MIAMI SECURITY GUARD SERVICES – RETAIL STORE SECURITY – LOSS PREVENTION – STORE DETECTIVES AND MORE

STORE SECURITY AND STORE DETECTIVES – (Miami Security Services)

A store detective is employed to deter and detect theft in retail outlets. Store Detectives is one of many common and less frequently used terms in the retail industry. More common terms today with major retailers are Loss Prevention Agent, Detective or Investigator and Asset Protection Officer or Investigator. Special Officer, once common, is now rarely used except in jurisdictions that still allow it.

Store detectives may be self-employed on a contract basis but most are employees of the retailer, of a security guard company with an outsourcing arrangement with the retailer, or of an agency with a similar agreement.

The job involves patrolling stores in the role of an ordinary shopper, watching for shoplifters. The store detective follows any shopper behaving suspiciously, and keeps records of such observations. The key difference between a store detective and a security guard is that the former’s role is covert. Other activities that a store detective holds in common with a security guard include detaining and searching suspects, calling the police, attending the questioning of a suspect, taking witnesses’ statements, reporting incidents, and giving evidence in court.

Most stores require their store detectives to have stable work histories and no criminal record. Common backgrounds include the armed services, rescue services, and security. In the UK, distance learning courses in store detection are offered by The Security Industry Training Organisation.
Retail Loss prevention
Retail Loss prevention is a form of private investigation into larceny or theft. The focus of such investigations generally includes shoplifting, package pilferage, embezzlement, credit fraud, and check fraud. “Loss prevention” or “LP” is used to describe a number of methods used to reduce the amount of all losses and shrinkage often related to retail trade.

The objective of loss prevention is to maximize profits through reducing shrinkage. According to the 2001 National Retail Security Survey, retail operations suffered an average annual shrinkage percentage of 1.75% in 2000. Although most retailers experience a shrinkage percentage of less than 2%, some smaller retailers often experience monthly and annual average shrinkage percentages as high as 20%. According to a study by the National Retail Security Survey 30.6% of shrinkage comes from shoplifting, 46% from employee embezzlement, 17.6% from administrative error, and 5.8% from vendor fraud. Because of the inherent need for companies to reduce operational costs, there is an ever-present need for experienced Retail LP professionals, particularly in the retail sector. Recently several associations such as the Retail Industry Leaders Association are offering new educational certification programs specifically for loss prevention. Among larger retailers there is a recent trend to include worker and customer safety programs into the traditional loss prevention job structure.
Types of Retail Loss Prevention Investigations

Shoplifting
Main article: Shoplifting
Shoplifting is one of the most common property crimes in the United States today. Anyone can be a shoplifter, and this is an important fact for loss prevention investigators to understand. Those who focus on stereotypes such as race and age generally have a difficult time detecting shoplifting. Statistically, shoplifting occurs at approximately the same rate each day of the week and December is the only month in which convenience stores suffer appreciably increased losses. The 12-17 age group is statistically the most active shoplifting group in relationship to its size, followed by the 18-29 age group.

According to the 2004 17th Annual Retail Theft survey conducted by Jack L. Hayes International, 689,340 shoplifters were apprehended by 27 of the major U.S. retailers. This figure was a 4.86% increase from the 657,414 shoplifters apprehended in 2003. In 2004, $70,039,564 was recovered from shoplifting apprehensions, compared to $68,927,833 in 2003. In 2004, the average dollar value for a shoplifting apprehension was $101.60.

Retail Loss Prevention departments are run very differently from retailer to retailer. Centralized loss prevention departments are generally more common with discount retailers. Retailers like Target use a centralized command system in which there are floor people, a department manager, and a district manager. Decentralized loss prevention departments are more common among clothing retailers. Retailers like Dillard’s, for instance, have decentralized loss prevention departments in which there are usually only store investigators and sometimes off-duty police officers to assist in the arrest of shoplifters.

Attitudes towards shoplifting have shifted greatly in the last two decades. Retailers now want their investigators to focus more on prevention of theft rather than apprehension of shoplifting suspects. This is a result of numerous false arrest charges over the last two decades that have cost retailers millions of dollars in lawsuits. A false arrest is known in the loss prevention world as a “bad stop”. A bad stop generally occurs when an investigator arrests a suspect who turns out not to have stolen any merchandise.

Investigators must use their best judgment when establishing probable cause. Most retailers today have established certification programs which a loss prevention employee must pass before they can make arrests. These programs usually consist of a buddy system, which pairs a new investigator with an experienced investigator. These programs usually span several months.

One common method of bypassing steps is establishing the selection of merchandise. This is usually done by noting what a suspect was holding when first observed. If seen later with several items they did not have before, it may be reasonable to assume that the merchandise belongs to the retailer. Many feel that good judgment is the key to making successful apprehensions. At times not all conditions can or will be feasibly met to make an apprehension. However it is still possible to prevent the loss.

Some investigators have been known to attempt forms of consent searches in an attempt to obtain probable cause without legally detaining a person. It may be explained to the customer that “we need to check your receipt to be certain you were not double charged,” or some other reason. However such techniques, while not constituting false arrest, may still result in the firing of a loss prevention investigator if they are a violation of company policy. Others feel all steps must be met before any action is taken. This second approach is used to protect the company from lawsuits resulting from “bad stops” which insult innocent shoppers.

The strict adherence to the rules of apprehension have also come about as some criminals try to defraud the loss prevention industry by “egging on” or pretending to steal as a way to get LP officers’ attention, while others in the store are doing the stealing. Alternately, some people simply try to get themselves arrested falsely, for the purpose of suing the company. However, most companies allow investigators to use required measures in order to stop and detain shoplifters. This often includes the use of force while employing handcuffs.
Embezzlement
Employee embezzlement is the theft or taking of property or funds entrusted to an employee by an employer. The most common type of retail embezzlement is cash theft. Other types include ringing up fake gift cards, passing merchandise, discount fraud, and, of course, theft of merchandise. Embezzlement investigations are widely known in the loss prevention industry as “internal investigations”.

According to the 2004 17th Annual Retail Theft survey, 63,289 employees were apprehended for dishonest activity. This is an increase of 4.01% or 60,850 employees over the figures of 2003. Retailers recovered $42,468,681 from incidents stemming from employee dishonesty in 2004, an increase from 2003’s of $40,025,937. The average case value for an apprehended dishonest employee in 2004 was $671.03. This figure is notable, since it is nearly seven times the value of the average shoplifter apprehension.

Employee embezzlement is usually handled by investigators who generally have five or more years of experience in retail loss prevention. Cash theft is generally investigated using cash office audits that appear on exception reports and CCTV cameras. Fake gift cards are usually investigated through the use of an electronic journal in which the gift cards are logged.

The passing of merchandise is usually discovered through the use of an exception report in which a particular employee is shown to have a unusual amount of voids or no-sales. Generally merchandise is rung up by an employee and subsequently voided out. The merchandise is then passed to a person at the counter, usually a friend or family member of the employee.

Other forms of employee theft that are discovered via the use of exceptions reports are discount and commission fraud. Discount fraud is the fraudulent use of an employee’s discount to reduce the price of merchandise for someone else. Generally this is done by an employee passing their discount card to a friend. Commission fraud is usually accomplished by ringing large return purchases back to another employee or recent ex-employee.

