Should Your HOA Hire Security?

With the increase of home sales many end up living within an HOA, or Home Owners Association. Many homeowners worry about the safety of their neighborhood and if there are measures in place for themselves and their families. This brings up the question; Should you HOA hire security?

The Short Answer is: Yes

Simply put, the benefits of hiring security for an HOA far outweighs the downsides. First and foremost, residents and property managers alike will have a peace of mind with a security presence. Managers can collaborate and work alongside the security team to pay attention to specific areas or have extra backup on hand for community events.

Valuable Peace of Mind

Having a security presence deters crime and trespassing. If the HOA is within a gated community, placing an on-site guard at the gate can filter out uninvited individuals who are not allowed onto the premises without permission. They can keep track of every vehicle entering and leaving the property including delivery trucks, postmen, and emergency vehicles.

Likewise, non-gated communities may hire a patrolling unit to make their way throughout the neighborhood. A patrol unit may circle the property multiple times a day or night when crimes are more likely to occur. Guards are equipped to take photos and write reports which can then be viewed by the client or property management. Should an incident occur, security guards are trained to contact the right authority and pass along vital information.

It’s a good idea to install cameras to monitor streets and common areas such as courts, pools, lakes, and trails. They provide an extra set of eyes and can perform a variety of tasks. For instance, some may trigger lights when it detects motion. Some camera systems even notify users of motion detected and in which area the motion occurred.

Homeowners should feel safe and secured within their home and neighborhood. Because of this, having on-site security is the best decision for peace of mind.

Common Areas Invisible Areas

Many home owners associations feature common areas for its residence’s leisure. Some of these common areas include pools, lakes, parks, courts, clubhouses, or even walking trails. Having a security presence can deter any unauthorized guests from entering these areas, especially if they can easily gain access to them. If the HOA has any ordinances in place, such as the social distancing rule during the COVID-19 pandemic, security officers may help enforce these rules. Likewise, guards may remind visitors of specific hours in which those common areas are closed to visitors.

Although common areas can attract unauthorized visitors, invisible hiding spots may attract criminals and trespassers into the community. Residents can rest easy knowing that every nook and cranny is covered whether by a physical security personnel or with cameras. Some common areas that are typically out of common views are by back gates, alleys, hidden trails, or even behind buildings and vegetation.

Luckily for you, Armed Force Security has plenty of experience patrolling HOAs, whether it’s a single block or the entire complex. We conduct walkthroughs with property managers to identify specific areas of concerns and local ordinances to enforce. Whether it’s monitoring hard-to-see areas or enforcing time restrictions for common areas, checking locked gates or screening visitors, we’ll always have your back.

Security Tips to Protect Your Retail Store

As profitable as your retail store may be, store owners lose a significant amount of revenue in theft every year. In fact, according to Business Insider, retailers lose approximately $62 Billion a year to retail theft, fraud, and other causes. With an increase in shoplifting, store owners and managers are left wondering how they can mitigate this. Here is a list to secure your business.

Lighting

Illuminating your store, especially at night, may discourage thieves from loitering or entering the premises. Having sufficient lighting in your store could make thieves visible from the outside. Additionally, clearing the front display windows of any obstruction would make any trespassers more visible. If you own a standalone brick and mortar store, make sure to install sufficient lighting around the exterior of the building to deter any break-ins. A study found that areas with sufficient lighting experienced significantly lower crime rates than areas without.

Secure all Stock

It’s a good idea to lock away any and all valuable equipment or stock before leaving the store at the end of the night. Invest in a safe or a storage that can be locked and is out of sight from the outside. Move the valuable merchandise away from windows and doors to make it difficult for thieves to target them in a smash and grab. Additionally, secure all windows and doors so that no one can easily enter the property. Don’t forget to remove cash from the cash register and lock them away in a safe for the night.

