Posts

Metal thefts, metal theft, chruch, rail, construction, Security, Services, A&R Security Services

Are metal thefts on the rise again?

/0 Comments/in /by

Metal thefts have a severe impact on a multitude of industries and services within England and Wales.

In 2017 the UK government reported saying that with the introduction of the Scrap Metal Dealers Act, it found that the number of metal thefts fell by more than three quarters in 4 years.

However, with the change in markets and the increase in metal prices, many historical properties, memorials and monuments, services and industries are being targeted.

In recent times Network Rail has reported an 85% increase in the theft of live cables, leading to 950 hours of delay and affecting more than 7,000 journeys across England and Wales. Alongside rail services, Churches across England and Wales have seen an increase in metal thefts, with their lead roofs being stripped and sold for scrap. One striking example was when 20 tonnes of lead – the entire roof – was stolen from All Saints’ Church in Houghton Conquest, Bedfordshire last October. It is estimated that at the prices then it might bring the thieves £25,000 but will cost the church £400,000 to replace.

Although many properties and services are being targeted for their valuable metals there are ways to prevent criminals from stealing.

SelectaDNA ‘Grease’

This product has been developed so that it can be painted onto metals such as Zinc, Copper and Lead. If a thief handles any metals with this grease painted on them, it can transfer onto their hand or cloths and become very difficult to remove – linking them to the crime. The grease is also UV reactive and has a unique DNA signature that can be easily traced.

Painting this specially designed grease makes metals ‘Hot property’ and no one would want to go near them, leading to the prices of metal on the open market to fall.

Install CCTV

CCTV cameras are an effective deterrent against criminals as they do not want to be recognised when committing a crime. When installing CCTV make sure that they are high up and in areas where they cannot be tampered with or damaged.

If you can, hire manned guards during unsociable hours to monitor CCTV activity on your property as they can quickly respond and notify you and the police of any suspicious activity

Security Lighting

Security lighting comes in a vast range of sizes and models but is an effective deterrent (especially when used alongside CCTV Cameras). Security lights can be triggered by movement and can light up anyone that may be attempting to steal any metals.

When installing Security lighting, make sure that they are in a high are and cables are out of reach or are buried within floors or walls so that they cannot be damaged or tampered with.

Remove bushes and other hiding places

Bushes may look pretty but they can make ideal hiding places for criminals that are looking to steal valuable metal. If you have bushes on your property, make sure that they aren’t located close to your building and are at an ideal distance that makes spotting criminals easier.

Remove bins and ladders

Any property that you visit will have large wheelie bins and ladders. When closing your business or property down for the evening, make sure that they are locked away or moved where they cannot be reached and used to get on top of your roof.

Mobile Patrol and Manned Guard Security

Although this may be a more drastic measure for smaller businesses or churches, for larger businesses and construction sites that deal with metal mobile patrols and manned guards are an effective way to deter criminals and protect your property

Manned Guards

Manned guards are an effective deterrent against criminal activity. Some businesses see a lot of activity in and out of their business and it can be difficult to keep track of everyone.

Manned guards can be stationed close to main entrances, checking vehicles and personal coming in and out of your property. They can also conduct monitoring duties where they can monitor CCTV cameras for any suspicious activity within the property and quickly respond.

Manned guards can also restrict the number of people or vehicles on your site at a certain time during the day, making it easier for them to monitor who is on your site but also their activity.

Mobile Patrols

Mobile Patrols can conduct perimeter patrols around your property either by foot or by branded vehicles. Mobile patrols can be conducted at regular or at irregular intervals, making them less predictable to criminals who may be watching your property.

If mobile patrols are away from your property and there is a disturbance, they can quickly respond and check for any suspicious activity or persons within your property.

A&R Security Services can provide professional security solutions to businesses across South Wales. To see further information about our security services visit our website or to arrange a meeting call us on 01656 713950

Security, Business, Rethink, Security Measures, A&R Security Services, Security Services, Antisocial behaviour

Should you rethink your business security?

/0 Comments/in /by

Vandalism, burglary and malicious damage cost Welsh and UK businesses thousands of pounds. With an estimated 1 in 5 businesses being negatively affected by crime, many will see security as a top priority.

Businesses that work across different sectors see a range of threats and criminal offences. But who from?

The Home office published a recent report that looks at the issues that contribute to crimes against businesses within the UK.

Organised Crime

As the name suggests, organised crimes are planned, coordinated and conducted by people working together. Organised crime is normally seen within the agricultural, forestry or fishing sector, with many businesses reporting that crimes conducted are believed to be carried out by organised criminals.

