can be completed and printed from the link below.  The completed form may either be mailed or hand delivered to the Police Department Records Section.  A $15 registration fee must be paid at the time of registration.  Contact the Crime Prevention Section at (248) 871-2754.

Alarm Registration Form

Crime Statistics

Prospective residents or current residents responding to a neighborhood call for information often request statistics on the occurrence of crime in a particular area. These statistics are available through the Crime Prevention Section. A phone call is all that is required to receive data on the types, frequency, and areas where specified crimes have occurred. To request crime statistics, contact the Crime Prevention Section at (248) 871-2754.

Vacation Hotline

The Vacation Hotline, (248) 871-2762, is a direct line to a Crime Prevention Section voicemail recorder. It is designed to provide responding officers with contact information should they be called to an emergency at the house while the resident is on vacation. It does not provide for special attention or extra patrol.

When you call the Vacation Hotline, be sure to include your name, address, dates of departure/return, a contact person in case of emergency, and any other pertinent information such as cars left in the driveway or lights on timers.

Scheduling a Presenter or Tour

Tours of the police facility may be scheduled by contacting the Crime Prevention Section. Tours are available to school groups, scouting troops, and other organizations and include a view of Operations, Records, Communications, the detention area, and the firing range.

Tours may be requested through the Crime Prevention Section at (248) 871-2754.

Landscape Design Principles for Crime Prevention

Stopping crime before it happens is an important goal for the City of Farmington Hills.  The City believes that a safe community is a desirable community. The Farmington Hills Police Department has established a Crime Prevention program designed to help members of the community identify practical and meaningful methods to address safety concerns in their environments.  Often, the methods involve simply re-thinking the way we place things in the environment.

Below are some guidelines and suggestions to consider when designing new landscapes or preparing maintenance plans:

1. Avoid planting evergreen shrubs beneath windows and around entranceways.  If evergreen shrubs are present already, prune them at the bottom so that objects or people can be seen beneath and behind them.
    
2. Keep shrubs pruned to no more than 4 1/2 feet in height around entranceways and windows, where possible.   Trim them up from the ground and keep them below window level.
    
3. If shrubs are planted beneath windows, consider planting shrubs that are ‘prickly’ or have thorns to discourage people from hiding behind them.
    
4. Police officers in vehicles can patrol the City more efficiently if they can see into developments from the street. When designing landscapes in apartment or condominium complexes, consider the following:

• Solid walls provide concealment.  Although they offer privacy, they also create a security risk.  Use walls cautiously.  A see-through fence (i.e. wrought iron with decorative brick pillars) can provide the separation desired without blocking important views.
• Trim the bottom branches of evergreen trees around doorways, carports and between public thoroughfares and parking lots.
• Carports provide good protection for cars.  They also provide a great place for people to hide.  If carports are part of a development, make sure the inside of the carport can be seen from the street.