Burglars Still Work When It Snows

If it snows while you’re out of town, get a neighbor to create car and foot tracks into the house. Virgin drifts in the driveway are a dead giveaway.

Do Burglars Really Think Like This?

Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up on the driveway. And I might leave a pizza flyer in your front door to see how long it takes you to remove it.

An Invitation To Burglars (How a Burglar Might Think)

Love those flowers. That tells me you have taste … and taste means there are nice things inside. Those yard toys your kids leave out always make me wonder what type of gaming system they have.

More Burglar Opportunists

1. Of course I look familiar. I was here just last week cleaning your carpets, painting your shutters, or delivering your new refrigerator.

2. Hey, thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I was working in your yard last week. While I was in there, I unlatched the back window to make my return a little easier.

Burglars are opportunists.

Readers Digest, is a well known publication that continues to offer many interesting articles, some of which include very sound advice.

A recent article appeared on their site, indicating the things a would be burglar might look for prior to robbing you.

1. Sometimes, I carry a clipboard. Sometimes, I dress like a lawn guy and carry a rake. I do my best to never, ever look like a crook.

2. The two things I hate most: loud dogs and nosy neighbors.

3. I’ll break a window to get in, even if it makes a little noise. If your neighbor hears one loud sound, he’ll stop what he’s doing and wait to hear it again. If he doesn’t hear it again, he’ll just go back to what he was doing. It’s human nature.

© 2009 Jupiterimages Corporation

4. I’m not complaining, but why would you pay all that money for a fancy alarm system and leave your house without setting it?

5. I love looking in your windows. I’m looking for signs that you’re home, and for flat screen TVs or gaming systems I’d like. I’ll drive or walk through your neighborhood at night, before you close the blinds, just to pick my targets.

6. Avoid announcing your vacation on your Facebook page. It’s easier than you think to look up your address.

7. To you, leaving that window open just a crack during the day is a way to let in a little fresh air. To me, it’s an invitation.

8. If you don’t answer when I knock, I try the door. Occasionally, I hit the jackpot and walk right in.

Uniform Crime Reporting Statistics - St Louis County December 2009

Pictured to the left is a map of the St Louis County area. The Green dots represent reported burglaries and larceny-thefts, while the red dots represent robberies, for the period January 8, 2010 - January 22, 2010. (map source...)

Most jurisdictions across the USA are reporting their monthly crime data to the UCR for the FBI, since 1955.

St Louis County makes these records publicly available to interested parties, though the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Statistical Analysis Center. Being in the security protection industry, the knowledge of crime statistics is vital and important to me and my neighbors.

We have been producing relatively regular crime report statistics for particular towns in the St Louis County region, for certain periods in the last year. We have been sourcing this data from third party information mediums. While we cannot guarantee the accuracy of those records, the maps and breakdowns of specific streets and locations of incidents, can be considered worthwile to many people, because they are more specific in nature .

We recently learned about the accurate records that are provided to the Missouri State Highway Patrol and we are pleased to bring this information to our readers here.

In December 2009, the Missouri State Highway Patrol Statistical Analysis Center received the following data provided by all reporting precincts in the St Louis County region:

Murder - 2

Forcible Rape - 11

Robbery - 31

Aggravated Assault - 58

Burglary - 159

Larceny-Theft - 633

Motor Vehicle Theft - 59

Arson - 2

Total Incidents: 955

Where as, professionally we are primarily concerned with Robbery, Burglary and Larceny Theft, all classifications are important to be kept aware of.

My principle service areas (where I receive most of my business from) are Central and West County precinct reporting areas. These specific precincts report 165 total of the 955 reported incidents. 143/165 incidents in my principle service area include specifically Robbery, Burglary and Larceny Theft.

86.67% of all reported crimes to St Louis County Police, in Central and West Central County were property related incidents.

To determine the area that is important to you, we provide the link to this data in the source below.

Expect to hear these reports more often in future.

DIY Outlets (Big Box Stores) Mystery Shopper Findings

A rather interesting set of statistics has come to light after a recent survey of mystery shoppers taken in the UK about the knowledge of shop assistants in hardware stores and other DIY outlets, relating to lock products knowledge.

