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Construction site, construction site security, COVID-19, theft, Pandemic, Construction Security, Security Services, A&R Security Services

COVID-19 – Is Construction Theft rising?

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For a long time, the construction industry has come under attack from thieves and vandals looking to steal plant tools and equipment and make quick money. Overall, the estimated losses from construction sites very from £400m to well over £1bn every year with an additional £770m per year lost to metal thefts.

Earlier in April 2020, The Construction Equipment Association (CEA) found that in the first two weeks of lockdown plant and tool thefts sharply rose compared to pre-lockdown levels due to personnel including on-site security leaving as a result of coronavirus social distancing measures – resulting in criminal gangs exploiting the situation. And although some construction sites have returned to normal operations they are still being targeted.

In December 2020, four men and a woman were arrested in connection to a number of thefts in the South Yorkshire area. Between March and November 2020, around 40 new housing developments were burgled with thieves stealing newly installed boilers as well as machinery and tools.

For larger construction sites the bigger they are the bigger the potential problems. This means that larger construction sites need to boost their security profile, investing in GPS trackers for their vehicles alongside current security measures such as CCTV and manned guard points.

Whilst new developments are still being built, many councils and local authorities look to regeneration projects, leading to re-furbishing and regenerating buildings and site which pose their own unique set of problems. Arron Mills, director of Archon Services – a firm specialising on construction and property security said “The rise of large-scale regeneration sites that cover dozens, if not hundreds of acres of land create a new challenge for security” “these sites are often very open because its not possible to encircle the entire area with fencing or boarding’s due to the presence of public spaces and community facilities.

For most security risks, the first line of defence against physical threats is to have plenty of deterrents in place to make thieves think twice about attempting to target your site. Signage, mobile or roaming patrols and visible CCTV can all play a part at deterring trespassers. With advancements in technology, many CCTV cameras give you the ability to remotely monitor your site and are alerted to any unauthorised access to your site – letting you or your security teams to quickly respond.

The other line of defence is investing in GPS tracking technology. This allows you to monitor your vehicles if they are located at different locations – letting you undertake fewer onsite visits to check they are still there.

If you’d like to learn more about how you can protect your construction site take a look at our blog here. Or if you would like more information about our construction security services, visit our website or give us a call on 01656 713950

Illegal Raves, Rave, Pandemic, Coronavirus, Music, Security, Unoccupied land, Empty Buildings

Are illegal raves becoming an increasing problem?

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When we think of raves, we think of warehouse and underground spaces filled with revellers enjoying live performances under strobe lights and smoke machines.

But since the coronavirus pandemic hit our shores and lockdown was announced at the beginning of March 2020, concerts, live music, parties, and licensed raves were all cancelled amid fears of the number of Coronavirus infections rising.

8 months on the Coronavirus pandemic is still going on and still sees live music and concert events cancelled until further notice.

However, since the start of the pandemic and the relaxation of lockdown rules within Wales & the UK in the summer, there have been an increasing number of illegal raves springing up – enticing revellers who are looking to escape the reality of the current pandemic.

These new illegal raves are very reminiscent of the outdoor parties and warehouse raves of the ’80s and 90’s before the UK passed it’s 1994 criminal justice & public order act, which banned unlicensed parties.  Although raves never went away and went further underground, in recent years they have had a resurgence. This came to head this year when experts predicted that the drop in the number of coronavirus cases and the relaxation of restrictions during the summer would see England and Wales experience a “summer of rave” not seen since 1989.

In an email statement to Dazed, Michael Kill, the CEO of the Night Time Industries Association said “People are frustrated, they have missed festival season, summer holidays abroad, nightlife, restaurants, pubs and social gatherings in general”

Unlike in the summer where you could turn up to a field in a t-shirt and shorts and survive until the early hours, Kill says “the winter weather has meant that many of these events are now taking place in warehouses and buildings left empty by businesses who have closed due to the pandemic”. This poses a number of problems, especially as COVID can be transmitted more easily within enclosed spaces.

Although organisers of these illegal raves have been hit with fines of up to £10,000, the number of illegal raves still continues to grow. Including a rave that was openly advertised and was set to take place at a Welsh Mansion in North Wales on Saturday 14th November 2020.

As mentioned before, empty spaces such as unoccupied land, warehouses and buildings will be picked as prime places to hold illegal raves and will result in potential damages and even theft.

So, if you have empty land, a warehouse or building that could be a potential target here are some tips to keep your property safe:

Fencing

If you have an empty lot or have a building/ warehouse that sits in its own grounds then it is worth investing in fencing. There are many types of fencing available, including some that have anti-climb attributes or those with sharpened points at the top. In most situations, fencing that poses a physical threat will often dissuade trespassers.

Security doors and windows

If you own an unoccupied building, investing in security doors and windows will ensure that no intruders can get in and cause potential damage.

