Toronto police say they will no longer respond to burglar alarms unless evidence of criminal activity is provided, citing an internal review that showed about 97 per cent of calls in 2016 were false alarms.

The new requirement implemented on Monday attempts to make emergency responses “more efficient,” police said in a press release. Officers will require proof of multiple alarm triggers on the property or audio, video or eyewitness accounts before officers will be deployed to the scene.

“We’re sending a two-officer police car to alarms that are not a real call,” Toronto police spokesperson Sandra Buckler told the Star in an interview. “So that means that 97 per cent of the time, we’re going to calls that don’t need a police response.”

But Ric Amis, secretary of the Parkdale Residents Association, said the move puts a burden on the residents and businesses that fall under the 3 per cent of credible alarms — when time is a factor.

“The key word here is ‘alarm.’ Something is alarming, you have to deal with it immediately. But, no we’re going to put you (on) pause, because you have to prove there is criminal activity going on,” Amis said, adding it’s unclear what would constitute proof of criminal activity.

“I think it would be too hard to prove it in a timely manner.”

While Buckler would not provide details on how police will manage credible emergency calls in cases where evidence is not available, she said they should contact their alarm company to make sure their homes and businesses are equipped to validate criminal activity.

“The public can also do a lot to help us by changing the batteries frequently in their alarm systems, making sure they update whoever has the key to get into their home, schedule regular maintenance and make sure employees or family members know how the alarm system works,” Buckler said.

The change is part of the Toronto police’s modernization plan, called The Way Forward, which is aimed at using a more efficient deployment of police resources, building public trust and cutting the police budget.

Buckler said this is about “trying to be more effective with our deployment. This has nothing to do with changing the financial structure.”

Panic-alarm activations are exempt from the requirement, which includes bank alarms.

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Stefanie Marotta is a breaking news reporter working out of the Star’s radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @StefanieMarotta