Has COVID-19 caused an increase in hate crime?

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There are a number of triggers for discriminatory and racist behaviour to others (hate crime). With the recent pandemic hitting our UK shores, racial discrimination, and the current UK recession, these are triggering those to conduct hate crime on others.

There has been a long-standing tradition of research on racist attitudes and discriminatory practices and it has shown that threatening events such as terror attacks, economic shocks (recession) and outbreaks of infectious diseases (like the recent COVID-19 Outbreak) are contributing factors to increasing numbers of reported hate crimes.

Hate crimes have been generally increasing over the past seven years. With some threatening events such as the Manchester attack in 2017 and the Westminster Bridge attack in 2019 influencing the spikes in reported hate crimes. But other events such as the shooting in Paris in 2015 not influencing any spikes in hate crimes.

Hate Crime, Graph, Statistics, Security, Security Services, A&R Security Services, Crime

And in recent times, the Coronavirus Pandemic has triggered another spike in hate crimes against the Asian and ethnic communities.

As the Coronavirus originated from the Wuhan province of China, many southern and eastern Asian communities that reside within the UK became victims of hate crime.

Between the months of January and March 2020, when the Coronavirus pandemic was intensifying in the UK, the number of offences reported almost tripled compared to the same period of 2018 and 2019 – with at least 267 reports of hate crime were made across the UK.

From this figure, 63 offences were recorded by the Metropolitan police while forces in Cumbria, Devon and Cornwall, Essex, Humberside and Northamptonshire have already received more reports this year than they did throughout the whole of 2019 – with 375 hate crimes against Chinese people being recorded last year.

Since the outbreak of the Coronavirus in the UK, multiple incidents that involved racial abuse such as being spat on, punched, and verbally abused have been reported.

The Deputy chief constable Mark Hamilton – the national lead for hate crime said “no one is responsible for the outbreak and everyone has a right to be protected against targeted racial abuse”

In March 2020, the owner of a Chinese takeaway restaurant was “spat at” in the face by a teenage boy who demanded to know if he “had Coronavirus”.  The daughter of the takeaway owner Sharon So told the Independent that the offender who was part of a group of three began recording her father on his phone, demanding to know if he was infected with the virus.

In a separate incident, Jonathan Mok, a 23-year-old student from Singapore said he was beaten up on Oxford Street in London in a racial attack in February of this year.

Mr Mok said that a group mentioned Coronavirus before proceeding to punch him in the face. He also stated that one member of the group then said: “I don’t want your coronavirus in my country” then proceeding to hit him on the nose.

And in recent months the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said ‘A rise in violence was “almost inevitable” due to the pandemic.

He told reporters “I have been saying for some time, in the context of COVID-19, that a lot of pent-up feelings of people have, and being able to get out and combine that with people who are unsure about their future and about their jobs, it was almost inevitable that we would see a growth in violence”  this comes after the recent stabbings in Birmingham City Centre at the beginning of September.

 

For more information on how we can effectively protect your business with our security services, please visit our website or give our friendly team a call on 01656 713950

University, Staying safe, University Security, Security Services

Going to university? Here’s how to stay safe

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Moving to university is one of the most exciting and biggest milestones in any young person life. With students being able to experience their own independence, making new friends and experiencing the most famous week of all Freshers week.

However, with the Coronavirus causing many university traditions to be vastly different from what they were before, there are aspects of university that will remain unchanged by the pandemic.

And one aspect of university that won’t change is security. Whether that’s securing your accommodation or looking after your own personal safety. As mentioned before, that’ll be the very first time that students have been able to live independently from their parents in either student accommodation or private rentals.  Living independently will certainly pave the way in learning and gaining life experiences but to aid students in this process and ensure they stay safe; we have a very handy guide for new and returning students.

Is your accommodation secure?

Whether you are in student accommodation or private housing, it’s important that where you are going to spend your time during university is secure and safe. Criminals see students as ‘Easy targets’ for burglary and theft. According to the office of national statistics, students are 7% more likely to be victims of theft than the rest of the population. Most student accommodation block will have their own security systems in place such as key card or fob entry systems. But if you are in private accommodation ensure that your property’s doors and windows have adequate locks on them and when you leave the property, ensure that all the windows and doors are securely locked.