Merchandise theft is often investigated though the use of CCTV cameras and investigator observations. The items stolen by employees tend to be small items which either have a high dollar value or are edible. Stockrooms have a particularly high level of employee theft and are often investigated using CCTV. Loss prevention often tours stockrooms looking for “stashes”, out-of-place merchandise, and price tags. Typically a covert CCTV camera is placed in the areas of high opportunity for theft.

A recent trend with larger retailers is to actively pursue prosecution against employees who are embezzling. This is because employee embezzlement cases usually carry a far higher case value than do shoplifters, and, in most jurisdictions, embezzlement is codified as a felony offense. This can lead to lengthy investigations that may last for months. Still, particularly in small dollar cases, many retailers believe that they will never recover their losses; they often release employees suspected of embezzlement outright.
Credit card theft
Stolen credit cards find their way into retail stores as much as or more than online retail websites. This is usually for several reasons. Retailers have generally relaxed their procedures for checking credit cards, to shorten customers’ time spent at the cash register. Also, purchasing merchandise first-hand afford a credit card thief some anonymity, as opposed to providing a mailing address for an online sale.

Credit card theft is generally investigated by loss prevention personnel who receive a tip from a local police investigator investigating a stolen card. Typically the use of a stolen card can be easily found using the store’s electronic log, which will specify the register at which the stolen card was used. Sometimes CCTV video of the transaction exists and can be used by the police to establish a suspect or close a case. Today, most retailers are not liable for the use of stolen cards, unless they have chosen to override the chip and PIN and accept a customer’s signature when they could have accepted a PIN. However, retailers today frequently establish their own credit institutions and issue their own in-store only credit cards. In-store credit fraud is likely to become an increasing problem for loss prevention investigators in the next decade.

Some of the inherent problems with in-store credit lie in proper employee training. Temporary cards are regularly given out to customers who forget to bring in their own card. Mail fraud may also be used to intercept cards, and the use of these cards may go unnoticed for days if a clerk fails to check ID or if the true card holder never calls in a complaint. Also, in the opinion of some experts [citation needed], many retailers make adding a new name to an existing account far too easy.
Check / Cheque fraud
Check fraud is generally accomplished in one of two ways. The first is by writing a check that is manufactured to look like a real document, which in fact has no real value or no real bank account to back it up. Typically this is done by suspects who are experienced in forgery. The second method is check kiting, in which the suspect writes a check for a high dollar purchase, then withdraws the funds from the account before the check clears. Check kiting is usually done when suspects establish a fraudulent bank account under a false name.

Retailers reserve the right to reject a check for any reason. Most low-level store employees have no experience in detecting forgery and check kiting, and thus these stores are very prone to be the target of such fraud. Typically when checks are rejected by store management, the suspect raises the issue with the manager, in hopes that they will pass the check. Commonly those who create fraudulent checks hire minorities to make their purchases. When a check is rejected, a common scare tactic to get the retailer to accept the check is to claim racial bias.

Sometimes an experienced investigator can detect obvious forgery by examining the check or by calling the bank to verify that the account actually exists. When a false check is passed, investigators can sometimes salvage it by taking it to the bank before the suspect has the opportunity to withdraw the funds. Typically check fraud is done by a large group of non-local individuals who travel from state to state. Purchases are usually made in the late afternoon right as banks are closing. When an account actually exists, fraudulent or not, the suspects are usually able to withdraw the funds before the retail store can detect the fraud.
Safety and loss claims
Over the past decade, most large retailers have begun incorporating safety programs into their loss prevention programs. One or just a few workman’s compensation or general loss claims can cost a store as much in lost profit as shoplifting. Retailers are beginning to take a harder stance towards negligent violations of safety protocol by employees. Often the outcome of an investigation of an employee’s unsafe actions can result in their termination from employment. Some loss prevention programs consider employee safety investigations the same as internal theft cases. Increasingly, loss prevention managers are being held accountable for reducing both workman’s compensation and general loss claims as part of their performance review.

Among the industry leaders in loss prevention safety programs is Sears, which includes safety audits, safety committees, safety certifications, and thorough safety investigations into their loss prevention programs.
Margin Loss and Sweethearting
Retail Loss Prevention departments are becoming increasingly more involved in investigating losses which affect the margin of products and services. Typical areas of investigation include the overriding of PLU prices, price matching from competitors, and reduction of service fees such as delivery or protection agreements. While unintentional margin loss is reduced by educating employees and managers, the term for intentional margin loss is “sweethearting.” Sweethearting generally occurs when an employee promises a deal to a customer in order to close a sale, or otherwise reduces the price of merchandise for dishonest reasons. Sweethearting investigations involve research into employees’ finding competitor price matches to give to customers; overriding prices for their customers, friends, and themselves; and markdown of fees such as delivery and protection agreements.
Attempts to professionalize loss prevention
Many retailers have established centralized command structures in an attempt to control loss prevention. Typically the centralized command structure consists of the a floor or low-level investigator who is paid as an hourly employee. Next is the Loss Prevention Manager who is in charge of the loss prevention department at the store level. Generally the Loss Prevention Manager has been in the industry for a significant period of time and is salaried. The District Loss Prevention Manager is the next level, in charge of overseeing the operations of several stores within a geographic area. Generally the District Manager has a college degree in combination with significant amount of loss prevention experience. Some retailers, such as the 99 Cent Only Store, have hourly district investigators with the authority to terminate or prosecute any store employee or manager with probable cause.

Various problems have plagued the loss prevention industry over the years. Loss prevention departments have been accused of favoritism towards investigators and in some cases even an employee who may be dishonest. Some investigators have been known to make up apprehensions or merchandise recoveries to advance themselves within the field. The most prevalent problem is known as “LP blacklisting”, in which a particular investigator would be barred from employment due to the tight-knit nature of the loss prevention industry. Recent attempts at professionalism within the industry have gone a long way to eliminate these issues.

Some retailers have gone so far as to change the name of their loss prevention departments to “Assets Protection.” AP departments usually include more aspects of the private security industry by using more visible means of deterrence, such as uniformed door guards. Some companies believe that the term “loss prevention” has a stigma attached to it and that “assets protection” sounds more politically correct. There has been a recent trend in the industry to move back to less restrictive means of reducing external loss, due to recent increases in shoplifting.
Problems with investigators
A common frustration among retail loss prevention professionals is the perception of being seen as a glorified form of security, often by the same retail executives who employ them. Both industries typically do use the same or similar equipment. Loss prevention professionals see themselves as being proactive, while the security industry is often reactive in nature. The line between security and loss prevention has become increasingly blurry with the recent advent of uniform door guards and preventive measures to control safety, shoplifting, and embezzlement.

