Staying Security-Minded

Child Safety

2012-01-07T16:05:00.000-06:00

Child safety is an active part of your personal security. I can sum it up in one word: supervision.

However, in an effort to excellently train our children in personal security, we need excellent resources.

I have found excellent, and entertaining, resources for children and for adults on child safety: a video called Stranger Safety, and a video called Internet Safety - for children. Put together by Baby Einstein creator, Julie Clark, and America’s Most Wanted Host, John Walsh, these are excellent resources to assist you in building the personal security of your child. You can find them here: http://www.thesafeside.com/

Internet safety for children is also an active part of your personal security. Most children have access to, and access regularly, the Internet. In fact, they are often more savvy than the next generation or two up when it comes to knowing their way around the Internet and all its bells and whistles!

Internet access is everywhere now – cell phones, restaurants, schools, libraries, homes…

While the Internet offers many wonderful advantages for children, it is also a place where perpetrators stalk our children. The lack of personal contact can lull us into a false sense of security, which can lead to an innocent disclosure of information which can in turn be used against your child and/or you.

Children are among the growing population of users on Facebook, My Space, and other social networks. These sites collect information and encourage the sharing of information. They use cute tools such as “birthday calendars” with pretty flowers and butterflies to gather information that can be shared.

Online gaming sites geared towards children allow cartoonish characters to exchange information.

How can we arm our children with tools to make decisions which protect their personal security?

Empowering children with easy to remember safety tips, they will be on their way to securing their own environments and protecting themselves. Encouraging children to become more security-minded is one of the wonderful responsibilities of being a parent!

Here are some general tips for child safety, as well as for your own personal security:

1. Educate yourself and your children. Knowledge is power.

2. Know your neighborhood. Subscribe to sites like our favorite, familywatchdog.com

3. Keep abreast of changes in child protection laws, and support those laws that protect both your child AND your own parental rights, such as parentalrights.org

4. Discuss, rehearse, and review child safety and Internet safety tips, like those in the recommended videos, regularly (The beginning of summer and the beginning of the school year are great times to do this.)

5. Supervise. Keep an eye on their cell and online accounts and activity! Think not only for today, but what their choices may mean 5 years, 10 years from now.

Most people can bear children. Parenting--- now that is a different story.

Stay security-minded - and teach your children to be security-minded!

Business Security To Help You Keep Your Job Site Safe

2011-09-29T11:34:00.000-05:00

Business security is essential to the life of your company. Times are getting tougher for most of us. Desperate people sometimes make desperate, and poor, choices. We can choose to live in fear. Or, we can choose to be proactive and security minded people, living in confident & careful awareness.

Protecting your assets means having an Emergency Plan. See our link to the right for a printable emergency plan.
We recommend having emergency preparedness kits and supplies on stock. There are websites devoted to selling kits, making it easier for a business to secure.

Personal security means protecting your assets by performing a general Risk Assessment.See our link to the right for a printable risk assessment. It is a good place to start.

Security for your business requires background checks on all employees, vendors, business partners, cleaning crews, and as a part of pre-employment screening. We have posts here you can read for informational purposes.

Identity Theft is becoming more prevalent in today's society. You can protect your company, and your business can be a protector to people by considering how you handle information gathered. We will post information on Identity Theft prevention.

Pre-Employment Screening for the Security-Minded

2011-09-29T11:27:00.000-05:00

Pre-employment screening begins before the interview! Take time to read our page on interview tips. Whether you utilize our advice or not, we believe it is good information that was passed on to us. We’re just sharing the wealth!

You are ready to begin pre-employment screening once you have received an application and are ready to interview the applicant.

Begin with reviewing the application with the interviewee, verifying that the information you are reading is correct. Ask for names and numbers of immediate supervisors and work mates. Ask for names and numbers of professors or school mates. This will come in handy for the next portion of pre-employment screening.

If they are not able to provide you with this information, do not sweat it. It is not uncommon for people nowadays to have been out of the work force just long enough to forget details. You will have lots of valuable information by the end of your screening process from which to make a valid decision.

You are ready to continue your pre-employment screening once you have gone over the application and interviewed the person you are interested in hiring.

Former Employers

With the application in front of you, begin by calling the person’s former employers, beginning with the most recent. It is most likely you will be given to the Human Resources Department, where they are allowed to confirm that he/she worked there and the dates of employment. Not a lot of help.

Good thing you collected names and numbers of supervisors! Now utilize that information and call. Let the person know this is not an “official” call but more like a social call to chat with them a little about their thoughts on your company and how this person will fit in.

Do share a bit of information about your company, its mission statement, its goals, its personality.

Make it light-hearted. Talk a little about how you enjoyed your interview with so-and-so. As you hear them relax (and to get them to this place is more of an art than a science) ask them, just between you two, what do they think of this person and how he/she will work out in your company.

People tend to be free with their opinions, for the most part. Utilize this to your advantage. However, as in any background check, use multiple resources to arrive at your conclusions.

We are personally familiar with a situation in which a person we know left a company for reasons she does not share with prospective employers. Why, I do not know. What I do know is the real reason she left. They had not paid her commission in over a year, and they had not paid anyone’s salary for 6 weeks. She could no longer afford to work there. Plain and simple.

However, this company does give her bad reviews when prospective employers call them. So…

use multiple resources to verify information and make decisions.

Education Verification

Education is the most common area for applicant’s to lie about. This is easy enough to verify. Pick up the phone and call the Registrar’s Office of the school. They will be able to tell you the dates they attended and whether or not they received their degree.

They may ask for a release of information, but if you have the “agreement to release information” and signature on the bottom of your application, as you should, then you can solve that problem with a simple fax.

If it turns out they lied, then by all means address it. Chances are you just caught them in a character flaw that reveals a valid reason to move on to the next applicant!

However, make sure you are not having trouble reading their handwriting, or that the Registrar got their name mixed up with someone else’s. Verify your information before you jump to conclusions.

Professional References

Pre-employment screening may also cover professional references. The potential employee may have worked with organizations which can provide you with valuable information as to the person’s ability to work as a team and to motivate people. Make sure to contact these references and use the same practices as you did with verifying previous employers.

Additionally, you are able to verify professional licenses and designations by searching online for your state department that is responsible for issuing these licenses.

Personal References

One question we get is “Why check personal references when the chances are that person won’t rat out their friend.” Well, as I said before, people are generally free with their opinions, and friends are no exception.

As in interviewing the prospective employee, be creative. Do not ask “yes” or “no” questions. Better questions are “Can you give me an example of this person’s demonstration of patience with others?” After which you ask, “Can you give me an example of a time this person showed a lack of patience with another person?”

