A home break-in or robbery can mess with your emotions and cause some level of financial and physical damage. You and your family may not feel safe for a long time afterward, which can leave everyone feeling stressed, anxious and even reluctant to leave the house at all. The good news is that there are things you can do to prevent a burglary or break-in from ever happening in the first place. Whether you are at work or away on vacation, proper planning is key in the fight against crime.
Install deadbolt locks: Take a minute to check the locks on your exterior doors. If your main front door is not fitted with a deadbolt lock, it’s time to change that. Deadbolts offer a good defense against home break-ins when kept locked. They are especially good at stopping doors from being kicked in, as these types of locks are stronger than the typical doorknob twist lock. They are also more time-consuming to pick.
Keep your plans off of social media: Thanks to social media, it’s super easy to share your travel plans with your friends and acquaintances. At the click of a button, everyone in your cyber life will know about your vacation, your daily schedule, what you are doing and when you’ll be out of town. Keep in mind that social media profiles not set to private can be viewed by anyone with access to the internet—including criminals looking for their next victim.
Set light timers: Here’s a tip homeowners can use in their daily lives or as a step in their pre-vacation preparation: set timers on lights and other systems. To make your house appear occupied, put timers on indoor light fixtures to turn on and off at the times you’d normally be home. Some homeowners also choose to install permanent timers on their front porch lights. This is helpful for when they’re away on vacation, or simply to have a lit path when returning home after work.
Take ID info with you: Sometimes after a home break-in, a criminal might decide to add insult to injury and commit identity fraud. For this reason, be sure to take passports, driver’s licenses and other forms of identification with you on vacation. You could put these items in a secure, stationary home safe for protection.
Hire private security: Another home security option rising in popularity is hiring a private security guard company to patrol your home or property. Because wrongdoers are more likely to hit easy targets, the mere presence of a security officer can deter criminals.
Whether you are looking for security guard services in Fort Myers, FL to patrol your gated community every day, to watch your business complex in the evenings or to provide extra security at your hotel during special events, you can count on the expertise of American Pride Security Services. Give us a call today to learn more!
Florida is one of the most densely populated states in the country. The picturesque beaches, mild temperatures, theme parks and retirement communities make Florida the perfect place for both visitors and residents alike. But all these people and places need to be protected. That’s where security guards come in. A security officer can provide around-the-clock security and protection, which helps deter crime and keep people and property safe. Their services are in demand now more than ever, with the ever-growing population.
Not just anyone can provide security guard services in Fort Myers, FL, though. All officers must go through intensive training to obtain a license to operate in the state. Let’s take a closer look at what it takes to obtain a security guard license in Florida.
Basic eligibility requirements
First, the aspiring security officer must meet a few basic requirements. Florida law requires all security guard applicants to be at least 18 years old and have the proper documentation to prove they’re eligible to work in the U.S. They must also have a relatively clean background history. An applicant won’t automatically be disqualified if they have a criminal history, but any felony convictions must have been resolved more than 10 years ago.
Training
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Licensing—the department responsible for issuing licenses—requires all applicants to complete 40 hours of training through a licensed security officer school. The training is divided into two separate parts. The first training is about 24 hours, while the second is typically 16 hours. Students must complete a competency exam before they can receive a certificate of completion. The training needs to be completed within 180 days of applying. Former or retired police officers can waive the training requirements as long as they supply a copy of their law enforcement identification with their application.
Application
Once the training is completed, applicants will fill out a Class “D” Security Officer License application from the agriculture department’s website. The application will cover everything from work history to military service, criminal history and more. The state requires all applicants to provide a passport-style color photograph with their application. The photo needs to be less than three months old and depict the applicant with their current hairstyle. The name and date of the individual should be neatly printed on the back of the photo. The application also requires a copy of all 10 fingerprints.
The final step is to pay a $45 fee for the license and a $42 fee for the fingerprint card before the completed application is mailed in. Once the certification is approved, they can begin to apply for jobs with a security guard service in Fort Myers, FL.
Additional training
Having a security guard license is just the first step. Many security guard services in Fort Myers, FL—including American Pride Security Services—require their officers to undergo additional training to ensure they are up to date on current security measures.
Many of the experienced officers at American Pride Security Services are military veterans. Plus, each of our highly-trained officers also specializes in guest relations. Call us today to discuss how we can address your specific security needs!
Hollywood loves to portray security guards as the lazy, unaware people stationed in guard stands all night. In the movies, these guards are probably watching a TV show or sports game, paying very little attention to what’s going on around them, which is how the movie criminals get away with their crimes.
Unfortunately, the movies aren’t completely wrong. All too many security guards mimic what you see in the movies, leaving your commercial business open to intruders and thieves. This is why it’s so important to know exactly what kind of security guard services you’re hiring in Fort Myers, FL.
At American Pride Security Services, we don’t provide guards who let things slip by. Our security team is proactive, not reactive, to ensure that your business stays safe and secure all day and night. This is the kind of team you want to be patrolling your business.
Importance of proactive security guards
If you’re hiring a security team to keep watch over your commercial property, you want the guards to be proactive in finding and mitigating threats. These guards don’t just sit around; they will patrol your premises on foot or by vehicle to ensure the property is thoroughly watched.
Great proactive guards can offer your business the following:
Deter criminals: The presence of a security guard locked away in their guard stand might not matter much to a clever criminal, but a guard who actively patrols the property will be much more intimidating to wrongdoers. This will help deter criminals from entering your property for fear of getting caught.
