Law enforcement agencies around the country have recently completed sweeps of organized retail theft gangs.

Their members include men, women, and children of all ages, races, and origins. Retail theft has long been gaining in popularity because of the relatively minor penalties for those convicted. Minor children are often involved, under instruction of adults, because minors seldom serve time other than juvenile detention.   Cultural properties are as vulnerable as any retail outlet. Especially where gift shops display jewelry, clothing, or other easily traded items. One must start with a careful screening process for staff, and strict controls over money handling and merchandise handling. A thorough understanding of shoplifting laws in your area is strongly recommended. Coordinate both prevention steps and apprehension policies with your security staff and local police. Just “calling security” when an incident occurs is not enough. You need "Probable Cause" to have someone arrested and an understanding of what is necessary for a successful prosecution. No staff member or security officer should have the need to forcibly detain or put his or her hands on any suspect. The start to finish procedure for observing, contacting security and the police, and pressing charges needs to be documented and disseminated. Please contact us if we can answer questions or provide additional information.

Weapons Restrictions

The gun control hysteria continues.  According to NBC Nightly News on January 11, there is currently an initiative to arm school janitors in Ohio. Teachers in several states are flocking to gun shops to buy weapons, take classes, and obtain concealed weapons permits. Does anyone, especially the NRA (which has now swelled to over 1 1/2 million members) understand that simply having a gun, carrying a gun, or learning to shoot a gun will not guarantee a stop to school shootings?! 

Talk to any combat veteran or police officer who has been under fire.  It's not the same. When the targets fire back, you experience a "change of life," and not for the better. Friendly fire cases are many...and most are not publicized. The more guns carried by civilians, the more accidental or wrongful shootings will occur.  We'll repeat this one more time, although it doesn't appear that many are listening...if you don't think about it every day, train to face it on a regular basis, practice the scenario in your head and in hands-on exercises, you will not be prepared to face an armed assailant. When an attack occurs, if you are anywhere other than right at the scene, with a weapon drawn, facing the bad guy (or girl)...your response will be too late. 

There is no guaranteed, 100 % solution to this problem. The best we can hope to do is educate the public, enforce the laws on the books, take great care in screening gun buyers, and adopt a positive security awareness program. 

School Security Considerations

Based on years of experience in protecting educational institutions, we have to disagree with recent platform statements coming from the National Rifle Association. Posting armed security in elementary schools is a BAD idea. Commissioned police officers on patrol nearby, even posted at entries during certain times may be reasonable, but beyond that creates more problems than it solves. In high crime areas, with "foreseeability" of increased threats, improved protection may be justified. Passing legislation to put guns on school grounds reflects the complete lack of knowledge and understanding on the part of those suggesting it. Columbine had armed deputies on the grounds at the time of the attack. Virgina Tech had armed police on the campus at the time of their attack(s). If armed response is not immediately present, highly trained, and in a position to respond, they might as well be somewhere else. Those climbing on the "hysteria wagon" with these types of reactionary proposals should further study the problem, look at the history of known attacks, and think about reasonable improvements such as: enforcing existing laws and policies, utilizing the video systems and electronic access controls as they were intended to be used, and making all staff aware and alert all of the time. We have a long way to go to reduce the threat, but it won't happen without intelligent consideration.

Special Bulletin - The Aftermath - Sandy Hook

Following the recent Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy in Connecticut, we step back to reflect on lessons learned from these puzzling events.  Schools across the country have known for some time that extraordinary measures are necessary to enhance the protection of children whose parents entrust their safety...their lives...with school staff and administrators.  The safety of our children, and those who are responsible for their safety, should not be dependent on the money available to buy sophisticated electronics and other protection measures.   A comprehensive protection plan is a must for all institutions.  Most educational, public, and cultural institutions that we have visited have initiated some level of improved protection following similar tragic incidents.   Absolute, foolproof protection is difficult, if not impossible to achieve.  Much depends on the immediate actions and reactions of staff.  The composition of a comprehensive plan, steps to be enacted by institutions of all size and scope, and guidelines for training staff, are available from several sources.  We encourage administrators to act now...before another event occurs.   

Workplace violence is still a major concern of management in every type of business.

Workplace violence is still a major concern of management in every type of business. In spite of pressing legislation, consistent attempts at gun control, and better available security technology, attacks can happen ...anytime ...anywhere.

The prevention methods are simple, mostly common sense. In spite of the simplicity, however, many business entities still feel "it can never happen here", and therefore fail to enforce the most basic of common sense measures:

1. Establish, publish, and distribute an objective Workplace Violence policy. Let employees and visitors know there is ZERO TOLERANCE for threats, acts of aggression, physical violence, possession of weapons, or omission of any violent act on company property.
2. Post warnings that anyone on company property is subject to search at any time. Searches include any container, backpack, briefcase, purse, or package. Initiate main entry package inspection as appropriate.
3. Make it mandatory for any employee to report any known act, suspected act, or threatened act of violence. Add appropriate penalties for failure to report. Allow for anonymous reporting directly to senior management.  Investigate all reports immediately.
4. Following professional investigation of events or threats, take immediate action to remove offenders from company property. Ban a return to property for anyone violating this policy. The ban applies to both public and non-public areas.
5. Brief all staff on policies, procedures, and their role in reporting threats and assisting in an emergency evacuation.
6. Review recommended procedures for dealing with an active shooter in the workplace:

                 a.  Evacuate Immediately  (or)
                 b.  Hide in a secure, safe location (or)
                 c.  Take immediate steps to disable or control the perpetrator.

Senior management needs to understand the consequences for failing to act. Simply publishing a policy doesn't get the job done. This very serious subject needs to be discussed at staff meetings, rehearsed in regular drills, and kept at the forefront of emergency planning.