Protect your possessions

Many students will agree that they cannot go without their phone, laptop, or other electronic goods and this can make them a profitable target to thieves. To ensure your valuables are kept safe from prying eyes, keep them out of sight and out of view of any doors and windows. If you’re living with multiple people you may want to lock your own room so no one can gain access.

If you are looking for a hiding place for your valuables don’t go for the obvious hiding places such as under your mattress or in the sock draw because they will be the first places that criminals will look. To ensure your valuables are kept safe think creatively. Hollowed out books or re-purposed food containers are great hiding places.

Consider personal belongings cover

Although your landlord will have home insurances for your home, it won’t cover your own valuables from theft or damage, so it is up to you to cover your own personal belongings. You can find insurance deals that are designed specifically for students and their valuables and can offer protection against theft and hazards such as fire or flooding. Although it is tempting to save yourself some extra cash by not taking this type of insurance out, it could save you thousands of pounds in the long run and will give you peace of mind.

Secure your bike

Having a bike is the quickest way of getting from A to B. But with many students using them and often aren’t being secured effectively, they present an easy target to criminals. To ensure you bike is covered, you can add it to your personal belongings cover that is previously mentioned above. However, if you are cycling to university, you should lock your bike at a bike shed and use a second lock to secure removable parts such as wheels. Most student accommodation blocks will also have a bike shed, but if you are in private accommodation then it is best that you bring your bike inside to prevent it being stolen under the cover of darkness. Also, to give you further peace of mind you can register your bike with the Bike Register, a national database used approved by the police force. This will help the police identify your bike and return it to you safely.

Keep your personal information safe.

Personal information can be just as valuable and profitable as physical valuables to it’s important that your personal information is secure. It can be devastating when fraudsters gain access to your bank account and steal thousands of pounds. To avoid your information being stolen, shred any paper that will contain such information (bank statements, insurances, gas, and electricity bills). To ensure your online data is safe, use anti-virus software on electronic devices such as your phone, tablet, and laptop, use strong passwords and avoid oversharing information on social media.

Ask for ID

By law students in rented accommodation are entitled to 24hour notice if the landlord wishes to enter or send someone to the property. Therefore, this allows you to be aware that someone outside of your home is coming to your property and allows you to act accordingly. And if you haven’t received notice of anyone coming to your property, you legally allowed to deny entry to your property (whether that is your landlord or a maintenance worker). If someone does try to gain access to your home, always ask for ID and try and contact your landlord for verification before letting them in. If you feel suspicious of them or don’t feel safe, say ‘No’.

If you need help, seek it

University is both an exciting time and a daunting time for students. While some will enjoy university life, for others leaving home and being separated from their parents, friends and family can be difficult and can have an impact on their mental wellbeing. For many universities, student mental health is a major priority for them, and they’ll often offer counselling services, workshops and courses for students who are struggling to adapt to university life, academic pressure, or mental health issues.

For more information on mental health wellbeing at university, take a look at students minds or the UK mental health charity Mind.

 

If you are in need of professional security solutions, contact us on 01656 713950 or visit our website for further details

Cybersecurity, Physical Security, Security, Security Services, Security Guards, mobile Patrol, manned Guard, Alarm Response

Cybersecurity vs Physical Security: Which is more important?

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When looking for ‘Security’ for either your home or business into google or other web browsers, you’re immediately greeted with results talking about increasing your firewall protections rather than actual physical security solutions.

And with the technology and the world now moving at such fast paces, cybersecurity is seen as one of the fundamental building blocks of any business or home network.

But with so many of us rushing to secure our networks and data, are businesses neglecting the physical aspect of their security? And should they be focusing on one aspect of find links between them?

Cybersecurity

In the past 20 years, technology has changed from us having static computer systems in locked rooms to us having mobile laptops that allow us to work anywhere. However, with the advancement in devices being able to connect to the internet and allowing us to work in any location, our technology and data can easily come under attack by rogue viruses and spyware.