Another problem facing retail loss prevention today is the wage associated with entry-level investigators. Investigators often find themselves in dangerous situations caused by retailers who do not provide sufficient training or the necessary equipment to deal with and leave investigators unable to react appropriately. The compensation scale for the front-line investigator has not changed since the mid 1990’s. Most investigators in the US are paid under ten dollars per hour making them feel under valued and less motivated. Budget reductions, that often take place due to the loss of profits, often target the in-house loss prevention departments, because they are seen as a support function that has no direct relation with sales. The result is the reduction of the manpower required to make detentions safely for both the shoplifter and the investigator. Sometimes investigators decide that the potential danger associated with the position is not worth it for near-minimal wage and thus quit, refuse to make arrests or, worse yet, act dishonestly.
Bag checks and false arrest
The legality of bag checks by retailers is often questioned. The reason for bag checks is simple: it’s cheap and it works. Most retailers use Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) to determine when a bag check should be conducted. EAS sensors are placed on high dollar items to deter shoplifting; however, items containing large amounts of metal have been known to set off EAS alarm towers.

Retailers can only legally search a customer’s bag without probable cause if the customer consents. Usually an investigator requests that the door personnel search a bag because a sensor set off an alarm tower, or because of what they or other employees have seen in the store. If store personnel use force to detain a customer to look in their bag, it may become a false arrest. In some instances, refusal by a customer to consent to a bag search will result in the customer being “trespassed” (asked to leave and warned not to return under penalty of criminal trespass prosecution) or losing their membership from a store.
Felonies, misdemeanors, and local laws
Laws pertaining to shoplifting vary from state to state. Generally most state laws include an exclusion of limited liability for retailers to conduct searches of persons they believe to be shoplifting. Simply put, retailers are allowed by law to detain and question shoplifting suspects for a reasonable amount of time for the purpose of recovery of merchandise, provided that they have reasonable grounds to suspect the person. However, these laws generally do not apply to incidents of false arrest and excessive force.

Laws vary from state to state pertaining to when a shoplifter can be stopped and apprehended. In Arizona, concealment of merchandise is considered a crime and a shoplifter can be stopped as soon as concealment is established. In states like California, concealment is not a crime and a suspect must exit the store before an arrest can be made.

Some state laws can lead to unusual and severe charges being brought against a shoplifter. In Arizona, a shoplifter can actually be charged with felony third-degree burglary. In California, a person can be charged with attempted robbery if they use physical force while attempting to shoplift. In some jurisdictions a person convicted of shoplifting multiple times may face a felony sentence following conviction.

Most retailers follow a generalized corporate guideline which serves as a national blanket policy for the arrest of shoplifters, although some smaller retailers still decide their own policies on a store-to-store basis. Generally these policies state that a shoplifter can only be stopped and arrested after they leave the store. Some retailers like Macy’s and Wal-Mart have been known to use local laws pertaining to shoplifting to their advantage.

In most states, shoplifting is only considered a felony when merchandise in excess of $250 is stolen. Some states classify shoplifting as a felony offense regardless of price. In some states the dollar amount for shoplifting to be considered a felony is $2,500. Most felony shoplifting suspects, however, are only charged with misdemeanors by police, in order to process them through the criminal justice system more efficiently. Many misdemeanor shoplifters are released by loss prevention investigators after the recovery of the merchandise. Generally these shoplifting suspects are not charged with any crime and are trespassed by store management.

One common example of false arrest is the detainment of an individual based only on speculation of concealment and not an eyewitness to the act. False arrests can be costly to companies and often result in lawsuits or large monetary settlements. Settlements are preferred by companies wishing to avoid the negative publicity of court cases. Some jurisdictions render partial immunity to merchants and their employees from being liable for a false arrest as long as they have probable cause to detain.
Equipment, tactics, and technology

CCTV camera systems
CCTV is an abbreviation for Closed Circuit Television. CCTV camera systems are common to almost all loss prevention departments. The obvious benefits of CCTV camera is that the investigator can gain a better view of a suspect, record incidents, and not reveal themselves to shoplifting suspects. Some retailers use two-man teams in which one person uses the CCTV camera system to detect shoplifters and a floor man follows the suspect and apprehends them.

CCTV camera systems have been drastically modernized in the last decade. Most systems now record digitally as opposed to using videotapes. Many systems now include a computer server that contain video for months at a time. One drawback of many of these digital recorders is their inability to move and view more than one fixed area of the store. However, new digital cameras overlooking registers have greatly increased the number of internal cash thefts being resolved.

CCTV is one of the most effective tools ever used, not just by loss prevention, but the security industry in general. Firms which offer leases on such systems have brought costs down to a point where the franchise owner can consider it economically justifiable. A quality CCTV system, including a video recorder and monitors (at least one of which is visible to the public), is a proven deterrent with many related benefits, including protection from employee theft. A well-advertised visible system also acts as a holdup deterrent, and, when thefts do occur, prosecution is simplified.
Covert CCTV cameras
Covert CCTV cameras are a fairly recent innovation within the loss prevention industry. These cameras are small and compact and can be easily moved from area to area. Covert cameras can be easily made to look like fixtures or boxes in a stockroom. Most covert cameras are undetectable by the average employee.
Fake cameras
Some retailers use fake (or “dummy”) cameras in parts of their store, the rational is that the fake camera will cost less, but make the shoplifter too nervous to steal anything in front of it.
Electronic Article Surveillance
 
A tag used for EASElectronic article surveillance (EAS) is a deterrence system used by retailers to deter shoplifting. EAS involves the use of electronic security towers and electronic security tags. Hard tags or Sticker tags are placed on items throughout the store and are disabled at cashier by either removing the hard tag using a detacher or by scanning label tags over a magnetized strip or label deactivator. If the tag is not disabled it will activate the alarm tower, which is generally located at the exit to a retail store. EAS tags & labels are extremely effective in deterring amateur shoplifting, but most professionals require a combination of hard tags, labels, and ink tags to keep them in check. Even with the most elaborate anti-shoplifting systems some goods will be lost; this is possible with booster bags or simply a “grab and run”.
Serial numbers
Serial numbers are now being commonly placed on high-value merchandise. If loss prevention departments record the serial numbers, they can subsequently track stolen merchandise recovered by the police. Recording serial numbers is usually only done by larger retailers, due to the fact that they have district investigators who investigate organized shoplifting over a certain geographic area.
Electronic journals
Almost every large retail institution has some form of electronic journal which records all its transactions. Information such as credit card numbers, gift card numbers, refunds, and merchandise voids is gathered at the point-of-sale. These journals can then be used to view and print facsimiles of receipts or checks.
Cash office audits
A cash office audit is usually conducted by a common retail employee who counts up the cash from transactions at the retailer’s registers. A shortage occurs when the dollar amount contained in the register does not match what the cash audit says it should have. Shortages are used to begin and close cash embezzlement cases that are investigated by loss prevention departments. Cash office audits include information pertaining to which employees used a particular register during the day. This information is used by loss prevention investigators to narrow the field of suspected employees.
Two-way radio sets
Almost all loss prevention departments have some form of two-way radio communication. This technology is used by investigators to help two-man teams follow a shoplifting suspect in conjunction with the CCTV camera system or to summon assistance when apprehending a shoplifter.
Point of Sale
Main article: Point of Sale
Point of sale is a form of electronic journal that allows the loss prevention investigator to see a transaction as it is occurring live. This system is either displayed on a computer screen or on a monitor linked to the CCTV camera system. This system has assisted investigators in closing employee embezzlement cases pertaining to merchandise passing, merchandise voiding, and discount fraud.
Exception reports
Exception reports are compiled on an annual basis into a report. Usually the reports are received monthly or bi-weekly. They include information on cash audit overs and shorts, no-sales, flagged returns, employees ringing themselves up, fake employee numbers used to avoid commission docking, excessive markdowns and/or discounts, and merchandise voids. Exception reports have dramatically reduced the amount of time an investigator needs to detect a possible sign of employee embezzlement.
Ink tags
Ink tags have been around for several decades and are most commonly used by clothing retailers. Special equipment is required to remove the tags from the clothing. When the tags are forcibly removed, one or two glass vials containing permanent ink will break, causing it to spill over the clothing, effectively destroying it. Ink tags fall into the loss prevention category called benefit denial. As the name suggests, an ink tag denies the shoplifter any benefit for his or her efforts. Despite this, shoplifters have found ways around them, such as duct-taping the holes through which the ink comes out and then removing the tag with pliers, resulting in little to no damage of the merchandise. This however isn’t possible with all ink tags as the holes may not be visible. Ink tags are most effective if used together with an anti-shoplifting system so that the shoplifter can’t take the product home and leisurely try and remove the ink tag.

