Shopping Center & Mall Security

Why You Need A Great Security Company for Your Retail Store or Mall

Published on January 24, 2013 by: Wayne Manning

A good example of why your store, shopping center or shopping mall needs highly qualified security services is illustrated by the January 2012 riot and brawl that occurred at The Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Flash Mobs For Criminal Activity

The Origin of the Security Problem

Unruly youths had used word of mouth and social media to organize what was supposed to be a Flash Mob. Theie efforts resulted in as many as 200 young people, none of which are belived to have been shoppers, crowded into the food court area of the Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge. For unknown reasons the crowd of delinquents became agitated and restless. At some point gang style fighting began and a melee erupted. The chaos brought a quick repsonse by the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriffs department and Lousiana State Police.

 

Flash Mob Security Risks

While the original flash mobs focused on seemingly impromptu choreographed dancing, the Flash Mob craze has turned into a tool for criminals. The particiapnts in criminal flash mobs know that by assembling in large numbers they can rush into stores and steal armloads of goods with hardly any risk of being caught. In the crazed rush of riot style looting any innocent people in the paths of the criminals are at high risk of injury from physical battery, sexual assault, or worse.

As a property owner, store owner or chain store CEO you know that your company is at extreme risk of being sued by injured people who, perhaps righfully, believe that you did not provide adequate protection. All of the money you saved by using a cheap security company will be lost along with hundreds of thousands more dollars if you have these types of problems and people get injured. There is no rational reason to expect risks of problems from a flash mob or crazed shooter to end anytime soon.

Mitigating Legal Risks With Better Security

Hiring a better security company does not necessarily mean it is extremely expensive. Sometimes simply taking more time to assess the quality of the security officers, their backgrounds and training, and their ability to communicate and respond can make all the difference you need. To get the best possible security you should look beyond the bottom line on the security services proposals and actually interview the security companies. For example, finding a company that hires military veterans (many with combat patrol experience) will provide your business with a security presence that is vastly superior to a company that hires anyone willing to accept minimum wage ad show up for work.

Unfortunately we live in times where too many people are uncivil, irresponsible and downright lawless. To protect your investment, your store's future and mitigate personal injury lawsuit liabilities you should contact security and protection companies to learn more about their levels of retail store security services.

Atlanta Security & Protection Services

Executive Protection: How it Works and Why You Need It

Published on January 21, 2013 by: Wayne Manning

Your high-profile life as a high profile CEO, entertainer, heiress or heir or politician can leave you vulnerable to bodily harm and abduction attempts throughout your day-to-day life. Your family might also be at elevated personal attack attempts because of your high-profile status. Your best defense against sudden, immediate harm to your family could be found in executive protection services. Taking an honest assessment of your risk factors for attack, and how you can best circumvent these attacks with the help of one of more around-the-clock personal protection services, are the first steps to protecting yourself and your loved ones from a planned assault.

Executive Protection 101

Risk Factors

If you are a celebrity, it is obvious that you need a highly trained 24-hour-a-day security guard to protect you from capricious fans. However, if you are not constantly in the public eye, you might have a harder time accepting that you need a professional, or team of professionals, to look after the best interests of you and your family. Some questions that you really need to ask yourself are:

• Do I handle, or have control of, large amounts of money for my organization?
• Although I live a quiet life, can others easily find out that I am a CEO, CFO or other high-level executive with access to large amounts of cash or other valuables?
• Are there any new people in my work or social circle that are giving me the gut feeling that their intentions towards me or my family are insincere?
• Could my job title and responsibilities leave me and my family open to a random kidnapping or physical harm attack?
• Have I recently been awarded with a public honor that might draw new attention to me or my family?
• Have I recently been given a large bonus from my company that was mentioned to other people, or the local, national or international media?
• Are there any other reasons for me to believe that my elite position in life will leave me vulnerable to outside attack?

How Executive Protection Works

Once you determine your need for executive protection, you need to know how your new team will work to curb any attempts made on you or your family's lives. The first step is a security vulnerability audit which will take note of you and your family's daily itinerary. Then, they will look for weaknesses within your family's schedule that would allow outsiders to come in and seize control over you or one of your family members. Some examples of this would be arriving and departing to work and school or social events, traveling for work or pleasure, and leaving or returning home at very early or very hours of the day or night.

Once your usual routines are established, the security guards will then take note of you and your family's websites and social media pages. They will then estimate how much information about you and your family can be gained by people with malicious intent. From there, the security guards will take a closer look at you and your family's lives, and decide on the best course of action to take to protect you and your loved ones at all times.

How to Choose the Right Executive Protection Company

Choosing the right company is essential to your family's daily survival. It is wise for you to interview several security guard companies before you make your final decision. When performing your due diligence, ask for references, testimonials, state licensure certificates and written, detailed plans of action before you commit to any one company. Because this type of security service is very personal you may want to meet with and interview the personnel who will be with you everyday.

Special Considerations for Security Personnel

Obviously your chosed security team should be professionally trained and experienced in self-defense, firearms and security detail protocol. Some of the top body guards and personal protection experts are former military or government intelligence agency members. Your particular lifestyle or situational needs may provide cause to look for special qualifications of security detail officers. People seeking personal protection services often have a need for their body guard to know foreign languages, be able to plan travel routes and alternate routes, be able to be highly visible or minimally visible, be able to dress well, and be a good spirited traveling companion.

These plans of action should include physical security guard protection in addition to sophisticated home and work surveillance security measures.