Warehouse Security – BIG business in Florida

Florida is a hot spot for warehouse burglaries.   With the shipping industry off the Florida coast, high end burglars look for merchandise that can be shipped out to be repackaged and sold.  These high-end burglars are smarter than your “opportunists” and make away with millions in products.  Here are some examples of high-end warehouse burglaries from across the country:

Half a million dollars stolen in warehouse burglary

$5 Million in PPE products stolen

High end Wig Burglary

$60 million pharmaceutical heist

Many warehouse burglaries have been cased or are committed by former employees.  Most warehouse districts are in commercial districts with very little traffic on weekends and holidays.  Thus, the chances of someone spotting criminal activity are lowered, leaving the bad guys with lots of time to get what they want. With the low traffic, they also choose different ways to avoid being detected by a regular security system.  These entries include coming through the roof, cutting into overhead doors, and even using equipment to pop rivets in metal buildings.  Check out these stories:

Entry through the roof

Cutting through overhead doors to avoid the security devices

Broke through the walls

For this reason, it is imperative that your security coverage be optimal.  Most systems are triggered after the burglar makes entry and only if there is a security device located in the area.

The one thing all these burglaries cannot avoid is making noise. Sonitrol’s impact activated audio is triggered at the first sound of impact or noise.  This often results in police being dispatched before entry is made into the building.  It also verifies an actual crime in progress.  According to Florida statute 489.529, alarm verification calls are required.—All residential or commercial intrusion/burglary alarms that have central monitoring must have a central monitoring verification call made to a telephone number associated with the premises generating the alarm signal, before alarm monitor personnel contact a law enforcement agency for alarm dispatch. The central monitoring station must employ call-verification methods for the premises generating the alarm signal if the first call is not answered. However, verification calling is not required if:

(1) The intrusion/burglary alarm has a properly operating visual or auditory sensor that enables the monitoring personnel to verify the alarm signal.

Using impact activated audio and cameras that activate on alarm, operators can verify the break-in and therefore dispatch first before calling the owner of the building.  Operators can inform dispatchers of where in the building the break-in occurred, if multiple burglars are on site, and what they are saying.  By verifying an alarm, law enforcement can plan en route, which helps the safety of our law enforcement.

If you are interested in seeing what Sonitrol of Polk County can do for your business, contact us.