Another issue with ink tags is that a determined shoplifter may steal more than one of an item in order to be able to practice removing the ink tag.
Dual Resonator EAS stickers
Dual Resonator EAS stickers are usually placed on small items such as shaving razors and cold medicines. These items are popular items to sell at swap meets. Dual Resonator EAS stickers are printed on thin paper and are difficult to remove. Usually the sticker includes a retailer’s company logo and serves as an indication to would-be buyers that the merchandise has been stolen.
Dummy domes
Dummy domes have become prevalent in all forms of retail loss prevention. Dummy domes do not contain cameras, although they are identical to those that do. Dummy domes can be strategically placed to herd shoplifters into a particular location or can be used as a deterrent to shoplifting.
Ceiling mirrors
Ceiling mirrors were once a staple of the loss prevention industry. Now, for the most part, they have been relegated to convenience stores. Mirrors allow loss prevention investigators to watch activity in a high-theft area without being seen. Some loss prevention departments have been known to use mirrors to increase the range of their camera systems.
Refund checks
Refund checks are aimed at possible fraudulent and high-risk refunds. The customer is told they will receive a check in the mail instead of receiving cash or store credit during the actual return. This tactic is typically employed in instances where a customer does not have a receipt or there is prior knowledge that the return may be questionable. Generally a loss prevention manager or operations manager will have to approve the release of a refund check. This tactic works well because fraudulent refunders usually will not call the store to complain when they do not receive their check in the mail.
Bottom of Basket
Bottom of Basket loss (BOB), occurs when an item is placed on the lower tray of a shopping cart and the cashier forgets to check the lower tray for items, resulting in the item not being paid for. What makes this form of shrink unique is that it may happen intentionally or unintentionally. All estimates for the dollar amount lost in this manner are over $2 billion US per year in North America alone, or $7 per checkout lane per day. There are a few products on the market to help prevent this loss. The most common are mirrors mounted across the checkout lane. Some stores have camera systems pointed at the lower tray with monitors for each cashier. Neither of these systems work effectively because the problem is not visibility, but the inattentive cashier.

A newer type of system actively monitors the checkout lane and alerts when an item is detected on the lower tray of the shopping cart. The alarm will trigger when anything is on the lower tray including products, bags, or coats, but uses technology to distinguish the difference between a shopping cart and a person or bag passing through the lane, in order to accurately activate and begin scanning for items. Some systems have more false alarms than others. Some use robotic vision technology to identify items and are integrated with the POS, so that the items do not go out the door unless they are paid for.
Consent searches
Consent searches are widely used in law enforcement and are still present in loss prevention today. By asking a customer to consent to a search of their belongings, such as shopping bags and receipts, any illegal search or seizure requirements can be circumvented. Consent searches in some instances can be used to build on previously existing facts to establish the probable cause necessary to detain a shoplifter. The extreme end of establishing probable cause through a consent search has been eliminated except with a few smaller companies who still utilize it.

In modern retail loss prevention, consent searches are most often used by warehouse retailers such as Costco and Sam’s Club. The warehouse retailers have made consent searches of their customers’ purchases a part of the membership agreement. Although a customer may refuse to consent to a search of their purchase from a legal standpoint, the warehouse retailer does retain the right as a private business entity to strip the customer of their membership or issue a verbal trespass. Warehouse retailers have been able to utilize consent searches to lower their prices on goods and reduce external shrinkage at the same time.
Viewing towers
Although the necessity of viewing towers has been largely eliminated by CCTV camera systems, they still exist today. A tower is usually a centrally located observation platform raised above the sales floor. An investigator can spend time in the tower with searching for shoplifters or investigating employees, much in the same manner as with CCTV.
Integrity shops
A common example of an integrity shop is marking a large-denomination bill and placing it in a cashier’s drawer. The goal is to see if the bill disappears from the drawer or doesn’t reach its appropriate destination, such as a cash office. The information gained from an integrity shop can be used to initiate investigations or conduct interviews that could possibly reveal dishonest activity or outright theft. This is also a good way to find out if an employee is attempting to embezzle.
See also
Authentication
Packaging
Package pilferage
Shoplifting
Tamper-evident
Tamper resistance
Store detective

Books
Hayes, R., “Retail Security and Loss Prevention”, Butterworth-Heinemann, Stoneham, MA,1991, ISBN:0570690380
Hayes, R., “Shoplifting Control”, Prevention Press, Orlando, FL, 1993.
Hayes, R., “Employee Theft Control.” Prevention Press, Orlando, FL, 1993.
Hayes, R. “Retail Security and Loss Prevention, 2nd Edition”. London, Macmillan, 2007.
Horan, D.J., “The Retailer’s Guide to Loss Prevention and Security”, 1996, ISBN:084938110X
Kimieckik, R., C., “Loss Prevention Guide for Retail Businesses”, 1995, ISBN:0471076368
Thomas, C., “Loss Prevention in the Retail Business”, 2005, ISBN:0471723215

Articles
Hayes. “Retail Crime Control: a new operational strategy.” Security Journal 8, 3 (1997) pp 225-232.

2. Read Hayes. “Crime and Loss Control Training: U. S. Retailers’ Response to Rising Theft, Competition and Risk.” International Journal of Risk, Security and Crime Prevention 2 (4) (1997) 267-278.

3. Read Hayes. “Retail Theft: An Analysis of Apprehended Shoplifters.” Security Journal 7 (1) (1997) pp 11-14.

4. Read Hayes. “Shop Theft: An Analysis of Shoplifter Perceptions and Situational Factors.” Security Journal 12 (2) (1999 ) pp 7–118.

5. Read Hayes. “Retail Store Detectives: An Analysis of their Focus, Selection, Training, and Performance Ratings.” Security Journal 31 (1) (2000) pp 7-20.

6. Read Hayes “Loss Prevention: Senior Management Views on Current Trends and Issues.” Security Journal, 2003 16, _,7-20.

7. Tracy Johns and Read Hayes. “Behind the Fence: Buying and Selling Stolen Merchandise.” Security Journal, 2003 16, 4, 29-44.

