Schlage and National Neighborhood Watch Launch 40-City Safety Blitz to Honor 40 Years of Making Communities Safer

Leading security provider to donate hundreds of residential door locks to Brooklyn Park Neighborhood Watch chapter during National Neighborhood Watch’s 40^th Anniversary

CARMEL, Ind. (April 27, 2012) -- Recent data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation reveals that nearly 70 percent of home break-ins are caused by forced entry. To help increase home safety, Schlage, America’s most trusted brand in security¹, a business of Ingersoll Rand, is spearheading a national neighborhood safety initiative in conjunction with National Neighborhood Watch and its 40^th anniversary to help Brooklyn Park residents make their neighborhoods safer. 

During the month of April, Schlage will donate hundreds of its new alarmed locks (www.alarm.schlage.com) – an innovative residential door lock with an audible built-in alarm sensor that alerts those close by the moment there is activity at the door – to local Neighborhood Watch block volunteers located in 40 different cities across the U.S., including Brooklyn Park. The block volunteers will distribute the alarmed locks locally to other residents in an effort to deter potential burglaries and other criminal activity.

“During this extended recession, we’re hearing from more and more families that are worried about local crime but can’t afford the high cost of a professionally monitored home alarm system,” said Ann Matheis, Schlage brand director. “Schlage is committed to making our communities more secure, and we’re excited to join forces with Neighborhood Watch to create a true local impact across the country.”

The Schlage alarmed lock serves as a theft deterrent by sounding a shrill, steady siren at first impact, making it ideal for nighttime use or when no one is home.

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Increasing Neighborhood Security in 40 Cities

Initially, the safety program and alarmed lock donation is rolling out in the following cities: Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas, Boston, Washington (D.C.), Atlanta, Houston, Detroit, Seattle, Phoenix, Tampa, Fla.; Minneapolis, Miami, Denver, Orlando, Fla.; Sacramento, Calif.; St. Louis, Portland, Ore.; Pittsburgh, Raleigh-Durham, N.C.; Charlotte, N.C.; Indianapolis, Baltimore, San Diego, Nashville, Tenn.; Hartford, Conn.; Kansas City, Mo.; Columbus, Ohio; Salt Lake City, Milwaukee, Cincinnati, San Antonio, West Palm Beach, Fla.; Las Vegas, Providence, R.I.; Spokane, Wash.; Boise, Idaho; Santa Barbara, Calif.; Long Island, N.Y.; and Trenton, N.J.    

“Celebrating our 40^th anniversary with a 40-city safety blitz is just one of the ways to further remind citizens about the power of watch groups,” says Chris Tutko, Retired Chief of Police, Director of National Neighborhood Watch-USAonWatch. “Thanks to Schlage for partnering with us to get the word out about home safety.”

About the Schlage Alarmed Lock

Specifically engineered to detect vibration and motion at first contact with a door or handle, the Schlage alarmed lock, which is sold at retail and online as the “Keyed Entry With Built-In Alarm,” is easily adjusted to a choice of settings that can be changed either day-to-day or over the years, as security needs change. At a suggested price of around $99, the alarmed lock is a cost-effective way to ensure home security without the cost or hassle of a professionally monitored system.

With the alarmed lock, homeowners can select alert settings and sensitivity levels within three alarm modes, all of which have the approximate loudness of a standard smoke alarm:

• Forced Entry Alert: The unit comes pre-set to this mode and sounds a shrill, steady siren for three minutes when a significant force occurs, such as when someone tries to kick in the door
• Tamper Alert: When the doorknob or lever has been disturbed, the unit sounds a 15-second siren. The most sensitive alert setting, it detects the slightest movement at the handle and can act as a deterrent
• Activity Alert: The unit sounds two short beeps every time the door opens or closes, making it perfect for monitoring when people enter or exit the home

The easy-to-install, battery-operated units are currently available at select The Home Depot stores and online at www.homedepot.com, www.lowes.com and www.amazon.com.

To learn more about the alarmed locks and other Schlage products, please visit alarm.schlage.com.

Schlage and the National Sheriff’s Association 2012 Conference

In addition to Schlage’s work with the National Neighborhood Watch, the company continues to commit to helping make law enforcement’s job a little easier through added security. From June 16-20, 2012, Schlage will serve as a platinum sponsor at the National Sheriff’s Association Annual Conference & Exhibition at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville.

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About Ingersoll Rand

Ingersoll Rand (NYSE:IR) advances the quality of life by creating and sustaining safe, comfortable and efficient environments. Our people and our family of brands—including Club Car®, Ingersoll Rand®, Schlage®, Thermo King® and Trane® — work together to enhance the quality and comfort of air in homes and buildings, transport and protect food and perishables, secure homes and commercial properties, and increase industrial productivity and efficiency. Schlage is the leader in security devices, trusted for 90 years, spanning both the commercial and residential markets. Ingersoll Rand is a $14 billion global business committed to a world of sustainable progress and enduring results. For more information, visit ingersollrand.com or schlage.com.

About the National Neighborhood Watch-USAonWatch:

Since 1972, the National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA) has managed and housed the National Neighborhood Watch program. The Neighborhood Watch-USAonWatch (NW) Program maintains a database of over 25,000 watch groups. NW is the primary source of information and technical assistance for local law enforcement agencies and citizens. NSA plays a vital role in the development and dissemination of training and resources for agencies to use in training their individual watch groups and officers. NSA is trusted by law enforcement and has a long history of representing the Nation’s Sheriffs. For more information on NSA programs and Neighborhood Watch visit www.usaonwatch.org and www.sheriffs.org.

¹Research Now, independent research report funded by Ingersoll Rand Co., 2011

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