In 2019, Hiscox insurers conducted research on Cyber-attacks on British firms and found that 55% had faced an attack compared to 40% in 2018. With the average losses from breaches soaring from £176,000 to £272,000 (an increase of 61%).

Physical Security

Where cybersecurity protects your data from criminals, physical guards protect your data and physical assets from physical threats. Physical Security guards can be used in a number of ways to protect physical assets including:

  • Alarm Response and key holding services
  • Manned guard
  • Mobile Patrol
  • Concierge/front of house.

Working together

With our modern lives seeing more and more technology, a modern security solution needs to utilise both cybersecurity and physical security and have both working together and informing each other.

And with the advancements in technology, physical security has changed. Before it was simply putting a key in a lock, but now large corporate buildings are installing more advanced systems such as keypads, access guards, audio/visual feeds to grant access. And these systems use data that needs to be protected.

Physical threats can also compromise your cybersecurity as it is much easier for a criminal to gain access to your network and steal your valuable data. This means that server rooms and data centres should be secured at all times and that businesses that use cloud networks should ensure that they only use reputable companies that have a proven track record when it comes to securing data.

There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to which is better. It’s more if a question of “How much is your business willing to invest in each and how you can make them work together”

If you are looking for a reputable security provider to coincide with your cybersecurity, take a look at our website for further details or contact us on 01656 713950.

beauty spots, staycation, staycationers, littering, bad behavior, illegal camping, security, gwynedd, snowdonia, snowdonia national park

Do our welsh beauty spots need security?

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Wales, it’s a small country but it has its fair share of beauty spots. With the natural beauty spots such as the Pembrokeshire coast, Gower Peninsula, and Brecon Beacons National Park drawing tens of thousands of visitors each year.

However, in March of this year, many of them closed themselves off from the public following the Coronavirus pandemic and welsh government and national lockdown rules. Now Wales has relaxed lockdown rules, many of our coast’s, paths and nationals’ parks have once again re-opened and welcomed tourists back with open arms.

But welcoming tourists back with open arms hasn’t been smooth sailing for some especially for Snowdonia National park. Since the relaxation of the lockdown rules the National Park has experienced high levels of littering, bad behaviour and illegal camping and has resorted to them employing security to monitor activity and prevent the tension between tourists and locals rising further over the bank holiday weekend.

Illegal camping, Beauty spots, Security, Security Services

And this isn’t the only case of ‘Staycationers’ littering and illegally camping in beauty spots. Balmoral estate in Scotland and the Lake District have also been hit – with balmoral seeing increasing numbers of camping equipment and even human waste being left behind and the Lake District cleaning up mountains of litter.

To curb the number of tourists littering and illegally camping within the Snowdonia National Park, Gwynedd Council have employed a security firm to patrol areas within Snowdonia national park (Parc Padarn Country Park in Llanberis and beaches including Morfa Bychan and Abersoch). The security firm has been commissioned to conduct patrols out of normal operating hours, ensuring that visitors to the area, respect the rules in place.

But are our beauty spots soon to be patrolled by security guards?

Gwynedd Council has been the only local authority to announce that they are employing security over the bank holiday to ensure that tourist’s within the area remain responsible and no further damage is being caused. However, with other beauty spots such as the Queen’s Balmoral Estate and the Lake District coming under increasing ‘attack’ from irresponsible tourists, seeing security patrolling and enforcing rules could become the norm.

What do you think? Will we be seeing more security in our beauty spots?

For more information about our mobile patrol services and how we can keep your beauty spots safe from irresponsible tourists visit our website or give us a call on 01656 713950.

Event Security, Event Security Services, A&R Security Services, COVID-19, Welsh Government, Small Events, Pilot Scheme

Event Security: Are you ready to welcome spectators back?

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2020 was to be the year for big events, with Glastonbury celebrating its 50th anniversary, Qatar holding the FIFA world cup and Japan holding the 2020 Olympic games. However, with the rise of the Coronavirus pandemic and the fear of the virus rapidly spreading, events across Wales, the UK and the globe were put on hold or cancelled altogether.