8. Read Hayes. “Predicting the Job Performance of Store Detectives.” Security Journal, 17, 4, 7-20.

9. Mike Scicchitano, Tracy Johns, Read Hayes and Robert Blackwood. “Peer Reporting to Control Employee Theft.” Security Journal, 2004, 17, 2, 7–19.

10. Read Hayes. “Store Detectives: Job Analysis and Workplace Performance.” Security Journal, 2004, 17, 3, 10–21.

11. Read Hayes. “Effective Loss Prevention Means Protecting Lives, Selling More and Losing Less.” Security Journal, 2006, 19, 4, 211-215.

12. Read Hayes and Robert Blackwood. “Evaluating the Effects of EAS on Product Sales and Loss: Results of a Large-Scale Field Experiment.” Security Journal, 2006, 19, 4, 262-276.

13. Read Hayes. “Focused Asset Protection.” Security Journal, 2007, 20, 1, TBA.
REFEREED BOOK CHAPTERS:

1. Read Hayes. “Loss Prevention: Senior Management Views on Current Trends and Issues,” Chapter 2 in Managing Security, Martin Gill (ed.), Leicester, England: Perpetuity Press, 2004.

2. Read Hayes and Caroline Cardone. “Shoptheft,” Chapter in The Handbook of Security, Martin Gill (ed.), Leicester, England: Macmillan, 2006.

3. Read Hayes. “Store Detectives,” Chapter in The Handbook of Security, Martin Gill (ed.), Leicester, England: Macmillan, 2006.
PUBLISHED RESEARCH REPORTS:

1. Barton Weitz, Richard C. Hollinger, and Read Hayes. National Retail Security Survey — 1991: Executive Summary, Des Plaines, Illinois: SECURITY Magazine, 1992.

2. Richard C. Hollinger and Read Hayes. 1992 National Retail Security Survey: Final Report (with Executive Summary), Gainesville, Florida: University of Florida, 1992.

3. Read Hayes. 1993 Retail Theft Trends Report, (with Executive Summary), Orlando, Florida: Prevention Press, 1993

4. Richard C. Hollinger, Dean A. Dabney, and Read Hayes National Shopping Center Security Report, Chain Store Age Executive Magazine, May 1993, pp. 83-114.

5. Read Hayes. 1994 Retail Theft Trends Report, (with Executive Summary), Orlando, Florida: Prevention Press, 1994.

6. Read Hayes. 1995 Retail Theft Trends Report, (with Executive Summary), Orlando, Florida: Prevention Press, 1995.

7. Richard C. Hollinger, Dean Dabney, Gang Lee and Read Hayes 1996 National Retail Security Survey: Final Report, (with Executive Summary), Gainesville, Florida: University of Florida, 1996.

8. Read Hayes. 1996 Retail Theft Trends Report, (with Executive Summary), Orlando, Florida: Prevention Press, 1996.

9. Richard C. Hollinger (with Dean Dabney, Gang Lee and Read Hayes) 1997 National Retail Security Survey: Final Report, (with Executive Summary), Gainesville, Florida: University of Florida, 1997.

10. Read Hayes. 1997 Retail Theft Trends Report, (with Executive Summary), Orlando, Florida: Prevention Press, 1997.

11. Richard C. Hollinger (with Gang Lee, John L. Kane and Read Hayes) 1998 National Retail Security Survey: Final Report, (with Executive Summary), Gainesville, Florida: University of Florida, 1998.

12. Read Hayes. 1998 Retail Theft Trends Report, (with Executive Summary), Orlando, Florida: Prevention Press, 1998.

13. Martin Gill, Tony Burns-Howell, Martin Hemming, Jerry Hart, Read Hayes, Andi Wright and Ron Clarke. The Illicit Market in Stolen Fast-Moving Consumer Goods: A Global Impact Study, Leicester, UK: Perpetuity Press, 2004

14. Helena Moussatche, Read Hayes, Richard Schneider, Robert McLeod, Philip Abbott and Martha Kohen. Retailing Best Practices: Reducing Loss through Store Design and Layout, Gainesville, Florida: University of Florida, 2004.

15. Read Hayes. Alternative Source Vendors: Retailers, Diverters and Stolen Goods, Winter Park, Florida: Loss Prevention Research Council, 2004.

UNPUBLISHED RESEARCH REPORTS:

1. Read Hayes and King Rogers. Organized Retail Crime: Describing a Major Problem. Submitted to the Grocery Manufacturers Association in September 2003. .by wikipedia

MiamiProtection.com – a Miami Security Company for Miami Retail Security and Miami Security Services. Security guard Services in miami , Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, Miami Beach, Homestead, West Palm beach, South Beach and South Florida.

Security guards – Security guard Services

A security guard or security officer is usually a privately and formally employed person who is paid to protect property, assets, and/or people. Often, security officers are uniformed and act to protect property by maintaining a high visibility presence to deter illegal and/or inappropriate actions, observing (either directly, through patrols, or by watching alarm systems or video cameras) for signs of crime, fire or disorder; then taking action and/or reporting any incidents to their client, employer and emergency services as appropriate. Since at least the Middle Ages in Europe, the term watchman was more commonly applied to this function.

Functions and Duties
Many security firms and proprietary security departments practice the “detect, deter, observe and report” methodology. Security officers are not required to make arrests but have the authority to make a citizen’s arrest) or otherwise act as an agent of law enforcement at the request of a police officer, sheriff, etcetera.

In addition to the methodology mentioned above, a private security officer’s primary duty is the prevention and deterrence of crime. Security personnel enforce company rules and can act to protect lives and property. In fact, they frequently have a contractual obligation to provide these actions. Security officers are often trained to perform arrest and control procedures (including handcuffing and restraints), operate emergency equipment, perform first aid, CPR, take accurate notes, write detailed reports, and perform other tasks as required by the contractee they are serving. Many security officers are required to go through additional training mandated by the state for the carrying of weapons such as batons, firearms, and pepper spray (e.g. the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services in California has requirements that a license for each item listed must be carried while on duty). [1] Some officers are required to complete police certification for special duties. Positions are also set to grow in the U.S., with 350,000 new security jobs expected over the next decade.[2] In recent years, due to elevated threats of terrorism, most security officers are required to have bomb-threat training and/or emergency crisis training, especially those located in soft target areas such as shopping malls, schools, and any other area where the general public congregate.

One major economic justification for security personnel is that insurance companies (particularly fire insurance carriers) will give substantial rate discounts to sites which have a 24-hour presence; for a high risk or high value venue, the discount can often exceed the money being spent on its security program. This is because having security on site increases the odds that any fire will be noticed and reported to the local fire department before a total loss occurs. Also, the presence of security personnel (particularly in combination with effective security procedures) tends to diminish “shrinkage,” theft, employee misconduct and safety rule violations, property damage, or even sabotage. Many casinos hire security guards to protect money when transferring it from the casino to the casino’s bank.

