A heritage of technical innovation
The company known today for detecting burglars had its roots in pest control of a different sort in the late 1950s.
Robert Baxter, of Anderson, Indiana, installed microphones within
the walls of a building to listen for termites and pinpoint their
location. Baxter invented other sound-related devices, too. On June 16,
1960, he incorporated “Sonitrol”, from the words sound and control, to
manufacture and market his innovations.
Law enforcement legacy
In 1963, Baxter met Al
Cronk, a local police officer who owned an alarm company. Cronk was
frustrated with systems that seemed to let the perpetrators get away.
He hired Baxter, the inventor, to develop new ideas for the alarm
company. Baxter responded with the audio sensor, and Sonitrol was born
as a security company.
Success spreads
Today, Sonitrol provides
tailored local service in approximately 180 cities throughout the
United States and Canada. Sonitrol is the third largest commercial
security company in North America—and the leader in verified electronic
security. 157,000 apprehensions and counting...