Think of what qualities are important to the position and to the company. Use questions that will lead their friend into providing you with information that will assist you in arriving to a valid conclusion.

Criminal Records Background Check

In everything, we cannot emphasize enough the importance of conducting a professional and comprehensive background check. At the very least, check criminal records. For more information on this subject, see our Background Check section.

In several states there is a simple way to do a criminal check and it is called “Live Scan”.

As we say over and over, a good background investigator uses multiple resources in order to verify and interpret information, even during pre-employment screening.

To avoid legal complications, it is advised that you use an experienced and licensed investigator to conduct background checks. There is more to investigating a person’s background than a looking for a criminal record history.

Taking the steps of performing thorough and quality pre-employment screenings will assist you in building safer and more secure environments for your home, business, schools, and places of worship.

Thank you for your time. As always, if you have any questions or comments, we’d love to hear from you.

Interview Tips for Pre-Employment Screening

2011-09-29T11:20:00.000-05:00

Giving advice on pre-employment screening seems a bit bold. The interviews differ depending on

• the position you are interviewing for,

• the overall personality of the company,

• the personalities of the team,

• the mission statement,

• goals of the company,

• and on and on.

However, this important tip I pass on, as it was passed on to me by a wise and talented interviewer:

Take time before the interview to evaluate successes and failures of past employees. Use the specific situations to compile a list of scenarios that can be presented to the interviewee in order to evaluate their working potential and responses. This is a valuable tool in pre-employment screening.

For example, a high-profile client requires protection of his home due to threats made against him and his family. You are on the night shift and see his son sneaking out of the house, then sneaking friends back into the home. What do you do?

After you answer me, I add this: The son approaches you and engages you in casual conversation. He attempts to “buddy-up” to you. He throws in a casual comment about how he found last night’s officer asleep on the job, and how he is planning on telling his dad. How would you handle this? What is your perception about what is actually going on in this conversation?

How the person answers all of the questions tells me a lot about their personal boundaries, pride, discernment, maturity, experience, integrity, ethics, work standard, and so on.

Add this to the mix: If you think the person was on the right track but missing a few hints, and you want to test if they are teachable (a very important quality in every employee), do this:

After this first scenario, educate them on a point they missed, such as “our policy states that we do not get involved with family matters”. Then, present them with another scenario a few minutes later, and see if they are able to apply this policy.

If they still miss the mark, you’ll probably want to move on and focus your pre-employment screening on the next applicant. You do want someone who is able to listen and take verbal cues, and most of all who is teachable.

Remember, you are looking for clues and cues that this person has the values your company or family are looking for. There is nothing more frustrating that feeling like your employee is working against your mission statement and core values.

Be creative ahead of time. Think of questions that avoid “yes” or “no” answers. If you ask “Are you on time?” of course most people will know to reply “yes”. However, if you ask “Can you share with me an example of how you demonstrate dependability?” and follow up with the opposite “Can you give me an example of a time you were not dependable?” You will get a lot further in discovering the core values of this person.

What are the key elements of a criminal history check?

2011-09-29T11:18:00.000-05:00

A criminal history check, or background search, must cover:

• National Criminal records. They reveal any convictions, sexual predator listings, and other relevant records.

• National Civil records. They reveal judgments and lawsuits against the person.

• Credit reports. Relevant for various reasons.

• Driving records, if this is part of the job.

• Verification of professional licenses and designations.

• Verification of education.

• Verification of professional references.

• Verification of personal references.

• Verification of identity!

Records must then be placed in a secured, locked, file. Privacy laws require it. Additionally, information gathered carries with it legal responsibilities for the way it is used, handled, stored, and destroyed.

It is not only your personal security that you must watch out for!

BEWARE OF FREE ONLINE BACKGROUND CHECKS!

Accurate and current information is NOT free!

Are Criminal Record Background Checks for pre-employment screening only?

For a security-minded person, background investigations should be done for a variety of reasons!

Do I need to hire a professional Licensed Private Investigator?

Delegating a Criminal Record Background Check to a professional Licensed Private Investigator is a valuable investment.

Can I do my own Criminal Record Background Check?

There are times when conducting a background search is a project you can handle yourself. For information on Do-It-Yourself Background Checks, see our "You Can Do..." post.

Are Criminal Record Background Checks for pre-employment screening only?

2011-04-01T19:45:00.001-05:00

For a security-minded person, background checks should be done for a variety of reasons!

• Pre-employment screening

• Post-employment

• Asset checks

• People locator

• Fraud Investigations

• Missing Persons

• Verification of witness credibility

• Doctor background

• Executive background

• Nanny background

• Tenant background

• Pre-marital background check

• ANY caregiver!

Your personal security is placed at risk more often than you think.

Statistics reveal that 40% of all applicants lie on their resumes. Do you think these people only lie on job applications? Really, almost half of all people that you make yourself vulnerable to could very well be lying about their backgrounds.

This could place you and your loved ones at serious risk!

Our company did a study on the hiring practices of a billion-dollar company, with their permission of course. They had interviewed and conducted their own "background check" on one particular employee and it appeared clean. They were ready to hire him as an armed Security Officer at a military base.

We did our own investigation, using our databases, contacts, and expertise. What did we discover?

This person had a recent arrest for assault with a deadly weapon! We also discovered this person had a history of reports for assault against him!

Their background report had failed to uncover this crucial piece of information! Imagine giving this “hot head” a gun and a job where he had to deal with difficult situations!

Now as for a potential employee, the benefit of doing a background investigation on this person is evident.

What if this guy is your new boyfriend? Do you want to find out sooner, or later, that your new beau has a temper and a history of acting on it in a destructive way?

How about if this guy is the new teacher at your school? Or youth pastor? Or soccer coach? Get my point?

Do background checks!

Another concern is the growing number of cyberspace relationships. Hey, I am not knocking it. That is how my wife and I met. However, most of our towns are no longer like Mayberry where everyone knows someone who knows something about your new beau.

The average job lasts 2 years before a person moves on. The average residency is 5 years before a person moves to the next town. My point is that it is getting harder and harder to get to know a person.

We were contacted by an east coast family who were concerned with their sister’s new internet relationship with a guy on the west coast. Being on the west coast, they asked us to conduct a background check on this guy.

Their sister, who had children, was ready to marry this man and start a new life together. The glitch was that he needed money to get to the east coast and then he “had a job out there and would pay her back”.

I won’t go in to the sob story he had given his fiancée, but it sounded convincing to her. However, her family had the wisdom to check this guy out…

…Yes, he was a phony. He was married and living with his wife and family, with no intention of divorce or relocation. He was simply trying to steal her money via the internet. This is unfortunately becoming more and more common.