Security personnel may also perform access control at building entrances and vehicle gates; meaning, they ensure that employees and visitors display proper passes or identification before entering the facility. Security officers are often called upon to respond to minor emergencies (lost persons, lockouts, dead vehicle batteries, etc.) and to assist in serious emergencies by guiding emergency responders to the scene of the incident, helping to redirect foot traffic to safe locations, and by documenting what happened on an incident report. Armed security officers are frequently contracted to respond as law enforcement until a given situation at a client location is under control and/or public authorities arrive on the scene (in California, this is referred to as 832 P.C. training, usually offered at academies and/or college campuses). [3]

Patrolling is usually a large part of a security officer’s duties. Often these patrols are logged by use of a guard tour patrol system, which require regular patrols. The most commonly used form used to be mechanical clock systems that required a key for manual punching of a number to a strip of paper inside with the time pre-printed on it. Recently, electronic systems have risen in popularity due to their light weight, ease of use, and downloadable logging capabilities [4]. Regular patrols are, however, becoming less accepted as an industry standard, as it provides predictability for the would-be criminal, as well as monotony for the security officer on duty. Random patrols are easily programmed into these systems, allowing greater freedom of movement and unpredictability. Global positioning systems are also easing their way into the market as a more effective means of tracking officer movement and patrol behavior.

Although security officers differ greatly from police officers, military personnel, federal agents/officers, and the like, the United States has a growing proportion of security personnel that have former police or military experience, including senior management personnel. On the other hand, some security officers, young people in particular, use the job as practical experience to use in applying to law enforcement agencies.
Types of security personnel and companies
Security personnel are classified as either of the following

“in-house” or “proprietary” (i.e. employed by the same company or organization they protect, such as a mall, theme park, or casino); formerly often called works police or security police in the United Kingdom
“contract,” working for a private security company which protects many locations.
“Public Security,” “Private Police Officers,” or security police
“Private Patrol Officers”, vehicle patrol officers that protect multiple client premises.
Industry terms for various security personnel include: Security guards, security agents, watchmen, security officers, safety patrol, Armed Security, Private Police, Company police, Loss Prevention, Bodyguards, Executive Protection Agents, or Access Managers. Other job titles in the security industry include dispatcher, receptionist, driver, supervisor, alarm responder, mall security officer, private patrol officer, Private Patrol Operator, and manager.

State and local governments sometimes regulate the use of these terms by law — for example, certain words and phrases that “give an impression that he or she is connected in any way with the federal government, a state government, or any political subdivision of a state government” are forbidden for use by California security licensees by Business and Professions Code Section 7582.26. So the terms “private homicide police” or “special agent” would be unlawful for a security licensee to use in California. Similarly, in Ontario, Canada, the Private Security and Investigative Services Act specifically prohibits private security personnel from using the terms detective, private detective, law enforcement, police, or officer. Recent changes to the act have also introduced restrictions on uniform and vehicle colours and markings to make private security personnel clearly distinctive from police personnel.
An American security officer posing.There is a marked difference between persons performing the duties historically associated with watchmen and persons who take a more active role in protecting persons and property. The former, often called “guards,” are taught the mantra “observe and report,” are minimally trained, and not expected to deal with the public or confront criminals. The latter are often highly trained, sometimes armed depending on contracts agreed upon with clientele, and are more likely to interact with the general public and to confront the criminal element. These employees tend to take pride in the title “Security Officer” or “Protection Officer” and disdain the label of “guard.” Ironically enough, there may be no relationship between duties performed and compensation — many mall “security officers” who are exposed to serious risks make less per hour than “industrial security guards” with less training and responsibility.[citation needed] However, there are now more positions in the security role that separate not just the titles, but the job itself. The roles have progressed and so have the areas for which security people are needed. All security jobs vary in pay and duties at present.

The term “agent” is particularly problematic in the security industry because it can describe not only a civil legal relationship between an employee and their employer or contractor (“agent of the owner” in California PC 602), but also describes a person in government service (“Special Agent Jones of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.”) However we should then also consider the fact that this title is also made available to banking agents, loan agents and real estate agents. Security “agents” found in loss prevention and personal or executive protection (bodyguards) typically work in plainclothes, without a uniform, and are usually highly trained to act lawfully in direct defense of life and/or property. There is also confusion with bail enforcement agents, or as they are popularly known “bounty hunters,” who are sometimes regulated by the same agencies which regulate private security.

Security personnel are essentailly private citizens, and therefore are bound by the same laws and regulations as the citizenry they are contracted to serve, and therefore are not allowed to represent themselves as law enforcement under penalty of law. [5][6]
Licensing
Most states require a license to work as a security officer. [7] This license may include a criminal background check and/or mandated training requirements. Most security officers do not carry weapons and have the same powers of arrest as a private citizen, called a “private person” arrest, “any person” arrest, or “citizen’s arrest.” If weapons are carried, additional permits and training are usually required. Armed security personnel are generally used to protect sensitive sites such as government and military installations, armored money transports, banks (or other financial institutions), nuclear power plants, etc. However, armed security is quickly becoming a standard for vehicle patrol officers and on many other non-government sites. Armed private security is much rarer in Europe and some other countries (and unrealized in some, such as the United Kingdom). In developing countries (with host country permission), armed security composed mostly of ex-military personnel is often used to protect corporate assets, particularly in war-torn regions. In Canada, contract security guards are not armed. They are not permitted to carry a firearm, or any type of defensive weapon.[1] Nor are they allowed to carry handcuffs or other restraint devices without the proper training, which is in contrast to their “In-House Security” counterparts that have no restrictions or mandatory training in regards to handcuffs or restraint devices[citation needed].

As a requirement of the Private Security Industry Act 2001, the UK now requires all contract security guards to have a valid SIA (Security Industry Authority) license. Licenses are valid for three years and require the holders to undergo formal training, and are also to pass mandatory Criminal Records Bureau checks.

In Canada, private security falls under the jurisdiction of Canada’s ten provinces. The laws in all provinces require that contract security companies and their employees be licensed. [8] The requirements for licensing vary but many provinces require that security guards either successfully complete a training program before being issued a license or have previous experience as a peace officer (i.e. a police officer). In British Columbia contract Security Businesses, and Employees must be licensed, while “In-House” Security Organizations and Employees are currently exempt from Provincial Legislation. New Legislation is currently going through the legislative process to better regulate the Security Industry in BC. [citation needed]

In August 2007, Malaysia banned hiring of foreign security guards following a rape and murder of a student by a Pakistani security guard. [9]
Security officers and the police
Security personnel are not police officers, unless they are security police, but are often identified as such due to similar uniforms and behaviors, especially on private property. Security personnel in the U.S. derive their powers not from the state, as public police officers do, but from a contractual arrangement that give them ‘Agent of the Owner’ powers. This includes a nearly unlimited power to question with the absence of probable cause requirements that frequently dog public law enforcement officers, provided that the secuirity officer does not tread on the rights and liberties of others as guaranteed by the United Stated Constitution. This does not come without checks, however, as private security personnel do not enjoy the benefit of civil protection, as public law enforcement officers do, and can be sued directly for false arrests and illegal actions if they commit such acts.

Some jurisdictions do commission or deputize security officers and give them limited additional powers, particularly when employed in protecting public property such as mass transit stations. This is a special case that is often unique to a particular jurisdiction or locale. Additionally, security officers may also be called upon to act as an agent of law enforcement if a police officer, sheriff’s deputy, etc. is in immediate need of help and has no available backup.

