It’s clear that something needs to be done to make Atlanta safer. Just what that something is, though, is up for debate. Primarily, it falls on the police departments and security forces to be highly qualified at protecting Atlanta residents. It is necessary for these employees to go through intense training so they can better respond to crime in the areas they are sworn to protect.

Security guards in particular must act both preventatively and responsively to crime. This means they must encourage the people who employ them to install security systems. This includes both homeowners and business owners. Atlanta home security systems experts agree that alarm systems increase both the deterring factor for burglaries and the response time of authorities if a burglary does occur. Therefore, installing a home security system satisfies the preventative and responsive nature of security guards that will go a long way in making Atlanta safer.

Law enforcement and security guards alike must be well versed in the particulars of home security systems. They should be able to advise Atlanta residents as to which systems are the most effective, which systems are the most budget-friendly and which systems residents should avoid altogether. To be able to talk to residents intelligently about home security systems, policemen and security guards should read all available security system reviews that can be readily found online. In fact, it is even better if the police department or security company designates one person who is an expert on home security systems. This way, residents can be directed to the best system for them.

It is also recommended that local police departments visit police departments in other cities in Georgia to get some tips on what works well and which processes could be eliminated. 90 percent of all other cities in Georgia have lower crime rates than Atlanta. There is some kind of disconnect between what those cities are doing and what Atlanta is doing. The law enforcement agencies in Atlanta cannot just throw their hands up and say that’s just the way it is. They need to take steps to learn what else can be done to make their residents safer. Atlanta is just like any other big city in the United States so there is no reason why, through training and experience, its crime rates can’t be on par with those other big cities.

Even if crime rates in Atlanta do improve, it will take much longer for the city to lose its reputation as a dangerous place to live. The suggestions here are a start, but it is going to take a concerted effort from security guards, law enforcement and residents to change the country’s perception of what is in reality a wonderful city.

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That being said, there are some less violent ways to protect your house and your family if you live in Texas. For instance, in Houston, Texas, the fourth most populated city in the United States, experienced 13,766 burglaries in 2010. Not everyone in those cases had guns and used them to protect their property, even though the Texans would like for you and the rest of the country to believe that.

The single best way to protect your home in Houston or in any other city in the United States, is to install home security systems. Houston is not that unsafe, considering the proportion of property crimes to their overall population, but you just can’t take a chance with your family’s safety. Just think, even if you have a gun, most burglaries occur when you are not at home. Burglars do not want to run into the occupants of the home because they do not want to be caught. They also do not want to cause any violence. So, you aren’t likely going to be there to use your gun in the case of a burglary. Home security systems, though, will be there at all times of the day or night.

Take a look at another city in Texas. Austin is a much smaller city than Houston. Its crime rates are also significantly lower. Even so, Austin home security systems experts will tell you that all homeowners in Austin should have a home security system installed anyway. Just because the crime rate is lower in Austin doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. In 2006, there were 7,467 burglaries reported in Austin. That might seem like a small number, but if you are one of the 1,052 homes that were hit, it doesn’t matter that it is less than Houston’s 26,869 burglaries.

 On the whole, every six minutes, a property crime is being committed in Texas. Those numbers aren’t very encouraging, but you can bet that the majority of those crimes are committed on houses that do not have home security systems installed. Not only are they a fantastic deterrent, but the odds of the perpetrator getting caught go way up when the police department is able to respond quickly to an alarm. As long as you include monitoring services with your alarm system, you will get that kind of response.

Texas is a great state. The weather is warm, there is a lot of open space and the entertainment in the cities is second to none. However, just because it is a fun place to live doesn’t mean you should let your guard down. Install a home security system, relax and enjoy your time in the Lone Star State.

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For example, in Omaha, Nebraska, even though the violent crime rate was lower than the national violent crime rate in 2009, the property crime rate was higher than the national property crime rate. In fact, there were 49,614 property crimes in reported in the state of Nebraska. 3,228 of those were in Omaha alone. While this number is lower than you would see in other state, when you calculate the percentage of property crimes per capita, it is significantly higher. Omaha home security systems experts, therefore, recommend that all homeowners in that city and other large cities in Nebraska install a home security system in their homes.

In Columbus, Ohio, again the violent crime rate is on the decline but the property crime rate is increasing and is higher than the national property crime rate by a whopping 113.59%. The odds of getting burglarized in Columbus, Ohio are significant. There were 14,583 burglaries reported in Columbus in 2009 and that number is expected to increase in 2012. You can’t escape from crime anywhere, even in the mid-west, even though people generally have an idea that this part of the country is safer than other parts of the country. Columbus home security companies believe that the best way to protect yourself from that huge percentage of property crimes is to install a home security system.

You just can’t take a chance that your home and family will be the target of a burglary no matter where you live. It is undeniable that there are burglars in all cities of the country, even where you live. You think you can escape it by moving to a “safer” city, but in reality, you can’t. If you are considering moving to the mid-west just to avoid getting a home security system installed, you should re-think your plans. If you own a house, you should also own a home security system.