22% of reported crimes from these sectors were burglaries (including attempted burglaries) and it is thought that 40% of these were carried out by organised groups.

Anti-social Behaviour

Anti-social behaviour is an umbrella term for a range of smaller crimes conducted. Vandalism is the most common type of crime that is reported by businesses. Malicious damage and petty thefts come under anti-social behaviour and cost businesses thousands and is often put down as a result of young, rowdy and aggressive people or YOB culture as it is better known as.

1 in 5 business are impacted by crime

According to a study carried out by a leading business insurer – petty theft, vandalism and malicious damages cost business £9.8 billion a year. 1 in 5 business are impacted by these crimes and can cost them anything between £20,000 and £66,000 each year, depending on their sector and geographical location.

Some businesses are more at risk than others

Different sectors are often more at risk than others. Utilities, engineering, transport, construction and agriculture see the most crimes, with theft of materials, equipment and vehicles, vandalism and even arson costing businesses up to £155 million a year.

It’s not just big business that are targeted

Although big businesses have the most in terms of valuable assets, they are often harder to commit crimes due to stronger security measures. Smaller businesses have the same amount of security as larger businesses and often see themselves becoming targets for burglaries – costing small businesses £3,340 per crime.

When are businesses at risk of crime?

In regard to time, vandalism and malicious crimes can happen at any time but 77% of vandalism normally occurs in the evening and during the cover of darkness. Also, a report shows that 59% of incidents involving antisocial behaviour often occurs during the week compared to 41% over the weekend.

In regard to businesses being burgled, it is more difficult to get clear statistics. However, most intruder related incidents often occur over the weekend. Evening and nights remain the most common time for crimes to be committed.

 

What can businesses do to reduce their security risks?

Many leading business insurers put emphasis on the importance of preparing for risks that they may face and to have the right levels of protection in place. Ensuring that you have adequate defensive measures in place such as CCTV, Alarms, Locks, guards and patrols is crucial when maintaining your businesses security.

Burglary and vandalism can be devastating to any business no matter their size and sector. Having professional security solutions in place can provide effective protection to your business.

A&R Security Services can provide professional Security solutions to businesses in South Wales

To find out more about our professional security services visit our website or give us a call on 01656 713950

Corporate Security, Security Services, A&R Security, Business

Improving your corporate security

/0 Comments/in /by

When running a corporate business, especially a large one, it can sometimes mean that some things such as security can be placed on the back burner. However, you shouldn’t put your business’ security as an afterthought. In the UK, crimes against businesses cost around £9 billion pounds per year, which means it’s imperative you secure your business and assets.

To ensure your business’ safety, you may want to consider hiring security services to prevent harm to your staff and your business’ reputation.

No matter the types of business you have, protecting your staff and visitors should be a top priority especially if you want to make them feel safe within the workplace.

To ensure that your staff and visitors are safe from harm, here are some suggestions that could be implemented when looking to hire a professional security provider.

Ensure staff are protected

Ensuring your employee’s wellbeing and safety should be a top priority and having professional security will let them know that you consider their safety.

Within emergency situations, you should protect your staff by having them evacuate your building safely. However, staff shouldn’t be subject to threatening or violent behaviour

To ensure the safety of your employees and prevent any unauthorised persons from entering your building, think about issuing your staff with ID cards and pin codes for door access.

If you have a reception area that sees a high frequency of people, then hiring manned guards can give that added level of protection – quickly responding to anyone or anything that may be suspicious.

Increase visibility with high-quality CCTV

Installing CCTV cameras will allow you to see any potential threats and quickly respond to them. Within businesses there are many blind spots that trespassers can exploit, meaning that they can be difficult to see or even identify. Having CCTV cameras in areas that cover blind spots not only means that you can spot a potential threat, you can also use footage as evidence of a crime taking place within your business.

Identify Risks and Objectives.

Conducting risk assessments prior to hiring a professional security service will highlight areas within your business that will need additional security.

If your business sees a high frequency of visitors, consider implementing visitor security procedures with your reception or concierge – instructing them to issue visitor ID passes and having them sign a visitors’ book.

If your business operates during the evening, it may be worth in hiring manned guards to work during unsociable hours to maximise security.

First aid training and evacuation procedures

Within a business, accidents happen, whether that is a fall or a cut. It’s standard procedure for businesses to have a designated first aider on-site, in case any accidents do happen. If an accident does happen, manned guards can quickly respond and act accordingly. To ensure that accidents don’t happen within your business, conduct regular checks on workspaces, stairwells and access points.