Catch criminals before they strike: If a criminal does get bold and attempt to vandalize or rob your commercial property, a reactive guard will probably hear a noise and react to it too late. A proactive guard is much more likely to catch the criminal before they have a chance to do something wrong. This is a more effective security process and also saves you money, since your property, cash or equipment won’t be disturbed.
Rectify security issues: When security guards are active and alert on the job at all times, they are much more vigilant about finding and rectifying security issues. Proactive guards will be able to spot areas of your property and security processes that pose risks and work with you to fix them for a more secure campus.
Qualities of a proactive security guard
Proactive security guards tend to have different qualities than reactive guards. Our guards aren’t merely reactive—they’ll keep constant watch to identify problems before they occur, not after. These guards have a keen eye and experience in security, meaning they know how to spot a fishy visitor or an employee who’s up to something.
They are also trained to respond. When something goes awry, they will have the training and experience necessary to deal with the problem and keep everyone safe.
If you’re in need of top-quality security guard services in Fort Myers, FL, call American Pride Security Services. Our security guards are state regulated and licensed, with experience in a wide range of emergency situations.
In most industries, you’ll find terms that are specific to that field. Most people outside of the industry are not familiar with these terms. In the world of security, one of these terms is “PERC card.” If you do much research into security guard services you’ll probably encounter this phrase.
Since a PERC card is an important part of security guard services, it’s good to understand exactly what this is. Use the following overview to educate yourself about this card.
PERC Card: Definition
PERC stands for Permanent Employee Registration Card. When a person holds this card, it indicates they have undergone required state and federal background checks and fingerprinting to work as a security guard in Illinois. Potential employers of security guards require applicants to have a PERC card. It is a prerequisite for obtaining a security guard license.
PERC Card: Purpose
By requiring a PERC card for every security position applicant, the state of Illinois ensures that everyone hired as security personnel in the state has passed a background check (and has not been convicted of felony charges). If a company hires someone who does not have a PERC card, they can be fined heavily. The individual who is hired can also be fined. This makes it unlikely that any security guards in Illinois are unqualified for their position. It helps protect the residents of Illinois by ensuring that security personnel have clean records.
PERC Card: Advantages
Because individuals are required to obtain a PERC card before they even apply for a security guard position, this eliminates the chance that a company will skimp on their requirements. In an attempt to save time or money, an organization may be tempted to skip background checks or fail to fingerprint potential hires. Since all of this must be completed before an individual is considered for a position with a provider of security guard services the process cannot be skipped.
PERC Card: Process
To obtain a PERC card, an individual must complete a five-step process:
Requirements: To obtain a PERC card, a person must be 18 years or older, have a social security number and be legally eligible to work in the United States.
Application: If an individual meets these requirements, they must download, print and complete the application for a PERC card. This can be obtained on the website of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Registration (IDFPR). The packet includes instructions, the application, an employee statement form and a fingerprint submission sheet.
Fingerprinting: Next, one must schedule fingerprinting to complete the criminal background check. The IDFPR site offers links to local vendors who offer this service. A receipt showing the fingerprinting has been completed must be submitted with the PERC card application.
Submission: Once these steps have been completed, the application, receipt and application fee must be submitted to the IDFPR.
Wait: Once the application has been processed, if all information and the background check are approvable, the individual will receive clearance. They will be provided a PERC card.
Learn More
Would you like to learn more about security guard services? Whether you are interested in becoming a security guard or need to hire security personnel, the professionals at American Pride Security Services are ready to assist you. Contact our team today!
At American Pride Security Services, we’re pleased to report that we’re seeking qualified candidates to help us provide outstanding security guard services in Fort Myers, FL! If you’ve been looking for a position as a security guard, we invite you to submit an application and come and tell us why you’re an ideal fit for the job.
Before you come in for your interview, you should spend some time preparing yourself to answer certain questions that will reveal whether or not you have the qualities we look for in our security guards. Here are just a few examples of some of the types of questions you can expect to get during the interview process.
Q: Have you ever had to deal with an assault? How did you handle that situation, and what would you do differently, if anything?
Ideally, your answer to this question would be something you’ve encountered professionally, though you can share personal experiences as well if you’re comfortable doing so. If you have never experienced an assault, be honest—don’t attempt to make up a story just to impress the interviewer. Instead, you can request they provide you with a hypothetical situation and ask how you’d react.
Q: What are some examples of how you’ve worked in a team setting, ideally in a previous security job?
If you do not have any experience in security jobs, you can talk about team-based problem-solving initiatives you’ve employed in other types of jobs.
Q: What is an example of a situation in which you’ve had to deal with an angry customer or member of the public?
Your answer to this question will provide some insight into your ability to encounter a hostile, angry person without escalating the situation with an emotional response of your own. Security companies want their guards to be able to pacify a hostile crowd member and resolve the situation without physicality if at all possible. This is a question you can answer if you’ve ever worked in any kind of job requiring customer service.
Q: What do you do when you have downtime on your job?
Security guards will often have very little to do if there is no security threat present at the event. Your job is primarily to be available. Your interviewer might ask you this question to gauge whether you’ll become distracted or even get into trouble yourself during these long down periods. You should, therefore, structure your answer in a way that shows you are capable of staying alert even when your services are not immediately needed.
Q: Are you CPR/First Aid/AED certified?
Your answer to this question will be a simple “yes” or “no,” but it’s worth mentioning if you’re currently enrolled in a class or working toward getting certified in any of these areas. These certifications can only help you in a security setting.
For more information about the traits we look for in our security guards, contact American Pride Security Services today and learn more about the openings we have for providers of security guard services in Fort Myers, FL.
