Uniformed guard and patrol services are an enhanced type of security service that you may obtain for your business. These types of security guards are sometimes armed, receive additional specialized training, and are skilled at making sure people and property are safe. Let’s take a look at some of the different types of businesses that utilize uniformed guard and patrol services. Additionally, there are benefits of using a security company like Umbrella Security Services that you won’t find anywhere else. 

How Do Most Businesses Handle Their Security? 

The ASIS Foundation once completed a study of 4,000 different companies. Of the different companies surveyed, around 56.5% of the private companies, from a wide variety of industries, had their security in-house. A smaller percentage of businesses, roughly 34.5%, utilized an outside contractor to provide their security. There are pros and cons to having uniformed security guards and patrol services. For larger companies:

 

• It is sometimes more attractive to train your security in-house.

• Their security personnel can also be trained to handle other types of work within the company. 

• Their in-house security personnel can tailor their security around internal policies and procedures. 

 

There are some drawbacks for a business to handle their security internally:

 

• For certain types of situations, the company might have to pay additional cost for specialized types of training, like firearms.

• Some companies might not be able to handle certain security operations, like investigations.

• There are also added costs to the company, like benefits for example, that make internal security personnel more cost prohibitive.

 

Even though many large businesses handle their security internally, more and more companies are starting to utilize outside firms for their uniformed guard and patrol needs. Generally speaking, most businesses will have the most success using a security company for its needs rather than building its own in-house security team. 

What Are the Benefits of Working With a Security Company For Uniformed Guard and Patrol Services?

If you work with a security contractor, you often end up paying significantly less for personnel, infrastructure, and training than you do if you hire your own security personnel. For example, Umbrella Security & Investigation Services can:

 

• Provide you with personnel who are already trained.

• Offer other services, like investigations and background checks if your organization needs them. 

• Also provide additional security services, like drones, if you have a larger facility that requires more attention.

 

For example, many security personnel working for a security company are retired police officers or military. The main benefit of using a security service like Umbrella is that you are getting access to personnel who already have years of experience. 

What Type of Training Do Uniformed Security Officers Have? 

In the State of Michigan, potential security guards must go through a very thorough vetting process. They must be at least 21 years of age, have no felonies, and certain types of misdemeanors wil bar them from said licensing. Additionally, some types of security guards also must have some experience, whether in law enforcement, military, or other industry experience in order to be a security guard. Some other types of experience that uniformed security officers have include:

 

• First aid training.

• Firearms training. 

• Specialized training if they are required to detain a suspect. 

What Types of Businesses Utilize Uniformed Security and Patrol Services? 

 

Security services are used by a range of different organizations and include office businesses, financial institutions, retail, hotels, food service, and entertainment. The most common types of threats include burglary and theft. Many businesses already have some sort of loss prevention in place, such as key guards. Larger businesses may also hire private investigators to handle internal issues, like employee theft or embezzlement. Most companies employ some sort of security service to protect critical infrastructure and about 37% of businesses use uniformed security guards to provide critical services to protect the business. 

 

1. Retail Stores

Retail stores tend to experience crimes like theft. Uniforme security personnel, most importantly, deter theft. They can also catch a crime while it's happening. During busy seasons and at night, uniformed security personnel can help customers feel safer and even the presence of an officer can make sure that operations run smoothly. 

 

In Michigan alone, there were more than 15,500 individuals arrested for retail theft and other related crimes. In fact, 1 in 14 arrests in Michigan are related to retail theft. Other types of crime can also be deterred by having a security guard present. These types of crimes include:

 

• Credit card fraud and identity theft.

• Crimes against customers.

• Checkout fraud.

• Violent crimes like robbery or burglary. 

 

Return fraud is another type of issue that retailers face. Sometimes, customers will return merchandise with fake receipts. Other types of thieves will find discarded receipts and return merchandise that they never actually bought. Shoplifting is also another issue that security guards can help prevent. Even though cameras can detect shoplifting, it takes a physical interaction with a person to stop the act. In the United States, shoplifting resulted in over $33 billion worth of stolen merchandise. That equals about $75,000 being stolen from stores every minute. Additionally, employee theft at retail stores is also a huge problem that uniformed security can prevent. The average amount stolen by an employee averages around $1,200. 

2. Hotels 

Hotels have new people come and go every day. Uniformed security officers can help monitor entrances and make sure that only guests are using the amenities. A security guard can help monitor guest activity, solve issues, and keep an eye out to make sure that employees can stay focused on customer service. Security personnel can also play a role in deterring some of the most common types of crime that happen in hotels:

 

• Theft and burglary.

• Identify fraud.

• Assaults.

• Crimes of lifestyle, such as renting a room for the purpose of doing drugs.