It is not necessary to get a highly-advanced alarm system if you live in a city like Omaha or Columbus. At the minimum, though, you need a system that includes a main control panel, sensors for all doors and windows, a loud siren and monitoring services. All of these components must be present for an alarm system to be effective and to do its job. In addition, once you get an alarm system installed in your home, be sure to remember to turn it on whenever you leave your house or when you go to sleep for the night. Home security systems are only effective if they are armed, since no one will get your distress signal if yours isn’t.

You can run from crime, but you can’t hide from it, even in the mid-west. Take steps to protect your family today and call a home security expert to help you do just that.

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One of the most important parts of big-city living is the crime rate. You want to be safe wherever you live, and while each city has good neighborhoods and bad neighborhoods, there is quite a significant discrepancy between the crime rates in Los Angeles and Atlanta as a whole. First, both cities’ crime rates are above the national average crime rates for murder, robbery, assault and auto theft. Atlanta’s crime rates are above the national crime rates for burglary and theft as well. In reality, neither city would be considered the safest city in which to live.

That being said, if you take steps to protect your home, you can be safer in either Los Angeles or Atlanta. You simply need to be proactive about home security and security systems. Los Angeles is, according to statistics, the safer city based on reported burglaries. There are more people living in Los Angeles when compared to Atlanta (3,879,455 to 485,804), but when you look at the number of burglaries reported per 100,000 people, there were 1,523.5 reported in Atlanta and just 524.8 for Los Angeles. That’s almost three times as many burglaries per 100,000 people in Atlanta! Therefore, if you simply install a monitored home security system and choose a safe neighborhood in Los Angeles, you will likely be protected.

In Atlanta, though, you will probably have to take more steps to make your home safe. It will be important for you to research neighborhoods and find one where the crime rates are lower than the state average. It is possible that you will have to select a suburb of Atlanta for this to happen. Then, you will definitely need to install one of the many Atlanta security systems available to you when you first move there. It might need to be more complex than what you could get away with in Los Angeles, but the home security experts in Atlanta can help you choose the system that is right for your needs.

Moving to a big city definitely has its good points, particularly when it comes to getting a job. However, you need to think about more than just your job opportunities before you commit to moving to one. Both Los Angeles and Atlanta are popular cities for a variety of reasons. You must take those reasons and compare them to your needs. Take into account the crime rates in both cities before making your final decision and you will likely make the right one.

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One aspect of these two cities that you must take into consideration before you move is the crime rate. While this might not be your primary concern if you are moving due for employment reasons, it still needs to be looked into so you are aware of what you need to do to make your home as safe as it can be. To begin with, in 2006, there were 1,342.7 reported burglaries per 100,000 people in Tampa and 1,523.5 reported burglaries per 100,000 people in Atlanta. Both of these cities have higher burglary rates than the national average of 813.2 reported burglaries per 100,000 people. This is not unusual, though, because big cities tend to have higher crime rates than the national average.

When you look at those numbers, Tampa, Florida is slightly safer in terms of burglaries than Atlanta, Georgia. However, that difference is negligible. In both cities, you will need to look into security systems. Tampa FL and Atlanta GA both have numerous security companies that can advise you as to the best home security system and processes for the city you choose to live in. It is always recommended that you speak with an expert when you get into town to help you make your home safer.

Since both cities are comparable in burglary statistics, you may need to consider other crime statistics to help you make your choice. Murder, robbery, theft and auto theft rates are all considerably higher in Atlanta than they are in Georgia, but assault and rape rates are higher in Tampa. On the balance, though, both cities are similar in terms of crime rates so it should really all come down to home security. Atlanta GA has many suburbs that are considered quite safe and would be great places for making a home. You could still travel into Atlanta for your job and your commute times would not be too long. Tampa also has many safe neighborhoods and some statistics indicate that their higher crime rates are due to tourists, so residents are actually safer than the statistics show.

In the end, if you are comparing these two large cities to decide which one is better for relocation, it is going to come down to personal preference, since the crime rates are so comparable. If you can, visit both cities to get an idea of the culture and overall feel of each one before you make your decision. As far as safety goes, by being proactive, you can make a safe home in either place.

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Demonstrators are expected to swarm Bank of America Corp’s annual shareholder meeting on Wednesday to voice anger over a range of issues from foreclosures to corporate taxes to financing for the coal industry.

Anasyst Comment: Spring shareholder meetings have been a prime target for the Occupy movement, particularly those at big banks. For the Bank of America shareholder meeting, we expect to see unions, Occupy and environmental groups team up for mass demonstrations against the bank as 1000 people are expected to converge on the meeting. In April, approximately 500 protestors amassed at the Wells Fargo shareholder meeting, which resulted in 24 arrests. There is a strong possibility that we will see similar activity today in Charlotte.

Around 50 activists have occupied parts of the London Stock Exchange and Paternoster square as part of May Day protests in London. Members of the Occupy movement and Anonymous – better known for its online hacking activities – have also erected a number of tents inside the square which is privately owned and the subject of a previous court injunction banning occupation protests.