But there was a small light at the end of the tunnel for both sporting and art event organisers. At the beginning of August 2020, the UK opened its first socially distanced venue (the Virgin Money Unity Arena) which played two sold-out shows on the grounds of Gosforth Park, with 2,500 seats spaced out on 500 viewing platforms. However, due to the recent localised spikes in Coronavirus – organisers put a stop to any further events like these.

Now the Welsh and UK governments are looking to kick start small sporting and art events that would allow only a 100 spectators in. The Welsh government said that this would be a ‘Two-pronged approach’ with these small-scale events depending on the success of England’s pilot event schemes and the state of COVID-19.

But even with these small pilot scheme events succeeding and larger events such as the Guinness Pro-14 and the Six Nations getting the green light to welcome larger crowds of spectators, there is still the logistics surrounding public safety and minimising the spread of COVID-19.

Although limiting the number of spectators to such large events will help in towards minimising the risks of localised spikes, there is still the risk of those limited numbers not following guidelines that will be put into place to ensure their safety.

We at A&R Security services understand that it will take time for larger events such as the Six Nations, Olympic games and even Glastonbury festival to return but in the meantime, we can provide effective event security solutions to ensure that the public remains safe and your event runs without a hitch.

So to ensure that spectators are kept safe our manned guards can provide effective crowd control by:

  • Conducting Temperature checks
  • Ensure social distancing is adhered to at all times
  • Ensure that only those with masks or face coverings are allowed to enter
  • Good hand hygiene is maintained
  • Track and trace information is obtained.
  • Bag searches

Alongside our manned guards providing crowd control at the entrance of your event, we can provide effective mobile patrols. Our mobile guards can conduct on foot patrols around your venue space, ensuring spectators are following social distancing rules, there are no unauthorised personal or suspicious objects in restricted areas, and they can quickly respond to any emergencies.

And it’s not just large events that we can provide security for, we can provide tailored and effective security solutions for smaller events too. To learn more about our event security take a look at our website for further details or to arrange a free no-obligation meeting call us on 01656 713950.

 

Retail worker, violent and abusive behavior, COVID-19, Coronavirus, Pandemic, Lockdown

COVID-19: Is violence against retail workers getting worse?

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When we think about those working through the pandemic, many think about the NHS staff, police force, fire, and ambulance services. But there are one group of key workers who have been vital in keeping Wales and the rest of the UK going and that are retail workers.

However, since the start of the lockdown in March, there has been increasing reports of retail workers receiving violent and abusive behaviour from customers. In response to this increase in violent behaviour, one supermarket chain Co-op announced that they were going to supply frontline staff who worked at 250 stores with body cameras.

The issue surrounding retail workers becoming victims of violent and abusive behaviour is one that has been around for years. But has the recent COVID-19 pandemic caused this sort of behaviour to increase? And is there anything being done to help protect retail workers?

In a recent article from ITV Wales, it mentioned that violent and abusive behaviour more than doubled during the pandemic, with the USDAW (a union representing welsh shop workers) calling for a law to protect retail workers from such behaviour.

Many retail workers who worked at supermarkets and other retailers felt anxious returning to work in fear that they would either be spat at, coughed or sneezed in response to them asking for customers to socially distance – as well as being pushed and verbally abused when enforcing buying limits on in-demand goods or being unable to issue returns on goods.

The USDAW conducted a survey and found that 1 in 6 shop workers were being abused on every shift and well over half (62%) of 5,000 workers surveyed said they experienced verbal abuse since the start of the pandemic. Whilst a third had been threatened by a customer and 4% had been assaulted.

One retail worker who took part in the USDAW survey said “I had never cried in work until the first week of the lockdown. I received constant abuse from nearly every customer during one shift when the rules were changed so that we couldn’t accept returns. I finally broke when one woman refused to leave the store and insulted me and berated me for not doing the return.

“The following day a man was very aggressive towards me for the same reason and I could visibly see him twitching in a way that suggested he was about to become violent. My job has become emotionally draining and it is really starting to affect my mental health.”

When averaged across the entire retail sector of 3 million workers, it showed that 3,500 workers were assaulted every day over a 34day period.

