By Spike Speicher,
Strategic Security Services, Inc.
In discussions with security directors and managers this year, we have all noticed an increase in theft activities in buildings and parking lots.
Here are some thoughts for you to consider:
- Laptop computers, purses and wallets are prime targets for thieves who gain access to your buildings. Employees need to be aware of such activities and protect personal and company property in offices and cubicles by keeping attractive theft items out of sight and hopefully under lock and key.
- Employees must not allow any individuals to get into access controlled areas who do not have company badges. Do not allow individuals to “tailgate” behind any employee into secure areas. Thieves have been observed wearing professional business attire such as suits and stylist dresses. If an individual is seen without a badge, employees should ask to see a badge or escort them to someone in authority such as a security department employee or property manager.
- More on tailgating: it is one of the easiest ways for outsiders to gain access to a building. In most buildings, it is really simple to get in. Other ways to blend in can be creative such as a thief carrying a cup of coffee or a sandwich to look like an employee. Antismoking regulations have also made it easy to sneak into building through the back door, where smokers tend to meet and smoke. Other easy access points include delivery doors and loading dock doors. Property managers and company management must have rules about unauthorized people in buildings. Companies need to set clear procedures for reporting suspicious people. No one wants to have a culture of paranoia but if an employee see someone who is acting strange or out of place, that employee must make note of the person and report it to the property manager or building security personnel.
- I recently watched a closed circuit television video of a female thief “tailgating” into a high technology building at lunch time (lots of employee activity) and working the floors looking for items to steal. She talked to many employees as she moved from the first floor to the second and then to the third floor. She was not wearing a company badge and no one challenged her. She looked like she belonged in the building and after almost 40 minutes, walked out with a large purse full of personal valuables and company property. This particular thief was observed at a number of high technology companies. She was finally caught when an employee at another company remembered her picture on a security notice e-mailed to every employee in the company.
- Property managers and security personnel need to continually educate all employees to be aware of their surroundings and strangers who may be nearby. Security awareness must be part of a company’s culture even though most companies in the Silicon Valley pride themselves on having open campuses.
- Thieves are not only interested in laptops and personal valuables but also interested in confidential and proprietary information that they can sell to foreign governments and competitors. The theft of business secrets is a huge and growing threat to all companies, especially those in the Silicon Valley.
- We have also seen a sharp increase in parking lot thefts and break-ins. Automobiles are being stolen and items left in full view are being taken. The hot new theft items are the GPS systems that mount on the windshield or dashboard. Again, employees need to have strong security awareness and report any activities that are out of the ordinary happening in parking lots or garages.
Buildings are attractive targets for theft. Work hard to educate all employees about the security threats that are present today.
J. H. “Spike” Speicher
National Accounts Manager
Strategic Security Services, Inc.
A Subsidiary of Command Security Corporation |
