Electronic Protection Network Inc.

Two recent  church fires in metro Atlanta have even State Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine talking about church security this week.

In response to the two recent Metro Atlanta Church fires, Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine is urging churches to organize watches for churches during unoccupied times according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, as well as “install outdoor lighting and alarms.”  http://www.ajc.com/news/oxendine-metro-churches-should-203447.html.

Securing churches and other places of worship can be very challenging.  The buildings are often empty for long stretches of time, when they are in use they have many people coming and going needing access, and limited to non-existent funding for security.  And then add in the economy.  Locally, we’ve talked to several churches that have seen a marked increase in people on church property since last fall’s economic downturn.  People are accessing the many services places of worship provide like soup kitchen’s, clothes closets and counseling.  So you have a lot of different people using the facilities for many different reasons, an increased need for security and controlling access and with this economy, less money to do it with.

So depending on your budget here are the good, better, best suggestions we make when we consult with churches and other places of worship about keeping both their facilities and their people safe:

Good:

• Outdoor lighting is a must.  Cover the parking lot, the walkways and the entry points.  Make sure they are on timers and don’t forget to adjust as the seasons change.
• Keep bushes trimmed around windows and doorways.
• Have a MONITORED fire alarm system.  Smaller churches often use converted buildings and often do not have a sprinkler system, so it is important to make sure your fires system is monitored.  Smoke detectors going off in an empty building do no good if there is no one there to hear them.
• Have an alarm system with a cell backup.  Make sure your alarm system is programmed to send a daily test timer.  This enables your system to check in every day and if there are any problems, such as a low battery, it will send a signal to the station and a service ticket will be generated.  If your provider says they need to charge you extra for that, it’s time to find a new provider as this only costs pennies a day to provide.  In the past an alarm system with a cell backup was a more expensive option, but now there are systems where these products are integrated greatly reducing the installation and the monitoring costs.

Better:

• Install a security system with an integrated access control system.  Places of worship tend to have a lot of different people using the building and needing access at different times.  This means many keys and many alarm codes that need to be handed out.  An access control system will eliminate the need for codes and cut down on the need to rekey if someone loses their key.  It will also make it more likely that the security system will actually get turned on.  We find over and over again that people stop using their systems because it is too hard to keep up with multiple codes.  Again their are some new products on the market that are allowing even the most limited budget to include access control in their security plan.
• Cameras are useful as a deterrent.  Placing signage that you are under surveillance, as well as a few carefully placed cameras, even if they are dummies, can make a potential arsonist/vandal/thief think twice about making your building their target.  Your local big-box store often have inexpensive, low quality cameras that can work well for this.

Best:

• Cameras that are monitored.  If vandalism is an on-going concern, then a motion-activated live monitoring system is the answer.  When a motion detector is activated in an area of concern, video begins streaming to an operator at the monitoring station.  If the operator sees something of concern, they can dispatch the proper authorities.  Although pricing on cameras drops every month, you still need a high quality NIGHT-VISION camera in order to stream those images to a monitor.  Your local discount big-box store is not going to be able to give you the camera that you need.

In the end though, the best security system is the one that is used.  Good outdoor lighting on timers, monitored fire and a basic security system that is consistently used will go a long way towards deterring and preventing vandalism, theft and arson.

All these items seem obvious, but we all need reminding sometimes. This short check list is very basic, but things that I see a lot of businesses missing. These are easy, and make a big difference. - Chris Duncan.

1 – Leave cash registers empty and open after hours to deter burglars.
2 – Make sure all exterior doors have adequate locking mechanisms or install a secondary lock, i.e. deadbolt locks.
3 – Leave an interior light on all night.
4 – Use exterior lighting to increase the visibility in parking lots and entrances.
5 – Move valuable merchandise away from the door and windows to prevent smash and grab thefts.
6 – Install an annunciator on entrances to alert you that a customer has entered.
7 – Don’t tag your keys with the name of your business. Change locks if keys are lost or not returned by a former employee.
8 – Don’t open the door until you are fully ready to do business, and don’t count receipts until you lock up.
9 – Never resist an armed robber.
10 – Check Exterior for Possible access to the roof and secure all ladders and garage dumpsters.
11 – Install a safe or strong security cabinet to store valuable documents or keys used in your business.

Anyone who owns a small business is busy. There’s never enough time and too much to do. Taking care of the details, covering for an absent employee, and answering the phone take up the day. There’s never enough time to get around to the “To Do Today” list, let alone think about possible problems.

But while you’re working hard to make your business grow and prosper, it’s just possible that your assets are under attack. Here are fifteen practical tips for protecting your business. Contact your Sonitrol representative to review your electronic security needs.

1. Realize that you have what someone wants. Your store or office isn’t a home where everyone is an invited guest. If you have businesses products, inventory, equipment or money, you have what someone wants. This is where protecting assets begins.

