fourth-amendment fourteenth-amendment
Does the activation of a burglar alarm give police cause to enter a house without a warrant?
<p>If police are advised that a burglar alarm has been &quot;set off,&quot; does that in itself mean police can intrude into the home to determine the cause of the alarm, absent evidence to the contrary?</p>

<h1>Yes</h1>
<p>If a police person has probable cause to believe a crime is in the process of happening then he or she can enter premises without a warrant.</p>
<p>Under the exigent circumstances doctrine some people must be under danger, evidence must be in danger of being destroyed or a suspect must be fleeing.</p>
<p>If these circumstances have been proven then plain view doctrine applies to any evidence or contraband seen in the process on which these circumstances hinged.</p>
<p>It is probably safe to assume that a police officer responding to an alarm is justified in believing some people may be at risk of harm.</p>
<p>Probable cause is considered at the time of entry. There are a myriad of things that can lead to a false alarm but the police person cannot know this unless he or she investigates.</p>