Analyst Comment: May Day represents “International Workers’ Day” so it is no surprise that protesters worldwide took part in it today. Anti-capitalist groups in London have organized the rallies and demonstrations in the past. In London today, the demonstrators who took part in the action to occupy Paternoster Square felt they achieved a victory against the injunctions currently in place.

AND ON-AND-ON THEY GO !

 So, does your financial instruction have a structured ” Civil Disturbance” policy ? The following policy sample is generic in nature and only serves to prompt your thinking  in simulating your own  company policy.

This document establishes certain guidelines to follow in the event of a civil disturbance. These  guidelines are developed to ensure the safety of the institution’s  employees and customers and the protection of assets. This plan of action is divided into two main sections: (1) Demonstrations limited to a public thoroughfare such as a sidewalk or street. The local law enforcement agencies should take control of this type activity. However the institutions Security Department should be ready to sign a complaint if necessary. (2) Demonstrations expanding to the company’s private property such as a banking lobby, a board room  or parking deck. A sensitive  but firm approach should be taken to this activity.

 Since these type demonstrations are unpredictable and can develop rather rapidly with little prior warning, two general scenarios should be addressed here:

PUBLIC CONTACT LOCATIONS DISPLAYING ORDERLY CONDUCT (BRANCHES, PUBLIC ACCESS AREAS

As long as the demonstration is orderly and business can be conducted safely and orderly, consideration should be given to allow the branch to remain open with the following stipulations.

• Senior Management spokes persons should be limited to one. This person should be prepared to make a decision to close the branch if, in this person’s opinion, the demonstration is getting disorderly.
• A member of Security should be stationed inconspicuously at the location in plain clothes. This person should report their observations to the Senior Manger present in order to assist the manager in making decisions.
• The law enforcement authority should be advised of any decision to remain open. This notice should be given by Security.
• The manager should insure the teller cash is kept to an operating minimum by having tellers continually sell cash to the vault.
• The office manager should continually be observant to a possible conflict and avoid any type confrontation.

 PUBLIC CONTACT LOCATIONS DISPLAYING DISORDERLY CONDUCT (BRANCHES PUBLIC ACCESS AREAS.

If the demonstration becomes disorderly and it becomes difficult or unsafe for employees or customers, the following action should be taken in the order given.

• The Senior Manager present should advise the Security Manager to close the branch.
• Security should notify the local law enforcement agency, the highest ranking Senior Manager, and the Marketing Representative of the branch closing.
• The vault door should be closed and locked with no time on the clocks.
• Security, in conjunction with law enforcement officers, should escort the working personal and customers to a safe location within the building or to their cars depending on the type building and time element.
• The senior employee present should make the announcement to the demonstrators that the building will be closed in five minutes or at a certain time such as __________ o’clock, and that everyone is requested to leave.
• If the demonstrators do not leave by the designated closing time, the senior employee should identity the group leader and instruct the leader that if the group fails to leave within another approximate time period, the law enforcement agency would be requested to arrest the group for trespassing.
• If the group chooses to remain, they should be arrested and a complaint signed by the Security Department.
• If the demonstrators leave the interior of the building, but choose to remain on the property, the same procedure listed above should be followed, as appropriate.

 NOTE:

In multi-tenant buildings in which the banking office  is a tenant, the building owner should be required to make any decision outside of the bank’s leased space.

If the building is a non-public contact processing center environment, such as a bank operation center, demonstrators should not be allowed to remain on the property. The same exit warning procedure listed for the branches should be followed. Employees should be instructed to remain inside the building until all demonstrators have left.

ADDITIONAL PRECAUTIONS TO TAKE IN CIVIL DISTURBANCES AND PUBLIC PROTEST

• Lock exterior doors and station employees at them to admit selected people.
• Close all drapes to lessen danger of flying glass.
• Shut off unnecessary motors, such as air and heating.
• Turn off utilities.
• Shut off elevators  and/or lock stairwells.
• Draw emergency water supply into available containers.
• Remove from plain view any object which could be hazardous or which could be used as a missile.

NOTE:

Never make any statement to news media.

  Always Remember!

Since these type demonstrations are unpredictable and can develop rather rapidly with little prior warning, always be prepared. Regular refresher training is of the utmost import ants.

This author always stands ready to assist in any type security/safety policy drafting or  training material. such as  “Power Point presentations”.

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The most straightforward advantage of starting a neighborhood watch group is enjoying a more effective prevention of crime in one’s community. An extremely important component of most approaches to personal and property security is prevention, as keeping a crime from occurring can spare people the expense, frustration, and possible psychological trauma of experiencing a burglary, assault, or other misdeed. When organized well and joined by large percentages of the local community, a neighborhood watch program can be very effective in preventing various types of crime by alerting would-be criminals to the likelihood that they’ll be reported and observed. While not all criminals operate the same way –and some are certainly more lacking in foresight and sense than others–, many will avoid situations in which they have a higher likelihood of being seen or apprehended, and the existence of a neighborhood watch program can easily send a warning to these individuals.