2. Prepare a checklist of closing and lock-up procedures for employees. Make sure appropriate employees understand what is expected.

3. Business owners can be too trusting. If you are the one who hires employees, you will trust them. As a result, you will have a hard time accepting the fact that an employee is stealing money, time, products or equipment. People who steal know how you feel. It is estimated that one-third of all employees are stealing from their employers at a rate of $5 to $10 billion a year.

4. Having eyes and ears when you’re not there. Depending on your business, something as simple as a closed-circuit television and converting to a Verified Audio Security System may serve both as a deterrent, a method of recording information, and securing the building 100%.

5. All doors should be hung with hinges on the inside. This will prevent burglars from knocking out pins and removing doors.

6. Available cash is asking for trouble. We all want to believe that our employees can be trusted and most are trustworthy. But the availability of cash creates tremendous temptation unless there are strict controls. In a retail store, point-of-purchase cash register systems can monitor over rings, voids or double voids, delayed voids and other exceptions that may indicate employee-created cash shortages.

7. Make sure all equipment is marked. Take time to mark company equipment with an electric pencil. Computers and computer-related equipment is vulnerable, particularly laptop computers. Use equipment serial numbers or a similar system to track equipment.

8. Look for ways to watch the store. If you can’t see the whole store from a central location, you will have a shoplifting problem sooner or later. Lowering display shelves or raising the check out locations will improve visibility, as will strategically placed wide-area detection mirrors, closed circuit television cameras and two-way mirrors.

9. Confronting a weapon. If you are open late or early, are easily accessible to a main road or public transportation and have cash, a hold up is a possibility. Anyone with a gun is nervous, so no one should try to be a hero. If the robber wants money, give it to him. At the same time, a hidden button connected to a silent alarm system with Verified Audio can bring help fast and make employees more comfortable. Buttons can be placed on desks, under counters and on the floor for more discreet use. And a closed circuit television system can act as a deterrent and provide evidence.

10. Going to the bank. Getting at your money when you are outside your business may be very attractive to a robber because you are more vulnerable. If you have cash, do not follow the same pattern each day and vary your route. If you have considerable cash, take two cars. Don’t let a would-be robber get the upper hand.

11. Locks only slow down a thief. Locks don’t keep thieves out; they just slow them down. Quality locks with substantial dead bolts are a step in the right direction. If you use padlocks, make sure they are of sufficient gauge steel with multiple tumblers and custom keyed for you. At the same time, adequate lighting, closed circuit television and a Verified Audio Security System may be the best deterrents.

12. Exercise key control. It doesn’t take long for keys to disappear and to be given to many employees. Keep a record of who has keys and the dates they were given out and returned. A better alternative to keys is managed electronic access control, which can be linked to your Verified Audio security system to help reduce false alarms on arming and disarming.

13. Bad checks and counterfeit bills. New business owners are more trusting because they want to attract customers. Don’t think this escapes forgers and counterfeiters. They thrive in these situations. Establish firm procedures and stick with them. The exception may cost you dearly.

14. Use an employee identification system, if practical. If you have many full- and part-time employees or you are having key management problems, an access system that requires the employee to insert an electronically coded card upon entering the business (or specific areas) will give additional control, eliminate keys, and maintain a badged staff.

15. Train your employees. Anyone dealing with customers must be properly trained in order to perform as you want him/her to. This includes teaching employees how to watch the store or business, how to spot counterfeit bills and how to accept a check, and properly use any electronic security in place.

Following these 15 suggestions will help you minimize loss, make you feel more in control and assist in protecting the assets of your business.

Fact
* Sonitrol has the lowest false alarm rate in the industry
* Sonitrol can continuously inform police of activity inside a building as they respond to the scene.
* Sonitrol covers your facility from any point of entry, not only doors and windows
Result
* Police give Sonitrol alarms high priority
* Sonitrol leads to increased apprehension of criminals
* Intruders can’t hide from audio detection

We are all worried about personal crime in Savannah. It is all around us. There are a few things we can all do. -Chris Duncan.

1- Keep your purse, wallet, or other valuable items with you at all times or locked in a drawer or closet.
2- Check the identification of any strangers who ask for proprietary information or any delivery or repair persons who want to enter an area restricted to employees.
3- Be discreet. Don’t advertise your social life or vacation plans, or those of your fellow employees, to strangers visiting your place of work.
4- Park in well-lighted and well-traveled areas.
5- If you must work late or at odd hours, walk with a group or ask another employee or security guard to escort you to your car.
6- If you notice any suspicious persons or vehicles, notify security personnel. Trust your instincts and never hesitate to report anything that makes you fell uneasy.
7- What if you become a victim? Stay calm, try not to panic or show any signs of anger or confusion. Try to compose an accurate description of the assailant to help police. Report all crimes to the police immediately.