Awareness is the key to security! Awareness of
hazards, risk factors, deficiencies in physical security precautions and
devices, and awareness of the situations encountered daily, which put
ourselves, our family, friends, co-workers, neighbors and our possessions
in harms way, is the second step.
Every week we read or hear of some heinous crime and we think to
ourselves, what a terrible thing, but we pay little attention to the
lessons that present themselves through the knowledge of these tragedies.
We say to ourselves this is unlikely to happen to us or to someone we
know and we forget about the details of the incident. Although the
details are forgotten, the overall impression of general insecurity causes
our feeling of wellbeing to start to deteriorate.This doesnt happen all
at once. If it did we would all probably be more inclined to act upon it
and take some of the positive steps that I will put forth in this article.
They say that if you put a frog in boiling water it will jump out, if
it can. On the other hand if you put one in luke warm water and slowly
raise the temperature of the water to the boiling point, what results is a
hard boiled frog. We are all, slowly being desensitized to the presence
and effects of crime and violence.
A few of us over-react to this presence by being suspicious and fearful
of all strangers, moving to what we think is a safer place, turning our
homes and businesses into fortresses and severely limiting our activities
during what we perceive as dangerous times of the day or in unfamiliar
places.
Others ignore this presence entirely and take no self-protective steps
whatsoever. Very few of us take the logical middle of the road. Whether
this is due to how it makes us feel, to have to take such steps at all, or
feelings of personal inadequacy in the undertaking itself, is unimportant.
These are the basic underlying reasons/excuses for not taking them.
Many of us rationalize that it is too expensive or difficult or
time consuming an under-taking. Others rationalize that if its going to
happen, it is predestined, and there is nothing that we can do about it,
anyway. Thats what insurance companies were created for, right! The
bottom line here is that they are rationalizations that give us an excuse
not to act decisively.
The security industry worldwide is growing in leaps and bounds, with
annual sales of security systems, devices and services running in the
billions of dollars in the United States alone. The overwhelming and
inescapable fact is that most of this money is spent after the fact to
minimize future losses rather than preventing the losses in the first
place.
You can do the math, but it seems a lot more cost effective to prepare
for the possibility of an unfortunate event, such as a burglary or robbery
and thereby minimize the risk, rather than dealing with the cost of the
loss, in addition to the cost of any future preventive or protective
measures, after the fact. Isnt that like closing the barn door after the
cow has run off. Replacement cows are expensive. An ounce of prevention is
worth a pound of cure.
Insurance premiums are becoming outrageously expensive. Especially for
those policies that include actual replacement cost for lost or stolen
articles. Most people who have purchased this kind of coverage do not
realize that most policies do not have actual replacement cost specified
in the policy. Usually this is provided by a rider purchased separately
and at sub-stantial additional cost.
I dont know how often I have gone out after a burglary, to
repair damage and install new or better locks or rekey locks because some
how the wrong person got a hold of a key. The drill is always the same. As
soon as I arrive, I am always asked, in addition to doing the requested
work, could I take a look around and make some recommendations of ways to
increase the security of the premises or business? The expectation here
is of some wonder device or system that will instantly dissipate all of
their new found fears and concerns. Although the expectations are rarely
fulfilled, my answer is alway the same. Yes, I would be happy to!
The obvious reason that I am so happy, one would assume, is that the
job is probably going to be a lot bigger and therefore more profitable, so
why shouldnt I be happy? The not so obvious reason is that I am seeing
another person start to address the security concerns that he or she has
ignored, right up until the time they reared up and bit them. Better late
than never. Profiting from the misfortunes of others is my least favorite
aspect of this business.
After 20 years in this business, I rarely become overjoyed at the
prospect of repairing burglary damaged doors and safes. I see my job a
little differently. I enjoy the problem solving aspects of locksmithing.