As well as ensuring better crime prevention, a neighborhood watch program can also allow communities to more ably intercept ongoing crimes and bring criminals to justice. Even in the presence of excellent preventive measures, crimes do still sometimes occur, and one of the greatest resources a resident can have in such situations is a group of watchful, action-taking neighbors. Assuming that community members will report suspicious activity, call for help when noticing an emergency, or form reliable memories about any criminal events they may witness is dangerous, as most people without any kind of training can easily fail to perform all of these tasks. A neighborhood watch program helps to give community members the information and insight needed to become reliable and responsible neighbors, capable of acting appropriately even when in the presence of frightening or unpleasant events.

Communities in which a neighborhood watch program is implemented can also usually rely on a more tightly-knit, engaging social group in which to interact and share critical information about safety and security. While not all watch groups hold regular meetings, many do, and this venue can serve as a helpful way to bring community members together and discuss relevant issues such as local crime rates, emerging trends, and any specific concerns that individual community members may have. A group of people united in their desire to create a safer and more pleasant place to work, play, and live is far more likely to respond to threats and actual crimes with effective measures. Through initiating a neighborhood watch group, communities can take advantage of a naturally-occurring bond and can expect to strengthen the security of their homes, playgrounds, businesses, and other areas.

A neighborhood watch program alone might not be all that’s needed to successfully rid an area of crime, and even when paired with other powerful security measures, crimes may still occur from time to time. Still, the considerable benefits that such a program can deliver has made neighborhood watch programs a popular choice for security-minded people, whether they live in areas that are already relatively safe or if they reside in particularly risky places. By attending to crucial issues such as the prevention of crime through warning would-be criminals of the existence of a group, the ability to stop criminals in their tracks and ensure that victims are more easily able to catch and prosecute them, and the need for a social and active community, neighborhood watch groups bring considerable value to those who want to make their security as well-rounded and effective as possible. Through starting a neighborhood watch group, people may be able to greatly strengthen their private security initiatives.

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Securing your possessions from robbers is just but one aspect of effective home security services. Preventing crime before it happens is also another security function of security services. A home security company can assist you in creating effective security programs. One of the reasons why it is becoming increasingly hard to deter home invasion is because most homeowners wait for a breach of security before taking appropriate measures. Hiring a security company, would be a more proactive tactic towards preventing and combating crime.

The private security sector in the US is huge. According to the latest statistics released by the National Association of Security, it is securing over 10,000 military installations as well as other advanced infrastructure within the country.

In addition to helping you create an effective security cover, home security companies can also assist in outlining the best preventive measures to take so as to avoid becoming part of the statistics making up home invasion.

Establishing your security requirements

To correctly gauge your security requirements, you have to first of all assess your current security setup. On your own, you may not be able to precisely determine all your needs. However, with the assistance of home security companies, you will be able to identify the most vulnerable areas in your home.

While a number of home security companies do this assessment for free, there are those that charge for the service. Hence, you need to enquire if this service is offered as an extra. Then again, even if there is some amount of money that is charged, your security is of critical importance and worth much more than what is being charged.

One of the things that the home security company you have hired will do is to determine whether or not your doors and windows are secure. In addition, they will establish if there are areas in your compound that require additional security reinforcement. Each home has a blind spot and it is important that you identify them.

Safeguarding your home from crime

The objective of any thief is to gain access into your home, steal what is available and get away as fast as possible. There is not thief that likes working hard in order to gain access to your home. Moreover, burglars do not like things which draw attention of others to what they are doing. Therefore, it is important that you make it extremely hard for criminals to break into your home. Do not take chances with the security in your home. Hence, you need to make sure that the doors and windows in your home are always locked.

Lastly, by hiring home security companies, you will be able to tailor your security requirements.

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Discussed herein, are a couple of tips and guidelines on how to select the best interior shutters:

Material

The best interior shutters are those built from wood. In addition to their aesthetic value, interior shutters made from wood are durable. The only downside is that they are quite costly. The main benefit of using interior shutters made from wood is that you can paint them to suit the décor used in your home. What’s more is that interior shutters built from wood provide your home with a chic and conventional look. The aesthetic value that interior shutters add to your home can enable you to sell your house at a profit.

Maintenance

Interior shutters made from wood require extra maintenance so as to maintain their original look. However, given the aesthetic value that it adds to your home, the additional work needed to maintain the shutter is worth it. Should you opt to paint your shutter, you need to know that you will have to repaint it after a couple of years. You also need to polish the shutters so as to enhance their appearance.

Warranty

Once you have made a decision on the type of interior shutter you would like to purchase, you need to determine whether the warranty that comes with it is worth it. This is especially important if you are buying a customized interior shutter. Warranty is extremely crucial when shopping for any kind of shutter particularly if you are buying an interior shutter that will last for a lifetime. However, it is important to point out that warranties differ from one vendor to another; as such you need to do a lot of research in warranties offered.