 

Violent crimes in terms of victimization are not common throughout the country, however they do happen. From 2004 to 2008, there were only around 8,000 violent crimes committed in hotels. However, during the same timeframe, there were more than 45,000 property crimes that happened in hotels. Even though hotels are safe, as less than 1% of all crimes occur in hotels, uniformed security personnel help make your guests safe.

3. Residential Communities

Residential communities are areas like apartments, condominiums, and more luxurious gated communities. These types of areas are often prone to theft and vandalism. Uniformed security guards and patrols can help keep residential communities safe. They also keep unauthorized visitors from entering by monitoring entrances. 

 

Residential communities tend to experience around 33% less crime than standard neighborhoods. That being said, the value of items stolen in residential communities tends to be higher. 

4. College Campuses 

College campuses have the need for uniformed security guards and patrols. While most public institutions have a public security or police force, many private colleges and universities utilize either their own internal security force or work with a security company. Nationwide, colleges are prone to various types of crime. These include:

 

• Sexual assaults and offenses.

• Burglaries.

• Vehicle theft. 

• Robberies.

• Other types of aggravated assaults and violent crimes against individuals.

5. Office Buildings

Office complexes have a wide variety of different security needs. Uniformed security personnel are able to control the flow of people who enter a complex. But also, workplaces have some unique needs when it comes to security. Some of the common crimes that happen in the workplace include:

 

• Embezzlement.

• Sabotage of equipment and property.

• Vandalism.

• Assault and harassment. 

• Misuse of assets.

 

While violent crime in the workplace is quite rare, it does happen. From 2011 to 2015, about 312 people were killed nationwide by a coworker while at work. Uniformed security officers are a way to help mitigate workplace crime and violence. 

6. Shopping Malls

Shopping malls are a major source of a wide variety of different crimes. However, in comparison to single retail stores, shoplifting tends to happen less. Some of the major crimes at shopping malls include:

 

• Vandalism and public disturbance (especially with malls that have establishments that serve alcohol).

• Property crime (including robbery, identity theft, and shoplifting).

• Crimes against a person involving violence.

 

Vandalism and public disturbance are responsible for about 68% of crimes reported at shopping malls throughout the country. Property crime at shopping malls is about 16% of recorded incidence. Violent crime is about 16% of all reported crimes at shopping malls. Shopping malls require both uniformed security guards and patrol to deter the different types of crimes that could potentially happen. 

7. Car Dealerships 

Car dealerships are susceptible to a wide variety of different crimes. For example, cars are commonly stolen when thieves break into the dealership looking for keys. They may steal a handful of cars over a certain amount of time. 700,000 auto thefts happen each year. Even more staggering is the fact that 4 out of 10 car thefts happen at car dealerships. Here are the most common ways that cars get stolen from dealerships:

 

• A burglary will recover keys to the car and the car will be stolen.

• People will drive away a vehicle during a test drive.

• Some people will hotwire a car and drive it away, if it is an older vehicle.

 

The average car dealership theft involves a used car and the average value of a car stolen is just over $10,000.

 

Car dealerships also have to deal with employee crimes, since money is part of the trade. The average amount embezzled from a car dealership can be anywhere from $58,000 or higher. Uniformed security guards and patrols can help reduce the number of cars stolen from car dealerships each year. 

8. Construction Sites

Construction sites are a common site for vandalism, joyriding of equipment, and property theft. It is thought that as many as 20% or more of construction sites experience some sort of crime each week, ranging from theft to trespassing. If you are a construction provider, trespassing can pose a serious liability issue in terms of injury. People who enter a property without permission can also damage and slow progress to ongoing construction. 

 

Construction security will make sure that:

 

• No unauthorized people get access to the property.

• Your equipment is safe from vandalism.

• That nothing gets stolen.

 

It is unknown the true extent of construction equipment theft cost. However, it is estimated that highway construction equipment theft costs the industry anywhere from $300,000,000 to $1 billion dollars depending upon the year. 

9. Warehouses and Factories

 

Warehouses and factories also have severe issues when it comes to liability from theft and other crimes. For warehouses, the amount of theft that happens is staggering, in terms of dollar value. Each year, warehouses lose $15 billion or more to theft. Theft can come from people who work at the warehouses and those who gain access without authorization. In terms of security, a uniformed security service can provide:

 

• Physical security for controlling access to the site.

• Armed security patrols that check the perimeter of the facility.

• Cameras and other surveillance equipment that can keep track of activity.

• Drones to monitor areas that cannot be patrolled 24/7/365.

10. Private Property 

People who own large tracts of property also must deal with security issues. Trespassers often will take things, commit vandalism, or use the property for recreation without permission. Security patrols and drone equipment can help keep track of your property without you having to worry about trespassers. Additionally, security guards can be posted during busy times to control access at controlled gates and other access points. 