Using heavy-duty security doors that are made out of steel offer a higher level of protection compared to boarding or standard doors and windows.

CCTV

CCTV remains as one of the best deterrents to trespassers as they don’t want to be seen. Investing in CCTV allows you or a security provider to monitor your site or building 24/7, quickly respond to any trespassers and use the footage as evidence for investigations and prosecutions.

Physical Security

Having physical security for your site or unoccupied building is often the best deterrent against trespassers looking to use your property for an illegal rave. Here at A&R Security Services, we can offer a range of physical security solutions including our Manned Guarding services and mobile patrols. Our manned guards can be stationed at main entrances to your site or building and can be used to monitor onsite CCTV for any intruders. To compliment our manned guard security, we can provide mobile patrols that can patrol your site at agreed intervals, ensuring that all areas of your site and building are secure and look out for any trespassers.

You can read more on how you protect unoccupied property in these two blogs here X X

If you have unoccupied land, warehouse or building that you would like to keep secure during the winter months, the get in touch with us on 01656 713950 or visit our website for further details.

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.

Warehouse security, Security Services, A&R Security, A&R Security Services

Warehouse Security: 5 Effective Ways to Improve it

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Warehouses in today’s world are not just a storage facility, they are an effective distribution system that is fundamental to the success of a business. However, if you want to have a successful business is with a productive supply chain, you will need to have proper warehouse security in place.

Within Cardiff, there are many warehouses that hold goods that are worth millions and due to this, they can become easy targets for criminals looking to make quick money. Some warehouses in Cardiff are located in industrial estates where others are located in more remote locations due to their size and complex layouts. These factors can create the risk of external theft or theft from employees – which is difficult to detect.

Large companies such as Amazon (with warehouses located in Swansea and Bristol) often report theft from their own employees with one employee suspected of stealing $250,000 worth of goods from their warehouse.

So, to prevent your warehouse being stolen from, we have listed some ways that can improve the security of your warehouse – ensuring that valuable inventory and assets are protected from theft or vandalism.

Employee check/screening

You want to minimise the risks of inventory being stolen from within your warehouse, so conducting check or screenings prior to hiring will help you identify any prior criminal offences.

Controlled access

If your warehouse is large and has areas that shouldn’t be accessed by all within the building, then having a proper access control system can minimise unauthorised personnel from accessing your warehouse. If you need to monitor who is coming to your warehouse, then hiring security guards will help protect your business from losses and maintain your reputation.

Another way of controlling access is through the use of ID Cards or electronic passes that enable access to the building.

A&R Security Services can provide fully trained SIA licensed security guards to monitor access to your warehouse and ensure that your premises don’t fall victim to vandals or anyone posing a threat to your business.

CCTV

CCTV is a highly effective visual deterrent for criminals. When installing CCTV it is best to install them in high places around your building and have multiple video screens to show that employees are watched at any given time.

Mobile Patrols

With warehouses becoming larger and larger to accommodate more inventory, it is important to ensure that every inch of your warehouse is protected. Having full protected within your warehouse and outside will allow your distribution operations to run smoothly.

Mobile patrols have the ability to effectively monitor every inch of your warehouse and maintain total security throughout the warehouse. Many opportunists often take advantage of larger areas and therefore visibility is important. Mobile patrols are fully uniformed and in a marked vehicle and will act as a highly effective security measure.

Random checks

With employee theft on the rise, it’s been reported that thefts have cost UK businesses £40m. Most employees are honest and will not steal from their employer, however, there are a small few who will take advantage of their position.

Carrying out random checks of your workforce will deter employees from taking the opportunity to steal your goods. If you cannot conduct the searches yourself – trained security guards can conduct regular random check and stock takes to ensure that nothing has been stolen or gone missing.

A&R Security Services can provide tailored professional security solutions to warehouses and industrial units in Cardiff and South Wales. To find out more about our security services visit our website or get in touch with us on 01656 713950

 

Industrial Security, Industrial Security Services, Warehouse Security Services, Warehouse Security, A&R Security Services, Security Services

Industrial security: What is it? And how can it help you?

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Owning an industrial business in Newport comes with the responsibility of ensuring that everyone who works for you and what is inside your premises always remains safe and secure.

Whether it’s a factory or warehouse on one site or spread over numerous locations in Newport, industrial security is essential if you want your company to succeed.

Recent statistics show that the UK manufacturing industry contributes £6.7 trillion to the economy. However, with that being said, it is vital to look at security options that are effective at deterring thieves, vandals and keeping your industrial business safe.

So, what exactly is industrial security and how can it help you and your industrial business?

Manned Security Guards

Security guards provide a physical presence to prevent trespassers from setting foot on your premises. Manned security guards aren’t just an effective way to spot potential trespassers, they can deter them as well.

