Preventing Losses from Criminal Actions: A Security Guide

1. Introduction to Security Chapter 9 Preventing Losses from Criminal Actions

2. Enforcing Proprietary Rights • Not all crimes can be prevented. • Security officers are expected to act to protect the assets of their employers, and cannot always assume local authorities will handle the situation. • Some of these problems may not be actual violations of a criminal code, so they are security’s responsibility.

3. Proprietary Rights • Prevent trespassing • Control conduct of persons legally on the premises • Defend self, others and property • Prevent the commission of a crime

4. Criminal Offenses • Misdemeanor – a minor crime that is punishable by a fine and/or a relatively short jail sentence (less than a year) • Felony – a serious crime, such as murder, robbery or rape, which is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison system or death

5. Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) • Statistics are voluntarily reported by nearly 17,000 law enforcement agencies, and compiled annually by the FBI.

6. 2005 UCR results: • 1 violent crime every 22.7 seconds • 1 murder every 31.5 minutes • 1 forcible rape every 5.6 minutes • 1 robbery every 1.3 minutes • 1 aggravated assault every 36.5 seconds • 1 larceny-theft every 4.7 seconds • 1 burglary every 14.6 seconds • 1 motor vehicle theft every 25.5 seconds

7. Crimes of Concern to Private Security and Steps to Deal with Them: • Larceny/ Theft • Burglary • Robbery • Trespassing and Vandalism • Assault • Arson • White Collar & Economic Crime • Fraud • Computer Crime

8. Crimes of Concern to Private Security and Steps to Deal with Them: 1. Larceny/ Theft • Limit access to assets • Use basic security equipment and procedures to deter employee pilferage • Use basic security equipment and procedures to deter non-employee theft

9. Where larceny/theft occurs:

10. 2. Burglary • Defined as: “entering a structure without the owner’s consent with the intent to commit a crime.” • Although the crime is usually theft, it could also be something else such as rape or assault.

11. 3. Robbery • Defined as: “the unlawful taking of personal property from the person or in the person’s presence, against the person’s will by force or threat of force.”

12. 3. Robbery Robbery Prevention Steps: • Train employees how to react if a robbery occurs • Do not build up cash. Use armed couriers to transport cash. • Establish strict opening and closing procedures; use extreme caution if someone wants in after hours.

13. What to do if robbed: • Stay calm • Do exactly as you are told • Assure the robber you will cooperate • Treat any firearm displayed as if it were loaded • Activate alarms only if you can do so undetected • Try to alert others if possible

14. 4. Trespassing and Vandalism • Trespassing: “the unlawful presence of a person on the property or inside the premises.” • Vandalism: “the malicious or intentional damaging or destroying of property.”

15. 4. Trespassing and Vandalism Reducing trespassing and vandalism: • Preventing or reducing access and using strict access controls • Using security lighting • Using signage to deter violators • Utilize security patrols

16. 5. Assault • “an attack on a person…” • Steps to combating assault: • Adequate lighting • Security patrols • Communication systems (emergency light posts) • Escort services to parking areas

17. 6. Arson • Defined as: “the willful or malicious burning or attempting to burn, with or without the intent to defraud, a dwelling house, public building, motor vehicle, aircraft, or personal property of another…”

18. 6. Arson • Motives: • Financial gain through insurance fraud • An attempt to hide another crime such as burglary or embezzlement • Revenge • Terrorism

19. 6. Arson • Increase security for those areas commonly used to start fires. • Common sites for arson fires: • Basements • Storerooms • Duplicating, file and mail rooms • Utility closets

20. 6. Arson • Possible indicators: • More than 1 point of origin • Deviate from normal burn patterns • Evidence of trailers • Evidence of accelerants • Presence of ignitors • Telltale odors or smoke colors

21. 7. White-Collar or Economic Crime • These are business-related crimes • There may be only one individual involved or it may be a larger conspiracy. • Examples: • Identity theft • Tax offenses • Securities theft • Environmental offenses • Embezzlement • Bribes

22. 8. Fraud • Fraud comes in many forms, so security managers must be very diligent to combat it. • Identity theft has evolved into a very serious and pervasive threat to both consumer and the financial services industry.

23. 9. Computer Crime • Also known as “cybercrime” • Computers are the heart of most business operations/ communications systems – that makes them an attractive and potentially catastrophic target for criminals

24. 9. Computer Crime Types of threats: • Employees snooping through confidential files • Theft of trade secrets • Alteration of input data (altering grades, fictitious suppliers entered to divert funds) • Changing computer time to allow employees to steal time

25. 9. Computer Crime Detecting and Reporting: • By its very nature, computer crime is relatively easy to commit and tough to detect. • Only a small number are actually detected. • Of those detected, only 12% are reported to authorities and only 3% of those offenders go to jail. • Thus, the chance of committing a computer crime and going to jail is 1:27,000.

26. 9. Computer Crime Investigating: • We may need the help of an outside professional to help investigate computer crime. • Be aware many law enforcement agencies do not possess the equipment or expertise to effectively investigate cybercrime. • We need to be prepared to work with several agencies as the investigation crosses state/ national borders.

27. Computer Security Program Recommendations: • Have strict access control • Maintain up-to-date protection software • Remove paper printout sheets from computer areas • Avoid contact with recording surfaces of disks • Never use paper clips or rubber bands on disks • Establish a backup system

28. Expelling, Detaining, Searching and Arresting • The most important part of this sensitive area is to know exactly what local and state statutes allow security personnel to do. • This is especially important when a security manager is responsible for security personnel in different jurisdictions.

29. Expelling, Detaining, Searching and Arresting • Many states allow security personnel to: • Detain suspected shoplifters • Make a citizen’s arrest of persons who have committed a misdemeanor in their presence • Make a citizen’s arrest of persons whom they have probable cause committed a felony

30. Expelling, Detaining, Searching and Arresting Use of Force • Force can be used only when and to the extent it is necessary. • Deadly force can only be used to protect human life. • Training and documentation of training is critical.

31. Searching • The law clearly establishes the right of an arresting officer to search a person. • Most security searches do not involve an arrest. They are conducted based on company policy. • Conduct searches in private, have a witness to the search if possible, searcher should be same sex as person searched.