If you cannot handle the cost that comes with acquiring and maintaining interior shutters, it is highly recommended that you opt for designs and models built from other materials. Interior shutters made from synthetic materials are quite affordable and easy to maintain.

The web is the best place to purchase your interior shutters from if you are searching for affordability and variety. Amazon and eBay are some of the online shops that online shoppers utilize while buying goods on the web. Nonetheless, you can still make your purchase from any other e-store. To do so, use the words “Interior shutters for sale” in your preferred search engine.

Benefits of installing interior shutters

The greatest benefit that you stand to gain by installing interior shutters is increased security. You will be able to maintain your privacy with ease while still letting in light and air. During summer, interior shutters will not only ensure that your home is kept cool, but also secure.

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(Can you imagine the time, effort and cost involved in reconstructing the banks proof work (cancelled checks, special delivers branch supplies, etc) if an attacker suddenly way-laded the banks carrier, while traveling from the bank branch to its operation center?  Believe me, I’ve been there and done that and it’s no cake-walk.

All an attacker would need do is to spend some time in observation of the courier’s routes and time schedules, within most banking organizations.  As in all banking security procedures, however, this exposure can also be reduced by certain precautions.)

Non-negotiable banking documents can potentially be devastating to both the bank and the customer, if the items happen to get destroyed. And, re-constructing such items, such as checks, can and will be quite costly, if such courier deliveries do not arrival as planned.

So, what is a bank courier and what do they transport?  Simply put, a bank courier is defined as any bank employee transporting in their possession non-negotiable bank property from one point to another. Usually from the banking branches to the banks processing center. So, let us review the bank courier security in a little more detail.

COURIER DELIVERIES

Proof work, special deliveries and branch supplies should be transported in secure fire resistance containers.

CONTRACT SERVICE

Where practical, the above mentioned items should be transferred by banking in-house personnel. When such service is not available or is not cost effective, such as interstate air transports, a contract service can be utilized. In this event, the banking legal authority should draft a very specific contract, in protection of the bank, specifying that the contract service be responsible for any recovery cost, if document reconstruction is necessary.

COURIER EMPLOYEE SECURITY

• When possible, couriers should park at a location where the vehicle can be observed from within.
• Courier vehicle doors should be locked at all times whether parked, moving, vacant or occupied.
• Couriers should always be on the lookout for suspicious situations. Especially, when the same vehicle is observed over and over.
• If the courier feels followed, the courier should continue past the next scheduled stop to a safe location and notify the police.
• The courier should not stop, for any reason, while in route to or from a location, except for an emergency.

VEHICLE SECURITY

• All vehicles should be unmarked.
• All vehicles, when possible, should have lockable trunks, electric door locks, audible alarm buttons on the remote key ring and fire extinguishers.
• Vans and camper shell pick-ups should have lockable rear compartments separated from the vehicle cabs.
• Private vehicles should not be used by bank employees unless approved by the bank Security Officer.

COURIER SCHEDULING  

• Each banking location should have an updated copy of the courier schedule.
• If a courier does not arrive within a fifteen minute period after expected, the courier supervisor should be notified. The banks security manager and the police should be notified, if the delay cannot be explained.

TRANSPORTATION

• All proof work, special deliveries and branch supplies should be transported in the vehicles locked trunk or a locked rear compartment.
• Transportation should be confined to the bank personal only, with no consideration given to so-called friends or hitch hikers.
• Couriers should not travel armed. If necessary, under special circumstances, this duty should be by an armed guard or member of the banks security department.

CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION

• Local delivery containers should be constructed of a low impact type material such as plastic or cardboard.
• Over-the-road containers should be constructed of a high impact fire proof type material such as heavy cloth or metal,

VEHICLE COMMUNICATION

• If the bank has a twenty-four hour alarm monitoring console, the vehicle could be equipped with two way radio devices.
• If no radio communication is available, the couriers should be equipped with cellular telephones.

Remember, even the most effective communication system is of little use if, during an emergency response, staff members cannot tell others their location. This problem can be reduced with the purchase of global positioning system (GPS) terminals. Inexpensive, small and lightweight, these terminals have become standard equipment for hikers, truck drivers, and aircraft. So, why not include the GPS technology in courier transportation.

TRAINING

• New couriers should be trained on all phases of the operation within a month of employment.
• Additional training sessions should be held at intervals no longer than six months.
• Training sessions should concentrate on the latest criminal trends against the banking courier industry.
• Banking courier security policies should always be reviewed.

LESSONS LEARNED

Within two weeks after an attack or loss, the bank security department should analyze the occurrence and prepare a critique to include:

• Procedures that proved faulty and must be changed.
• Loss or injury resulting from failure to follow procedures.
• Successful application of procedures that resulted in the elimination of reduction of loss, prevention of injury, or apprehension of an attacker. 

PUBLIC RELATIONS

The fact that a loss or attack has occurred and the details of the occurrence should be communicated only to those who have a “need to know”, this is necessary for the protection of the loss items and to avoid customer panic. 