What if this guy was someone you were planning on joining in a business venture?

What if this guy sets up an online “non-profit organization” and asks for money for the orphans on Mars?

Do background checks!

Bottom line: Anytime you give another person access to vulnerable places in your life - your business, your home, your dependents, your money, your assets – you need to conduct a background investigation first!

Whether or not you hire a professional or do it yourself is a matter of what is at stake and how much time or resources you have available. You can do it yourself, especially if it is for a local, stable individual.

What are the key elements of a criminal history check?

A criminal history check, or background search, must cover:

• National Criminal records. They reveal any convictions, sexual predator listings, and other relevant records.

• National Civil records. They reveal judgments and lawsuits against the person.

• Credit reports. Relevant for various reasons.

• Driving records, if this is part of the job.

• Verification of professional licenses and designations.

• Verification of education.

• Verification of professional references.

• Verification of personal references.

• Verification of identity!

It is not only your personal security that you must watch out for!

BEWARE OF FREE ONLINE BACKGROUND CHECKS!

Accurate and current information is NOT free!

You Can Do Background Checks!

2011-04-01T19:41:00.000-05:00

Conducting your own background check will be an adventure! First and foremost, remember to view information you gather in a general light. Don’t be quick to jump to conclusions. The information you find may be accurate, but it also may be partially or totally inaccurate. A good investigator gathers information from many sources in order to review, evaluate, verify, and come to a secure conclusion.

So, step one – You need the

• Name,

• Date of birth (DOB),

• Social Security Number (SSN), and

• Recent address of the individual.

Additional helpful information includes:

• Driver’s License

• Proof of automobile insurance

• Professional licenses

• Educational background

• Residential history

• Professional references

• Personal references

• Signed waiver for release of information

Step two – Legwork.

Local County Courthouse

A good place to start your background check is at your county courthouse. Here you check county records for any civil actions against the person, such as divorces, restraining orders, small claims, tenant actions, litigations, claims or liens on property, judgments, etc. You may have to go to several different offices within the courthouse to gather this information, so be prepared. You will want to research county and state records. Most offices require a small fee for your copies of the records.

Local Federal Courthouse

Here you check national records of civil and criminal convictions, bankruptcies, etc. Again, you may have to travel to several different offices within the courthouse to gather this information, so wear comfortable shoes. Again, fees are usually required. These are important records for background checks.

Some states have their records available online. You can access nationwide searches to determine whether or not a party is involved in federal litigation using the U.S. Party/Case Index at www.pacer.psc.uscourts.gov. Not all federal or district courts participate in the Index. Here you register for free, and then pay per search.

State Records

You can search corporate records, professional and occupational licenses, for most states online. For example, in the state of California, we can go to the Secretary of State site (sos.ca.gov) and click “Business Entities”. From there we click on “California Business Search” and up comes the page with its own search engine. Our choice is to search Corporations or LP/LLC’s. Enter the name of the business you are searching and you will be provided with the agent for service information and address. Some states will provide you with a list of names of officers and directors for free. In this state, we have to fill out a form, pay money, and submit and wait.

For professional and occupational license verification or search, you will have to Google “professional license *state you are searching*”. In California, the Department of Consumer Affairs holds these records. When I go to the site, I have the option of clicking on the type of license. I then enter the name I am verifying the license on and up come their facts. I can see the date the license was issued, if it is current, an address, and if any disciplinary actions or citations have been issued. All free!

Department of Motor Vehicles

Your background check may need to include information on the person's driving history. A driving record can be accessed for free by the driver. For others to access this information, you must be a licensed investigator.

As I am writing this (Editor here), I am also clicking on the sites in order to verify I am providing you current information. I went to search DMV and it took me to dmv.org, which appeared to be the official website for California’s DMV. It had a background check link, so of course I clicked it. As I clicked further, it had a disclaimer across the top that said it was a privately owned site, not affiliated with the government. Hmmm… deception is already beginning. Okay well, I have a couple cups of Chai tea in me, so I entered in my own information, and up came 4 “matches”… none of which were me. This is verification of what we are talking about when we say there is no such thing as a free background check.

Local Police Department and Sheriff’s Department

The Freedom of Information Act allows you to enter your local PD or Sheriff’s office and request records on a person. Reports may have been made, but charges were never filed or were dropped. This is important information because it establishes a pattern of behavior. For instance, in domestic violence cases, it is common for many calls to be received and responded to, but not so common for charges to be filed. This is a sad, but true, occurrence. Don’t you want to know that the “gentleman” you are engaged to does not have a history of domestic violence? You may never know if you only check court records. Yes, this happens more often than you know. Utilize this resource for your background check.

Note: Our hometown heroes work hard to serve and protect our communities. If they are busy, please do not make additional demands on them. Instead, come back at a more opportune time. Be polite, and be grateful. Please.

Check references

When conducting your background check, don't forget to call those former employers. Call those professional references. Call those personal references. Call and chat in a friendly manner. Ask for the number of their direct supervisor and call them. Let them know you are not calling in an official capacity, but just trying to get to know the person a bit better. Share with them what position they are interested in, and ask if they think the person would be good at that and why. Ask what they think their challenges would be in that position. For more on pre-employment screening, check back.

Know your state laws regarding privacy, and what questions you are allowed to ask of prior employers. Then get creative, so that you can find out the information that will be most helpful for you!

Now once you have gathered all of the information for your background investigation, check for consistencies and inconsistencies. Evaluate carefully. Understand that there are some situations where asking questions directly to the person you are investigating may be appropriate. People do make mistakes, and those mistakes do not necessarily define us. Mistakes can be a wonderful opportunity to learn and grow. Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.

Children's Church Security - Protection for a Vulnerable Area

2011-03-31T16:29:00.000-05:00

Children's Church Security is a passionate subject for most of us!

When it comes to security and risk reduction, our children are often our first concerns. Leaving our little ones (and bigger ones) with near-strangers while we attend worship services can be an act of faith in itself! Let's work to make that experience a more peaceful one for the parents of our congregations.

#1: RUN PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND CHECKS ON ALL PERSONNEL WHO WILL BE OVERSEERS OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH!!!

We do not mean to yell, but this is so incredibly crucial to establishing a safe and secure environment for our children! Our children trust us to ensure that the people we leave them in the care of are safe!

Read more about the importance of church background investigations on our blog post.

#2 - Conduct ongoing Risk Assessments. to ensure the safety of our children's church environments. Train staff to identify potential risks. Provide a standard for reporting it in writing to the Board of Directors. Your Childrens Church Security depends on it!

