Category Archive:
Posted by Brandon Stone on November 29, 2011 at 3:58 pm
Year after year, crime statistics prove that the holiday season is “open” season for criminals looking to score big. It’s a perfect opportunity, as both homes and cars are full of new merchandise. Cash drawers at local retail outlets are full of money, ATM’s are busy dispensing money and our pockets and purses are bulging with money. Everywhere a thieves looks, opportunities are present.
For a crime to be committed, both a victim and an offender must be involved. While offenders are everywhere, you have some control over whether or not you become a victim. By practicing a few basic security measures, you can reduce, and sometimes even eliminate, the opportunities you present to those who want to take what you’ve worked so hard to acquire.
Here are some basic security tips that you should keep in mind. These tips will help you to improve your personal security, as well as the security of your property, whether you’re at or away from home.
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Posted by LeatherNeck on October 29, 2010 at 11:46 pm
I recently returned from a week long vacation in Gatlinburg, TN. While there, and traveling to and from, I took notice of several security related issues that should be addressed by anyone while on vacation. They are as follows:
I. Prior to, or while on vacation, don’t post to your facebook page, twitter account, myspace, etc. that you’re on vacation. Just as you wouldn’t put a large sign in front of your house, notifying everyone you’re 800 miles away, you shouldn’t do the same on social networking sites. Sure it’s tempting to let all your friends know that you are about to have the time of your life, but what about those who aren’t really your friend, but just a statistic. Do you really want the Twitterverse to know that you won’t be home to stop them from entering your house?
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Posted by LeatherNeck on August 3, 2009 at 12:03 am
As a security professional and owner of several small businesses, I understand the importance of conducting background checks on my employees. One of my companies employs over 100 security officers and, for several years, I was content on a standard state police background check. After securing an account with a school district, at which we would provide security personnel, I thought it best to improve upon the manner in which we conducted our background checks. In addition, my staff would begin conducting random background checks of our staff during the course of their employment.
Although I and my staff were confident in our state’s ability to accurately document in the background check any and all relevant arrests within our state, we were not comfortable in the fact that many of our employees had at one time lived outside of our state. Determined to provide qualified law abiding security officers to our new client, as well as to our existing clients, we began the arduous task of investigating each and every security officer in our employ.
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Posted by LeatherNeck on June 17, 2009 at 11:31 pm
How often do you vary your route to and from work? How often do you sit and look around your house, before getting out of your car? Do you roll up your car windows when stopped at a stoplight? Do you have your keys in hand when approaching your car in a parking lot? Do you park in a well-lit area? Do you keep your bedroom door locked when sleeping at night? If someone were to come into your office with the intent of killing people, do you have an escape route planned? Do you ALWAYS know who is knocking on your door, before you open the door?
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Posted by LeatherNeck on June 6, 2009 at 1:03 am
As a police officer and security professional, I’m constantly reminded of the importance of home security. Contrary to the violent world we live in, our right to feel safe and protected within our own home should never be compromised or violated. Yet on a daily basis, thousands of homes across the country our invaded and destroyed. Thousands of lives every year are changed as a result of home invasions, burglaries, kidnappings and vandalism.
Although crime can never be eliminated, it can be deterred. From firearms to alarm systems, reinforced doors to safe rooms, the number of products on the market today to aid in home security are endless. Camera systems, bar locks, sirens, mace, bats and motion sensors, regardless of your budget, security products can be found. But what really works?
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Posted by LeatherNeck on April 24, 2009 at 11:02 pm
If you have ever had your credit card number copied and used without your knowledge, you were a victim of credit card skimming. By definition, credit card skimming is the theft of credit card information used in a otherwise legitimate transaction. More often than not, this type of theft is typically perpetrated by a dishonest employee working for an honest merchant.
The tools used to carry out this type of theft can be as simple as a pen and paper or as technological as a magnetic stripe reader. Anyone from a store clerk to members of organized crime will have access to at least one method of copying your credit card information, to include the security code found on the back of the card. Although you may not be aware that this theft is happening, literally right under your nose, steps can be taken to reduce the impact if you are victimized.
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Posted by LeatherNeck on April 2, 2009 at 12:45 am
Security should be an important consideration in everything we do on a daily basis. Unfortunately, we live in a violent and unpredictable world where, far too often, innocent people are victimized. Throughout my years in law enforcement, one of my primary goals has been to teach people how to protect themselves. Through this blog, I hope to be able to reach more people who might benefit from the advice I have to give.
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Posted by LeatherNeck on April 1, 2009 at 10:52 pm
Your Residence
- Keep Service door, between house and garage, locked when not in use
- Activate security system (if available) at night. This should include all doors and windows
- Keep all blinds and curtains closed at night
- Install “peephole” or intercom at front door to challenge those requesting entry
- Install deadbolt locks on all exterior doors
- Plan an escape route from the residence if an intruder enters. Share this with the entire family.
- Keep your valuables in a heavy-duty safe that is anchored to the floor
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Posted by LeatherNeck on April 1, 2009 at 12:48 am
There can be no definitive answer as to whether or not pepper spray will protect you. It all depends on the type of pepper spray used and the manner in which you use it. I have been a police officer since 2000 and have used pepper spray several times to protect myself and others. As an experienced and trained user of pepper spray, I know that all too often, circumstances beyound our control may render the pepper spray ineffective.
Pepper spray is commonly referred to as OC Spray, which is short of oleoresin capsicum. Just as its name implies, pepper spray is made from Cayenne peppers, which are amonth the hottest in the world.
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