Crime Prevention - conned on alarm sales - Don’t be conned on alarm sales

 While ‘false’ burgler alarms can be annoying and even expensive because of penalties charged to homeowners in Minneapolis, these false alarms should at least prove to you that your home security system is working properly.
 There has appeared “a new kid” on your block recently, door-to-door salesmen who just want to rip you off and sell you their security system junk, replacing your working system. They will knock on your door and use all the tricks in their conman business. Here are a couple of them that I’ve actually heard:
 “Our company is offering a free upgraded system for a couple of homes in this neighborhood. I’ve got one in my car, and it will only take a few minutes to install it.  Does your security control panel look like one of these? (He shows some pictures in a notebook.) May I come in and take a look at your control panel?”
 If you are convinced your system is working properly, and you might even know the technician who installed it, by sight at least, and this guy at your door is not the same person, don’t let him in! Send him away, because he will use more tricks to convince you your old system is no good. All he wants is your money.
 I received a telephone call from a non-local number, and the prerecorded caller claimed to be my home security company. They left a telephone number where to reach them, which proved to be the same as my home security company’s business office, when I checked it out in my original documents. This recorded message warned me of door-to-door sales people in my neighborhood claiming to offer me an upgrade to my system. No upgrade is needed, especially from some stranger!