#3 - Have a Church Emergency Plan in place and practice evacuations with the children quarterly. This is a crucial piece of Children's Church Security.

#4 - Design and distribute disciplinary guidelines.

What will the childcare worker do in the event of one child attempting to harm other children? (verbally or physically)

What will the childcare worker do in the event of incessant crying? (from the child, not the worker!)

On both of these issues we advise returning the child to its parent. However, each church may have its own policies.

Who will deliver the child to the parent is equally important to discuss. This is one of the many reasons to always have at least 2 childcare workers for each class.

#5 - Design and distribute guidelines for checking a child in and out of the children's church.

This is a simple, yet crucial, part of Children's Church Security. This is something to consider for older children as well. How old is old enough to be responsible for themselves?

We recommend a sign in sheet with numbers which coordinate with the number on the child's name tag. The same parent should be required to sign the child out as signed him/her in, for safety reasons.

#6 - Declare bathroom policies openly to workers, parents, and children.

Workers, do not go into bathrooms with children. Stand at the front door so you can hear the children safely. Keep the front door open. If there are no stalls, stand near the slightly opened door with your back to the child for privacy and safety.

For children too young to attend to their bathroom needs themselves, it is recommended to return them to their parents. However, this is subject to individual church decisions. Make sure the policies are known and agreed upon by the parent.

Special Note: Children's Ministries really are the most vulnerable area of a church. Carelessness can cause a lifetime of struggles for the child. Please carefully consider the spiritual implications, in addition to the physical implications, that may overshadow the decisions, messages, and influences a children's ministry worker may have over our children. Issues to carefully discern include past drug abuse, alcohol abuse, marring of the body, DUI's, sexual addictions, and any other condition that lends itself to negative influence and potential risk. Present addictions and abuses are of course off limits for the children and youth workers.

The Word says, "Choose some men from each tribe who have wisdom, understanding, and a good reputation, and I will appoint them as your leaders." Deuteronomy 1:13

Please also make sure that you know your Church Security Team, and that the Team is familiar with your Children's Ministry policies. For more information on developing a Security Team, see our blog post.

Church Background Checks. Be Safe, Not Foolish!

2011-03-31T16:16:00.001-05:00

Church background checks are not a new concept. They have simply become easier to perform in a complicated society.

When placing any person in a position of responsibility over people, it is essential that a background check is performed on them. It is showing concern for the person him or herself, as well as for the people he/she will be facilitating and/or responsible for.

"He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap." 1 Timothy 3:7

Have you thought about this: even a cleaning crew has full access to the church assets? What about vendors? They too have access to your property.

Churches are not exempt when it comes to the requirement to perform "due diligence". Church leaders have both a Heavenly responsibility as well as an earthly responsibility to protect the people of the church. In many states it has become a requirement by insurance companies to perform church background checks.

Unfortunately, many churches choose the “cheap” and rocky route of “free” or nearly free background checks. This sloppy imitation IS the enemy! It will not convince a judge nor jury of “due diligence”, nor will it fool God. See our section on Background Checks to evaluate the pros and cons of unlicensed investigations.

Beware the dangers of free and/or unlicensed background checks

We had a friend run a background check of their own on a person we chose. We knew this person had a record as a child molester, and was a registered sex offender. We did not reveal this, and waited for the results she would pull. You guessed it. She did not find this information in her “background check”. If it were up to her, she would have hired him on as the new nursery attendant!!!

Local licensed private investigators are often willing to negotiate rates with a church, understanding the financial limitations of smaller churches.

Don’t be fooled by cheap imitations. It may sound like an overused marketing scheme, but in this case, it is truth.

No matter what you do, please be security minded and do your church background checks! Protect God’s people. He is watching.

Church Risk Assessment - Reduce Liability

2011-03-31T16:13:00.001-05:00

Conduct regular Church Risk Assessments. This proactive approach to risk management is an exercise in good stewardship. After all, it is His church, and we are given care over it, yes? If we neglect our responsibility, we are looking at possible

• Injuries

• Theft

• Trespassing

• Child abuse

• Molestation

• Failure to provide safety in an emergency situation

With insurance costs on the rise, reducing liability risks are crucial to the financial well-being of churches. Performing regular church risk assessments will assist you in managing these risks.

Most importantly, it protects your congregation from unnecessary harm.

Perform a Risk Assessment for Your Church.

"The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out." Proverbs 18:15

#1 - Designate a group of people to be the Church Risk Assessment Team.

In this case, the more eyes the better. It will help to have women and men, young and old, construction-oriented and not. Differing perspectives equal better results. We want to shift from planning for people to planning with people.

#2 - Schedule a day for the Church Risk Assessment Team to meet at the church.

Begin to methodically comb the grounds, beginning with the perimeter of the property, inward.

#3 - Identify and characterize hazards and vulnerabilities.

Take notes. Our list is simply a guideline. Keep eyes and minds open for potential risks. Even a sprinkler set too high off the ground is a risk.

In addition to the property research and facility inspection, evaluate general security measures such as record storage, closing procedures, locks, alarms, cameras, lighting, and fire suppression. Are these areas secure?

Records should be stored in fireproof, locked, vaults or storage. Copies of all important records need to be stored off site in an agreed upon secure location, such as a safety deposit box.

Closing procedures need to be agreed upon, publicly known, and posted.

Locks should be name-brand, and include a keyed deadbolt on outer entry points. Duplicates of keys should be stored off site with the record copies.

Alarms should be checked periodically to ensure activity. Keep phone numbers for contacts up to date. (We know from experience that this tends to get left out.)

Are cameras covering points of entry? Vulnerable places such as parking lots and shrubbery areas? Make sure they are being best utilized. Our own discernment is the best guide.

Lighting is crucial at all walkways, parking lots, doorways, and other points of entry! Make a weekly inspection of light bulbs, and designate a person to change them regularly.

Does your facility have fire extinguishers in every room? No? Let's shift from hazard response to risk management. Get those fire extinguishers posted. Remember to keep an eye on them as well. They can lose their effectiveness.

#4 - Once your Church Risk Assessments have been completed, sit down together and review them.

In order to secure your environment, move from reactive stances to proactive stances. Identify those hazards and vulnerabilities together. Evaluate the risks. Analyze and make decisions for resolution based on your information gathered and on available resources.

#5 - Schedule repairs, maintenance, and restucturing, and assign a person to oversee and report their completion back to the Team.

Prepare strategies for resolving outstanding issues, and give them a timeline. Remember to assign people who are clearly in charge of these areas, who will report back to the Team.

#6 - The Risk Assessment Team needs to communicate regularly with the Church Board of Directors for mutual support and shared information.

