Recently, NBC 5 reported that The Dallas Police Department has announced that a proposed ordinance is in the works which would require convenience stores to have certain security measures in place to help reduce crime. The ordinance would make it mandatory for convenience stores to have quality surveillance cameras, alarm systems with panic buttons, security signs among many other security measures.

The proposal comes from a task force established by Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert and is aimed at reducing the average of 6,300 calls to convenience stores that the Dallas Police Department handles each year.The new measures seem to be of the proactive mind set of battling crime (which we are a big proponent of) by giving would be criminals less of motive to victimize the convenience stores in the Dallas area. “It just makes it a lot less attractive for criminals to be there,” Leppert said.

In addition to reducing crime, the measure should also prove beneficial in helping to protect the safety of store employees along with their bottom lines. Stores that have been victims of a crime not only face the added cost of replacing what was stolen but also loss of business due to patrons raised fears of their own safety. 

However, even though the proposal seems to be a good idea on the outset, it has been met with skepticism among some of the store managers that spoke with NBC 5; stating that if they do their part they would like to see the police do theirs. “Police must respond fast,” one manager said, “I think if they would catch a few of these thugs, it would put an end to it.”

We’ll keep an eye on the situation and keep you posted.

UPDATE: On Monday the proposed convenience store security ordinance went before the Public Safety Committee, which they voiced its support for the plan. In addition to making quality all-digital surveillance systems mandatory, the plan also calls for convenience stores to register with the police department which would give them the authority to write trespassing warning and citations without the owners’ permission.

The task force has also recommended that the stores be given 18 months to fully comply with the recommendations of the ordinance. The ordinance is set to be presented before the full council at the end of the month.

Retail theft continues its 6 year downward trend! At least that’s the word according to a recent survey performed by the University of Florida. The survey states that retail theft such as shoplifting, employee theft, administrative error, and vendor fraud are all at the lowest rate in the 17 year history of the survey. Last year retailers experienced a loss of more than $34.3 billion compared to 2006’s $40.5 Billion. That’s a fairly good drop in just a two year timeframe. 

So why are crimes against the retail segment on the decline? Well, according to Richard Hollinger, Ph.D., University of Florida’s criminologist and conductor of the survey, the decrease is due to retailers investing more in anti-theft, anti-shoplifting, security technologies.

“The study shows there is good evidence that anti-theft technologies, properly implemented, are having a positive effect on reducing crime in the retail environment,” he said.

One of the technologies retailers are showing an increased interest in is Internet-based or IP based security surveillance systems. These systems have proven to be more efficient, and cost effective (especially when utilizing existing computer infrastructures) while giving users the ability to control and monitor remotely over the web.

This is all good news for the retail industry and shows that investments in the right security solutions, technologies and proper implementation in security do payoff.

The issue:
We’ve all seen the news and possibly even experienced it first hand. Copper theft is on the rise!

With many factors at fault such as increased demand in China and India, lagging dollar, and raising value of copper (.80 cents to $3.50 per pound in the last eight years), criminals have taken notice and started to cash in. Among some of the hardest hit industries seem to be utility and builders (both home and commercial). However, according to Officer Don Hawkins, of the Fort Worth Texas Police Department, in a recent article by Security Info Watch, there may be other verticals starting to be affected.  “Though electric and communications facilities are a primary target for thieves in Fort Worth as they are everywhere else”, Hawkins stated “churches, due to the size of their air conditioning units, have also become hot spots for theft.” City infrastructures, schools, air ports, and gas lines have also been reported to suffer from increases in copper theft.

Naturally as a result, many businesses and organizations have started shifting security resources and finances towards preventing copper theft. Yet, despite the increased efforts, copper theft continues to be a major concern for businesses. According to Jeff Wilson, a spokesperson for Georgia Power, (stated in the same article) “losses due to copper theft have increased more than 350 percent in the past two years.”

So why, with all of the increased coverage and attention given to the copper theft epidemic, is it still increasing and not decreasing?
In our opinion it’s the approach. As illustrated in the article and through our own personal experience, most businesses are realizing the importance and cost of inaction, but they along with most of the security industry seem to be taking a reactive approach instead of a proactive one. While the issue warrants a multifaceted strategy, we feel companies need to also look beyond the standard increased video surveillance, material coding, help from recyclers, and waiting on passage of tougher laws. The objective should be to not only protect your copper wiring but to also detect and interrupt the theft as early as possible by scaring off the thief and therefore preventing the repair costs associated with a foiled theft attempt. This proactive approach is at the center of our Copper Theft Solution with reactive solutions acting as potential supporting factors. If you would like more information on the steps we are taking to combat the Copper Theft issue, please visit http://knightsecurity.com/copper-theft-solution.php

According to a recent report issued by The Freedonia Group, an international business research company, commercial demand for access control and other security systems is expected to rise 7.8 percent per year by 2012. The increase is credited due to improved technologies, ease of use and implementation, less susceptible to forgery and cost-effectiveness. Also among the reasons for the increase is the commercial industry’s interest in automated systems as apposed to manually driven systems along with the ongoing development and introduction of better security systems that result in improved performance and security capabilities.

