The Main Roles of a Professional Security Guard

You probably know that security guards play an important role in protecting businesses and residences. To most people, the job seems to not be composed of much more than just walking around a building or watching for any potential shoplifters. But did you know security guards are actually more focused on taking preventative steps to keep crime from happening? They are trained to prevent any possible security risks and provide a watchful eye to discourage any looming threats.

Read on to learn more about the different duties of a security guard:

  • Prevent crime from happening: Just the sight of a security guard can make a potential criminal stop in their tracks. Oftentimes, they’ll opt to move on to an easier target when they see the business has hired a security patrol service. Just being there can prevent thefts, vandalism and other nefarious acts.
  • Patrol the premises: A construction site at night is the perfect target for a burglar—they can easily drive off with the expensive equipment while no one is watching. That is, unless there’s a security guard on duty. A security guard will patrol the property regularly to prevent these sorts of situations from presenting themselves. Then, they’ll be able to take the proper actions as soon as they spot something questionable, such as a suspicious vehicle or an unlocked gate.
  • Maintain order: Stop by a busy shopping mall on Black Friday and you’ll immediately know why security guards are so important. They’re present in large crowds of people to ensure that everyone involved and in the surrounding areas are safe, while also preventing any chaos from breaking out.
  • Prevent loss: A busy retail store can lose thousands of dollars annually due to shoplifting. Investing in a security guard could reduce that amount. As a trained professional, they know the telltale signs indicating someone is attempting to steal something. Then, they can take the necessary steps to detain the suspect until local law enforcement arrives on the scene.
  • Monitor additional security features: Not all bad behavior is as obvious as someone trying to steal. A security guard can help you enhance the safety of your office or residential building by checking employees ID cards so only those allowed on the premises can proceed. Additionally, they can monitor any video surveillance to maintain security throughout the entire building.
  • Compile records: The job of a security guard doesn’t end just because the initial threat has been handled. They are constantly observing the day-to-day events in case something were to happen. When it does, they will be prepared to report anything of note to the appropriate authorities. This information is going to be vital as the matter unfolds through the criminal justice system.

Hiring a security patrol service is easy when you work with American Pride Security Services. Call us today to learn more about what one of our trained security guards can do for you and your business!

Five Advantages of Hiring a Professional Security Guard for Your Business

Your business is constantly under threat from all directions. For some operations, that might mean a robber holding up a bank teller, or a criminal breaking into an office building to steal the computers in an attempt to make a quick buck. Even with insurance, these threats can be devastating to businesses both big and small. Customers might stay away due to concerns about a lack of security. You could also become the target of a second attack, which can leave employees feeling unsafe. Hiring a professional security guard is a simple, yet effective way to maintain a secure environment and prevent your business from becoming a victim of crime.

Consider just a few of the many benefits of hiring a security guard company:

  • Prevent crime: As a business owner, your time is extremely valuable. It shouldn’t have to be spent assessing any suspicious activity. Let a security guard handle this for you! Security guards are trained to recognize questionable behavior and take the necessary steps to prevent it from escalating. Additionally, a security guard sends the message that you’re willing to do whatever it takes to protect your business.
  • Give your employees and customers a feeling of security: Seeing a security guard while walking into a retail store or into an apartment building can help make the customer or resident feel more secure. They will also help employees focus on their jobs, instead of questioning whether they are in danger. Both your customers and employees will know just how much you value their safety.
  • Enhance customer service: A security guard’s duties don’t have to be limited to just watching for thieves. They can actually double as customer service representatives. If needed, they can be instructed to open the door for guests, interact with clients or escort employees and customers to their vehicles if they ever feel their safety has been compromised.
  • Round-the-clock monitoring: You can’t be there 24 hours a day to ensure your business is safe and secure—but a security guard can. Guards can be hired to patrol the site after everyone has gone home or perform sporadic sweeps to check that everything is still in order. Their tasks might also include watching surveillance footage or keeping wanderers out of any restricted areas.
  • Handle any issues properly: Most employees don’t know how to deal with a violent patron or a late-night trespasser. A professional security guard has years of training and experience to handle precisely these types of situations. After responding to the issue, they can apprehend the suspect and determine exactly what happened by interviewing any witnesses.

Hiring a security guard isn’t just about protecting your business from thieves or deterring criminal activity. It’s also about showing your customers and employees that you value their safety from the moment they set foot on your property. At American Pride Security Services, our team of experienced security guards is trained to provide high quality security services for businesses of all sizes. We specialize in providing security for construction sites, retail stores, residential buildings and more. Call us today to learn more about the benefits of hiring a security guard company.

Five Reasons Why You Should Get a Security Survey

The security of your business is only as strong as its weakest point, but identifying the weak points in your security system may not be a simple task. Business owners face a wide range of challenges when it comes to protecting their properties and assets. With new security threats emerging, keeping up with the security needed to meet these threats can be difficult, which is why it is so important to conduct security surveys on a regular basis.