CONCLUSION

Remember, there are many structural and procedural steps, most of which do not reduce efficiency or effectiveness, which will tend to deter criminal activity against the banks couriers. Ideally, these steps will be so subtle that they will not be offensive to the parties involved but so apparent that criminals will go elsewhere. Not all losses or attacks can be prevented, however, as there is no absolute defense against a determined attacker and some attacks are made by persons not rational enough to perceive the deterrents.  For these reasons all necessary steps should be taken continuously, to minimize such losses when attacks occur.

(For assistance with this subject or any other security subject, please contact this Author)

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Someone once said, “the road to success is paved with reports”. That old cliché certainly rings true, in today’s corporate world. I once visited a “fast food” restaurant office, only to be amazed at the number of grafts and charts pinned to the wall. Why, you would think it was anything but a hamburger joint.

The same theory holds true in the security world. Especially in the banking industry, as the banks have so many rules and regulations to tend to, spanning from the various federal regulations to the local state and city security rulings. Not to mention the bank Security Policy Manual.

So, is your “Investigative Unit” having trouble proving its worth to your bank management? For some unknown reason, bank security always seems end up being on the low end of the preverbal bank budget “totem pole”. Well, speaking from experience, this idiom is easily fixed. Your department already is probably proving its worth, in fraud prevention and assets recovered. It’s probably just not proving the accomplishments on paper. After all, most banking executives want that piece of paper in front of them, when looking to develop the budget. Yes, the road to success is truly paved with reports. Let’s see if we may change this posture for your department.

FRAUD CASE REPORTS
Investigators should be responsible for making the following reports a part of each fraud case file.
Investigative Report- Should is completed on closed or cleared cases. Multiple incidents of fraud, concerning a single victim, should be considered one case.
Investigative Notes- Should is on-going as contacts are made. Giving a chronological record of the chain of events.
Supplement Report- Should be completed when a case is re-opened or reassigned after the Investigative Report is completed when new information is obtained or as an addition to the original investigative report.
Status Report- Should is updated as cases progress with a copy being sent to the effected manager as needed or when a case is closed or cleared.

Note: The status report remarks section may be completed in lieu of the investigative report on priority cases when no chronological documentation is required.

EXTERNAL- INTERNAL FRAUD REPORTING
Investigators should be familiar with and abide by the banks guidelines on these matters. Internal fraud should only be investigated and reported upon request of the banks Audit Department. While, external fraud should be investigated and reported based on the merits of each individual case leads and not necessarily the amount of the loss.

MONTHLY REPORTING.
Investigators should be responsible for compiling a monthly report each month giving all statistical information on cases worked, court dispositions and restitution obtained.
This report is vital and should be consolidated and distributed to senior management monthly. This is where the “rubber meets the road”. This consolidated report should always show the amount of bank funds recovered, as well as the precautions taken in all loss preventive measures.

CASE PROGRESS REPORTS
It is also vital to establish an effective case progress reporting procedure between security and other various internal and external contacts having a mutual interest in the investigation. Especially, when bank funds are recovered.
Investigators should be responsible for communicating oral or written progress reports. On a need to know basis, when a significant event occurs in the investigation, i.e. arrest, warrant, restitution, or case closed, etc.
Oral progress reports should be communicated by telephone or in person when practical.
Written reports should be communicated by reproducing investigative notes or status report. No emails or other social median please.
Note:
Information of a confidential nature should be reviewed with the security manager before being communicated externally or internally.

FRAUD INVESTIGATION CASE PRIORITY
External fraud investigation (checks, cards, etc.) should be conducted in accordance with the following priorities.
Priority One- Suspect is known and/or loss exceeds $1,000.00.
Priority Two- Witness and suspect many be developed and/or loss exceeds $200.00.
Priority Three- Witness and suspect cannot easily be developed and/or loss is less than $200.00
Note: This is strictly a recommendation. Consideration must always be given to your bank policy.

The following investigative guidelines are given to assist in the evaluation and qualification of assigned cases, in connection with your bank policy.
• Is there an actual or potential personnel safety problem?
• Is there a question of employee integrity or ethics?
• Is the asset loss amount or potential loss amount cost effective? (Worth it)?
• Does it involve unusual or sensitive issues as defined by management?
• Is the incident method used unique or one of a series or patterns developing?
• Is the subject known or not?
• Is it a unique contact or a repeat problem individual or group- employee-customer-other?
• Is the geographical location cost effectives?
• Is there available evidence- witnesses-accurate suspect identification- license numbers, documents, pictures, etc?
• What is the length of time since incident occurred?
• If necessary, is the incident referable to the criminal justice system?
• Is it a violation of the law?
• Will the law enforcement authorities, and/or the prosecutor’s office accept the incident for processing?
• Is the incident family related?
• Was the incident “preventable”, on the part of the bank, if in the opinion of the prosecutor adequate due diligence had been exercised during the new accounts or application process. Specifically this relates to credit card and new checking accounts?
• Overall, based upon the variables, how does an individual incident when compared to dozens of others rate in probabilities of attaining the investigative objectives of prevention, recovery or loss prevention and successful referral to a criminal justice agency?
• How available is an investigator and how can a new case best fit in or coordinate with the investigator’s current work load?