We also have seen more immediate factors not covered in the report such as the current state of the markets affecting many companies’ bottom line as a possible reason for the increased demand. Companies are looking for solutions that hedge off the much higher cost incurred due to insufficient security. Increased employee theft, fraudulent claims, decreased productivity, copper theft, among others; all have a role to play in the increased demand. With the improvements in security technologies coupled with the cost-effectiveness found in many of today’s security solutions, many companies are discovering that a reliable, quality, long-lasting security system does more than just protect your assets.

According to the Associated Press, the U.S. Government is warning 7,000 businesses that house large amounts of chemicals; they could be potential targets for Al-Qaeda and therefore should take measures to improve their security. Al-Qaeda and other terrorist organizations favor the use of chemicals in attacks due to the severe consequences it would inflict.

The list of businesses not only includes chemical plants but also relates to facilities often overlooked such as universities, food processing centers, and hospitals. The list was derived from an online survey of 32,000 businesses and was pared down to 7,000 that showed a need for increased security and regulation. These 7,000 will then undergo further vulnerability assessments by Homeland Security that include such factors as Physical Security, Cyber Security, insider threat potential, hazardous release into nearby communities, threat levels if mixed with water and how easily they can be stolen. Further review and monitoring will be done to insure the proper security measures are being taken. If these businesses fail to comply, they could face hefty fines and even be shut down.Not covered in the article is the cost these businesses will incur as they attempt to comply with Homeland’s guidelines. Which we expect could be hefty if a current infrastructure is not in place. Therefore comprehensive and cost-effective solutions should be implemented and explored by the security provider industry to provide the best security solutions possible but also done in a way that won’t affect a businesses’ bottom line.

AUSTIN, Texas (CNN) — It’s an old crime with a new twist. Never missing an opportunity, fraudsters are hitting the phones and the Internet looking for victims.

On the heels of the government’s plan to stimulate the economy by sending out special tax rebates, authorities say these crooks are posing as officials from the Internal Revenue Service or Social Security Administration. They are calling people and asking for personal financial information so they can “directly deposit” rebate money.

One Texas woman, 69-year-old Edna Lawrence, says she got called at least eight times by a man posing as an IRS agent. She didn’t fall for it, and instead notified the state’s attorney general about the caller.

“Actually, he was kind of pushy. Basically he wasn’t going to take ‘no,’ and I had to hang up on him,” she said.

One of her daughter’s friends, however, who received the same type of phone call, believed the caller and lost more than $200, Lawrence said.

“I think it is horrible that anybody - anybody - would do that to anyone, because those people are looking forward to that money,” Lawrence said.

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott issued a consumer alert notifying Texans about the new scams. He says economic hard times could get in the way of making good decisions.

Abbott’s office has received more than a dozen complaints from people who have been fraudulently contacted either by phone or e-mail.

In one on-line variation, individuals around the country have received e-mails purportedly from the IRS instructing them to click on a special attached form to provide personal information. But the e-mails are fake.

Tax scams aren’t new. But with rebate checks heading to about 128 million households, this year could be worse than usual.

Kevin Kolbye, an assistant special agent in charge at the FBI says he expects the scammers will be working overtime. They are getting more sophisticated, he says, especially when it comes to online fraud.

“We’ve had one recently that looked like it came from the director of the FBI. I think they are becoming a little bit more sophisticated, a little better at duplicating either logos or insignias and making the information look more legitimate.”

For the record, the IRS will never ask for bank account or similar information over the phone or Internet.

To get the special stimulus rebate, all most taxpayers have to do is file a 2007 tax return.

The IRS has also cautioned taxpayers about the scams, urging anyone who receives a questionable e-mail or phone call to log on to the IRS Web site (http://www.irs.gov/) to report it.

From CNN’s Kelli Arena and Kevin Bohn 

Fans have easier access to high-profile athletes, but these celebrities face greater security risks at home and on the road than ever before. Fans - and potential intruders - increasingly rely on public, predetermined game schedules to find where a player will be on a given game night, and when their home will be sitting empty and possibly unguarded. Following the death of Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor and other incidents, many players now depend on full-time security guards, watchdogs, and security cameras to guard their families and houses. Professional baseball, football, and basketball teams use security liaisons in each city to protect traveling teams, and the NBA now offers a request-only home inspection service by crime prevention officers. Players also take their own precautions; according to LeBron James and Donyell Marshall of the Cleveland Cavaliers, athletes can protect their privacy by not allowing strangers or loose acquaintances into their homes, and by not driving home while being followed.

Plain Dealer (Cleveland) (01/20/08) P. C1 ; Valade, Jodie

A recent study by ECR Group in Europe found that most retail workers are likely to seize a perceived opportunity and steal cash from a register rather than plan a heist in advance.

The study found retail employee theft most likely to occur from the cash register or the warehouse-inventory storage area.

See a summary of the study findings reprinted here.

Knight Security helps Texas retailers stop employee theft and improve profits.  Let us know how we can help you.

Want to know how much employee theft costs your bottom line?  We’ve created a free employee theft calculator which you can use to estimate the costs of employee theft to your business.  You should find it easy to use.  If you need help, contact us at Knight Security.