How Branded Patrol Vehicles Can Help Your Security Efforts

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People who are up to no good prefer places where they’re not watched by others, where there aren’t a lot of lights lighting up sidewalks, driveways, parking lots and buildings, and where they feel they can get away with a crime without being noticed.

Security Patrol CarIf you have a large area that you’d like to have patrolled, consider hiring C.O.P. Security with branded vehicle patrol cars. These vehicles clearly communicate to any and all people who see them that they’re being watched by a security guard. They help control access to certain areas of parking lots and such, as well as deter crime.

Think about it this way: if you have a branded vehicle that clearly states it’s for “security,” and it’s driving around an area, people are going to notice it. They can’t help but notice it because it’s so obvious. This actually helps make people feel safer. Why? It tells them someone in authority is watching over them, and can help them if they need it. Even if it’s for something simple like lost people asking the security guard for directions, the patrol car helps provide peace-of-mind to people in a certain area. It’s better to have a person or two patrolling a place by foot and by car than to have no one around.

Furthermore, a branded vehicle patrol tells potential thieves and criminals that this particular place is well-guarded. Hence, they’re likely to go elsewhere for their shenanigans, where they won’t be noticed or bothered by security guards. If you want to keep people out of a certain area, especially at night, the headlights of a security patrol car certainly helps do that!

C.O.P. vehicle patrols can be done at any hour of the day or night. They’re a proactive way to give security guards an impactful, visible presence in a large area. Please call 585-750-5608 to ask about branded vehicle patrols for your property or properties.

 

Why Shopping Centers Should Beef Up Their Security During the Holiday Season

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Shopping centers should  beef up their security during the holiday season because it’s prime time for lots of shoppers with money in their pockets to make their way there. Consequently, with increased foot traffic comes increased opportunity for something to go awry. Plus, opportunistic shoplifters love the extra traffic because it takes attention off them.

Holiday ShoppingAs such, the more security guards on duty during the holiday shopping season at malls, big box stores and shopping centers, the better, as it’s important to have as many trained eyes watching over shoppers as possible. Now, more than ever, shoppers want and need to feel safe.

If you’ve paid attention to the news lately, there have been too many problems at shopping centers, including six people shot during Black Friday sales, including a Walmart customer who died in a fight over a parking space.

These Black Friday shopping center shootings occurred at malls in Tennessee, a Macy’s in New Jersey, and the aforementioned Walmart, located in Nevada. Here’s the thing: violence knows no bounds, so what was once thought to be a big city problem in highly populated areas can and does happen literally anywhere, at any time, for any reason.

The best way to help shopping crowds feel safe is to provide uniformed, professional security guards who are walking or standing near them. This means having more guards than normal, in more places than normal. Should malls, for instance, have security guards at or near their entrances/exits this holiday shopping season? Yes. They should also be walking around the mall, too. The more visible, the better. Thieves and bad people will go where they’re not being watched to do things they shouldn’t be doing– therefore, don’t even give them the opportunity!

Hire guards from C.O.P. Security to watch over your shopping center (and shoppers) this holiday season; call 585-750-5608 today.

How to Become More Observant of Your Surroundings

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Security GuardsDo you know someone who is the type of person who seemingly never notices anything going on around them? It’s like they’re oblivious to their surroundings. Obviously security guards cannot be that type of person. Security guards need to be the most observant people in a room or an area because that is one of the main aspects of the job.

So how can everyday people become more observant of our surroundings?

First, you can train your brain to focus on specific things. Much like you exercise to build muscle, you can adopt the mindset that you’re going to look for certain things around you wherever you go. This gets your mind in the habit of looking for important things around you, such as the exit, the fire extinguisher, or light switches in a room.

Keep in mind that no one can pay attention to everything around them all the time. That’s not humanly possible. But, that said, a person can pay special attention to things that matter most, especially if they’re employed in a job where observation is key.

One way to get in the habit of noticing certain things around you is to challenge yourself. For instance, rather than sit down in a mall food court and just look at your phone the whole time, observe people around you. How are they acting and interacting with others? Do you see any patterns? Try this: pick an item to look for, such as a wristwatch, and make a mental note every single time you see a person wearing one in the scene you’re observing. If you’ve rarely looked up, take time to scan the walls and ceilings looking for anything out of the ordinary. You might notice security cameras that you never knew were there before you took the time to notice them.

Another way to observe your surroundings is to become a student of the neighborhood and/or city where you live. Take time to read local newspapers and websites. Watch local TV newscasts. Get to know who is who, what they do, and where/when certain events take place. Rather than just veg out to reruns of sitcoms on TV, become a more active participant in the world around you.

Do you know someone who always notices things? Spend some time with them and observe how they do what they do. Ask questions. Learn tips from them.

Reasons to Have a Security Guard in Commercial Buildings

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Workplace SecurityAs the world seemingly gets more violent, you’ve probably noticed you have to check in with a security guard when entering or exiting a building, store, airport or other public place more and more these days.

Anyone who watches the news or keeps tab on news’ websites knows that violence at workplaces where a wide variety of people gather is an all too common occurrence.