Manned security guards can be placed and prevent people from accessing entrances to your industrial unit and can keep watch of anyone who looks suspicious. ID passes can be checked, and inspections of bags and coats can be checked as employees leave the building after business hours.

 

Mobile Security patrols

Just like manned guards – mobile security patrols can be a physical presence to deter potential criminals from your industrial business. Mobile Security patrols are a highly effective form of industrial security, especially if you own warehouses, factories or gatehouses entrances over a number of locations.

 

CCTV Monitoring

CCTV is a widely used and popular form of security. CCTV can be remotely monitored from a central location and can be used in numerous points across different locations. Cameras can be placed in hard to reach areas, as well as near entrances and exits to monitor who is entering and exiting your business.

Also, if any legal action is taken either against you or to prove someone has attempted to carry out a crime on your property, CCTV can be used as evidence.

 

Inspections

Carrying out frequent inspections, both planned and unplanned will provide extra peace of mind knowing that your assets (stock and equipment) is secure at the end of the day.

Carrying out regular car inspections are also useful especially when checking if any vehicles have been broken into and any potential congestions coming in and out of our industrial business is kept to a minimum

 

Alarm installation

Intruder alarms are another popular and regularly used security feature and can alert that there is an intruder at your business – allowing security staff to respond quickly and deter criminals.

When installing an alarm system, it important to find one that will be suitable for your industrial business’ layout. Also, if you have one professionally installed – ensure that it is regularly serviced to prevent false alarms.

 

Security lighting

Security lights can provide that added security, especially during the winter month when daylight is limited and when most criminals operate. Security lighting can be effective when criminals get close to access points – triggering motion sensors and surprising them.

However, when installing security lighting – make sure that controls and wiring are hidden underground or behind large obstacles and lights are installed out of reach.

 

Update PINS and Passwords

No matter the number of employees you have, regularly updating your PINs and passwords regularly will decrease the chances of someone guessing correctly and ruining your business by stealing valuable assets.

If your industrial business as a lot of technology such as tablets, laptops and computers then it is very important to regularly update passwords to reduce the risk of hacking or cyber threats.

 

A&R Security Services provides industrial security solutions to businesses in Newport and South Wales. To find out how our SIA licensed security teams can deliver a service you can trust then call us today on 01656 713950 or visit our website for further details.

CaravanStorage, Caravan Storage Security, Security Services, Cardiff, Newport, RCT, Bridgend, Swansea

Caravan Storage – Keeping your site secure

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With holiday prices rising over the years many families have turned to caravanning, visiting historical landmarks, picturesque countryside and fabulous beaches – and South Wales has plenty of those.

But after the summer sun has hidden behind the clouds, this time of year sees caravaners shutting their caravans for the winter and putting them into storage – presenting thieves a perfect opportunity to either break into caravans, stealing valuable equipment or stealing the caravan itself.

According to the Caravan and Camping club in 2015 caravan thefts had risen by 20% on previous years. Although there are peak times for caravans to be stolen – thefts can happen all year round.

To minimise theft, caravaners will possibly look at caravan storage facilities. But it is important that your caravan storage facility has lock tight security to deter criminals and put owners’ minds at ease.

If your site doesn’t have lock-tight security – what can you do to boost it?

Robust gates and fencing

Many storage facilities will have gates and fencing around the perimeter of their site, but it is important that they are robust enough that they are not easily damaged and broken into to get into your storage site. To make your perimeter security more robust use electric gates that have either a keypad or key card entry system. Not only does this mean that only your staff and caravan owners enter your storage site – it can allow you or security to monitor who is coming in and out.

Also using fencing that has a tight lattice and sharpened edge to the top can prevent criminals from attempting to squeeze through fencing or climb over the top.

CCTV

Although CCTV is basic security, it can help monitor your site day or night – helping security staff lookout for any suspicious activity either around the perimeter of your storage facility or to any caravans inside and respond accordingly.

Lighting

Security lighting is another basic security measure, but it can easily deter criminals from attempting to get near your caravan storage site – especially under the cover of darkness. Having security lights can light up areas that are normally blind spots for security guards or CCTV and if anyone attempts to get near, if criminals are lit up – they will be made to feel like they have been caught.

Security Guards

Depending on the location and the size of your caravan storage site, security guards can provide that extra bit of security. Manned guards can be positioned near gates or areas that are often exploited by trespassers and can monitor CCTV for any suspicious activity. Mobile Security Guards can patrol your facilities different compounds, making sure that gates are secure and there have been no attempts at entering your storage facility. If there is any activity, security guards can quickly respond to trespassers and deal with them accordingly.

 

A&R Security Services can provide manned guarding and mobile security services to storage facilities in Cardiff, Newport, Swansea, Bridgend and RCT. For more information about our security services call us on 01656 713950 or visit our website.