re: burglar alarm

Asked by alarmed · January 28, 2004 · Shabbat

Question

if your house alarm goes off, can one answer the phone when the alarm company calls and give the password so that the police won't come? My concern is that if one does not do this and lets the police come for a known false alarm, then the police are being needlessly pulled away from other (real) emergencies. This could, possibly, threaten the lives of others who really do need the poloice.

Answer

Answered by Aaron Abadi

If you have a non-Jewish employee in your home, that person can surely answer the phone. Otherwise, I cannot tell you that it is OK. I'm also not very concerned with the other real emergencies. The police don't take burglar alarms too seriously. The officer that they'll send to you is either coming from a donut shop, or from giving J-walking tickets.... AA