About 99 percent of the time, an alarm means nothing. Most of the time something harmless has tripped the alarm. But each time the Laurel Police Department receives an alarm call, the officers approach the area as if there really is someone inside. Early Friday morning, that attention to detail paid off in the apprehension of a man who authorities said was in the process of burglarizing a local business.

LPD patrolmen Ted Ducksworth, Carl Stiglett and James Wilkins responded to an alarm call at Taylor Small Engine Repair on Ellisville Boulevard at about 2 a.m. Friday. When they arrived, they found Billy Ray Durr, 40, inside the business. Durr was taken into custody and has been charged with burglary.

“This was great work by these officers,” said LPD Patrol Division Commander Capt. John Cox. “It’s an open and shut case with the offender caught in the act.”

Cox said over the course of a year’s time, hundreds of alarm calls are investigated by patrol officers. In almost every case, there’s nothing to them. But officers must always remain alert.

“We take all of the calls we get very seriously,” said Cox. “We can’t afford to be complacent, because as soon as one officer lets his guard down, people can get hurt. So taking it easy isn’t an option for us.”

It was unclear when Durr would be arraigned in Laurel Municipal Court.