#7 - Develop a Church Emergency Plan.

Risk management requires us to move away from disaster response/reaction to empowerment, planning, resiliency-building, and self reliance.

#8 - Take the next step by developing a Church Security Team.

Check out our blog post on this subject.

Church Security Team Training

2011-03-31T16:08:00.000-05:00

Is a Church Security Team a new idea? -No, it isn't.

“But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat”. Nehemiah 4:9

Appointing a Church Security Team may seem a daunting task. However, the signs of the times indicate this is becoming more and more a necessity. We must not dismiss threats nor arrogantly assume God will protect us. Neither are we to cower in fear and beg God’s indulgence. We are called to use wisdom in this world of very real threats. Like Nehemiah, meet that threat. Be proactive.

To put together a full-force Church Security Team requires professional training.

To do it yourself, here are the areas that need to be delineated:

Designate a few of those capable watchmen as your Church Security Team. Then begin to set your standards. Remember, the focus is on prevention.

Roles and Responsibilities:

What are the responsibilities of the Church Security Team and each of its members? Each church will need to decide this for themselves. The responsibilities must include:

#1 Authority to Observe and Report.

Look for unfamiliar people who are roaming and canvassing, rather than partaking and interacting. Offer assistance, and notice the reaction. Make note. Look for unfamiliar behaviors in those people you both know and do not know. Stay alert and aware. Engage the person if possible. You may find it is simply a person who is in need of individual prayer, having had an unusually difficult week. Make note.

#2 Getting assistance when needed.

Learn the difference between a need to call for care ministry and a need to call the police.

This is not always simple. Most of us are aware of the obvious calls: theft, assault, threats to self or other. Actions which break the law require intervention by the police. In some states, that includes possession of a firearm. In other states, it does not. Be aware of your state laws.

On the other hand, people are fragile and their emotions can be unpredictable. Crisis situations do occur, especially within the church body. Know what to look for. Irrational thinking, extreme behaviors, casual or subtle threats against themselves or against others… all can indicate potential security threats. Drugs, alcohol, and stress can trigger behaviors which are potentially harmful. Know who is authorized to assist in this area of emotional care such as a Church Counselor or Care Ministry Leader, preferably of the same gender as the person.

Assist the person in finding the person who can appropriately help them. Stay aware of the potential need to intervene.

While there are many other factors to consider in this area, we cannot outline hours of training here. This represents the basic diligences required of a Church Security Team member.

#3 Make an attempt to form a good working relationship with your local law enforcement officers and EMS personnel.

Your work will be easier if you do. When in doubt, call the professionals. Make sure their numbers (not 9-1-1) are programmed into your cell phones. Chances are you will not have the time to go find their numbers. Remember, they are here to serve and protect. Thank them.

#4 Know when and how to properly restrain a person.

Yes, there are correct and incorrect ways to restrain a person. A correct way minimizes injury to both you and to the person being restrained.

Although few and far between, occasionally the need to restrain a person does arise. Most commonly, this occurs when one person is attempting to harm another person. Do not stand in the middle! That will not secure the threat! It will only make you the target, and once you are down, the threat continues.

Find a person in your congregation who is qualified to teach your team how to restrain a person. If you do not have a qualified person, contact your local law enforcement agency. They should be able to direct you appropriately. We too are available to assist you in locating, or implementing, this training.

#5 Know your legal responsibilities and liabilities.

This too is relative to your state and locality. If the information is unavailable from within your congregation, contact your local law enforcement. Again, we are willing to help you in this as well.

Knowing and following state and local protocol may keep you out of court. It will surely act in your favor if you are brought to court.

Some issues that fall into the category of knowing legal responsibilities are:

Searching a person

Searching bags

“Citizen’s Arrest”

Know when and how to perform these tasks.

#6 Know how to write an effective report based on what you observed, and on what actions were taken.

This will protect your assets. It demonstrates diligence. We can assist you with this. We have a standing page "Simple Incident Report".

#7 The Security Team must know the emergency plan.

Check out our post on Church Emergency Plans and/or print out our standing page "Emergency Plan"

#8 Enlist your Church Security Team to conduct ongoing Risk Management Assessments.
Check out our post on Church Risk Assessments and/or print out our standing page "Risk Assessments".

Keep an eye out for areas in need of repair or attention. Put in writing and submit to the Board of Directors.

#9 The Church Security Team trains to protect the vulnerable Children's Ministry areas.

Watch for unfamiliar faces and evaluate potential risks to our children. Make sure play areas are secure. Encourage childcare workers to abide by policies.

Thank you for your assistance in securing our churches.

Church Emergency Plan - Reduce Impact of Disaster

2011-03-31T16:00:00.000-05:00

"Wisdom is proved right by her actions." (Mt. 11: 19c)

A well-developed church emergency plan is a proactive approach to disaster that will move your church toward empowerment, resiliency, and self-reliance. While it may not prevent disaster, it will reduce its impact. The plan must serve to protect church property, people, and the local community. It must cover how to handle an emergency when it happens, as well as how to recover from that emergency.

A church emergency plan is a bit different than that of a business or home.

Historically, churches have been the first place people turn to in times of disaster. They seek the security of a local church. So, even if the church is the victim in a disaster, plans must be in effect to recover quickly.

Be prepared - it reduces the level of anxiety and fear in a disaster. Form a committee. Develop a Church Emergency Plan which will best serve your church and local community.

# 1 - Appoint a Church Emergency Team

Based on the size of your church and its resources available, it may be most appropriate for the Board of Directors to appoint a planning team. This committee will be keeping the Board abreast of its progress, as well as receiving support in ongoing emergency training.

Using a group approach to a church emergency plan encourages participation from the whole church body. It moves you from communicating to people, to communicating with people; from planning for people to planning with people. It keeps the energy going and allows for a larger body of prepared helpers! It is always important for the church leadership, especially children's church and education leaders, to be involved.

Check this out:

Three Burleson teenagers are in custody in connection with an attempted arson at a Burleson church and a subsequent fire in a nearby field."(NBC, July 2007)

Wow. When I think of a church emergency plan, my first thoughts head in the direction of earthquakes, floods, forest fires, and national threats. Arson is certainly an emergency a church needs to plan for.

#2 - Conduct a risk assessment.

If you haven't done so already, designate a Church Risk Assessment Team to identify risks.

It is an important part of security for your church and of emergency preparedness. Develop a plan and a timeline for repairing weak areas. For instance, this last Sunday I noticed loose railings on a stairway. In the event of an emergency, it will be crucial that the stairways are safe! So, secure those areas that undermine safety before an emergency happens.