It doesn’t matter where you work. It could be in a rural area, a suburban one, or the city, and you still have the potential for violent acts to occur on premises. That’s why commercial buildings should hire professional security guards to screen visitors.

You never know who might try and enter your building. It could be a laid-off employee, a jealous boyfriend, or someone who is clinically insane and out to hurt people.

It’s not unusual for people to carry guns or other things, such as knives, on their person. Whether or not they use them, one thing’s for sure: a security guard lessens the chance that they’ll use them at your workplace to harm others– better safe than sorry.

Give your employees peace of mind by hiring C.O.P. security guards to literally guard your commercial building’s entrances and exits so there’s a proper account of who is in the building at all times. Furthermore, security guards help protect against unwanted visitors who might try to steal company information or property.

C.O.P. Security keeps offices and businesses secure with experienced, skilled corporate security forces. Your people and your assets need protection. Call C.O.P. today at 585-750-5608 to help make your commercial building secure.

Tips for Staying Alert While on a Security Job

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Security GuardsAs humans, sometimes we get bored or tired and need to sleep. However, many of us have jobs where we shouldn’t doze off– ever–because it could put someone else in danger. Take, for instance, the job of security guard. They need to be wide awake and always alert on the job. So what are some of their secrets that you can use to stay alert at your job?

First off, getting out of a stationary area and going for a brisk walk can do wonders for getting the body energy level a quick and much-needed boost. When you’re feeling fatigued, you don’t have to train hard at the gym. Rather, low-impact exercise like walking helps perk your body up. Even something as simple as getting out of a chair and doing some leg lifts, jumping jacks and stretches can help make your body feel better.

Next, listening to music while you work can oftentimes keep you alert. Perhaps you’d think it’s a distraction, but music playing in the background is something that actually helps increase your concentration levels according to experts. Maybe it’s because your brain has to be active to hear and interpret the lyrics or rhythms? Adding music to a room does help perk up the people in it. No wonder parties have music!

Do you get tired eyes at work? Most people do. Here’s a trick to relax your eye muscles– focus on a spot far off in the distance for 30 seconds. Ideally, look out of a window into the distance. Distance vision can help relax eye muscles that are strained.

While some workers rely on energy drinks or coffee to stay alert, which can help in some cases, remember that the highs are often followed with the lows– you crash! Why not utilize certain foods to sustain your energy during the workday, like certain granola bars? Nuts, fruits and veggies are good snack foods to help you stay alert and healthy.

Finally, a simple way to revive yourself at work is to splash cold water on your face and forehead. It’s an instant pick-me-up!

 

Examining the Important Role of Professional Security Guards

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Security Guard A professional security guard is not a police officer, but their role does involve keeping people and property safe from harm.

Generally, the role of a professional security guard is to protect a property, such as a public building, bank, store, or museum. They’re the eyes and ears of a place, helping to enforce rules as needed and responding to security issues that occur. Security guards work to prevent problems. When problems do occur, they respond in some way to help diffuse the situation. Furthermore, they communicate with the public.

A security guard’s key skills include observation, decision making and physical strength. Their physical presence may be used to deter bad behaviors such as theft or vandalism. In some cases, a security guard may need to physically remove disruptive people from the premises they’re watching over. Crowd control can also be a role a security guard assumes, making sure people are safe from harm when too many people are crowding into a confined space.

Should a major incident occur, such as a fire or a medical emergency, the security guard on duty needs to call for appropriate help and standby the situation, calming people and, if needed, giving them clear orders on what to do and what not to do in order to stay safe.

Indeed, security guards are often put in the position of offering people assurance in times of distress. As an enforcer of rules, they’re the “go-to” person for a building or property. It’s not unusual for people to ask security guards for directions on how to get somewhere and/or to have the guard authorize people to enter a building or certain area.

COP Security has a team of security guards who maintain the security and safety of workplaces, businesses and events. Please call 585-750-5608 to ask about hiring private security guards from COP Security.

Why Politicians Need Reliable Security Guards for Speaking Engagements

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Political FiguresAll it takes is one crazy person to ruin a political event. Therefore, political figures need to have reliable security escorts when doing public engagements. Society has become increasingly violent, so security guards are needed now more than ever before.

There are plenty of elected officials, like senators and mayors, as well as opinionated broadcasters  who deal with politics every day, and politics has become a controversial business.

Anytime politics are involved, there’s a chance that someone, somewhere will not like or agree with a politician’s or pundit’s views. Now normally they’d keep their feelings to themselves and never do anything violent. But what about the one person with a crazed mind who is ready to take things too far? They’re the type of person a security escort scans the crowd for and notices before there’s any chance something could go deathly wrong.

Many times politicians shake hands with all sorts of people in public. They meet any and all kinds of people in their line of work, and because politics affects everyone in some way, there’s bound to be people who want to harm certain politicians for whatever reason, like “You took away my health care benefit” or “I had to pay more than half my last paycheck for taxes because of you!”