If your business is large, it is important to have an evacuation procedure in place in case of an emergency situation. This not only means that your staff lives are safe, but it also helps save time.

 

A&R Security Services can provide effective corporate Security Services to business in Cardiff and the surrounding area. To see how our security services can benefit your business take a look here or to arrange a free quote call us on 01656 713950

 

A&R Security Services, Security Services, Halloween, Halloween Security, Security, Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, RCT, Bridgend, South Wales, South West, Business Security

How to protect your business this Halloween

/0 Comments/in /by

Halloween is the spookiest time of the year. With many of us dressing up as vampires, witches, zombies and ghosts and trick or treating the night away. However, there are ghoulish people out there that plan to play tricks on your business.

although some crimes during Halloween are petty and aren’t serious, there are some incidents that are serious and can result in damaged businesses. A spokesperson from a security firm states ” Halloween is great fun for kids, but it can be an extremely expensive time for business owners. Every year there is a surge in crimes around business premises by youths looking for bonfire materials. everything not nailed down is fair game, from tyres and pallets to expensive building materials and even oil theft. warehouses, construction sites, yards and unoccupied businesses are particularly vulnerable”

So, what can you do to keep your business safe this spooky Halloween?

Keep the perimeter of your business well lit:  With the autumn nights drawing in – this presents the perfect opportunity for criminals to break into your business. Using security lighting will help deter criminals from breaking into your business. installing motion-activated lights will accomplish the same goals while conserving energy.

Limit access to your property: Sometimes businesses in built-up areas will stay open to hand out treats to trick or treaters. However, when doing this ensure that the back of your building is secure – with all windows and doors securely shut and locked. If your business is closed during Halloween, ensure that only certain people have a set of keys. Also, make sure that bins and outdoor equipment are in well-lit areas.

Review your current security: Ensure to test your security alarms regularly and review your security system annually. Your system may not be as effective compared to newer models.

Train employees to be vigilant: Criminals like to watch a business first before making an attempt. make sure your employees know what to look out for when people are inside or outside your business and have a plan in place to deal with these individuals.

Celebrate safely: If your business is hosting a Halloween party for staff or customers, ensure that your fire protection is effective and operating properly. Be certain that fire extinguishers are in place and fire exits are clearly marked and don’t hang decorations from sprinklers.

Here at A&R Security Services, we provide comprehensive security solutions for businesses in Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, South Wales and the South West. To arrange a free quotation call us on 01656 713950 or visit our website for further details.

 

rural crimes, rural crime, smash and grab, smash and grab burglary, bank, atm, Smash and grab, ATM theft, Farm Machinery, Farm machinery theft

Rural Crime: Why is it Increasing?

/0 Comments/in /by

In a recent BBC show, it has been reported that crimes in rural areas is at a 7-year high – costing the UK economy £50million a year.

One rural crime that has seen an increase in ATM’s (cash point) being torn out by stolen farm machinery. These ‘Smash and Grabs’ of ATM machines have seen businesses and banks become heavily damaged – making banks reluctant to replace stolen ATM’s or reopen their rural branches.

Great Shelford, Cambridgeshire has been one of the hardest-hit rural communities in the UK for smash and grabs on ATM machines, with the village seeing two of it’s ATM’s be ripped out by stolen farm machinery and never replaced.

In Britain, there were 1,000 smash and grabs involving cash points in 2018, with half happening in the countryside.  Rural communities such as Great Shelford rely on physical cash transactions rather than using card and these attacks on ATM’s have seen local shops see fewer customers and many businesses having to compensate with having to pay bank charges for card transactions.

But why are ATM raids on the rise?

Although there is a higher risk with stealing heavy farm machinery and tearing out ATM’s out of banks, there is a higher reward with some ATM’s storing up to £100,000 in cash. Many rural ATM’s will have larger sums of cash compared to ones in the city because they are refilled less often.

Another reason why ATM raids are on the rise is that police response times are double what they are in towns or cities, allowing criminals more time to steal an ATM machine.

To some, smash and grabs on ATM’s may look opportunistic but they are very sophisticated crimes. With criminals researching, looking for farms close by and looking for heavy machinery big enough to rip out ATM’s.

As mentioned before farm machinery are often used for smash and grabs and stolen farm machinery is on the rise. Last year, farm machinery thefts cost farmers nearly £7.5million with many having to pay to replace them.

Although the police are taking measures and are working with local farmers to ensure that they are taking precautions to prevent the theft of vehicles. However, due to their nature farmers can’t close gates to their farms as they operate 24hrs.