So what action is being taken to ensure the safety of retail workers?

The government has set out plans to crack down on the violent and abusive behaviour the retailers face on a daily basis. This included working alongside the National Retail Crime Steering Group (NRCSG) on best-practise guide to help support shop workers report acts of violent and abusive behaviour, strengthening and making full use of existing laws, and improving data sharing between businesses and the police.

However, there is opposition out there who think that the government’s plans aren’t enough to protect retail staff effectively. The BRC and Association of stores have both criticised the home office for not seeking to introduce specific and harsher offences to those attacking shop workers. ACS’s CEO said, ‘Warm words and working groups aren’t enough; we need tougher penalties for attacks on shopworkers and more police resources to stamp out violence”.

If your retail staff have been a victim of abusive and violent behaviour before and during the pandemic, then speak to us about our effective retail security solutions. Our manned guards hold full SIA licenses and are fully trained to act accordingly to protect your retail staff from abusive and violent customers. To learn more about how we can help take a look at our website here or get in touch with us on 01656 713950.

Crime rate, Crimes, Unemployment, Cardiff, Pandemic, COVID-19, Business Security, A&R Security Services, Security Services, Manned guards, mobile Patrols

Is the rise in unemployment causing a rise in crimes?

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Since the COVID-19 landed on our shores, over 300,000 people in Wales have been on furlough up to the end of June 2020 – representing 28.9% of the Welsh workforce.

But despite the furlough scheme supporting employees and businesses and Wales slowly taking steps to return to normal, Wales and the UK’s economy is facing an economic downturn, with their already being high numbers of unemployment due to job cuts. Now with the government announcing that the furlough scheme will be ending in October 2020, the number of those becoming unemployed will increase further. Leading to one thing – high levels of crime.

Throughout history, there has been a correlation between large numbers of unemployment and increased levels of crime. In Cardiff County, statistics from South Wales Police show that between March and May (when lockdown was enforced) there has been a 50% increase in crimes – with Anti-social behaviour, Violent Crimes and Public order being the highest crimes reported.

Now with industries feeling the effects of the recent lockdown in Wales – there will be more and more people resorting to criminal activities such as theft and vandalism in an attempt to make quick money from stolen goods.

And for businesses who have been able to remain open and continue operating, this is bad news. So, it makes sense to invest in more robust security measures with a professional security provider that you can trust to protect your business.

Choosing the right security provider that can provide effective security to suit your needs

It may be easy to cut security measures to save money during these difficult times, but investing in more robust security measures can save you money and a lot of headaches in the long run. So, it’s important that your choose a security provider who can easily full fill your security needs.

For us, we understand that no two businesses are the same and can facilitate a business’ unique security needs and create bespoke security contracts that offer the best protection.

We understand that for some business’ it may be just key holding & alarm response services that they need for or for larger businesses, they may need 24-hour manned guards and/or mobile patrols services to provide suitable protection from criminals.

We can offer a range of bespoke services that can effectively protect your business. Including:

  • Keyholding & Alarm Response Services
  • Manned Guarding
  • Mobile Patrols
  • Concierge / Front of house Security
  • Construction Security

Whether your business holds large amounts of stock, operates 24 hours of the day – 7 days a week, covers a large area or is in a remote location, we can provide effective security services to ensure that your business is fully protected during these difficult times.

For more information about our security services visit our website or to arrange a no-obligation quote give us a call on 01656 713950.

face masks, face masks, face covering, face covering, Coronavirus, retail security, security services, manned guards, mobile patrols, A&R Security Services

Face Masks: Are they a threat to retailers?

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Face masks. They come in all shapes, sizes, and colours, and are often seen being worn by those in the medical profession. But with lockdown restrictions relaxing and the coronavirus still a threat to the public’s health there has been increased debate on whether the wearing of face masks within stores should be made compulsory.

Although face masks have been proven to be a benefit at preventing further spread of the Coronavirus, Wales has not made the wearing of masks within stores compulsory. Much of the public believe that they should and are being worn. However, with many retailers re-opening their doors to the public once again, the wearing of face masks and coverings can cause challenges to security.