Now, more than ever, we live in a violent world where public violence makes headlines daily. While average people have to be on guard wherever they go, politicians and those who talk politics to crowds need to consider hiring well-trained, efficient security guards to help protect them from physical harm at public events.

If you’re involved in politics and feel the need to be surrounded by security guards in public, don’t hesitate to call C.O.P. Security at 585-750-5608 or email rbarton@copsecuritycorp.com. It’s better to be surrounded by people who’ve got your back than to go out there all alone.

Consider Hiring a Security Guard for Your Next Open House

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Open Houses If you visit a nursing home and chat with the residents about “the good old days,” chances are one of them will tell you, “We never locked our doors, ever.” Today, it’s a different story. We live in a world where it seems it’s getting harder and harder to trust anyone about anything. Fear and paranoia are rampant. One look at the daily news with all the crazy shootings going on and you’re likely to think society is more violent (and weirder) than ever.

For those of you who are selling your home and planning to have an “open house,” you might just want to hire a security guard from C.O.P. Security for peace-of-mind.

After all, you never know who is going to come through your doors, and it’s reassuring to know you’ve got someone standing guard should any “issues” arise.

Think about it this way: an open house is an invitation for complete strangers to walk around your house, looking it over. They’ll want to go from room to room, and wouldn’t it be nice to know you’ve got an extra set of eyes keeping an eye on them?

You don’t want people stealing stuff from your home during an open house. Just like stores put a security guard at the entrance/exit to check that people aren’t walking out with stolen stuff, you can utilize a C.O.P. security guard in this way for your open house.

Meanwhile, a security guard can help prevent accidents since he or she is able to direct visitors through your home, giving directions and instructions on your behalf– where to go/where not to go, what to be careful around, etc.

Finally, if you’re busy in one room talking up your house to a potential buyer, it’s such a smart idea to have the security guard at the main door, dealing with other guests since you can’t be everywhere at all times.

For dependable, professional security for your open house, contact C.O.P. Security at 585-750-5608.

Is This the Future of Security Guards?

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Security GuardsSilicon Valley is known for technological innovation. Hundreds of millions of dollars are being used to develop things that will seemingly help society be better off than it is now. For instance, did you know there are robotics companies working on robotic security guards?

One company, Knightscope, makes two robots which they rent out to do several tasks for companies. These robots can record, stream, send and store video. They can read license plates. And they can detect humans in places they’re “not supposed to be.” In essence, these robots are like quasi-security guards.

Using both sensors and lasers, today’s robots build their own 3D maps of their environment so they don’t bump into anything. When they’re low on energy, they go to their charging pad.

While these robots can do some things well, they still have their flaws. For example, one of them knocked down a toddler and ran over his foot at the Stanford Shopping Center.

Do we really want to live in a world where every parking lot is being constantly patrolled by a robot? Is this a good thing?

Robots have their places in life, but as long as people are people, it’s better to have living, breathing, thinking humans in the role of security guards. Humans can run and jump and grab and do all sorts of things robots can’t do. They can also have empathy, which is a key ingredient when, for example, a little girl is lost and in tears looking for her mommy in a crowded shopping center.

In addition, veteran security guards have years of experience they can draw on to handle and diffuse different situations. There is no substitute for experience, regardless of how strong an algorithm looks inside a computer program .

We shouldn’t live in a world where technology takes over our entire lives– it’s not a good thing and it’s not healthy. Human beings have purpose in their lives. When they do their jobs, they derive satisfaction from having contributed to the greater good of society. People like helping people. People have an innate sense to protect others, especially children. It would be a mistake to leave all the security jobs to robots.

How Has Being a Security Guard Changed Over the Years?

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Security GuardsHow has being a security guard changed over the years? Well, there are more security threats than ever, and some of them require a whole new mindset, for sure.

As times have changed, the security guard’s role has adjusted to be much more than just standing in a lobby saying hello to people. Have you noticed how more and more places are concerned about who is entering their business, office, or store? In the old days, it seemed like people had more freedom to access places, such that you could just walk into City Hall, take an elevator up a few floors, and walk right into the office of your local Mayor. You two could chat and it was no big deal. Today, however, security guards are stationed in multiple places in buildings, checking people’s identification cards, making calls to see if they have a proper appointment, etc. Access control is a major role of security guards combining both customer service and visitor management.

If and when there’s an emergency of any sort, a security guard is essentially a first responder to the situation. They deal with people getting injured. They also have to pay attention to things such as fire alarms going off and anything else that disrupts the normal flow of a workday. Ever since September 11th, 2001, when the World Trade Center was attacked, American society has changed. Security guards not only have to watch over a place to protect it from petty criminals– now they even have to be watching for terrorists.

Most security firms hire people with at least a high school diploma, though college/military experience is preferred. Guards need proper training–of course–and have to pass both a background check and a drug test. When on duty, today’s guards need to be hyper-vigilant and ready to deal with all sorts of problems that could occur.

Finally, the one thing that security guards have to deal with, now more than ever, is workplace violence with active shooters on the premises. Hardly a day goes by when you don’t hear about some deranged person shooting up a school, mall or other public place.