In the UK,
IF they eventually arrived, they would say 'if he comes back call us again',,, thats what you call a real 'cop out!'
There was a woman I used to know, older then me, but blond and very attractive - didn't look her age at all - and she ran a small shop, selling cheap jewellery etc. Coincidently, her shop used to be next door to the cafe I go for my breakfast on the way to work.
One night, late on, she received a phone call from the police to say her alarm was going, so she jumped in her car (as did her Alsatian dog) and drove to the shop. She got to the shop to find a police car outside, with two policemen sat in it - so she unlocked the shop door and opened it for the police to enter - to which they replied that they wouldn't go in, in case a burglar was still there, and SHE had to go in on her own. So she went back to her car and fetched the Alsatian, they then told she wasn't allowed to send the dog in - she had to go in herself, alone!.
Fairly reasonably she told the police were to stick their helmets, and sent the dog in regardless - luckily it was a false alarm.
I work in the service department for a TV shop, and we've had various alarms over the years - in ALL cases, the police have refused to enter until a civilian has checked the premises are empty and safe.
Gives you real confidence in your police force - but if you're driving at 31mph in a 30mph limit you're in BIG trouble.