How do you plan your security services when planning security to protect your home or place of business.
Before even picking up that telephone one of the first things you should do as a business owner or executive in charge of corporate security is to do a site or needs assessment.
This should include asking yourself questions such as these:
- What types of problems are we running into now?
- What problems have we had over the past 6 months or year?
- What problems are our neighbors or other businesses faced with? Do these show a pattern of criminal activity in our neighborhood or industry?
- Is or home or place of business really secure?
- Where or how has our current security system or program left us vulnerable?
- Can we handle the problem through our own in-house security personnel or security systems such as alarm and camera system -- or should we hire an out side contractor?
Then once you have done all of this meet with management from at least -- three different security firms -- in your area using the information you have already put together through your own security analysis to outline your needs and how each company can help you solve your security problems.
In addition to that do a thorough background check of all of these companies and ask to speak to current clients as well before making any decisions about selecting a security service contractor.
The November 14, 2009 edition of The Province in Vancouver, BC
carried some timely reminders from Jane Engle of The Los Angeles Times for travelers and their luggage. These included suggestions like keeping valuables such as, "laptop computers GPS systems, imortant papers like adaption papers and passports with you when you fly.
According to Engle airlines often will not compensate you if such items are stolen or lost at airports.
Her other suggestions include packing lightly enough so you can carry most or all of your clothes and other items with you; using oddly shaped or brightly colored luggage that will stand out making these easy for you to see and identify and hard for thieves to snatch without being noticed and using cheaper or cheaper looking luggage that won't be so tempting to thieves. This can protect both your luggage as well as your valuables inside.
The Health &Science page of The Vancouver Sun on November 14, 2009 brings us news about three ways we can protect our health.
First of all it reports a study by a Dr. Krista A. Varady of the University of Illinois at Chicago who found that obese people lost, "an average of 5.6 kilograms (about 12 pounds)" by fasting every second day for 8 weeks.
Then under a subhead, "Millions killed each year from toxins they eat" the Sun's editors also report a study by the World Health Organization claiming that millions die each year from from bugs and toxins in their food. According to the WHO tainted food results in some 1.2 million deaths persons over 5 years old.
Under still another subhead, "Oral health linked to prevention of other diseases" the page editor warns of the link between oral health problems and other health problems such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, Alzheimers and other mental functions.
All these are timely reminders for people throughout the world concerned about ways to protect their health
When in doubt about whether or not suspects actually have a stolen item in their possession and don't want to risk a possible false arrest scenario Loss Prevention Officers or other store personnel can still discourage future thefts by letting suspects know that they will be watched carefully the next time they return to the store.
One veteran loss prevention officer makes a habit of approaching such person he knows are thieves but is not one-hundred percent sure if they have the item on them and gives them a friendly greeting.
He says something like, "Good evening Sir. I see you have been spending some time looking for something. Is there anything I can help you with?"
Invariably the persons says, "No thanks." and starts to leave the store.
At this point the loss prevention officer, follows up his initial greeting with a friendly reminder that he is always in the store and will keep an eye open to see if he can be of more assistance to this person on his next visit.
The Loss Prevention Officer says that there is usually not a next visit by this person. At least not for a long time.
This is a precaution that, according to one make up professional many women do not think of or both with when trying the samples at cosmetic counters in stores.
And that is this: How sure sure you that the lipstick tip or other cosmetic applicator has been properly sanitized by the sales clerk or cosmetic consultant before YOU use it?
According to the professional make up artist and cosmetic consultant I was talking to many ladies do not think twice about using lipsticks and other samples on their lips or skin.
She says she would never do it unless she made sure the sample had been properly sanitized between uses. These samples, she warns, "could harbor a variety of skin diseases."
Whether you are a security professional ( guard) or ordinary citizen when you confront people in possibly controversial situations try and start off that confrontation just like most policeman: Low Key if possible, in a diplomatic, non-threatening or irritating manner.
It could bring the other person onside quickly and in extreme cases protect you from injury or legal problems.
First of all, unless your are the type of person who enjoys getting involved in road or other types of "rage" incidents first of all ask yourself whether or not you should respond at all to your adversaries comments or conduct.
From personal experience I know that if you respond to situations without thinking about the possible reactions from others your actions can result in some very unexpected -- even potentially hazardous reactions from others.
Once I was stuck behind another motorist who was completely caught up in his cell phone conversation --oblivious to the changing lights.
In exasperation, I finally pulled beside him and shouted, "Hey buddy! get off your cell phone" and drove through the intersection just as the light turned red again.
I quickly forgot all about this confrontation until three months later when I was driving through the same intersection and got stuck in traffic and a strange, irate face suddenly appeared in my carr window.
