Panic Alarm

Jewelry Discussion
1

Yesterday, the cigar shop next door to mine was robbed at knife
point by a local. The robber was just moments before in my shop and I
in fact spoke to him. I thought he looked a bit scaly, so I was on my
guard. He walked out and I heard nothing more until she stumbled out,
hands tied and clothing ripped off and very badly traumatised.
Luckily, she was physically unharmed or violated, but mentally, she
is a wreck.

This got me looking for a wireless panic alarm, that when pressed,
would trigger a loud emergency siren. I have looked on the Internet,
but any panic button that is available is tied up to a existing alarm
system. I have that, but the reaction time is 10 minutes or so. That
is too long. I want a stand alone device, so that when I am in the
workshop or in the back of the shop I hear it immediately.

What I imagine is a panic button that is carried on the person,( my
wife, in this case) and when it is pressed, triggers a relay that
activates a compressor car horn or electronic siren. Does anyone know
of a product like that or maybe could point me in the right direction
for directions to build one?.

Thanks, Hans
http://www.meevis.com
http://hansmeevis.blogspot.com

2

Get a big dog, German Shepherd. Better than any alarm, they are
VERY keen on the “wrong” sort of energy a “person” gives off and the
wires, signal etc. cannot be cut of interfered with. They are there,
NOW and most bad guys are more afraid of a dog than a gun. Just a
thought…

John Dach

3

I agree get a dog. Make sure it is not an aggressive one. You don’t
need an aggressive one. You need one that is well trained and will
obey commands–even non verbal ones. I have always had German
Shepherds, and have always gotten those with an even, gentle
temperament. Yet they have been the best watch dogs and protection
one could have. They seem to have a 6th sense about people, and also
are keen to watch your body language. If they sense you are concerned
about something, they assume a protective stance. Unfortunately, all
I have now is a surly cat that moved in on me. We sort of put up with
each other.

Alma Rands

4 
What I imagine is a panic button that is carried on the person,
(my wife, in this case) and when it is pressed, triggers a relay
that activates a compressor car horn or electronic siren.

Well, I have one of these built into my car, so they exist. If
nothing else, you could may be get one taken out of a wrecked car!

Noel

5

Hans -

Go to the SciPlus website http://www.sciplus.com and look for
“alarm”. Several show up that should suit you. Their stock rotates
quickly sometimes, so you may not find what I include in this
message. However, you will get a variety to choose from. At least
two of them have a cord with a plug that goes in the (very loud)
alarm. If the plug is pulled, the alarm screams loudly (I’ve got one,
and yes, it’s really loud.)

38455 bodyguard
38755 keychain screamer
37821 alarming alarm

good luck,
Kelley

6

Hi Hans,

I think Radio Shack has exactly what you are looking for, but they
may not have the quality of equipment you might like to have.
www.radioshack.com Another site to check is Security Cameras Direct.
www.scdlink.com They are primarily in the video surveillance
business, but they do offer other security systems and devices as
well. You might also check with your security system provider. Ours
has optional things we can add to our alarm system, one of which is a
personal wireless alarm button (with as many individual buttons as we
want) that can be programmed to either set off the silent hold-up
alarm, set off the audible alarm, or both, with programmable delays
if needed. Just remember, false alarms called into the Police might
start costing money if you’re not careful, which is why we don’t
have that particular option installed.

Another thing you might consider is to install a magnetic door lock.
It won’t stop the dedicated bad guy, but it will make the “target of
opportunity” low-life stop and reconsider his immediate future and
does wonders to help prevent shoplifting and snatch-and-runs. Not
because they can’t get in, but because they can’t get out without
someone deliberately letting them out. I have found that it also
seems to make our customers feel more secure. Many people comment on
it, none so far negatively, although some customers find it confusing
at first. Ours was installed and is maintained by our security system
company and uses hand-held battery operated buttons that look
suspiciously like garage door openers.

Or you might just make everybody that works with you a silver
whistle!

It’s a scary world we live in isn’t it?

Dave

7 
What I imagine is a panic button that is carried on the person,(
my wife, in this case) and when it is pressed, triggers a relay
that activates a compressor car horn or electronic siren

Most any automobile alarm dealer should be able to fix you up.
That’s a pretty standard function for car alarms.

Al Balmer
Sun City, AZ

8

Hans…I don’t know where to get these anymore but you might keep
an eye out for one.