Although physical security devices such as good quality locks, safes
and alarm systems are an important aspect of security, they are not the
most important aspect. Now, I know that sounds funny coming from a
locksmith, but its true, just the same. I rarely do a security survey
that doesnt include, at least, several ways of increasing security that
cost little or nothing to implement. Routinely these recommendations are
received well, initially, but are later ignored, when it comes time to
actually implement them. Why? Because they are inconvenient and require
effort and vigilance on the part of the home or business owner.
Here is a list of the more obvious recommendations that are frequently
ignored:
1. Proper and complete control of all original, duplicate and spare
keys.
2. Marking Do Not Duplicate on keys given to kids, contractors, and
household help.
3. Always locking your doors and windows (youd be surprised).
4. Looking to see or asking whos at the door, before opening it to a
possible intruder.
5. Checking bona fide credentials of contractors, repairmen and utility
personnel.
6. Trimming back shrubs and trees that provide refuge for intruders.
7. Strategic use of indoor lighting and radios to give the appearance
of occupancy.
8. Replacing a burned out and unused light bulb at the front door or
porch.
9. Adjusting or filing a lock strike so it locks easier and so you will
use it more often. As well as simple lubrication and other minor
maintenance and repairs to security hardware, to return them to effective
service.
10. Concealing the fact that you are a single female on your doorbell
and mailbox.
11. Removing keys, concealed under the mat. (Again, youd really be
surprised!)
12. Closing drapes and blinds when away from your home or business.
13. Installing door viewers and using them.
14. Making it a point to get to know your neighbors and discussing
security ideas, plans, and expectations with them.
15. Reporting suspicious persons or prowlers to the police or at least
to other neighbors.
16. Getting involved in the local Neighborhood Watch Program. Many
neighborhoods have one! If yours doesnt, help get one started and then
participate in it.
17. Creating a strong, lockable safe room within the house for family
members to run to, if needed, that includes a telephone.
18. Always having your keys out and ready to use when approaching your
home, business or automobile, while also being aware of suspicious persons
in close proximity.
19. Not leaving valuables in plain sight at home or in your car.
20. Remembering not to give un-needed keys to parking attendants or
auto repair shops.
21. Avoiding the use of a sorry were not home message on your
answering machine.
22. Being careful about divulging personal or security related
information to those who do not really need to know it.
23. Avoid leaving garage door remotes in plain sight on the dash or
visor of the car.
24. Never carry keys in the same place as your I.D. or address and
removing that information from key rings and key cases.
25. Making sure that Emergency Phone Numbers for police, fire, and
neighbors who can help in an emergency, are readily available to all in
the household or business.
26. Being especially careful and aware
of persons and surroundings when using ATMs.
27. Make sure to always lock your car and never leave children
un-attended in the car.
28. Always have locks rekeyed when their
keys turn up missing unexpectedly, or when moving into to a new residence
or business.
29. Lock up and unload any firearms, that are not physically on your
person and never leave personal protection devices such as stun guns, mace
or pepper sprays where children or intruders can get to them. Never leave
a firearm in the car! Make sure you are very proficient in the safe and
effective use of firearms and other protective devices before relying on
them for defensive purposes. Proficiency requires proper training, lots
of continued practice, and the awareness of pertinent laws. It also
requires the resolve and willingness to use it, when and if its use is
called for. Most gun owners are not prepared for this.
30. Taking full advantage of free crime prevention programs offered
by local police departments or low cost security surveys offered by
Locksmiths, Security and Alarm dealers.
31. Creating and maintaining a security plan and procedures, which
include the whole familys knowledge and participation and that also
include the suggestions listed herein as well as precautions in case of
fire.
The inclusion of any or all of the above recommendations into a
cohesive security plan, as well as the proper installation of good
qualitiy locks and other reasonable security devices, can substantially
reduce the exposure to crime and also minimize the possibility of becoming
a victim.The overall result of which is the achievement of a feeling of
well being, that we are all entitled to. It does take a little work and
diligence, but considering the alternatives of living in fear, or actually
becoming the victim of a serious criminal act, its well worth the effort.
