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Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/38457
COVER STORY By Jeff Johnson, Security Pro program director DETER, DETECT, PREVENT A three-pronged approach to safety and security I n a difficult economy, it’s tough enough to make ends meet when running a business. And if theft of property begins to affect your retail operations, it becomes necessary to rethink safety and security strategies. Developing a proactive game plan can make a big differ- ence in profit (and loss). When Tom Richards, managing partner of Lionsafe, a Security Pro dealer in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, moved an indoor/outdoor hard- ware retailer to a new 18,000-square-foot location, Lionsafe was brought in as a consultant to provide flexible and continuous protec- tion for the operation. And in the process, the way in which the com- pany approached security made a convert of the general manager. Formerly a proponent of simple hardwire solutions, the customer had his eyes opened to the range of possibilities offered by the com- pany as it developed a holistic approach to the dual challenges of relo- cation and ongoing protection of inventory and equipment. “We didn’t look at their needs as installing a panel and being done with it,” said Richards. “We made sure they had the ability to monitor and control the environment from virtually anywhere. And while there was some skepticism at first, they soon realized there were so many options, and our focus was also helping them increase their ability to protect an entire team of employees — that was a big differentiator. This is always a concern in day-to-day operations, par- ticularly when you’re opening and closing the store. Operations like this have to keep really long business hours to serve a large customer base, and that means you can have a lot of people coming and going in darkness much of the time.” Hardware meets high tech Gone are the days of simple locks and keys. The high-tech solution that was selected to protect the store includes wireless control of light- ing, panic alarms, arming and disarming, and intrusion alarm warnings — all of which are located outside the premises. This is typical of secu- rity systems that are now installed in homes, small businesses and large companies all over the world. And it’s the type of system that works as both a sophisticated deterrent and an effective means of monitoring. At the heart of this total-solution system is a control panel, which stores the intelligence to monitor sensors and touchpads. The panel ini- tiates calls to the central station in any alarm situation. Touchpads lo- cated at every doorway communicate user commands to the panel. They serve as the primary vehicle to arm, disarm, and program the en- tire system. Telephones may be used to operate the system in most situ- ations; however, wireless phones are now the modern preference because the first way for a burglar to disarm a system is to render land- lines useless by simply cutting wires. Left: Effective security for outdoor retail operations begins with perimeter control, including basics like good fencing and lighting. (Photo courtesy of Ted Wirth of Power Creative for Interlogix, a UTC Fire and Security Company, formerly GE Security) 14 OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT www.outdoorpowerequipment.com