#3 - Plan, illustrate, and post an evacuation plan.

If this is not already done, please do so immediately. Post in every room. In large rooms, post at every exit. Make sure every single ministry worker knows the plan! Practice quarterly so that it becomes second-nature to everyone! Awareness is an essential part of any church emergency plan.

#4 - Schedule a CPR/First Aid class

Survey your congregation for certified CPR and First Aid instructors. Ask them to serve the congregation by offering annual classes. If you do not have any instructors in your church, contact your local Red Cross or hospital. They will be happy to arrange CPR/First Aid classes at your church. The costs are usually very low for groups. Schedule it.

#5 - Make a list

Determine what types of natural disasters may arise based on your location. Add to that list additional risks including, but not limited to, fire, robbery, theft, gunmen, attacks.

#6 - Develop a plan for each situation.

Make a list of all contacts. Keep it updated.

Talk with the fire department or code enforcement agency in your area to determine what regulations are in effect for displaced families. Note addresses and contact information for these places.

Contact local contractors or repair services and see which are willing to place your church on a priority list following a disaster. Note contact information and services offered.

Contact local insurance agent who will agree to assist displaced families in filing their insurance claims.

Seek an agreement with another local church or school so services can continue if your building or property is unsafe.

#7 - Gather emergency supplies.

Store these supplies in a clearly marked and easily-accessible area. Document this on your church emergency plan. At the bottom of this page we have a website you can check out. It sells all of the emergency supplies and kits you made need!

#8 - Create a repair fund.

Request church planning and financial committees to set aside a capitol improvement fund to repair damages.

#9 - Plan for Crisis Counseling.

Ask a qualified mental health professional in your congregation to offer Crisis Intervention Training to members of your congregation. If this is not possible, contact the Red Cross for Crisis Counselors and keep on hand. Some Red Cross agencies offer training in this area as well.

#10 - Document all the above information you have worked so hard to gather.

Duplicate your emergency plan. Duplicate critical church records (accounting files, blueprints, inventory, etc.)

Store records on site in a fireproof safe - off site in a secure location such as a safe-deposit box.

Make copies of the Emergency Plan for the Board of Directors and all leaders. Make copies available for the entire congregation. And most importantly...

...practice it!

Add Security Team Training to your Church Emergency Plan!

Church Security - Your Responsibility

2011-03-31T15:55:00.002-05:00

Why is church security important nowadays? Just to name a few:

• Two teenagers charged for robbing and shooting another teen. (St. Margaret of Scotland Church, July 2008)

• Gunman kills 3, wounds 5, inside church. Shooter is also suspect in sexual assault of a 14-year-old. (First Congregational Church, August 2007)

• Gunman kills 2 at dormitory for young missionaries, then heads to second church and kills 2, wounds 1.
(Youth With A Mission campus, New Life Church, December 2007)

"I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves." (Mt. 10:16)

There is a natural hesitancy to implementing church security measures into the church. Church is generally thought of as a safe and trusting place, protected by the Creator. However, we are called to be good stewards, caretakers, of all that we have been given. We are called to be on our guard, and wise.
Crimes against churches are rising. Churches are considered "soft targets" for acts of hate and rebellion.
You can take a proactive approach to securing your place of faith.

Risk Assessment Survey
There are simple steps we can take in our stewardship of church security. Gather a group of members who want to get involved and have them each complete our survey. This is a good starting point to see where strengths and weaknesses lie, and to assess vulnerabilities.

Church Emergency Plan
Empower your church by planning together. Know how to respond before, during, and after a disaster. Use our plan as part of church policy. Practice it with the congregation at least once a year.

Conduct Background Checks
The Word of God says "...for satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness." (2 cor. 11:14-15)

The church is a wonderful place to receive healing and restoration! As stewards and shepherds, we must be proactive in protecting the safety of the people, young and old. We must operate in wisdom when it comes to placing people in leadership positions and positions of authority. Conducting background investigations are crucial.

The church must take a sober look at both the practical and the spiritual implications of histories such as emotional instability, substance abuse, and sexual predators.

I cannot emphasize enough the importance of thorough Screening and Background Investigations! A very real enemy prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Church Security Team
Churches and its leaders must begin to take proactive stands on church security issues. We need to be prepared. We have an obligation to protect church property and its people. Churches large or small can organize a Security Team to implement action steps we have outlined for you. This team can also be in charge of ongoing training for church members, helping them to recognize areas and behaviors of concern.

I drive around town and I see security measures at the movie theaters, the banks, at the indoor and the outdoor malls. These businesses are aware of their vulnerabilities, and of their duty to protect assets...
...but sadly, churches in general continue to demonstrate their feelings of immunity to the violence in this world by dismissing the reality of impending risk.

Faith is not enough! "...faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do." (James 2: 17, 18b)

Take action now, please! Shepherds, protect His flock by securing your churches!

And please do not forget Secure The Children's Ministry!

As always, we are here to help. If you have any specific questions or needs, feel free to contact us at security-minded@live.com

Website closing

2011-03-20T08:27:00.000-05:00

For those of you who found us from our website, welcome! We are so glad you are here. Due to the economy and difficult decisions about where our limited supply of money is dispersed, we chose to shut down our website for now. We will be uploading our information here, however, so please stick with us. I will begin adding information from our website soon.
Don't stop being security-minded.
-Your Security-Minded family

New FBI Stats on Church -Related Crimes

2010-08-13T12:18:00.000-05:00

We here at Security-Minded are glad to hear that more and more places of worship are becoming security-minded and joining us in taking proactive steps toward securing sanctuaries and parishioners. However, many churches continue to stick their heads in the mud regarding their responsibilities as stewards of people and property for which they have been given charge. Let's get right to the latest statistics release by the FBI:

Here is the breakdown for 2008 according to the FBI.
24,445 crimes attributed to location code 4
(Churches/Synagogues/Temples).

# of offenses Offense Description
7852 Destruction/Damage/Vandalism of Property
5239 Burglary/Breaking and Entering
3646 All Other Larceny
2043 Theft From Building
1248 Theft From Motor Vehicle Theft of Motor Vehicle
1040 Simple Assault
541 Parts/Accessories
398 Intimidation
367 Motor Vehicle Theft
314 Drug/Narcotic Violations
218 Aggravated Assault
212 False Pretenses/Swindle/Confidence Game
139 Shoplifting
136 Arson
129 Counterfeiting/Forgery
126 Drug Equipment Violations
114 Forcible Fondling (Indecent Liberties/Child Molesting)
101 Robbery
81 Weapon Law Violations
76 Credit Card/Automatic Teller Machine Fraud
64 Forcible Rape
63 Embezzlement
58 Stolen Property Offenses (Receiving, Selling, Etc.)
49 Purse-snatching
47 Impersonation
34 Pocket-picking
22 Forcible Sodomy
21 Kidnapping/Abduction
13 Theft From Coin-Operated Machine or Device
12 Pornography/Obscene Material
11 Sexual Assault With An Object
10 Statutory Rape
8 Wire Fraud
5 Murder/No negligent Manslaughter
4 Extortion/Blackmail
2 Prostitution
1 Assisting or Promoting Prostitution
1 Bribery
24,445

Enough said?