Please Remember! When a member of management, especially a senior manager, requested case is turned down, always give a ligament reason, such as listed above, for not accepting the case. Just be fair and truthful, and management will usually understand.

FIELD OFFICE DOCUMENTATION-(Where Applicable)
Each resident investigator field office should maintain the following mandatory documentation.
Library- Each library should consist of a bank security plan and alarm manual, an Investigator General Orders Manual, an emergency operations disaster plan and an emergency telephone contact list.
Investigator Case Docket- Containing an up-to-date court assignment. List.
Filing System- Containing a general file, a case pending file, a case suspense file and staff memorandums.
Staff Conferences- Consisting of staff conference minutes.
Staff Training- Consisting of staff training articles.

So, now you have It., the bottom line. Just prove your worth and management will be proud. In a former life, our security department consistently recovered funds or documented preventive losses in excess of the entire security budget, month after month. And, as a result, our department quickly grew from one local Investigator to four Regional Investigators.

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And if your bank is hit by a robbery at closing time, several things are likely. The robbery has been carefully planned, there’s a chance someone on the staff has been involved and the results can be devastating.

So, does your bank have a “closing procedure” or a “closing check list”? If not, why not. After all, as a banking official, you have been given certain mandates by the Board of Directors, as mandated by the Bank Protection Act (BPA). And, the number one priority is the protection of your customers, your employees and the bank’s assets.

CLOSING PROCEDURE OBJECTIVE

The closing procedure is much like an Opening Procedure, only in reverse order, with the objective being:

• The protection of employees involved in the closing procedure.
• The protection of customers who might still be present at closing.
• The protection of assets from loss during the bank closing.
• The protection of assets, from an indirect loss upon closing, in which someone is injured or killed and the bank is held partially responsible.

CLOSING PROCEDURE

• At the end of the banking hours an employee should lock all doors giving access to the banking lobby, and activate the lock or other device, (dead bolt locks, door bars) which makes it impossible to unlock the doors from outside. This should be done only after the lobby is surveyed for suspicious persons, such as checking the coupon booths, where someone could be hidden.
• As quickly as customers are served they should be escorted to the door and permitted to leave. After doing so, the doors should be relocked, as mentioned above.
• When all customers are believed to have left conducted an additional thorough search, of all areas where someone could be hiding, such as the restrooms and the break area.
• During the process just described, no one should be admitted unless positively identified and at least one employee who has unobstructed view of doors, lobby and teller stations should be positioned at an alarm activating device.
• The vault, or chest or safe with time locks should be locked as soon after the end of banking hours as possible.

Please note: Activating an alarm after normal business hours may generate a serious occurrence. If not properly trained.

However, the following procedures should take place before the above actions are carried out:

• All tellers have balanced or steps taken when out of balance have been performed.
• All compartments in which currency is stored have been inspected. These compartments should be unlocked and left open, so as to show no cash is stored, during non-banking hours.
• All currency station trash cans have been inspected.
• All compartments outside of the vault in which coins are kept have been inspected to ensure they are locked.
• All areas in which securities and valuables other than cash are kept have been checked and such items have been locked in the vault.
• The night depository has been locked using both the key and combination and the keys placed in the vault.
• Time looks, on proper storage areas, have been set and checked.

Then, after all closing procedures have been properly carried out the last person leaving the banking lobby should

• Open all blinds and curtains, including those at the drive-in window.
• Turn on all night lights not controlled by a timer.
• Lock all exterior doors.

Additional Security Tips:

• Robbers don’t just run in without doing some surveillance.
• All closing functions should be carried out under employee “duel control” ( always two banking employees)
• Vault time locks should be set to allow opening no earlier than 30 minutes before bank opening.

In the interest of time, each banking employee should be assigned certain closing duties and a written check list kept of each employee’s responsibility. These responsibilities should be rotated regularly.  

As critical as the closing procedure is, these procedures should regularly be discussed in each bank staff meeting. In other words, a “proactive”, rather than a “reactive” approach should be taken. Being prepared for a bad situation is the best way to keep everyone safe.

Please remember, bank’s go to great lengths to protect its employees and customers during the closing procedures. And each employee should understand, though the procedures may be time consuming, the procedures are designed for their protection…

Please Note:

Certain procedures, mentioned in this article, are general in scope for security rationale. For a detailed explanation of these, or any other banking security policies, please contact this author.

© ROBEY for Security World News, 2012. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
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Protection against mold and mildew

Mold and mildew are quite common in houses that are located in areas that experience occasional or perennial flooding. There are certain rooms in the house such as kitchen, laundry room and bathroom that are also susceptible to flooding and as such can harbor mold and mildew. If not taken care of, mold can trigger a number of ailments amongst the members of your family. Mildew on the other hand can cause pungent smell in the house, thus making it inhospitable.