Turn on Monitored Alarms

Not only do you get a peace of mind knowing there’s a security system running in your absence, but some camera systems have an app where you can check in and monitor your property at a distance. Your security system could range from motion sensors, silent alarms, cameras, and more to discourage thieves from even trying to burglarize your business. Fire alarms protect your business from literally going up in flames and can notify local authorities to quickly respond. Make sure these are operational and meet local standards for further peace of mind.

Crowd Control

Hire a security guard for an extra set of eyes to monitor your store. Studies show that people behave differently when they feel they’re being watched. This serves as a great deterrent for thieves and prompts customers to behave in a way that may reduce damaged or lost goods. Security guards are there to observe and report, and if instructed to do so, can control the amount of people who are allowed to enter the store at a given time. This reduces large crowds which may allow thieves to easily slip in and out. You can find out more about security guard services here.

An Introduction to AFS

Armed Force Security is a fast-growing security company based in Fremont, California and serves the entire San Francisco Bay Area. We provide year-round armed and unarmed security services to a wide variety of property types and events. Also, support is always available and we pride ourselves in providing our clients with an exceptional response rate. Our focus on operational excellence means we are always looking for ways to improve our business model. This includes everything from enhancements to our staff communication to keeping close track of annual training and review procedures.

A security guard wearing the Armed Force Security uniform with a focus on the shoulder patch.

We employ top of the line, vetted, and experienced security guards who hold valid and current California guard registrations. Our armed and unarmed guards are screened, trained, and undergo background checks to ensure we employ the best candidates. Additionally, each security solution is fine tuned and customized to meet our clients’ expectations. You can rest assured with the use of daily reporting and incident monitoring via TrackTik, and with daily reporting. On-site guards provide an immediate deterrent for threats while maintaining safety and peace of mind for employees, guests, and patrons.

We secure a wide range of property types, small and large, near and far.

No matter the property type, we fine tune programs that will fit your security needs. A few examples of property types we often cover include the following:

  • Residential properties
  • Commercial offices and campuses
  • Warehouses and Storage facilities
  • Trucking and Freight forwarding
  • Industrial and Manufacturing
  • Construction Sites
  • Government buildings
  • Hospitality buildings
  • Healthcare campuses
  • Shopping and retail complexes

Special Events

Sometimes all you need is are on-site guards for a day or two or for certain hours. Our impressive special event portfolio encompasses city events, strikes and protests, conventions, hotel events and banquets, festivals, weddings, corporate events, and more. We have guards on standby for immediate implementation.

What type of security services do we provide?

Our flexible staff will work with you to ensure you’re getting the most value for your peace of mind. Whether you need 24 hour patrol services or parking compliance monitoring, we’ve got you covered. Our standard post orders include:

  • Specified hours of on-site security
  • 24-hour patrol services
  • Armed or unarmed guards
  • Guard booth implementation
  • Hourly rounds
  • Parking lot monitoring
  • Loitering and soliciting compliance
  • Lock-ups
  • Shipping and receiving monitoring
  • Employee and guest escorting
  • Noise ordinance enforcement
  • Property cleanliness
  • Daily reporting submitted to managers
  • Radio contact with managers
  • Supervisor check-ups (scheduled and unannounced)
  • Incident response
  • Parking compliance
  • Deliveries screening
  • Security lobby reception
  • Visitor screening
  • Loading dock monitoring
  • On-call services

What are the Advantages of AFS?

We utilize a leading edge software solution which integrates reporting, monitoring, scheduling and so much more into a single, easy to use platform. We place high value in employee motivation and culture by offering complete benefit packages, continued training, and ongoing support. Our staff is an incredibly important part of the success of Armed Force Security, and we are first and foremost a people company with a diverse workforce respects each of our clients and we place a high value on building relationships that last. With a hands-on approach to ongoing training and mentorships, we create a consistent level of knowledge across our armed guards and other service personnel. As a result, we boast high employee retention and low managerial turnover.