Most retailers will have security measures such as CCTV in place, but this isn’t always a reliable way to positively identify thieves – with many CCTV systems having poor quality imagery, being placed in areas that create blind spots and obstructions. Add the wearing of facemasks into the mix and you have an even harder task to positively identify criminals.

So, what can you do?

Invest in physical security. Investing in Manned guards, mobile patrols or door supervisors can give your store that added protection from thieves looking for a target. Physical guards are trained to spot suspicious-looking behaviour and threatening body language – quickly resolving any situations that may become heated between a criminal and the public or staff.

Having physical security not only means that criminals can be caught in the act of stealing from your store, but they can also be easily identified and even dissuade other criminals from targeting your store.

Right now, your priority is to re-open your business as safe as possible during these difficult times, so allow us to keep you, your staff and your business safe.

For more information on how our manned guarding and mobile patrols can effectively protect your business then take a look at our website here. Or to arrange a free no-obligation quote call us on 01656 713950

Hospitality, Hospitality industry, Hospitality Security, July 13th, Pub, Restaurant, Hotel, Security Guards, Manned Guards, Crowd control, event Security, Pub security, restaurant security, hotel security

Hospitality Security: Why should you have Crowd Control?

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At the start of the pandemic in March, much of the hospitality industry within Wales and the UK closed their doors, with no end date in sight.

Although the government have been supportive with the furlough scheme and has helped many businesses within the hospitality industry keep paying their bills it can only go so far and soon the government will not be able to continue with the scheme.

Many businesses within the hospitality industry will be fearing that with no end in-sight and support from the government soon to end, many would be faced with the hard truth of having to cuts jobs and even close their doors for the final time. And for many owners and employees within the industry, working in hospitality is a passion, not a job.

However, during the past few days, there were the beginnings of light at the end of the tunnel when First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford announced plans for businesses within the hospitality industry to once again open their doors and welcome staff and customers.

But, even with the new announcement and the relaxation in lockdown rules, it is not as simple as opening the doors and letting customers walk in. There are still rules that both you and your customers need to adhere to, to ensure both your safety during this time.  This includes:

  • Limiting the number of customers within your premises at one time.
  • Ensuring ‘pinch points’ such as doors and tight corners/space are kept clear and social distancing is being followed
  • Using one-way systems for customers and staff to enter and exit your premises.
  • Preventing customers from doing up to the bar by introducing table service
  • Gather customer contact details so that ‘track & trace’ can be adopted should an outbreak of the coronavirus is reported.

Right now, with lockdown rules in Wales relaxing, social distancing very much remains in place. To ensure that your customers follow strict social distancing rules, invest in having crowd control services from A&R Security Services.

Throughout the pandemic, we have been continually providing effective security for our clients across South Wales and all of our security staff understand the importance of social distancing during this time and how to effectively implement it.

With crowd control now being the important topic for businesses within the hospitality industry who are looking to re-open on the 13th July, it’s not only the logistics that they have to think about, it’s also the necessary implementation of professional and trustworthy crowd control services that will keep both customers and staff safe.

As stated by a member of the police force on this week’s news, “Alcohol and social distancing don’t mix” especially when some customers may have had one too many. Investing in physical security guards to provide effective crowd control means that you have the safety of your customers and staff firmly in your mind and it takes the pressure off your staff having to ensure that your customers are staying safe whilst having a good time.

For more information on how we can work with you to provide effective crowd control for your business then visit our website here or give us a call on 01656 713950 to arrange a free quotation today.

Vehicle theft, theft, vehicle crime, manned guards, mobile patrols, security services, A&R Security services

Did you know that a vehicle is stolen every 9 minutes in the UK?

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Across England and Wales, it’s been largely reported that vehicle thefts are on the increase – with reports saying vehicle theft rising by a fifth over the past three years. With vehicle

Last year the DVLA reported that 56,288 vehicles were targeted by thieves last year. That number of vehicles stolen equated to one being stolen every 9 minutes or 154 vehicles being stolen every day.

Which vehicle is stolen the most?

