SANTA MONICA PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION

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SMPA Member Benefits

In addition to the collective benefit of contributing to a safer neighborhood, SMPA members also receive a number of individual benefits that add to the security of their home and property.  These benefits, in combination with the random patrol of our streets, comprise SMPA’s crime deterrence program.  These benefits alone cost nearly $300 a month when purchased directly from many security companies.

• Vacation Watches - When leaving town, members can advise ADT of the dates of the absence and the officers will perform checks of the residence 2 times each day to the member’s specifications.  Members usually have the officers conduct a perimeter check of the residence, checking for unsecured doors and windows, moving mail, papers, flyers and packages to designated locations on the property, and bringing in trash cans after collection.  This will make it less likely that a potential burglar will be able to tell that the members are away.  Some members simply have the officers conduct extra drive-bys during their absence - even if it’s just for an evening out.

• Escorts - Follow-home robberies are a common tactic of criminals.  Members can call ADT when they are coming home late at night, and an officer will be there upon their arrival.

• Random Patrol - When patrol officers spot suspicious activity on a member’s property, they investigate.  If it’s on a non-member’s property, they are prevented by policy from taking action.  For example:  If they spot a member’s garage open to the alley, they will alert the member.  If they spot a non-member’s garage open to the alley, they must simply continue driving.

• Immediate Patrol Response - When members see suspicious activity in the neighborhood, the SMPA patrol officers are never more than a few minutes away.  At a bare minimum, they will demonstrate their presence when it may be needed most.

• Alarm Response - Although an alarm system is absolutely not required for membership in SMPA, if a member has a house alarm monitored by ADT or any other company, the patrol officers will respond if you give your alarm company the dispatch number from “Contact Us”.  The officers are well trained, and can completely replace the response of the police, if the member chooses.  This can save the member hundreds of dollars in fees for false alarms.  The officers are trained to check the perimeter for signs of forced entry, verify authorization of anyone they find on the property, alert the members by phone in case of emergency and even make arrests when criminal activity is found.  Additionally, their response time is usually much quicker than the police because SMPA covers a smaller area and the police give alarm calls a lower priority.