their equipment or leave off machines for repair without our intervention. Seriously, though, our theft protection system works like this:
We mix the repaired items with the incoming work so the poten- tial thieves won’t know if they’re stealing something that works. Mr. Thief wouldn’t want to bring back a stolen item for repair, now would he/she? — Flute Snyder Hudson Mower Doctor, Hudson, Wis.
Our 3/4-acre compound is fenced in. I hired a security com- pany; the gates have motion sensors and also the inside area and all buildings. The sales and shop area are tied into the system and can be monitored from my cell phone or from my house. — Joseph L. Nance Jr., owner Calabash Small Engine Inc., Calabash, N.C.
We have added outside cameras. The buildings are all alarmed,
and there are motion detectors inside. The floor plan has been moved around to eliminate blind corners. We plan to install in- side cameras within the year. — Dan D’Arcy, president Allpower, Granby, Mass.
Just last month, I installed a really nice, inexpensive security system with cameras. It’s already caught one person jumping our fence at 2:45 in the morning. Sad thing is the law came out and said, Yep, he’s in your yard. The guy didn’t take anything that we could see, so he just left. We are able to view the business through our home computer and my wife’s iPhone. Notice, I said wife’s iPhone; I’m not smart enough to use one. Also, I can monitor the front of business from back of repair shop. I also rearranged my counter so I’m closer to the front door and able to get to it quicker, since I had a Stihl BR600 run out the door. Almost caught the guy, but he got to his car just a little too quick. — Tony Nation Nation’s Small Engine, Inc., Hot Springs, Ark.
I think our dealership takes about all the steps that we can to
make sure our facility is secure. We have an alarm system with motion detectors, and door sensors on all of the doors. We also have a safe locked inside of our computer server room. If we get too much cash in the cash register, we instruct the cashiers to put that money in the safe immediately. We also process a bank de- posit daily to keep as little cash on hand as possible. The only time it’s good to have a bad day in sales, is when you get robbed!!! — Jason Hicks, parts & service manager West Chester Lawn & Garden Liberty Township, Ohio
It was 103 yesterday (July 12), so when we catch ‘em, we strap ‘em down in the full sun and watch ‘em burn! The real “pro” thieves can get by almost all alarm systems, so we try to make it as difficult and time consuming as possible to break in, and we keep the insurance paid up! — Dean Davis Dogwood Fireplace & Lawn Carbondale, Ill.
OPE OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT AUGUST 2011 17
