Security Update

Vigilance is an interesting word. It does not mean paranoia. It does not mean pretending issues or risks do not happen to me.

The dictionary defines vigilance as “alertly watchful, especially to avoid danger.”

What does this mean to us in our everyday life, both personal and business? During the holiday season this column - as well as law enforcement and others with a security mindset - stressed being aware of your surroundings. Unfortunately, this vigilance seems to diminish after the holiday season.

Most of us make new resolutions for the New Year. I’m not ashamed to admit my favorite one is to lose weight. Of course, this resolution doesn’t officially start until Jan. 2nd. After all, who can resist all the food while watching a lifetime of parades and football games in a single day?

About two weeks later after a bowl of “Cherry Garcia” ice cream, well you know the rest of the story. Obviously some of us are better with resolutions than others!

Developers, building owners, mortgage companies, banks, credit unions and even residential community associations are all facing a serious problem with increased theft and vandalism as a result of vacant space and foreclosures.

Recently a bank contacted my office and asked what the cost would be to provide vehicle patrols to check on the security of properties they have in the foreclosure process. With more than 300 properties to address throughout six counties, this project would have cost a great deal in order to provide proper and adequate patrols.

For several years, I have been approved by the state of Florida to teach CEU classes for community association managers. Recently I presented a class on residential community security to 60 managers - and their questions and concerns really stretched the imagination for possible solutions.

Carjackings are certainly not new and the number of incidents has grown over the years. Police departments consistently provide personal protection tips and try to make citizens and businesses aware of this increasing problem.

Over the past few months, I have asked numerous people about their concern of being victimized by a carjacking and most responded with, “As long as I stay out of certain areas at night, there should be no problems.”

Is it my imagination or are we continuing to see an increase of thefts and a decrease in attitudes? Anger management professionals must be experiencing a tremendous growth in their gross profits. At least I hope so.

I know we discussed the relationship of the increase in criminal activity and the decline of our economy a few months ago, and I really do not want to paint a picture of “gloom and doom.” But let’s face it, things are getting a little crazy.

Trespassing unwanted folks from your private property has always been a terrific crime prevention tool. That is - if it is done properly, legally and adequate files are maintained to enforce it.

I received a call this morning from a client advising me that a gentleman had set up a video camera and tripod on another private property and appeared to be videotaping the exterior of the building and my client’s building.

Recently, I was conducting a security assessment of a new client’s facility. Part of this assessment involved policies and procedures. They had substantial policies and procedures for security and life safety with the exception of one area - employee terminations and lay-offs.

I totally understand that terminations, especially layoffs, can be very difficult and emotional. Other times it’s basically black and white: “Here’s your letter, instructions for filing unemployment and COBRA. Give me the keys and good-bye.”

Every organization, despite the size, should have security policies and procedures. We all know that a policy is a statement from the organization addressing an issue. Procedures are the methods desired to achieve and support the policy.

Smaller companies might have policies regarding key control and issuance, parking, opening and closing times, electronic security system requirements, etc. The people responsible for these functions are typically employees that perform other duties.

Let’s see if I can make this column positive and spare us all a rehash of the economic difficulties we face today and tomorrow. I do not have a crystal ball nor do you, but a very wise, experienced and successful business person told me last month that he feels our current economic situation is not based on what happened last year, five years ago or even 10. He feels we are now “paying for” for the last few decades.

Gosh, I hope he is wrong! Enough about economics, as this column is focused on security. However, economics do play a major part in security.

Earlier this year, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, in conjunction with Florida’s Regional Domestic Security Task Force and their business partners announced a new Internet-based alert system.

BusinesSafe was designed to improve the ability of Florida’s businesses to protect themselves and their communities against potential threats. It is a counter-terrorism program created to allow businesses statewide to register to receive timely electronic alerts on domestic security related issues that may affect their industry.

The current economic downturn has affected most of us in business as well as our personal lives, and the contract security profession is not immune. Many wise and unwise decisions have been made to reduce costs by changing contractors or demanding reduced bill rates in order to keep a contract service that should have become your partner, not just a commodity.

As a subscriber to numerous security publications that include venues from high-security government applications to those far-removed from high security, I have found security technology to be an increasing and perhaps needed requirement. Over the past five years, these publications have touted incredible advances in electronic technology relating to security. This technology, from video to access control, has progressed more recently than in the previous 20 years.

For more than 18 years at the University of Louisville, I taught law enforcement and security professionals how to identify and attempt to prevent employee theft. Throughout the course, I actually demonstrated to these professionals many ways that employees steal from their employers and very often with no one catching them.