Why you Need Patrolling Security Services for Your Business and its Benefits

Patrolling is the first line of defense for your business or commercial property.

According to Safety.com, 95% of businesses will experience theft of some kind, with an average of 7% of annual revenue lost through these crimes. That kind of statistic can make you wonder if it’s time to restrategize your security plan.

While there are many different types of security, patrol services offer you a versatile solution to various situations. Patrol officers take preventative measures to prevent crime and create a safe and secure environment for you, your employees, and your customers.

What Are the Duties of Patrolling?

Patrol officers have several duties that keep your business secure and prevent break-ins, theft, or damage. These include:

Securing the Premise

Frequently make the rounds to secure the perimeter of your building or property and swiftly respond to alarms.

Inspecting

Inspect access points and structures to ensure everything is properly secured and there’s been no breach or damage.

Monitoring

Monitor surveillance equipment to observe multiple areas and look for any suspicious activity.

Controlling Access

Ensure only authorized individuals gain access to your property or building. Permit or refuse entry to visitors, employees, and contractors.

Informing & Detaining

Inform individuals of the rules and procedures. Issue warnings and detain trespassers and violators if necessary.

Reporting

Note daily observations and report any incidents in accordance with established protocols. These reports include any damage or other nonconformities.

Communication

Assessing threats and recommending solutions that help improve the overall security of your business. These solutions could involve offering advice on how employees handle security protocols and anticipating and sharing potentially dangerous events.

What Are the Different Types of Patrol Security Services?

There are a few different types of patrol security services, allowing for a versatile solution to your security needs. The method you require will largely depend on the location that needs the service. Let’s take a closer look at them:

Foot Patrol

As the name implies, officers carry out this patrol on foot. By walking, they can thoroughly inspect your property and discover security concerns easily missed from a vehicle or surveillance equipment. These concerns include:

• Broken windows
• Open doors
• Trespassers
• Damaged property
• Safety hazards

Vehicle Security Patrol

Vehicle security patrols are ideal for covering a large amount of ground in a short patrol of time. This type of patrol is favorable on large sites or in scenarios requiring an immediate response. Patrol officers use numerous kinds of vehicles, including:

• Bicycles
• ATVs
• Golf carts
• Cars, Trucks, and SUVs
• Segways

CCTV

When an environment isn’t suitable for a vehicle or foot patrol, security guards can use CCTV to monitor the premises. This method is effective at continuously observing multiple areas at once.

When suspicious activity occurs, the guard can inform other officers and have them deal with the situation. Alternatively, CCTVs equipped with speakers allow the guard to address individuals or intruders directly.

Artificial Intelligence Patrol

The advancement in technology has been transformational for security. Patrol robots equipped with AI are becoming more common and are a great supplement to human patrols.

Patrol robots can be instructed to follow several different routes, making them ideal for areas with multiple buildings, fences, or other obstacles. Using a team of smart patrolling robots can also make it more difficult for intruders to run or hide.

When Do You Need a Security Patrol Service?

You might be wondering when it’s a good time to hire a security patrol service for your business. That’s going to depend on the size, property, and assets of your company. Here are the common reasons you might want to hire a security team.

Events

Bringing in private security services for corporate and commercial events will bring you peace of mind.

Criminals will attempt to access events they aren’t invited to if it can result in financial gain. A security service can offer a customized security program to fit the specific needs of your event. Patrol officers touring the perimeter during the event can also restrict access to those not invited.

High Crime Areas

Suppose your business operates in an area with a lot of crime. In that case, patrol services can be comforting for your employees and customers. The presence of patrol officers will deter many criminals. When crime does occur, they are well-trained and able to handle any situation that emerges.

Large Properties

Businesses with large properties are more likely to experience break-ins and theft. Patrol services are an effective way of keeping trespassers off your property by routinely monitoring access points and performing a hard check of all windows and doors.

Growing Business

Growth is one of the main goals of most businesses, but with an increase in demand comes greater importance on security.

Monitoring small locations and dealing with the odd disruptive person is relatively easy. As you start to scale, keep more inventory and deal with more people, the risk increases. It gets more complicated to maintain a secure environment alone.

Additional Read: Ten Reasons Why Event Security Is Essential

What Are the Advantages of Patrolling for Your Businesses?

There’s a significant number of advantages when hiring a patrol service for your business. Let’s go into more detail:

Fully Secured Area

Crime and security threats can happen anywhere and at any time of the day. These dangers can go beyond trespassing and include hazards such as fire, flooding, or damage.

Patrolling offers round-the-clock protection for your business, which is especially useful for commercial properties or in residential communities and construction sites.

Visible Deterrent

Uniformed patrol officers or marked vehicles reduce the chances of a crime occurring. The majority of criminals will not follow through with crimes if it appears too risky.

Safety and Comfort

While many crimes happen after dark, it’s not uncommon for criminals to strike during work hours, putting your customers and employees at risk. A professional security guard can safely deal with situations that arise, whether that’s a disorderly person, shoplifters, or any suspicious activity.

Security Checks

A patrol service can offer you a range of security checks for your business. Patrol officers can ensure that all access points to buildings and properties are locked and secure. On top of that, foot patrols can offer extra security in areas not captured by cameras or alarms where vandalism and graffiti or more likely to occur.

Officers also have the advantage of using all of their senses when doing these security checks, allowing them to pick up on suspicious activity easier than security cameras.

Alarm Response

When an alarm is triggered or an employee reports something suspicious, patrol officers can quickly and efficiently respond to the incident. Patrol units are always close by and ready to deal with any emergencies or threats.

Damage Control

By quickly responding to security breaches and alarms, patrol officers can regain control of the situation and minimize the amount of damage done or property stolen.

The amount of authority a security service has in any given situation will be entirely your choice. You can decide whether the officers are armed or not or require any other special training.

Cost-Effective

Having a security service to monitor your business or property minimizes the risk of costly crimes and damage, keeping losses at an absolute minimum.

You can also share the cost of patrol services with other businesses nearby, which benefits the entire community. The level of security provided in a location will influence how much customers trust your company. More trust leads to better business and more sales.

Additional Read: Signs that it’s time for your business to hire a security company.

How Much Does a Security Patrol Cost in Illinois?

The cost to hire a security patrol service varies depending on several factors, including:

• Experience
• Time
• The venue type
• Location

Security guards with advanced skills and a high level of expertise will cost more than newly qualified guards. Other factors like the types of patrol work an officer has experience in will also impact the total price.

According to Thumbtack, here’s what you can expect to pay:

• Basic guard (unarmed): $15-$20/h
• Basic guard (armed): $20-$25/h
• Experienced guard with advanced skills (unarmed): $30-$35/h
• Experienced guard with advanced skills (armed): $35-$45/h

Additional Read: 8 mistakes to avoid when hiring security guard services

For More Information Contact Stark Security Inc.

Hiring a security service for your business is a great way to ensure the safety of your employees and customers. Patrol services create a secure environment during and after work hours to lessen the risk of theft or damage to your assets.

There are plenty of security guard companies in Chicago and the surrounding area, but they’re not all equal. Here at Stark Security, we offer many services to meet the unique needs of each client. We are the most experienced patrol provider in Chicago, and we’re committed to the highest professional standard.

Contact us if you’re interested in security services or have any questions; we will get back to you within one business day.