Want to join us in becoming security-minded? Check out our website at www.Security-Minded.com and start implementing proactive steps toward securing your life! We've tried to make it easy for you!

Blessings to you and yours.

Security Protocol - Be careful where you go this summer

2010-07-03T10:50:00.001-05:00

On Wednesday, July 30, 2010, we spent the afternoon at a nearby water park. Around 3:00 p.m. over the muffled loudspeaker we heard something about everyone, including lifeguards, to leave and meet at the front gates. I will leave my commentary on the hullabaloo that ensued out of this and move on to what is most important: security.

As it turns out, this was all over a missing child (who was found after we had all packed up and left for the front gate). The park’s solution to a missing child was for everyone in the park, including lifeguards, to come to the front of the park and stand. What was the point of this? Let me tell you what the terrible consequence may have been. Had a kidnapper been the cause of the missing child, he or she could have escaped over the back fence with the child, unseen. We were all at the front gates, including the lifeguards. Had a child been wandering near the water and fallen in, the child could have drowned or been injured with no assistance. We were all at the front gates, including the lifeguards. This mess caused unnecessary anxiety as children and parents were separated due to not being allowed to meet up at the places designated by parents (lifeguards were shooing everyone toward the front, after all).

Solution? Should a child go missing, shut down the gates immediately, letting no one in or out. Send a person to the parking lot to look for anyone leaving with a child of that description. Get the license plate. At the same time announce over the loudspeaker that a child has gone missing and identify that child to the patrons of the park, letting them to know take that child to the nearest lifeguard once found. You will have an army of mothers looking for that child, and if they are still in the park, they will be found. Lifeguards should be at their stations and extras should be scanning fences and other points of exit, as well as bathrooms, locker rooms, and stalls, looking for this child. Police should be called after 5-10 minutes of no success. After that, let the law enforcement take over.

I cannot say I will return to this establishment. I am blogging about this matter, as it ought to be a lesson to us all. I am appalled at the lack of planning for emergencies, and at the lack of training for whoever it was that made that call Wednesday. Even the lifeguards had different ideas of what to do. Some wandered and talked with friends, some shooed, some went straight for the front without speaking to anyone… all seemed to want to stay silent as to the problem. Mistakes. All mistakes. I hope we can all learn from this, but most especially I hope this establishment, and others, will choose to make adjustments to their emergency protocol that will ensure the safety and security to all who patronize their establishments.

What can we do as individuals? Before we head to a public place, we can ask what their emergency protocol is. As adults, we can set a point of meeting for the others in our party that is near the front gates, if heading to the front gates is part of the protocol. If an establishment does not have a security protocol, we can insist they set one. Write to the owners, managers, city council. That is what I did. We will see what their response will be...

Sincerely,

LisaB

Elderly safety - Be Safe At Home

2010-02-19T15:52:00.004-06:00

Elderly safety is a growing concern for our aging loved ones. Accidental injuries in the home are three times as frequent in the elderly. Most often the causes are things we tend to overlook, yet can easily remedy.

By making some changes in the homes of our older loved ones, we will help to ensure their safety, comfort, and security.

We have added a page onto our website that offers you a checklist of some major areas you will want to inspect and make adjustments.

Bathrooms are the number one area for injuries in the elderly. This is the first area we discuss. The other areas include the living area, kitchen, visual concerns, and a few other safety tips.

The page on elderly safety can be found under "Personal Safety" at this location:

http://www.security-minded.com/elderly-safety.html

Thank you, and as always, stay security-minded.

Internet Safety for Children

2009-03-13T14:26:00.001-05:00

Child safety is an active part of your personal security. I can sum it up in one word: supervision. However, in an effort to excellently train our children in personal security, we need excellent resources.

Internet safety for children is also an active part of your personal security. Most children have access to, and access regularly, the Internet. In fact, they are often more savvy than the next generation or two up when it comes to knowing their way around the Internet and all its bells and whistles!

While the Internet offers many wonderful advantages for children, it is also a place where perpetrators stalk our children. The lack of personal contact can lull us into a false sense of security, which can lead to an innocent disclosure of information which can in turn be used against your child and/or you. Children are among the growing population of users on Facebook, My Space, and other social networks. These sites collect information and encourage the sharing of information. They use cute tools such as “birthday calendars” with pretty flowers and butterflies to gather information that can be shared. Online gaming sites geared towards children allow cartoonish characters to exchange information. How can we arm our children with tools to make decisions which protect their personal security?

I have found excellent, and entertaining, resources for children and for adults on child safety: a video called Stranger Safety, and a video called Internet Safety - for children. Put together by Baby Einstein creator, Julie Clark, and America’s Most Wanted Host, John Walsh, these are excellent resources to assist you in building the personal security of your child. You can find these videos at www.thesafeside.com

Empowering children with easy to remember safety tips, they will be on their way to securing their own environments and protecting themselves. Encouraging children to become more security-minded is one of the wonderful responsibilities of being a parent!

For more information, and to see my review of their videos, log on to our site at www.security-minded.com

In agreement with The Safe Side motto, we encourage each of you to secure your environments by being “smart, cool, safe™”! Watch the video and use it to teach and discuss personal security with your child.

…and remember… you haven’t taught it until they’ve learned it…

You are never too young to be security-minded!

Moving Safety Tip

2009-01-15T11:50:00.001-06:00

Just a quick safety tip!
We recently moved to a new state and with that move I made some shocking discoveries I want to pass on!

Our neighborhood was experiencing this financial crisis epidemic in tangible ways. In one instance, the neighbors were in a rush to move the rest of their belongings out while the Sheriff stood by with his eviction notice. These are good, hard-working people, I have to add, who were at one time considered "successful" by worldly standards.

In the rush, I noticed a box of old bank statements and other personal information. I quickly brought to the neighbor's attention this box. His first reaction was "Those are old. I don't care about them." He was exhausted and discouraged. I then reminded him of the sensitivity of these documents and he stopped his loading of the van and considered this. He did, afterall, take them to shred securely at a later date.

