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Police Warn That Alarm Company Is Misleading About Neighborhood Crime

Tuesday, September 2, 2008 – updated: 6:09 pm EDT September 2, 2008

There's a warning about an alarm company that is telling neighbors in Winter Springs about an increase in crime. The problem is crime isn't up. It's actually down in the area.

Cops said the company's fliers are filled with scare tactics, the information is false and Winter Springs residents should toss them. The flier is meant to grab attention, warning residents that there have been several recent home break-ins, people should be on the lookout and spend money on a home security system.

According to Winter Springs police, it's just not true. Eyewitness News checked and found in the area there had been one break-in in the last three months and 11 in the last year. Desiree Dubois got a flier that was stuck in her door.

"They're just trying to get money out of you, trying to scare you," she said. "Oh I know it's a scam."

But not everyone does. The Winter Springs Police Department has been flooded with calls from concerned residents fearing for the safety of their homes. Captain Kevin Brunelle confronted the person behind the fliers, who wouldn't identify himself but claims to be selling for Moore Security Systems.

No law has been broken, but codes have been violated.

"He does not fall under exemptions, so he would be in violation of our code soliciting without a permit," Brunelle said.

The captain hopes to put the person behind the flier out of business.

Eyewitness News spoke to Moore Security Systems late Tuesday afternoon. They said they fired the guy who distributed the fliers. The company's owner said the flier is legitimate, but the person they paid to stick them in doors intentionally took them to the wrong neighborhood, possibly to save on gas.

Moore Security Systems is a licensed dealer of ADT. Eyewitness News spoke with an ADT representative who said the company is independent and relies on each dealer to uphold ADT standards. ADT is conducting it's own investigation into the matter.

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