The Modern Day Shoplifter, From Chef to Clergy

Chef Antony Worall Thompson's recent spat of shoplifting in Tesco has got people wondering about this criminal activity.  Who is the typical shoplifter and why do they do it?  Darragh McManus from the Irish Independent spoke to the Irish Security Industry Association and other to find out.  Have a read of what he leaned below.

The Day I Caught a Nun and Priest Shoplifting

Avoiding a Festive Feast (or similar) on Your Premises

Many of you probably heard about the recent court case against a security company by Brasserie Sixty6 which was settled out of court this week.  You probably thought , as we did, how did this happen, wasn't their a security system?  There was, but the system failed the restaurant.  This may have you wondering about your own alarm and security systems and hoping they don't let you down.  Here are a few tips to make sure you don't supply Christmas dinner, or more, to some unwelcome visitors:

1. Alarm Installation - Make sure your alarm company is licensed.  Installers of alarm systems must hold a current PSA license and that will allow you to ensure your provider is meeting their legislative requirements under the Private Security Services Act 2004. Irish Security Industry Association (ISIA) members will also hold Qualsec, the ISIA's quality standard.  For a listing of ISIA members click here. 
2. Alarm Maintenance - Keep your alarm maintained.  Maintenance contracts are critical to ensuring your electronic security doesn't let you down when you really need it.  Often business and homeowners complain about this cost, but you would be kicking yourself if you hadn't had the necessary maintenance carried out and that led to a break-in at your home or business. 
3. Alarm Monitoring - Have your alarm monitored.  The sound of an alarm going off is an irritant, but haven't you ever ignored it's irksome noise somewhere nearby.  If an alarm is monitored the alarm receiving centre will be in a position to notify you and notify the authorities.  However, for the Gardai to respond it must be a maintained alarm with a URN.  It is also important to be aware that monitoring stations should notify you or your alarm company if their is a failure during their regular testing.  
4. Physical Security is crucial.  You don't want a criminal to be able to gain entry to your premises in the first place and you should consider the quality of the doors at entry points, particularly secluded access points. 
5. Safes - Day safes should not have cash left in it overnight and should have anti-fish features.  When cash is stored overnight it should be in a euro graded safe.  
6. CCTV - CCTV can be extremely useful to those investigating the a crime after it has taken place, but you should have your CCTV system stored in a secure area, if that is destroyed the cameras won't have been much use to you.  Installers of CCTV do not currently require a license, but that is likely to change this year and if you are having a CCTV system installed it might be wise to use an installer already licensed for alarms.  
7. Secure Room - A secure room may be used for your CCTV, overnight safe and alarm control panel and have additional access control so that if someone does make it inside your premises they shouldn't be able to get into your secure room. 

If you need any further information please visit the ISIA's website. For suppliers you can trust please have a look at our member listings or give us a call on +353-1-4847206.  

If you didn't have a chance to read about the festive feast at Brasserie Sixty6, have a look at the link below. 

Fine festive feast on the menu as four eat their fill after break-in - Courts, National News - Independent.ie

Welcome to the ISIA Blog

Welcome to the ISIA blog.  We hope this will provide a useful source of information for the private security industry or those who use private security services, which is most of us!

Please post information of interest, tell us your security tips, feel free to ask questions relevant to private security and please share your answers to questions posted.

As this is a new blog, we welcome your suggestions, ideas, questions and comments.

For more information on the Irish Security Industry Association, please visit our website, call us on 01-4847206 or drop an email to info@isia.ie.

We hope this will prove to be a useful forum for you!

Sarah O'Donnell
Communications Director