While we were moving out, moving back in, we too became exhausted and discouraged. I looked at all of our old paperwork and had a few fleeting thoughts that were less than "security-minded". Being dedicated to your security, as well as mine, I obediently sat and spent hours shredding. I fought with our shredder when it protested; I had compassion on it and let it cool at other times; I sought my older son's assistance when it went on strike. It was no easy task. I say this to let you know I do know how much I am asking of you when I ask you to be security-minded even when you are exhausted and discouraged.

While I was perusing these documents, I made a shocking discovery! My social security number was on my old bank statements, on my old deposit receipts! My personal information was strewn throughout these boxes of papers! Had I given in and just thrown these boxes away, or left them behind, I would have been offering up my security and my safety!

Even if the information hadn't been so blatant, criminals are pros at gathering information with what they can gather. Old addresses, old account histories, spending habits, areas frequented (or not frequented), etc.

The moral of the story here is, please, please please... be security-minded at all times. Pay attention to what you leave behind you as you move on in life. This may mean daily, yearly, or even from state to state. Securely dispose of your "trash". You don't know who may be picking up after you.

Sincerely,

Your Security-Minded team

Identity Theft Tips for College Students

2008-11-11T18:02:00.002-06:00

On our website I wrote a blurb on how the numbers of school-aged children who are victims of identity theft are increasing. I also suggested a couple of ways schools can help reduce this shocking trend!

This month on our blog I want to focus on college students.

Most college students have a fresh, clean credit history. This makes them likely candidates for perpetrators and thieves. Combine that with little education on preventive measures that can be taken to prevent identity theft, and you’ve got the latest FTC report statistics! A shocking 29 percent of identity theft victims are college-aged (18-29 years old)!

Quick advice: KEEP YOUR PERSONAL RECORDS AND DOCUMENTS SAFE.

Identity theft screws up your credit and makes it a challenge to buy a car, rent an apartment, set up utilities, and may even affect your ability to get a job (if you will be managing finances). It takes hours and hours of time to get it straightened out once you discover someone has stolen your identity and racked up thousands of dollars in damages. I know. I’ve had to deal with it.

We have more detailed information on our website, but here is the Cliff’s Notes version:

1) Get your credit reports regularly and scrutinize them. You can get one free report per year from the 3 major companies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) online.

2) Buy a shredder! Shred everything that has any identifying information on it, including credit card offers in the mail! (Of course I mean those papers you are not using and do not need in the future, such as your SS card!)

3) Check your statements! Take time each month to look over your bank statements, department store bill, gasoline card statement, etc. If you notice charges you did not authorize, report it to the company immediately.

4) Lock up your identification! Buy a small lock box or find a secure, private location to keep your Social Security card, birth certificate, credit or debit cards, and even your online passwords. Keep account numbers and corresponding phone numbers in this safe place as well.

5) Never give out your information over the phone or Internet unless you trust the caller or have initiated the call. For Internet shopping, make sure the store is a secure site. You know this because the URL line will read with an “s” at the end of “http” (“https://).

6) Write “See ID” on the back of credit and debit cards where your signature belongs. This will prompt salespeople to ask to see your ID, which is a new tip for me too! Yay! If you have the option of getting a credit or debit card with your picture on it, do it.

7) Keep your dorm rooms locked! Don’t share keys or passes, and if you do lose them, report it immediately!

8) Secure your computers and laptops with locked cables. Use passwords with numbers, letters, capitals and small letters, and change them regularly. Use firewall and anti-virus security programs.

If you become the victim of identity theft, report it to the police. Secondly, report it to the credit agencies and file a report with the FTC. Finally, close those accounts. When you open new accounts, use new PIN numbers and passwords.

That sums it up. If you want to read more detail, visit our site at http://www.security-minded.com/

If you want to vent about how identity theft sucked hours, days, and months of life out of you, I hear ya. I wonder how those people sleep at night (on a $2000 bed I paid for, I suppose! LOL)

Well, blessings to you all, and stay security-minded.

Signs of the Times

2008-10-19T16:30:00.000-05:00

Hi y'all! Here is our first blog post for Security-Minded.com!

Recent news reports indicate that crime is on the rise again. Are we surprised? I had said, prior to the recent financial crisis, that desperate times create desperate people. Our local OC Register states that bank robberies are up 50% this year!

I went to make a bank deposit last week. Had to get just a little bit of money into the account so it didn't overdraw! Know how that is? I pulled into a parking space and suddenly notice the employees out front, shooing me away. What?! I jumped out of my car and said, rather emphatically, "But I have to make a deposit!" - only to notice the yellow tape around the entrance to the bank. Of course I stopped and made sure they were all okay, but... I did need to make a deposit...

As I drove off, I realized... this is the second time this bank has been robbed in the last few months - that I know of! Wowza. I wondered who it was and why they had decided to commit this crime. It probably could have been more people than we'd imagine. Did I say, desperate times create desperate people?

An alert we received yesterday warned us all that this economic crisis is creating more of a concern than many are comprehending. Tighter purse strings mean cutbacks... including cutbacks in law enforcement. SO... we have crime increasing and crime-fighters being reduced. Now that's logical (insert sarcasm here).

"The collapse of U.S. financial markets is forcing deep cuts in local police agencies and stoking fears among police chiefs that mass home foreclosures are bringing more crime to suburbs.
Problems created by the financial meltdown are starting to touch everything from police response times to unsolved crimes.
Blocks of homes vacant from foreclosures are becoming magnets nationwide for gang members, drug users, prostitutes and thieves, who steal appliances and fixtures, Deane and other officers say.
At the same time, police agencies are dramatically reducing their forces as local governments struggle to allocate shrinking revenue from property and sales taxes to fund basic services."

Oh what a tangled web we weave...

We can choose to give in to fear, or we can call upon that Spirit which gives us courage and might. We have the knowledge - that times are getting tougher - but let's use wisdom and apply that knowledge to our lives! With courage and might, let us fortify ourselves!

Have you checked out your home and surrounding property, your office and its property (i.e. parking lot), your child's school property, and conducted a risk assessment? You can improve your security without ever spending a dime simply by taking these steps.

For information on conducting a risk assessment, and for free downloadable checklists, check out our website by clicking on the picture on the right of your screen.

On a personal note, we are heartbroken to recognize that these desperate times sometimes instigate otherwise good people to make bad choices. The father or mother that lost their job and cannot seem to find work anywhere... and needs to feed their children. Let us not forget that there are starving and homeless people here in the United States, and yes, even in our home town. Please do not look at every stranger as a potential threat to your security, but instead be secure yourself, and then reach out with compassion and kindness to help those in need.

With sincerity and respect,
LisaB