One leasing company (Rivervale leasing) conducted their own investigation and looked at a decade of government data and found that Ford Fiestas were the most targeted vehicle – with 2,384 being stolen last year. They also listed Range Rover, Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus and BMW 3 series being on the top 10 list for most stolen vehicles in the UK (you can see the full list here)

Premium cars are the most targeted vehicles to be stolen and out of every 5 cars stolen, only two are returned to their owners – with 75% of them being damaged and 22% of them being completely written off.

And it’s not just the vehicles that criminals are targeting, it’s also their parts. With the recent lockdown, many manufacturers of car parts had stopped operations amid worries about their staff safety, leading to a gap in the market for vehicle thieves to target cars for their parts.

Rivervale Leasing found that 34.7% of popular items stolen are exterior fittings such as bumpers, lights, and grills, with 16.5% of electrical equipment being stolen, other vehicle parts being 9.5% and wheels being 2.2%.

Also, recent reports have revealed that there has been an increase in the number of catalytic converters being stolen – with 1,000 being stolen each month in places like London. Insurers have also seen a 600% increase in claims involving catalytic converters – costing an average of £1,000 per claim.

It’s not just a financial impact

Having a vehicle stolen doesn’t just cause a financial impact on a person or business, it can also affect the owner’s mentality with 84% of drivers saying that they have been emotionally affected by their vehicle being stolen.

But is it just personal vehicles being targeted?

No, it’s not just personal vehicles that are being targeted, commercial vehicles are too. Parkers (a van distributor) conducted their own research and found that between 2015-19 van thefts increased by 45% with 10,000 van thefts in 2018/19. During lockdown many abandoned or closed offices, factories or construction sites have also been targets for theft- with construction sites seeing a 50% surge in criminal activity.

Is it opportunist or organised criminal behaviour?

Both. Although many personal vehicles are victims of opportunistic thefts, many vehicles that are kept within compounds such as a construction site, fleet yards or car showrooms are victims of more organised crime (due to security measures). You can see our blog on Car Showroom security here.

So, what steps can you take to ensure the safety of your vehicles?

CCTV:

Many businesses like yours would have CCTV in place to monitor the perimeter of your business but they can only see so far. If you have vehicles that are parked in front or a parked in a compound close by, it is worth investing in further CCTV to ensure that blind spots are covered and you or your security staff can easily monitor and look out for any suspicious activity close by.

Vehicle tracking:

If you have multiple vehicles within your business, installing vehicle tracking allows you to track and monitor their location. So, if a vehicle is stolen from your property or whilst out on-site, it can be easy for you or the police to track its location and apprehend the thieves.

Perimeter fencing and gates

Whether you park your vehicles outside your building or in a compound close by, having perimeter fencing and gates will provide extra protection for your vehicles. However, it is important to choose sturdy fencing and gates as some fencing and gates can become easily damaged by criminals trying to get in.

Invest in physical security

To some physical security guards can seem like an expensive investment but actually it can save you money in the long run. Outsourcing your physical security to us means that you don’t have costly uniform, training or vetting fees to look at and allows you to get on and run your business, whilst we effectively protect your business and your vehicles with our manned guards and mobile patrols.

Manned guards:

Although having manned guards to protect your work vehicles may seem excessive to some, they are an effective way to deter criminals. Manned guards can be used to monitor CCTV camera’s 24/7 for any activity close to your business or vehicles and quickly respond to any disturbances of any attempts to damage or steal your vehicles. Manned guards can also be placed in front of main gates to monitor activity coming in and out of your property or vehicle compound, ensuring that only authorised personnel are allowed access to your vehicles.

Mobile patrols:

Mobile patrols are another effective deterrent against criminals and compliment our manned guarding services. Whereas manned guards can be used to monitor activity via CCTV or being stationed by main gates and access points, mobile patrols guards can patrol single or multiple areas – depending on the size of your property – at regular or irregular intervals and can quickly respond to any disturbances that are located at a different location.

Both our physical guard services can greatly benefit your business and are effective deterrents against criminals looking to target your vehicles.

To find out more about our manned guards, mobile patrols services or any other security services then visit our website here or give us a call on 01656 713950 to arrange a meeting.