My wife has a personal alarm that is a small plastic case with a
’key’ on a lanyard that goes around her neck. If anything suspisous
occurs she need simply to pull the piece away from the key and an ear
piercing sound goes off. Enough to be heard up to 100 ft away and
loud enough to get everyone’s attention.

Good luck in finding something. Cheers, Don in SOFL.

9

Hans,

There is a bit of a problem with what you are asking for. Not that it
isn’t available because I’m sure they are, but do you really want
one? Generally speaking, panic buttons should be used only AFTER the
criminals have left the shop. If you use one while the criminal is
still in the shop, and the police show up, you are in a hostage
situation suddenly. Similar thing if you have something that goes
off right away. The odds that the criminal will do something far
worse go up dramatically in those types of circumstances.

Most criminals are not the super sophisticated gentlemen so often
portrayed in movies. Most of them are junkies looking for a quick
fix and to suddenly scare, startle, or otherwise disturb them is
often the worst thing you can do. They simply won’t behave rationally
(i.e. run away). They’re usually too addled to do that.

Daniel R. Spirer, G.G.
Daniel R. Spirer Jewelers, LLC

10

I have been bringing my yellow lab to work with me for several years.
I have a retail store with many customers per day. Needless to say
the lab (Aggie) thinks every customer is here to see her, and she
greets them accordingly. Only once did she react in a negative way.
About two years ago, an older man came in the store. Aggie sat, hair
up on her back and growled. This surprised me, however I didn’t
correct her. I trust her judgement on character better then mine.

Get a dog, and train it well.

David

11

I had one of these when I was taking night classes. Here is a link to
a similar one I had

http://www.streetdefender.com

The only issue with them is if you have them in a bag sometimes they
go off by accident, which was really embarrassing in lecture halls.

Personally I agree with the dog idea, I have a german sheppard and
she goes bizzurk at anything shifty or under 5 on wheels. She is the
best tempered dog, loves everyone except when she suspects
shiftiness.

Christine
www.christinebossler.com

12 
two of them have a cord with a plug that goes in the (very loud)
alarm. If the plug is pulled, the alarm screams loudly

I’d forgotten about these! I have one in a drawer somewhere. I used
to rent aplace in the woods every so often as a retreat, and I loved
it. But at night sometimes, alone in a strange place in the middle of
nowhere and no one around, I would get freaked out. So I bought an
alarm and would rig a trip-wire across the approach to the house. Of
course, it never got tripped, but it helped me sleep. I also have a
big can of mace in my travel bag, and a very neatly designed gizmo
that you insert between a door and frame that makes the door
impossible to open from the outside unless you break it down. Funny,
somewhere along the line I just stopped being scared, and those
things are stowed away somewhere. If I had a store, however, I would
definately want every protection I could get, short of a gun.

Noel

13

Try this link. These work quite well.

All Categories - Safety-Security - Personal Alarms - J&L Self Defense Products

V.Cawthon

14

Hans,

I think your best bet might be to contact the local police station -
they should be up to date with the alarms that go directly to them.
Anything that makes a loud noise might panic the robber, and the last
thing you ant in your shop is an armed and panicked robber. That
sounds really dangerous. what you want is something that notifies the
police immediately and discreetly…

Sophie

15

I have to agree with Daniel on this one. I was always taught that you
never place yourself in a hostage situation. Just give them what they
want and then after they’ve left hit the panic button. I’ve had
friends pistol whipped and shot at when they didn’t comply. One
friend still has the scars a decades later. When ever I’ve found
myself being cased by a potential crook, I greet them, and then I
just look them right into their eyes and give them the stink eye.
I’ve yet to be robbed, thank God.

Jo Haemer
www.timothywgreen.com

16

Years ago, because of an abduction threat, my son wore an alarm with
a pin that pulled out. He didn’t have to worry about find a button.
It was very loud and very effective.

Good luck.
Bobbie
Bobbie Horn

17

In this I have to agree with Daniel regarding an audible alarm going
off whilst being robbed. There is a reason for silent alarms.

The vast majority of people urge cooperation with robbers so as to
decrease the chance of injury. It’s easier to recover from loss of
property than maiming or death. If you choose to take the
confrontational route, and an alarm going off during a robbery is
confrontational, then you have to be prepared to continue said
confrontation and act decisively and deliberately.

  1. If you have a panic alarm that you can set off during a robbery,
    what will you do if they don’t leave?

  2. If the robbers have weapons, will you have a weapon in case they
    don’t leave?

  3. If you have a weapon are you ready to shoot? This isn’t the time
    for hesitation in making a decision.

  4. If you shoot, can you hit your target surely (and not your
    customers)?

  5. Can you kill someone?

It isn’t an easy call to make. We all want to have a safe place to
work and do business with our customers. There are arguments for and
against the ways we have to protect ourselves and our business. I
believe like most things, how well the chosen method works is in how
well it is implemented and practiced.