Police in Norfolk have seen trends in these smash and grab crimes with Telehandlers being used to rip out ATM’s from banks and many of the crimes being committed by people living in rural communities and have experience operating farm machinery.

So, what measures can you take to prevent the theft of farm machinery?

  • Remove keys from vehicles if they are not in use: Although farms operate 24/7 it is important that any farm machinery that is not in use has its keys removed and is securely looked up day or night.
  • CCTV: Although it is a basic security measure having CCTV cameras located in areas where machinery is kept can provide a better visual on them and can be monitored 24/7. If machinery is stolen, the CCTV footage can be used to find out who the perpetrator is and use it for evidence in a court of law.
  • Security Lighting: Having security lighting in conjunction with CCTV is a very good security combo. Having security lighting that are censored can be an effective deterrent to criminals as if they attempt to approach your farm or vehicle, they will light up the trespasser making them feel caught.

If your farm or business is in need of extra security services, then get in touch with A&R Security Services. We can provide comprehensive security solutions to businesses across South Wales and the South West. To find out more call us on 01656 713950 or visit our website for further details.

Bridgend, Business, Business Security, A&R Security, A&R Security Services, Retail, Healthcare, School, Office, Construction, Manufacturing

Bridgend – Guide to protecting your business

/0 Comments/in /by

Bridgend is a bustling town with good transport links to two of South Wales’ largest cities Cardiff and Swansea and is close to stunning scenic locations. But like many towns and cities – Bridgend is no stranger to crime. In recent months from June 2018 to June 2019, the total amount of crime reported in Bridgend has steadily fallen from 750-667 being reported.

But this doesn’t mean that business owners in Bridgend should let down their guard and relax. They are still at risk of becoming targets for criminal activities.

So, what strategies can implement to protect your business?

Lock and key:

Having a lock and key is a basic security measure but it works. However, some lock systems can be picked or easily damaged when a large amount of force is used. If you’re installing new doors or locks, make sure that they are British Standard BS3621 and bear the kitemark or are classed a lever 5 mortice deadlock. Alongside using a lock and key, you can also use roller shutters on windows and doors on the front and back of your business. This prevents criminals from looking into your business to see what is available to take but also stops them from damaging your property.

Keyfob/passcode systems:

Mostly used in medium to large premises Keyfob and passcode systems are great at limiting where people can access. For example, if you have a room or section of a building that shouldn’t be open for the public to enter, you can close it off with the use of a keyfob or passcode. This can also be used at the front of the property or by the reception area so that you can monitor who is coming in and out of your business.

 Secure Keyholding:

Many business owners will leave a spare key with a trusted friend or business partner in case of emergencies. But Secure Keyholding services allow security staff to enter your property without anyone else having to be present and check for any disturbances if there has been an alert to one. Also if you are having work carried out of hours and don’t want to pay an employee overtime, your security provider can send someone to let contractors in and also monitor who is entering and exiting your building.

Alarm systems:

Alarm systems are readily available from many DIY stores and security providers such as ourselves. Alarm systems are effective at dissuading criminals at entering your property further by alerting anyone in the vicinity. But be aware, some alarm systems can go off without anything triggering it disturbing neighbours around the area. Most security providers such as ourselves can install and monitor alarm systems, responding to an alarm system going off.

Exterior Lighting:

60% of criminal activity associated with business happens under the cover of darkness. Installing exterior lighting can increase the security of your business – lighting areas of your property that are not normally visible to CCTV or Security Guards. Motion-activated lighting can be a very effective deterrent as any motion can activate the light making criminals feel exposed and caught.

Manned/Mobile Security:

Having security guards at your business is an effective deterrent to criminals. Manned guarding allows you to position guards in key areas such as front of house, access points and blind spots. Mobile guards allow you to have guards patrol your business at scheduled or unscheduled intervals putting criminals off from attempting to enter your property. Mobile guards can patrol your business externally and internally and can quickly respond to any emergencies or suspicious behaviour.

CCTV:

CCTV is frequently used in businesses throughout Bridgend and can be monitored either manually or remotely. Depending on the system you are using – you can place a number of cameras around the outside and inside of your property in inconspicuous areas. CCTV allows either yourself or your security guards to monitor for any suspicious activity and can quickly respond to any disturbances.

A&R Security Services are providers of commercial security solutions. From alarm installations and monitoring to manned and mobile guarding, we can provide professionally tailored services with that personal touch. For more information about our security services – visit our website or call 01656 713950