Understand how criminals think

Criminals play the most important role in planning a property�s security system, says Ren Brand of Independent Security Consultancy.

�Criminals are experienced in breaching security systems, so understanding how they think is the most important starting point when planning these systems.�

Unfortunately, in the planning and design of most security systems, budget and high tech security systems take precedence over identifying the criminal�s strategy. Attaching greater importance to security products and services than the criminal�s intrusion abilities and tactics is like putting the cart before the horse and leads to inefficiency and vulnerability in the security system, he says.

�If you budget and plan for security before you consider the criminal�s capabilities and his likely course of attack you will probably pay for a system which does not counter the real threat, and therefore waste money. Unfortunately most law abiding citizens can�t envisage the tactics employed by criminals and the ease with which most systems are breached.�

Studying criminal behaviour and the use of criminal intelligence to determine criminals� favoured actions, their knowledge of security systems and what they consider to be the greatest deterrent is the least expensive and most effective method of securing a property. He says all security systems and hardware should be put to the test and not just assumed to be efficient.

A simulated intrusion test carried out by an independent security professional and based on well researched criminal behaviour is the most effective means of identifying the weakest link in a security system before the criminal discovers it.

Questioning of experienced criminals has proved to be a highly effective means of collecting information on criminal tactics. Brand, who has developed several intrusion tests, maintains that standard conventional security installations are not effective against the level of crime today.

�Only when you understand how criminals operate can you design a system to stop them. You need to be proactive and one jump ahead of them.� He says criminals can plan and circumvent the visible and the known but cannot overcome the unknown.

Hidden systems will detect criminals before they commit their crimes and Brand recommends that crime prevention through architectural design should be adopted where security is strategically planned upfront.

�A layered system needs to be designed which incorporates early warning outer boundary perimeter detection and barriers, access control , close home perimeter detection, internal alarm system, a safe room and emergency procedures.

For heightened security, CCTV cameras can be included for verification of an alarm situation. Criminals have their own networks and many are highly experienced and skilled in collecting information for planning burglaries and attacks. Counter measures are essential to prevent inside jobs, an aspect that is often overlooked.

�Understanding how criminals think and establishing their most likely course of action in any particular situation are vital to the success of any security plan,� says Brand.

Source: SA Property News,  07/09/2010

 

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