Mike DeBurgh, GJG
Henderson, NV

18

Many thanks to all the people that replied to my panic alarm post.

Just to go through the suggestions,

I have an electrical opening and closing security door.

I have CCTV that is connected to an alarm company.

Automobile alarms here are a dime a dozen and go off every time a
loud Harley goes past, so no one reacts. Ever.

Hand held sirens or whistles are not loud enough for what I have in
mind.

I love dogs, but to tell Fido that that nice 'lil ol lady that has
just pulled out a 9 mil snub nose is actually an armed robber is a
bit difficult= … ( I’m kidding, but you get the drift)

Daniel Spirer made a very good and pertinent point.

Generally speaking, panic buttons should be used only AFTER the
criminals have left the shop. If you use one while the criminal is
still in the shop, and the police show up, you are in a hostage
situation suddenly. Similar thing if you have something that goes
off right away. The odds that the criminal will do something far
worse go up dramatically in those types of circumstances.

This is very true.

It goes hand in hand with not making eye contact with the robber,
obeying and keeping your voice down and not acting aggressively.

All these action will increase your chance of survival in a desperate
situation.

In St. Maartin, however, the situation is somewhat different.

One is not allowed to own a gun of any sort.

In fact, a citizen is not allowed to be armed with any type of
weapon, be that a gun, knife or pepper spray.

This obviously puts one at an immediate disadvantage against a
criminal, who does not suffer from those restrictions.**

So when a 5 foot, slightly built women gets attacked by a 200 pound
6 foot 6 knife wielding thug-- to put it delicately— the doodoo has
hit the fan…

And that is when the button must be pressed. There is no hostage
situation to speak of.

It will be used during a violent attack on a person.

The police in St Maarten are incompetent and corrupt.

A joke, compared to the police in America or other western
countries.

They often don’t answer their emergency number, or sometimes late at
night, there is an answering service. (I am not joking)

Press 1 if you have been shot, press 2 if you have been robbed (I
amjoking)

So here is the thing.

Essentially, what I needed was a wireless on/off switch.

I am going to make an independent mains and battery driven alarm
that is switched on only by a hand held alarm button. (I will remove
the off part)

The unit will be mounted in an area, be that outside or near the
ceiling that is not easily accessible.

The off switch will be only accessible on the unit, not from the on
button, so when the button is pressed, the only way to switch is off
is to get a ladder and switch it off manually.

I am going to use one of those air compressor driven fog horns.

I want it to be ear shatteringly loud.

That way there will be no confusion between car alarms and tweety
hand held alarms.

I will do a Hidi on it, and post on my Orchid Blog, so that other
jewelers that are in the same third world situation like me can build
one as well, should they want to.

Thanks to all that responded to my question.

Cheers, Hans
http://www.meevis.com
http://hansmeevis.blogspot.com

19 
This got me looking for a wireless panic alarm, that when pressed,
would trigger a loud emergency siren. I have looked on the
Internet, but any panic button that is available is tied up to a
existing alarm system. I have that, but the reaction time is 10
minutes or so. That is too long. I want a stand alone device, so
that when I am in the workshop or in the back of the shop I hear
it immediately.

Actually, that is a programmable function in any standard security
alarm system. Typically, the default configuration for a business
installation is for panic buttons (wired or wireless) to be silent,
but you can have your panics set for instant audible (while still
dialing out for the authorities). If the alarm system is capable
enough, you can even have both silent and audible panic devices
(normally, the fixed one attached to the register is silent, while
the portable ones are audible).

Ron Charlotte – Gainesville, FL

20 
1. If you have a panic alarm that you can set off during a
robbery, what will you do if they don't leave?

One of us has to leave. If it is not them, it is me.

2. If the robbers have weapons, will you have a weapon in case
they don't leave?

As I said, if they are not leaving, I am out of there. Weapon will
only slow me down.

3. If you have a weapon are you ready to shoot? This isn't the
time for hesitation in making a decision.

No problems here, I just imagine that my lawyer and my accountant
stop by to say hello.

4. If you shoot, can you hit your target surely (and not your
customers)?

Some customers are far more enticing targets, than robbers.

5. Can you kill someone?

If someone interrupts my morning cup of coffee ! Absolutely.

Leonid Surpin