Without a flood alarm to warn you of the existence of mold and mildew, they can go for weeks without being noticed. Regrettably, by the time you come to notice that there are molds and mildews in your home you will be forced to spend thousands of dollars in damage repairs. Hence, the $100.00 spent at the home improvement store purchasing a flood alarm can go a long way in saving you the heartache of spending $1000.00 in repairs.

Safeguard your electronic appliances

Electrical appliances such as washing machines, deep freezers and water heaters usually utilize water and there are chances of experiencing flooding in your house. Normally, small leaks from these appliances often go unnoticed for a prolonged period of time. You’ll only come to realize that there is flooding when there are core issues with these appliances due to damage from the continued leakages. Other than damaging the electrical appliances, leakages from these appliances can cause damage to the structure of your house. If you have a tiled floor, you’ll soon notice that the tiles are coming off thus requiring replacements and minor repairs.

Prevent hazards of frozen pipes

The worst thing that can happen to your while away on business or vacation is a burst pipe in your house. Thanks to technology, there are flood alarms accessible in the market that functions not only to recognize abnormal water levels, but also trigger pipe heaters should the water temperature fall below a certain level. If you are constantly away from home, then you need to make it a point to install this type of flood alarm.

While flood alarms can are readily available from local home improvement stores, you can also make your purchase from the web. Installation of flood alarms is part of the process that entails securing your home.

© Cristiano Ronaldo for Security World News, 2012. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
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Illustrated herein, are the benefits you stand to gain by purchasing and fixing a fire alarm:

Safety

The main reason of installing a fire alarm in your home is to ensure the safety of your household. Fire alarms such as smoke detectors will warn you in good time of a likely fire outbreak, thus providing you with ample time to evacuate the house. In addition it will enable you to evacuate the house in good time hence avoiding injuries. Smoke detectors will also enable you to identify the source of the fire. Consequently, you will be able to combat it in good time before it can spread to other rooms in the house. If your fire alarm system is connected to the local fire department, they will be intimated immediately.

Reduced insurance premiums

One way through which you can minimize the money paid in insurance premiums for your house is to install a fire alarm. To the insurance company, it shows that you are concerned about a likely fire outbreak and would be able to deal with it. Therefore, you will automatically qualify for insurance discount thus saving you a lot of money.

Increased market value of your house

Installing fire alarm in your house increases the market value of your house by a significant margin. The $300.00 you spend in acquiring the fire alarm can easily translate to an additional $10,000.00 when your house comes into the market. The prospective buyer will be impressed by the fact that you went an extra mile to ensure that the house is safeguarded from a likely fire outbreak and will be more than willing to pay for that extra accessory.

Peace of mind

The greatest benefit that you stand to gain by installing a fire alarm is the peace of mind gained. Having the knowledge that you home is safeguarded against a fire outbreak will enable you to go about your personal businesses while away from home. In addition, you won’t have to worry about the safety of the persons or assets in your house since you know that the fire department will come to their rescue a few moments after the fire alarm has been sounded.

While it is important to install a fire alarm, you also need to take certain measures so as to make your house fire proof.

© Cristiano Ronaldo for Security World News, 2012. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
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Biometric door locks such as fingerprint or palm scanners utilize unique features on a person’s body to grant access. Discussed herein, are:

-          Benefits of installing biometric door locks in your home or office.

-          Tips on choosing the best biometric door locks for your home or office.

Benefits of installing biometric door locks

There are a myriad of advantages that you stand to benefit from by opting to purchase and install biometric door locks on your home or office.

Foremost, you will be able to strengthen the security of your home or office with ease. Only the persons programmed into the system will be granted access into the rooms installed with a biometric door lock.

Biometric door locks eradicates the need to create replica keys for members of your household or staff members. This is because you will only need to program their fingerprint into the door lock. This in turn saves you from the hassle of having to carry house keys at all times. You would no longer be locked out of your house because you have misplaced your keys.

Instead of breaking doors or using pry tools to force doors to open, burglars are increasing making use of bump keys to gain access to homes. You need to make it hard for robbers and other hoodlums to gain access to your house by installing fingerprint door locks.

Perhaps the greatest benefit you stand to gain by installing a fingerprint door lock is the increased value of your house. Houses installed with additional security systems such as biometric scanners usually fetch a lot of money in the real estate market.

Tips on choosing the best biometric door locks

There are numerous factors that you need to consider while searching for the best biometric door locks in the market. These include:

-          Certification: Make sure that the biometric door lock you are purchasing has ANSI certification. ANSI certification acts as a quality mark of assurance. It shows that the lock is not only durable, but also high performing. Chances of experiencing flaws with fingerprint door locks bearing ANSI certification are minimal.

-          Warranty: Make certain that the biometric door lock you are purchasing comes with a warranty. A number of vendors usually provide a six month guarantee. However, if you can get a vendor with a 12 month warranty, the better. Warranty goes on to show that the manufacturer has faith in his product and will be more than willing to provide a replacement in case of a flaw.

-          Research: Before making your purchase, take time and do a little bit of research on the web regarding various biometric door locks used in the home.

© Cristiano Ronaldo for Security World News, 2012. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
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