If you are looking for clear concise information on how to protect your business or protect clients' people, property, and information there are two excellent magazines available.
One is Canadian Security . You can find an online edition at www.canadiansecurity mag.com.
the other one is Loss Prevention, published by Spark Publications and found at www.LPportal.com.
Subscriptions to both publications are free to security and loss prevention professionals and come in online and print editions. Both focus on timely, usable ideas.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
A Wake Up Call for Everyone
A recent report in Metro News on November 12, 2009 in Vancouver B.C. Canada was a real wake up call for everyone.
According to the story many persons during the recent H1N1 epidemic scare , including hockey players, staff of private colleges and others have went into survival mode jumping the queue to get their H1N1 vaccination ahead of others.
Professor Scott Schieman a University of Toronto Sociology professor says it is all about their personal "survival mode".
According to Schieman when threats like the swine flu (H1N1 virus) erupt many persons will do whatever it takes to ensure t heir personal survival.
Their selfish actions upset many persons but it should wake the rest of us up, realizing that there are many persons in the world like that, people who would do anything to ensure their personal survival regardless of how it affected others and take steps to make sure that we have a personal survival plan for ourselves and our families and practiced putting into action so we are prepared to survive any natural or man-made disaster.
In any natural disaster, although their have been some heart-warming accounts of people going out of the way to rescue and help others after natural disasters, this might not always be the case and we should be prepared to survive independent of others around us if they are not so willing to put others ahead of themselves.
Being prepared to ride out any disasters will also put you in a much better position to be able to help others who are caught unprepared or in situations beyond their control.
According to the story many persons during the recent H1N1 epidemic scare , including hockey players, staff of private colleges and others have went into survival mode jumping the queue to get their H1N1 vaccination ahead of others.
Professor Scott Schieman a University of Toronto Sociology professor says it is all about their personal "survival mode".
According to Schieman when threats like the swine flu (H1N1 virus) erupt many persons will do whatever it takes to ensure t heir personal survival.
Their selfish actions upset many persons but it should wake the rest of us up, realizing that there are many persons in the world like that, people who would do anything to ensure their personal survival regardless of how it affected others and take steps to make sure that we have a personal survival plan for ourselves and our families and practiced putting into action so we are prepared to survive any natural or man-made disaster.
In any natural disaster, although their have been some heart-warming accounts of people going out of the way to rescue and help others after natural disasters, this might not always be the case and we should be prepared to survive independent of others around us if they are not so willing to put others ahead of themselves.
Being prepared to ride out any disasters will also put you in a much better position to be able to help others who are caught unprepared or in situations beyond their control.
Friday, December 4, 2009
A Case of False Assumptions
The case of Amanda Knox who was today found guilty of murdering her room mate and sentenced to 26 years in jail is a stark reminder that the justice we enjoy in Canada and the United States does not always exist in other countries --even some European countries such as Italy.
Amanda, her lawyers and family apparently assumed she would receive a fair trail instead of a verdict determined by the media.
Her final fate will not be decided perhaps for another two to six years if and when an appeal is heard or the case is heard by European Court of Justice forcing Amanda family and friends through an emotional gauntlet for some time.
The case is a stark reminder of the need for Americans Canadian and others who are protected by the presumption of innocence rule in their justice systems to take extra precautions to protect themselves when travelling to European and other countries as all of this is reminiscent of the British couple in Spain or Portugal were the police there accused them of been responsible for their young daughter's disappearance a few years ago.
Amanda, her lawyers and family apparently assumed she would receive a fair trail instead of a verdict determined by the media.
Her final fate will not be decided perhaps for another two to six years if and when an appeal is heard or the case is heard by European Court of Justice forcing Amanda family and friends through an emotional gauntlet for some time.
The case is a stark reminder of the need for Americans Canadian and others who are protected by the presumption of innocence rule in their justice systems to take extra precautions to protect themselves when travelling to European and other countries as all of this is reminiscent of the British couple in Spain or Portugal were the police there accused them of been responsible for their young daughter's disappearance a few years ago.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Plan Security Services Carefully
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:
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.
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?
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.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Discourage Travel Bag Thieves
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.
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.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Three Ways to Protect Your Health
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
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
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Diiscouragte Shoplifters Without Arresting When in Doubt
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.
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.
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