 

The Four Ways That a Security Company Can Secure Your Property With Patrols and Uniformed Security Personnel

There are different ways that your uniformed security and patrol services can help you secure your property. First and foremost, a security audit of the premises can help reveal areas that are lacking in coverage. Consider the typical warehouse. Since 2002, the average warehouse has doubled in size and has about 184,693 square feet. Such large, vast spaces are overwhelming. Audits can check entrances and exits to a property to make sure that the area is covered by cameras. If an area is not secured by a camera, it can be checked on a patrol or with a drone. A security service can also check your facility’s equipment to make sure that it is in good working order. 

 

Uniformed security personnel and patrol services will also assess threats to the perimeter of the property. A patrol service will always check fences to make sure that no one can get through them. Also, low-tech security measures can help make sure that a perimeter is not vulnerable. Moving things like dumpsters and trash receptacles away from vulnerable areas will help deter certain types of intruders. Additionally, auditing the perimeter of a property will help patrol services determine the areas that need to be checked upon regularly. 

 

Controlling access to a property, by and far, is the most obvious and deterring way to keep crime away. Some ways that uniformed security specialists can help control access include:

 

• Keeping a list of guests who are in a facility.

• Checking identification badges when someone works at the facility enters.

• Regularly conducting background checks of new employees who might access sensitive materials or property.

• Checking camera systems and other security controls to make sure that nothing unusual is happening.

 

The Impact of Uniformed Security Guards

Uniformed security guards bring a lot of unique skills to the service of protecting property and people. These typically include:

Strong Observational Skills 

Many retired police officers and military personnel become security guards. Part of their skill set includes strong observational skills. Security personnel are alert all the time. They can notice suspicious things and will quickly be able to decide on an action to mitigate the suspicious activity. They will also react quickly and efficiently. Staying alert and vigilant will help them address safety concerns, as well as dangerous behavior. 

Honesty and Integrity 

In most states, certain types of past crimes (all felonies and some misdemeanors) will bar an individual from becoming a security guard. Many security personnel work independently throughout the duration of their shift. In most cases, they restrict access to a facility, playing a key role in securing these places. Sometimes, they have keys or control systems that secure sensitive information or valuable property. 

 

Uniformed security personnel also bring a sense of safety to people working and visiting a property. For example, security guards often make customers feel safer at malls and stores. Honesty and integrity are skills that help make people feel safer. 

Leadership 

Security guards often work with different people in a wide variety of decision making capacities. Cooperation and leadership often lead to good results and have a positive impact on an organization’s safety culture. Security guards often work with other civil servants, such as firefighters, EMTs, and police officers when there is an emergency or a law is broken. 

Empathy and Good Communication

Empathy and communication skills are a requirement for uniformed security personnel. They are necessary for working with people in general, helping individuals within an organization, and cooperating with emergency services. Security officers also have to be able to explain protocols to people. For example, when they admit an individual to a sensitive area of a business, they might have to explain why they can’t take their cell phone in. Or, the security officer might have to tell an individual exactly where they can go on a property. 

 

Uniformed security personnel are often the first person that a customer sees. They must always be professional, kind, and ready to give information to people. They also must act assertively to deter theft and crime. 

Physical Fitness 

Uniformed security guards need to have a certain level of physical fitness. Sometimes, the job has many unique physical challenges, such as running or lifting. Patrolling large properties, working late hours, and standing for long periods of time are all part of the job. 

 

Security guards who are in good shape also help convey a sense of authority and safety to those around them. 

How Well Do Uniformed Security and Patrol Services Decrease Crime? 

There is some data available about the positive impact of security personnel to deter crime. The National Institute of Health studied the placement of security services throughout a transit system in England. Over a six month period, uniformed, unarmed security guards were placed at train stations in South England. The study resulted in 16% fewer violent crimes reported at the train station. 

The Benefits of Uniformed Guards and Patrol Services

 

Uniformed guards and patrol services play an important role in deterring crime. No matter what type of business uses these services, security can:

 

• Deter crimes in the workplace.

• Provide a sense of security.

• Provide a sense of customer service.

• Deal with security threats in an efficient manner.

• Keep premises under surveillance.

• Manage a company’s public image to a certain extent. 

• Ensure a quick response time. 

 

There are several stats that indicate why uniforme security is a necessity. For example, the average business loses about 7% of its revenue to theft or fraud. And, shoplifters are only caught about 1 out of every 48 times they steal something. Construction and renovation services lose as much as $1 billion per year industry wide because of theft and vandalism. On average, criminal acts in a place of business go up about 10% each year. 

 

Umbrella Security Services provides top-notch uniformed security services and patrols for virtually any type of business. We also offer event security, executive protection, and investigative services to help keep your business protected 24/7. If you are interested in a quote on security services, feel free to reach out to us today to learn how we can help keep your business safe and secure.