Draft:Bay Alarm

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Bay Alarm
Founded1946
HeadquartersConcord, California
Key people
Tim Westphal (CEO)
ServicesFire alarms, burglar alarms, video surveillance, access control
Websitewww.bayalarm.com

Bay Alarm is a private American security company based in Concord, CA.[1] Founded by Marjorie and Everett Westphal in 1946, the company is currently owned and operated by their grandson Tim Westphal.[2] Bay Alarm provides commercial security and fire alarm systems, video surveillance, and security guard services across California, Arizona, and Washington.[3]

Bay Alarm Medical, a separate company owned by different members of the Westphal family, provides medical alert systems for seniors.[4][5]

History

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In 1946, Marjorie and Everett Westphal founded Bay Alarm as a small burglar alarm company in the California Bay Area. The company was initially operated out of the Westphal's Oakland home.[6] In 1964, Bay Alarm opened its first central station, and the Westphals' sons Bruce and Roger took over company operations.[7]

During the late 1960s, Bay Alarm developed and manufactured alarm system equipment under the label Alarm Equipment Co, or ALECO.[8][9]

During the 1970s, Bay Alarm helped develop software for the first fully computerized central monitoring station in California.[10]

In 1976, the Westphal family founded Balco Properties, a real estate investment and management firm headquartered in Oakland, California.[11]

In 1982, Bay Alarm joined 29 other alarm companies in filing an antitrust suit against AT&T. The suit maintained that AT&T forced alarm companies to use products made by AT&T's subsidiary company Bell Labs[dubious – discuss] when cheaper equipment was available. The suit also claimed that AT&T filed excessive tariffs and raised rates on special lines used for alarm signals.[12][13] The alarm companies sought a combined $200 million in damages.[14]

In September 2001, Bay Alarm was contracted to design and implement a security system for the Micke Grove Zoo following the kidnapping of two endangered cotton-topped tamarins.[15]

In April 2016, Bay Alarm moved its headquarters from Pacheco, CA to its current location in Concord, CA. The 60,000-square-ft-building was formerly home to the Heald Business College.[16]

On March 20, 2009, Bay Alarm announced the launch of Bay Alarm Medical and appointed Warren Heffelfinger as CEO. The subsidiary company provides rapid medical response monitors for seniors.[17]

On April 6, 2016, Bruce and Roger Westphal were inducted into the Security Sales & Integration (SSI) Industry Hall of Fame. At the time, Roger Westphal was the CEO at Bay Alarm and Bruce Westphal had retired from his position as president and chairman of the company.[18]

In 2020, Bay Alarm employees raised $50,000 for the Make-A-Wish foundation.[19]

Acquisitions

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According to its website, Bay Alarm has acquired over 40 alarm companies in the last 50 years.[20] Many of these acquisitions have been of family-owned companies including Low Voltage Systems, SDA Security, Bond Alarm, Evergreen Security of Washington, and Mijac Alarm. [21][22][23][24][25]

Operations

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Bay Alarm provides security services to 150,000 businesses and residents across 16 locations in California, Arizona, and Washington.[23] In addition to home protection, the company offers fire alarm and security solutions for commercial businesses, construction sites, warehouses, schools, and government facilities. Bay Alarm installs and monitors burglar alarms, fire alarms, video security and access control systems.[26]

References

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  1. ^ "Bay Alarm Reviews". The Home Security Advisor. Retrieved 2025-09-02.
  2. ^ Decisions of the Public Utilities Commission of the State of California. The Commission. 1972. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  3. ^ "Bay Alarm Company Profile". Bloomberg.com.
  4. ^ "5 Best Medical Alert Systems of 2025". National Council on Aging. 2025-08-21. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  5. ^ "Bay Alarm SOS Home System Review 2025: Tried And Tested". Forbes Health. 2025-07-28. Retrieved 2025-09-02.
  6. ^ Commission, California Public Utilities (1972). Decisions of the Public Utilities Commission of the State of California. The Commission.
  7. ^ S. S. I. Staff (2003-11-30). "Exclusive!The Way of the Westphals". Security Sales & Integration. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  8. ^ Staff, S. S. I. (2016-03-25). "Bay Alarm's Roger and Bruce Westphal Inducted Into SSI Industry Hall of Fame". Security Sales & Integration. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  9. ^ The Development and Testing of a Highly Directional Dual-mode Electronic Siren. Department of Commerce, National Bureau of Standards, Center for Consumer Product Technology, Law Enforcement Standards Laboratory. 1978.
  10. ^ Staff, S. S. I. (2016-03-25). "Bay Alarm's Roger and Bruce Westphal Inducted Into SSI Industry Hall of Fame". Security Sales & Integration. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
  11. ^ "Our History". Balco Properties. Archived from the original on 2024-07-05. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  12. ^ The Hour. Washington: The Hour. October 21, 1982. p. 41.
  13. ^ St. Joseph News-Press. St. Joseph News-Press. October 20, 1982.
  14. ^ "Alarm Firms Allege AT&T Conspiracy". The Washington Post. 1983-08-15. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on 2017-08-28. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  15. ^ Kendle, Fred (September 1, 2000). Lodi News-Sentinel. Lodi News-Sentinel. pp. 9–12.
  16. ^ Sellner, Stephen (2016-04-13). "Bay Alarm Moving Headquarters Down Highway to Concord, Calif". Security Sales & Integration. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
  17. ^ News, Security Systems. "Bay Alarm launches new PERS company: Bay Alarm Medical". www.securitysystemsnews.com. Retrieved 2025-08-28. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  18. ^ "SSI Announces Winners for the SAMMYs". EH MEDIA. Retrieved 2025-09-02.
  19. ^ "Donor Spotlight: Bay Alarm". wish.org. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  20. ^ "Acquisitions". Bay Alarm. Archived from the original on 2025-05-14. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  21. ^ Kohl, Geoff (2012-02-07). "Bay Alarm purchases Low Voltage Systems". SecurityInfoWatch. Archived from the original on 2025-05-16. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  22. ^ "Bay Alarm Acquires SDA Security". SDM Magazine. 2014-05-27. Archived from the original on 2024-11-10. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  23. ^ a b "Bay Alarm acquires Bonds Alarm of Arizona". SecurityInfoWatch. 2017-07-31. Archived from the original on 2025-07-16. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  24. ^ Bosch, Rodney (2017-11-03). "Bay Alarm Expands Reach Into Pacific Northwest With Acquisition". Security Sales & Integration. Archived from the original on 2025-03-18. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  25. ^ S. S. I. Staff (2022-01-10). "Bay Alarm Grows in Southern California With Mijac Alarm Buy". Security Sales & Integration. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  26. ^ "ADT vs Bay Alarm Comparison". Security.org. Archived from the original on 2025-07-20. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
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Official website

Category:Companies established in 1946