Some security guard officers do reserve police powers and are typically employed directly by governmental agencies. Typically, these are sworn law enforcement personnel whose duties primarily involve the security of a government installation, and are also a special case. Other local and state governments occasionally enter into special contracts with security agencies to provide patrol services in public areas. These personnel are sometimes referred to as “private police officers.”

Sometimes police officers work as security personnel while not on duty. This is usually done for extra income, and work is particularly done in hazardous jobs such as bodyguard work and bouncers outside nightclubs. In some countries, including the United Kingdom, it is illegal for police officers to take private security work.

Except in these special cases, security personnel who misrepresent themselves as police officers are committing a crime. However, security personnel by their very nature often work in cooperation with police officials. Police are called in when a situation warrants a higher degree of authority to act upon reported observations that could not be directly acted upon safely by the security personnel.

In British Columbia, Canada contract Security Guards are NOT permitted to carry firearms (guns), batons, pepper spray, or handcuffs. [citation needed]The fine for doing so is $575,[citation needed] and the possibility of losing their Security License. Provincial Inspectors, designated as Special Provincial Constables conduct inspections to ensure compliance with Provincial Regulations. “In-House” Security organizations, and their employees are currently exempt from Provincial Regulations. This means “In-House” Security Officers could, if permitted by their employer, carry and use handcuffs, and/or a baton. The Province of BC is currently re-drafting the provincial legislation to cover all security, and certain restrictions, as the current legislation is 26 years old. [citation needed]
Criticisms
One of many myths of private contract security is that since it is often a low-paying job,[10] adequate background checks are not performed (there are certain states that require it before standing post, such as California and Oregon). [11][12] People often have the misconception that security officers are thugs or ex-cons that are not screened properly, though this is not the case. For example, Oregon has a list of disqualifiers that invalidate an ex-con’s eligibility for the job for either seven years, ten years or life. [13]
Trends
Economist Robert B. Reich, in his 1991 book The Work of Nations, stated that in the United States, the number of private security guards and officers was comparable to the number of publicly-paid police officers. He used this phenomenon as an example of the general withdrawal of the affluent from existing communities whose governments provide public services; instead, the wealthy provide their own premium services, through voluntary, exclusive associations. As taxpayer resistance has limited government budgets, and as the demand for secure homes in gated communities has grown, these trends have continued in the 1990s and 2000s.
History
The vigiles were soldiers assigned to guard the city of Rome, often credited as the origin of both security personnel and police, although their principal duty was as a fire brigade. There have been night watchmen since at least the Middle Ages in Europe; walled cities of ancient times also had watchmen. A special chair appeared in Europe sometime in the late Middle Ages, called the watchman’s chair; this unupolstered wooden chair had a forward slanting seat to prevent the watchman from dozing off during his watch.
Notable security guards
The security guard Frank Wills detected the Watergate burglars, ultimately leading to the resignation of Richard M. Nixon as President of the United States.
Christoph Meili, night guard at a Swiss bank, became a whistle blower in 1997, bringing out that the bank destroyed records of holocaust victims whose money the bank was supposed to return their heirs.
In 2001, Gary Coleman, former child actor, was employed as a shopping mall security guard in the Los Angeles area. Whilst shopping for a bullet-proof vest for his job, Coleman assaulted a female autograph collector. Coleman said he felt “threatened by her insistence” and punched her in the head.[2] He was later charged for the assault and ordered to pay her $1,665 for hospital bills.
Derrick Brun, an unarmed security guard employed by the Red Lake School District in Minnesota, was praised by President Bush for his heroic role in the 2005 Red Lake High School Massacre: “Derrick’s bravery cost him his life, and some Americans honor him… …Although he was unarmed, Derrick ignored the pleas of a colleague to run for his life… …by engaging the assailant; he bought vital time for a fellow security guard to rush a group of students to safety.”
In 1980, musician John Lennon was fatally shot in front of his own apartment house, The Dakota, by a former security guard, Mark David Chapman.
Security Guards are parodied on The 12th Man where their role is grossly overexaggerated. Examples include wanting to shoot Max Walker to stop him from entering the commentary box, shooting Bill Lawry and Tony Greig in an attempt to have them leave the broadcasting area, and the actual shooting down of the commentary box to remove Max Walker, conducted by a SWAT Team.

Unionization
In June, 1947, the United States Congress passed the Taft-Hartley Act placing many restrictions on labor unions. Section 9 (B) (3) of the act prevents the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) from certifying for collective bargaining any unit which mixes security employees with non-security employees. That restriction makes it illegal for security employees to join any union that also represents other types of employees. They may only be part of an independent, “security-only” union, not affiliated with any coalition of other types of labor unions such as the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO).

Two of the largest security unions are the Security, Police, and Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA) and the United Government Security Officers of America (UGSOA).

In 1948 with the Taft-Hartley restrictions well into effect, the Detroit, Michigan area security guards of United Auto Workers (UAW) Amalgamated Local 114 were forced to break away and start a separate “Plant Guards Organizing Committee”. The NLRB ruled that as an affiliate of the CIO, the committee was indirectly affiliated with production unions and therefore ineligible for certification under the new restrictions. The committee was then forced to completely withdraw from the CIO and start the independent United Plant Guard Workers of America. By the 1990s, this union had evolved to include many other types of security officers and changed its name to the SPFPA.

In 1992, the USGOA was formed. It specializes in organizing federal, state, and local government security officers, but since May, 2000 has been open to representing other types of security personnel as well.

There is controversy surrounding recent efforts by certain unions to become involved in the security industry, such as the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) because it primarily represents janitors, trash collectors, and other building service employees.

Depending on individual locations & companies, Security Officers in Canada are part of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW Local 333) or the United Steelworkers Union (the Canadian wing of the United Steelworkers Union of America (USWA)). In contrast to the union restrictions in the United States, Canadian security officers may be in a Canadian Labour Congress (CLC)-affiliated union or in the same union with other classifications of employees.
See also
Access control
Bodyguard
Bouncer (doorman)
Bounty hunter
Certified Protection Officer
Commissionaire
Loss prevention
Physical Security
Police
Private investigator
shift work
Security
Security police
Store detective
Transportation security officer
Watchmen (law enforcers)
by answers.com

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Chosing a security guard company

Take the case as reported in yesterday’sWashington Post involving a security guard by the name of Kerry Beal. Beal went to work for Wackenhut Corp., who provided the security guards to protect Peach Bottom nuclear plant in Pennsylvania. He was so disturbed by Wakenhut’s security guards sleeping on duty that he reported it to supervisors. The supervisors told him to be a “team player”.

Not satisfied with being told to look the other way, Mr. Beal reported the matter to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The Commission dropped the matter after the plant’s owner, Exelon, said it found no evidence of security guards sleeping on duty. It was not until he actually videotaped the sleeping guards and sent the tape to WCBS television in New York City that something was done. Exelon took action and fired Wackenhut.

There are so many things wrong with this story that it is impossible to single any one out. Obviously, a security guard on duty who sleeps is the first problem. However, as the story unfolds, even scarier facts begin to surface. Wackenhut security supervisors told the new guy to be a “team player”? Then the owners, Exelon, failed to take action but instead assisted in the cover-up. Oh yeah, did I mention that the facility was a NUCLEAR POWER PLANT?