A security survey is a multi-point, physical examination of not only your property and facilities, but also your operations. When we conduct a security survey, we identify potential risks, analyze these risks and then make recommendations on how these can be improved. Besides the obvious benefits of this practice, there are a few other reasons why you should consider getting a security survey:

  • Eliminate the risk of liability: In some cases where a security breach has been made and an employee has been harmed, you could be held responsible if you did not have proper security precautions in place. A security survey will help ensure that you have done everything possible to protect your employees, and help eliminate the risk of your being held liable in case a break in or some other sort of security breach should occur.
  • Meet current law requirements for security: There may be certain security protocols you are required to meet by law, but keeping up with these laws can be challenging. A security survey will help ensure that your security system is always up to date and meets current security requirements.
  • Ensure your money is being spent wisely on effective forms of security: Even if you have a security system in place already, your current system may not be the best use of your security budget. A security survey helps ensure that the money you’ve invested in security is being put to the best possible use.
  • Identify weaknesses in your current security system: If you already have a security system in place, conducting a regular security survey will help identify any weaknesses in your current system. As security threats and the assets needing protection change, your security system should change, too. Conducting a regular security survey will help pinpoint weaknesses in your current system.
  • Help give you and your employees peace of mind: Feeling safe and secure in your work environment is essential in order to be able to work effectively and productively. A security survey, even if no recommendations are made, will help give you and your employees peace of mind knowing that your building is secure.

If you are looking into putting together a new security system for your business, or even if you have one in place already, getting a security survey is the smartest and most effective way to ensure that your security system is efficient and adequately protecting your business. To learn more about the security services we offer or to schedule a security survey, call American Pride Security Services today!

Four Different Types of Security Guards: What You Need to Know

A security guard helps deter crime, enforce rules and policies, and protect people, property, goods and services. But did you know there are many different types of security guards? Although most security guards do essentially the same thing—guard and protect—these men and women can have very different roles. So whether you are looking into a career as a security guard or looking to hire security guard services for your property, here are the different types of security guard positions you should know about:

  • Residential: A residential security guard is responsible for protecting housing properties. Housing properties would include apartment complexes, assisted living communities, gated communities and even dorms or student housing. Residential security guards are charged with not only protecting the property from theft or vandalism, but also protecting the residents living there.
  • Commercial: Private business properties usually require some type of security as well, which is where you will see our commercial security guards. These security guards are charged with safeguarding commercial properties, but they may also be responsible for monitoring restricted areas, checking personnel in and out, protecting confidential business information and trade secrets, and much more. From a small medical practice to a 10-story office building, commercial security guards are hard at work keeping your business, your assets, and your employees safe.
  • Retail: Similar to a commercial security guard, a retail security guard works for private businesses. However, where a commercial security guard may have a wide range of responsibilities, a retail security guard has one main job—to prevent theft. For many retail businesses, shoplifting is a serious problem that can significantly cut into their assets. A retail security guard helps prevent theft, not only by having a trained eye to spot shoplifters, but also by being a warning presence discouraging potential shoplifters from attempting to steal in the first place.
  • Armed: Most security guards do not carry a weapon; however, under certain circumstances, armed security may be a necessity. In cases where an individual’s life may be in danger, potentially volatile circumstances or for a business located in a high-crime area, having armed security on hand may be the only way to ensure protection and that a safe environment is maintained. Keep in mind that armed security guards are licensed and highly trained, not only on how to use their weapon, but how to control dangerous situations and prevent circumstances that would require the use of a weapon in the first place.

Whether you are looking to work as a security guard or are trying to find the perfect security guard services for your home or business, it’s important that you understand the many different types of security positions we offer here at American Pride Security Services. To learn more about what we offer or to schedule a security survey to see what type of security professional will best suit your needs, call us today. Our team looks forward to working with you!

Why Should You Hire an Unarmed Security Officer in Fort Myers, FL?

When your goal is to increase the level of protection for your community or business as a whole, the first asset you should look into is a privately hired security guard. With a security service, you’ll be better protected from potential crime and violence, and your customers will feel your business is a safe place to shop.

However, depending on your business’ needs, hiring armed security guards may be unnecessary. The truth is that many homeowners and businesses benefit greatly from having unarmed security guards protecting their property. Their presence offers unbeatable peace of mind, and people feel comfortable being in their own domain.

If you are thinking about bringing on a security guard service, but aren’t sure if it’s worth the cost, read on! Here are some of the benefits of hiring an unarmed security officer in Fort Myers, FL.

To lower the chances of violent outcomes

Since unarmed security guards do not carry firearms, there’s less chance of violence happening on your property. The presence of unarmed guards should be a good deterrent against crime because they act more like a lookout than a bouncer or police officer. So, if someone is trespassing or attempting a robbery, your unarmed guard can contact law enforcement and give them details about the crime.

To physically monitor entry points

Access control can be an issue for some neighborhoods and certain types of businesses. For people living in gated communities, unarmed guards can be stationed at each gate to monitor who comes and goes to keep out non-residents and uninvited guests to prevent residential burglaries. And businesses that sell valuable merchandise or have a lot of cash on hand—like banks and jewelry stores—are prime targets for thieves, so they may want to have all store entry points covered by unarmed uniformed guards.

To patrol parking lots

From car vandalism to physical assaults, there is a host of scary things that can happen in unattended parking lots—especially after the sun goes down. For this reason, you should consider hiring a professional security guard service. Unarmed security officers are an excellent choice to patrol business and educational campus parking lots because they know how to detect suspicious activity and what actions to take.

To have security at all hours

There are other types of businesses besides retail stores and banks that need adequate security around the clock, such as hospitals, doctor’s offices, laboratories, and private business buildings. Moreover, any business at which employees tend to work late should invest in overnight security personnel to ensure safety. Whether security is needed in a building, on the outside of a building or in a parking lot or garage, unarmed security guards can provide peace of mind morning, day and night.

For more information about hiring an unarmed security officer in Fort Myers, FL, contact the experienced team at American Pride Security Services. We will gladly explain the difference between armed and unarmed security guards, and suggest the best option for your needs. Call us today!