"Remember me? I'm the person you told to get off the cell phone! I've been looking for you for three months. Never do that to me again buddy.!"
I looked so startled and then started to laugh so hard the man walked off in disgust, shouting back, "never again, buddy, remember", but it could have turned out much more serious.
So, before you respond to adversaries think first about what the possible consequences could be.
In retrospect it would have been much easier -- and safer -- if I had just shut my mouth and driven quietly through at intersection three months before.
Here's something to look into to protect and improve your vision -- especially if you wear reading glasses you bought at your local pharmacy or drug store. Natural Vision Eyewear.
As with anything else concerning your health you should check this out with your family physician, but if it is true it could help you to do away with those reading glasses -- which gradually (or quickly) destroy your eyesight.
Often alternative or complementary care techniques can help you to solve or lesson health problems that mainstream medicine can not - and this system seems to be worth worth looking into.
It is based on wearing a set of eye glasses that have material perforated with pinholes, described by Natural Vision Therapy as , "pinhole glasses" and following a set of eye exercises.
From having my eyesight helped when I was younger by reflexology (a foot message technique) treatments I know that some of these alternative or complementary treatments do work, but do your homework and talk to your primary care healthcare practioners about what you are doing.
If your physician or family doctor is dogmatically opposed to you trying such complementary treatments without giving you valid reasons in your case I would be looking for another doctor as mainstream medicine and their pharmaceuticals do NOT have all of the answers to problems affecting your health and this doctor rather than being concerned with our well being is probably more concerning with protected his income -- partially ensured by your visits about a problem that never goes away.
Here is a detection technique that can provide you with critical clues that you or your house is being watched.
When you come out of your home early in the morning take a quick look at small shrubs in front of windows. Are they crumpled or bent?
If so there is a good possibility that somebody has been looking in, or trying to look into your windows late at night.
We were first alerted to prowlers and evidence they sometimes left behind by a neighbor who lives across the street. One night we had gone to we received a call from her to alert us to the fact that she saw the silhouette of a man's head between some shrubs and the front window. Of course by the time we ran down stairs the suspect had disappeared -- but we did find low lying flowers and shrubs right by the bent and broken and the print of a large shoe right in front of the window.
From that time on from time to time we have seen other suspicious signs of prowlers such as cigarette butts and other debris that could only have gotten there if somebody had dropped it.
Her call and this debris alerted us to the need to more vigilant both while entering and leaving our home late at night and also to install extra security devices such as cameras and security lights and more secure window locking devices and update our alarn system.
When I told him about what had happened us a friend in the security profession tells me he regularly takes the time to check what suddenly appears on the ground on his patrol route as such debris can warn him that somebody is or has been prowling around the property.
I'll never forget a video I was watching about personal security which depicted a young female jogger running along a path and then a stalker hitting her like a guided missile out of no where to know her down. Fortunately, in this case, the scene was staged to demonstrate just how suddenly people can attack an unsuspecting person.
It was an excellent illustration of the need to stay alert at all times. Whether your are a security guard out patrolling a site or a person just out on a stroll it is a good idea to take a few minutes now and then to take a look around a your surroundings.
In both cases you will notice things that you miss if you are constantly on the move -- just focussed on getting from one point to the other and will gain a better picture of what is around you -- whether it is the beauty of nature, somebody's landscaping skills, or potential dangers.
People with criminal intent often observe you for a period of time because making their move -- whether it is against you or against property or people you are protecting.
So be observant (Don't allow yourself to get paranoid about this.) about your surroundings and every now and then take a few minutes to survey the scene around you. Just showing that you are alert can do much to discourage criminals.
Wrought iron screens, landscaping, and cameras added to the outside of your home or place of business can discourage break and enter without detracting from the appearance of your property.
The other day I saws a very attractive wrought iron enclosure around the front porch of a house that not only added another level of protection in a high crime area but also gave the house a very nice Spanish appearnce to this well maintained house.
It is also possible to buy very attractive looking window screens as well as thorn bushes to protect basement and other vulnerable windows around your home or office building.
And look into installing CCTV cameras to strategic (and protected) positions around the outside of your buildings. They can be connected to your home or business computer systems quite easily nowadays.
All of these things can help help you to protect your property, family and employees from predators withut breakikng the bank.
Here is another timely tip passed on to us from Ian Abramson of International Loss Prevention Systems. It could be critical.
According to Ian all cell phone numbers of have been released to telemarketers starting this month to market their goods and services.
This could become not only very annoying, but also an extra charge on your cell phone bill.
However, you can protect yourself from this bill by calling the Do Not Call List Canada Web site and register your phone there.
