Cyufjy

I have my house wired up with security cameras. When traveling others countries, I still can get phone alerts that there is movement in the house, and can access the security feeds on-line to see if there are burglars. But if I want to ring the police to go to my house, how can I call them? I can use a long distance phone card, but I think 9-1-1 won't work as usual in this situation.

Google will certainly get you the regular, non-emergency number for your police department. You might as well call that, because unless you live in a small, crime-free area, burglary of an empty house won't be a high-priority call.

Certain alarm companies will call police for you, but it sounds as if your system is home brew.

Sign up with a VoIP provider that offers 911 service.

As part of the signup process, you provide a "service address" which is used to route emergency calls. This address is used to route calls regardless of where you are actually located when placing the call. (And, if E911 is supported, the address is automatically supplied to the operator.)

Depending on the provider, you may need to purchase a DID (phone number) in your home area. (~$1/mo). Usage is usually billed by the minute (~1¢/min) with optional monthly plans including minutes available.

You can access your VoIP account over a data connection (cell or wifi) using a SIP app on your phone, or many VoIP providers provide local "access numbers" that work more or less like a calling card -- you use traditional PSTN service to dial the number, then dial an account number/PIN, then dial a destination number.

As an added bonus, this means you no longer need a separate phone card -- just use your VoIP service for regular calls too.

Note that the kind of VoIP service that provides this level of flexibility is typically oriented to business customers. While very inexpensive, it can also be very difficult to configure. You may be able to find consumer-oriented VoIP plans that are easier to use, but will be far more expensive.

Calling the non-emeregency number will usually be answered with " police / emergency / sherrif / whatever call center, do you have an emergency?".
Even my community college campus police department answers internal local calls this way to the non-emergency line.

Before you travel while you are local you should get in touch with your local LE agency (police if in city limits, sheriffs in county) and find out

1. which agency would be responding (highway patrol does traffic at my house - I have issues with drunks and my fence - but sheriffs dept for criminal reporting, and sheriffs plus local PD from 2 closest small towns when you report holding someone at gunpoint)


2. how they want to be contacted if you get an alert in general (you are out to dinner, but in town, or in-state, etc)


3. how they want to be contacted if you get an alert while traveling out of state or internationally

When you do this, find out not just what number to call, but if a specific key phrases should be used or if specific information should be given.

If you have remote video monitoring, figure out how you can easily and quickly send an link to a 3rd party (ie "My alarm system is going off but I am away from home, my remote live video shows two people moving in my house, I can email a link to the feed")

Or since you've cobbled together your own monitoring system (I'm considering one as well for my mother's house) figure out a way you can make the land line dial and then leave the line open. Maybe set up a Pi with an USB modem, etc. 911 will roll everything if they get a call and no response or a hang up (as any parent with kids under the age of 10 will eventually learn) and they cannot get back in touch with you. Even if you answer when they call back, an officer will be on his or her way to visually check...