Exeleon fired Wackenhut from 10 of their plants. Should we now sleep easier in our beds at night? Probably not. Considering the fact Wackenhut “protected” half of the 62 commercial nuclear power plants in the U.S., their recent firing still allows them to “protect” 21 plants.

After the dust settled a bit, Wackenhut made a statement to the effect that the entire nuclear industry needs to rethink security. Really Wackenhut? It sure sounds to me like you need to rethink security yourselves. If my security guard employees were found sleeping on the job, they would have been automatically terminated and their supervisors with them. Maybe that’s the difference between the big and small security companies. The smaller security companies seem to be more aware and concerned about their client’s needs.

I just hope that if the terrorists ever strike at our critical infrastructures like we know that want to, they will make plenty of noise if they attack at night. Who knows how deeply those Wackenhut security guards sleep? by john sexton

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Private Security Guards ( posted in Miami Florida)

Miami Private security guards, also known as security officers, have become increasingly important in Miami and our society, and the security guard industry is one of the fastest growing in Miami Florida and the country. Miami Security guards protect their employer’s investment, enforce rules and laws on the property, and deter criminal activity or other problems.  

There are three things to consider when hiring Miami security guards or security guard services: 1) what needs to be protected, 2) what level of protection is desired, and 3) who is going to do the protecting.

1) The first step is to determine what needs to be protected and what the security guard’s responsibilities will include. Security guards can be posted at stationary locations for security guard services, to control entrances and check people entering and leaving the property, control crowds, give directions, accept packages, and discourage misbehavior. Guards also patrol and inspect property to protect against fire, theft, vandalism, and illegal activity.

2) Security guards can be armed or unarmed, in uniform or plain clothes, posted on the property or thousands of miles away viewing video cameras that are part of an interactive system. What is the level of security needed and what is the budget required to achieve that level of security ?

3) When it comes to hiring Miami security guards, it doesn’t matter whether the security guards are employed by a security guard agency or hired directly by the end user; interviewing is essential in order to find the right security guard person for the position. The advantage of using a security guard service is that the security guard company is bonded, background checks have already been made, a certain amount of training has been completed, and the guard can be terminated easily since he works for the agency. The advantage to directly hiring the security guard is greater control over hours, appearance, behavior and in many cases, lower overall costs.

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Security Guard Services – CCTV Security Cameras 

Who is in your building? Do you know? And most importantly, do you care?

If you answered ‘no’ to either of those last two questions, you could be in for a rude awaking. In today’s environment more and more building owners and managers are outsourcing their basic services to third party providers; the most common are security services, janitorial and landscaping functions.  The reason for this is economics, plain and simple. The fact is, it’s far less expensive for a building owner or management company, condo, co-op or gated community to use outsourced workers than to hire full-time, in-house security, janitorial, and landscaping staff.

It’s also a fact that in most cases, the lowest bidder wins the contract—but just what are you getting for that low bid?  Are the people hired to secure your association or building the best qualified and the best trained? Is the company you’ve hired fully licensed and insured? Not knowing the answers to questions such as these is like driving without a seatbelt. Here are some of the questions that you should be asking any vendor that you plan to do business with — particularly if the vendor is going to have a major presence at your facility or on your property.  

• Do you screen your employees and subcontractors?

• Are you licensed?

• Are you insured? What are the limits of your policy?

• Will you name my company as an additional named insured?

• Do you carry worker’s compensation insurance?  

Many of these questions are traditional business questions; however, how a company screens their employees is not. Not all screening methods are created equal. It’s important to know whether your prospective security guard company is doing full background checks, or only checking where the applicant tells them they lived. Does the company confirm that the person is who they say they are? Do they use database searches, statewide searches or county searches, or check to see if their employees and applicants are on a sexual offenders list? Does the company validate previous employers and experience?

Many employee screening firms offer a variety of services and packages, so it’s sometimes a challenge to determine exactly what types of searches and background checks are appropriate. For example, most people think a Statewide Criminal Search is the best, most thorough way to screen a prospective security employee. Some states do not offer a statewide search, however—and most statewide searches do not include all of the counties within the state. Other states only provide Department of Corrections records, which does not reveal all convicted felons—only those who have ever been incarcerated.

According to Michael Pachuta, president of Credential Check Corporation in Troy, Michigan, many hiring companies who run pre-employment screens on applicants aren’t aware of all the searches that are available, or that their screening company may not be offering the best available search. Sometimes it is a matter of cost, but the typical screening is only around $50 per applicant. Running the right background check on an applicant can help avoid situations like this one, taken from the Michigan’s Lansing State Journal:

“Charles Byam Jr. wasn’t necessarily the guy you’d want handling your money.

His rap sheet includes larceny in a building and attempted embezzlement in 1990 and misuse of a financial transaction device – using someone else’s credit card number to buy airline tickets in 1996.

But the…company put him in charge of handling payments for water permits.

Not such a good move, as it turned out. Earlier this year, Byam pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $180,000 by essentially getting businesses to write checks that he could divert to his own bank account…Byam asked customers to write checks to him rather than the company, and would then submit false invoices.

A spokesman said the company didn’t know Byam was a convicted felon with a taste for taking other people’s money when they hired him in March of 2000. He didn’t disclose that on his employment application, and the department didn’t do any criminal background checks.

He was fired for falsifying his job application by failing to disclose his criminal history. He is now serving a two- to 10-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to three counts of embezzling more than $20,000.”

You may be satisfied with the way your HOA’s security provider does their background investigations, but it’s still important to be aware and ask questions regularly. Are they drug screening each and every employee that they hire? Do they have a random drug screen policy? What about screening for cause—post-incident and/or accident?

These are also important questions that should be asked during the bidding process—not after a company is selected.  Not all service providers are doing all of the above-mentioned things. Doing a thorough screening of prospective service providers can help lower your general liability policy. According to Chris Robichaud of Szerlip & Company, an insurance provider for the service industry, these issues are addressed by underwriters because sound, thorough screening tends to limit the exposure that a carrier has to potential loss. The factor — the base for computing a insurance rate—is adjusted upward or downward, depending on the type of screening a hired security company is providing.

Gary Bradley of Bradley & Gmelich in Los Angeles represents a number of security providers.  He says the courts are holding employers to higher standards because there are so many ways to conduct pre-employment screening. Both the number of negligence suits and the amount of damages involved are increasing, and courts are toughening their definition of reasonable care. This is expected to intensify as available cctv security systems become more sophisticated.

Juries are holding employers to higher and higher standards when it comes to negligent hiring. Many companies are being sued—and found guilty of negligence—for hiring individuals that present a danger to others. Many of these companies are required to pay for damages that are in the millions of dollars. The average cost for an out-of-court settlement of a negligent hiring lawsuit is approximately $170,000.

To avoid these costs—and the human cost they represent—your association’s best defense is to ask questions. Look at the big picture, and don’t be afraid to ask the tough questions. Your company and you community will be better off for it in the long run.

Brian Dooley has been in the security guard industry for over 30 years and is the founder of security consulting firm Brian T. Dooley & Associates. By Brian T. Dooley CPP

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