The city averages more than 15,000 burglaries a year, but less than 1 percent of the more than 60,000 burglar alarms that sound each year in Detroit are credible, Police Cmdr. Todd Bettison told the committee. He said the proposal will free up police to respond to actual emergencies.

"This will help our department provide better services to our residents," he said.

Exceptions to the proposed crime-in-progress verification would be made for people who hit a panic button on their alarm or if they call 911 and say they feel they are in danger, the newspaper reported.

Some alarm companies argued that police should respond to all alarms.

"What happens when you have an alarm to keep your house safe but no one is home to verify a burglary?" asked Dennis Best, owner of Detroit-based Best Electric & Security. "That is the responsibility of police."

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