To summarize:

the mystery shopper investigation found that 63 per cent of staff in some of the UK's best known DIY outlets rated poorly when it came to lock knowledge; while only 15 per cent of 'shoppers' would rate advice received as satisfactory.

Three scenarios tested lock knowledge on various locking system (open, restricted and patented systems) multiple occupancy housing regulations and insurance stipulations. Mystery shoppers found a lack of understanding of lock requirements among staff meant they were not offered the right advice or asked appropriate questions.

Across all of the scenarios some vital questions were overlooked by sales staff, often meaning they were unable to provide appropriate advice on lock suitability.

The research also found:
* In the multiple occupancy regulations scenario none of the interviewers were advised to buy a BS 8621 lock - the one which should have been recommended, while 10 per cent mentioned an unsuitable lock
* Six in ten (62 per cent) 'shoppers' were referred to at least one other colleague when the first staff member felt unable to handle the enquiry
* Ten per cent of mystery shoppers were referred to three staff members when the first member of staff did not feel able to help with an enquiry, while two per cent of participants were referred to four members of staff
* Nearly eight in ten (76 per cent) 'shoppers' were not satisfied with the accuracy of the information received across all three scenarios
* More than eight in ten (83 per cent) felt that the response they received did not fully match that which was outlined in the scenario provided
* In more than nine out of ten instances staff were not on hand to offer advice, with 90 per cent of interviewers having to leave the lock aisle to actively seek assistance

Many locksmiths in this country have substantially more training than can be found in the hardware stores. Many hardware stores rarely hire any qualified professionals at all. The hardware stores have been closing in on the locksmith trade for many years but have been found wanting time and time again.
When you seek financial advice, do you go to a financial services professional or to a shop assistant?

Is the security of your property, home, colleagues and family, not important enough to you to seek the services and training of a professional?

Electronic Door Locks - Are They Worth The Price?

I have never been a strong proponent of electronic locking products, due to the constant maintenance required to keep them operating at maximum efficiency and certain other issues like poor component constructions, prone to not working in adverse weather conditions etc etc.

Every so often, I am asked to recommend electronic locking products. Having been in the physical security industry over 25 years and worked in multiple continents, I have seen many and varied applications.

The electronic components in security products started way back in the early 20th century when the first electric strike was installed in an upmarket New York apartment complex.

Up until that time, multi-level apartment complexes required doormen and an escorted elevator trip. The advantage that the electric strike presented was the ability to enjoy a secure entrance unmanned 24 hours a day and 7 days a week at a significantly reduced cost.

Most electronic hardwired systems available today are required to be "fail-safe". This means that if the power fails or is interrupted, the device is un-secure. Many product manufacturers started putting in battery back-ups in their products to assist with security necessities.

The advent of wireless systems actually negates the fail-safe mentality until the battery runs out.....but even still many products have an in-built lithium polymer long life battery, to provide just enough power until the main source batteries can be recharged or replaced. (this can also be illegal in a public building due to the fire and building code - depending on your location)

Technology is advancing rapidly and products are slowly becoming better quality and experiencing longer lives, however I still feel it necessary to recommend to my clients to maintain that mechanical back-up "just in case".

This is expressly why the locksmith industry will continue to exist, much to the angst of some.

Locksmiths, for over 2 centuries have been designing, maintaining and creating systems and products designed to protect the assets of the marketplace. Locksmiths will continue to do so for the next 200 years, I'm sure.

When asked "Should We?".....my first answer is based on determining the true benefits. But I always will recommend a mechanical backup.

The true benefits could be, no more keys to worry about (what about the proximity card - doesnt this just take the place of a key?), the ability to perform audit trails (on sophisticated systems), combination entry (negates the need for a key, but requires a code to be remembered - this could lead to codes being shared - leading to a major security issue).

One of the best advances today is the advent of Bio-metric systems. Finger print or Iris identification systems can negate the need for a key or the need to remember a combination (you cannot lend your finger or eye to someone else - can you?). Facial recognition systems are also a new entrant to the market.

The marketplace should also remember that electronic security products are still expensive and not as generally reliable as mechanical security products. Locksmiths can provide restricted key control systems that enable end users to control who has keys to their properties. This is one of the least expensive and most secure methods for protecting assets, often without the need to replace costly hardware.