| The Loss Prevention Manager should be receptive to | | | | throughout the site. In most cases the key systems |
| the needs and | | | | work as the keys are assigned to individuals and are |
| objectives of upper management and work to | | | | signed for. Various situations cause damage to the |
| prevent and reduce loss from crime, fire accidents | | | | doors, some by the stores themselves and by |
| etc.With the continuing threats brought to us by our | | | | visiting vendors. Unlawful entrance and egress from |
| AL Quaeda and Taliban enemies and the outbreak of | | | | the stores occur at all times of the day or night. |
| new TV shows that reinforce the danger we all face | | | | Doors that are broken and unable to be secured with |
| on a daily basis, one must look within as to how we | | | | a key are not repaired in a timely manner. Automatic |
| can protect ourselves from threats both real and | | | | closing devices are tampered with and are inoperable |
| imagined. I said imagined because we can become | | | | and in many cases doors are intentionally left open to |
| either hypochondriacs or completely oblivious to the | | | | allow easy access to various parts of the building by |
| dangers around us.The situations we will focus on in | | | | not only the Mall employees but many of the store |
| this brief evaluation are those where large volumes | | | | personnel as well. Damaged doors and poor |
| of people congregate on a daily basis. Much has been | | | | maintenance precludes the hazards to all visitors and |
| written about airports and how the Government has | | | | employees as well. The ability to enter the building |
| stepped in to facilitate the security of baggage and | | | | and to cause damage, either unintentionally or |
| boardings etc. Although Schools and theatres could | | | | inntionally should be of paramount concern to the |
| be targeted, one area I would like to review is the | | | | administration as well as injury to visitors and |
| Mall, which we have first hand knowledge of since | | | | employees from individuals who may be emotionally, |
| we frequent them almost daily. The mall, some large | | | | politically or criminally motivated. Daytime situations |
| and some small all handlelarge volumes of people daily. | | | | are normally different than evening and overnight due |
| Its close proximity to the airports has caused me to | | | | to the fact that more personnel are available and |
| visualize a frightening scenario from time to time. This | | | | more activity promotes little opportunity for |
| also should be addressed in any critique of | | | | problematic situations. On one hand this combination |
| physical protectionSecurity for malls throughout the | | | | of light and sound along with the presence of people |
| country is based on protecting the occupants and the | | | | creates the environment for |
| property primarily from fire and water | | | | terrorism and or criminal acts. During the evening |
| damage.Personnel are generally given basic | | | | hours there is the added problem produced by |
| information as to what should happen in the case of | | | | teenagers and young adults who |
| fire and subsequent damage control, but essentially | | | | create disturbances causing security extra work |
| the function of either Security officers or tenants is | | | | which distracts them from actual security and placing |
| to pull the fire alarm and wait for the fire trucks to | | | | them in the position of acting as police, which they |
| get there, hopefully as quickly as possible.Business | | | | are not trained for. The use of force has been all but |
| continuity is a primary situation for the Mall and yet | | | | totally removed from their arsenal of protection. No |
| there is little accomplished to meet those | | | | training in civil disturbance or any other disturbance is |
| requirements. With this in mind a good security | | | | given on any basis.Radio communications is used in |
| officer should be a fireman and or be trained in fire | | | | various ways depending on the |
| prevention and training. In the world of fire training | | | | requirements of the various departments within the |
| there are those who are listed as fire police. They | | | | Mall. The benefit is that communications are available |
| are primarily there at the scene of a fire to direct | | | | to identify negative situations that would require fire, |
| traffic and move gawkers away from danger.Mall | | | | police, housekeeping and maintenance. In the event |
| security would seem to fit in this category, as they | | | | of an emergency, radio frequencies will be modified |
| are not really trained in fire prevention nor fire | | | | to meet the needs of security. Maintenance and |
| combating. This exclusion in training on a primary and | | | | housekeeping as well as Mall |
| continual basis is a danger faced by the visitors and | | | | administration should be subordinate to security. The |
| businesses that expect protection.Fire-personal as | | | | standard |
| well as the police, by nature, are trained to meet the | | | | operating procedure would require that the individual |
| demand for medical aid in the event of minor or | | | | in charge be completely cognizant of the workings of |
| major medical emergencies. At the least, basic first | | | | the building and at least have the workable phone |
| aid should be a required continual training program for | | | | numbers of department heads. In many situations of |
| all Mall personnel, with an emphasis on the Security | | | | various venues, the phone numbers of employ ees |
| Guard. The fact that defibrillators are available at Malls | | | | are not kept up to date and can cause unnecessary |
| along with first aid kits but with little or no training | | | | delay not only in emergencies but also on a day to |
| approved by the Mall is a condition that should be | | | | day basis to contact personnel who are due in for |
| addressed.Most security guards are usually hired | | | | shift changes. It should be the responsibility of at |
| because they are between jobs, work cheap and | | | | least one person in administration to make sure that |
| don't ask a lot of questions. Training consists of | | | | the phone numbers are kept up to date.Video |
| reading a manual, taking an open book test that | | | | surveillance, on the most part, functions well. The |
| consists of :1. Appearance2. Where the fire | | | | worst problem is the lack of light particularly in the |
| equipment is located3. Reporting problems4. How to | | | | parking lot. Often the failure of pole lights creates |
| tour the inside and outside of the building and5. Limits | | | | blackout areas during evening hours. This makes it |
| of authority.It is not the job of the Security Guard to | | | | impossible to check activities from the control center. |
| fight fire, provide medical assistance or use force. | | | | If there is only one guard on the midnight shift, it |
| The primary use of Security personnel is to walk the | | | | requires that the control center may be left |
| Mall during the business day and to report from time | | | | unattended to check the lot as well as the entrance |
| to time that they have gone into a tenant's space | | | | and loading doors. video cameras with night vision |
| and shown their presence. Observing possible loss | | | | capabilities would provide the necessary protection of |
| pevention does not appear in their lexicon.Over the | | | | the lot. The inability to patrol and or visually observe |
| years the defensive tools used by security personnel | | | | the site have created criminal acts from |
| has been reduced to carrying a set of handcuffs, | | | | break-ins,vandalism and murder. Using the parking lot |
| which can only be used under the direction of a local | | | | or a lover's lane cannot be tolerated.Without listing |
| law enforcement Officer | | | | banal conclusions to these initial thoughts, lets |
| in the completion of his duty. Again, without basic | | | | recognize the need to be aware of that, which |
| and ongoing | | | | surrounds us. Remember, God is in the details!With 8 |
| training, the uniformed Protective Services officer is | | | | years of service in the Military Police and former |
| of no other use than to be seen. Physical contact | | | | investigator for the State of NY election fraud |
| with individuals is totally prohibited due to the same | | | | bureau, a retired private and insurance investigator |
| reason above. Lack of training creates liability to the | | | | and presently actiove in the field of security. Member |
| Mall and to the officer.The physical plant known as a | | | | of the Police Commissioner's Association of |
| Mall has many egresses and entrances. Sets of keys | | | | Connecticut, International Foundation of Protection |
| are used by housekeeping, maintenance and | | | | Officers. |
| protection services to secure the movement | | | | |