The Role of Rapid Response In Preventing Loss And Damage

Every second counts.

Burglars never spend a lot of time on a property. Their goal is simple: to go in and out within a set time and get the most out of the property as they can.

According to recent statistics, the average burglary takes about 8 to 10 minutes. This means that police action must be less than that to catch the perpetrators.

Rapid response times play a huge role in residential and commercial security, which is why services like remote monitoring are becoming so important in today’s crime-infested world.

Read below to learn more about rapid response and its role in preventing loss and damage:

COMMON SECURITY BREACHES AND HOW LONG THEY TAKE

Timing is everything, and you can bet that the burglars follow the same mantra as well!

Burglars never spend more than 15 minutes on a location because they, too, are afraid of being caught and want to get done with the property in the quickest time possible, even when there is no one around.

Criminals know that when things go wrong, they can go wrong quickly, so they grab whatever they can, ransack the place, and leave.

However, there is one tool that you can throw into the mix to foil their plans: rapid response monitoring systems.

Monitoring systems are an excellent way to immediately report threats and sometimes even suspicious activity. This allows enforcement personnel to act quickly and catch the perpetrators red-handed.

Before we get into monitoring solutions, let’s first take a look at the type of security breaches and how long on average they take:

Unauthorised access

Unauthorised access is when someone who is not allowed to enter your property or a part of it gains access to it.

Usually, criminals will perform various recce sessions, which can take from hours to days. They can take all of this time because instead of actively robbing the place, they first take their time studying the layout of the property.

During recce sessions, criminals look like any other person on the street, which means that they can spend a good time studying the place from afar. However, some activity can also be flagged, especially if the same person is noted multiple times around the property.

Bold criminals may even piggyback on authorised individuals to gain access to a location to study it from the inside as well. Unauthorised access and trespassing can also be done using identity theft or brute force.

Theft

Theft and burglary are two very common security issues faced by almost all businesses and some residential properties. During an active theft, criminals aim to spend no more than 10-12 minutes on a location. They aim to steal equipment such as computers, laptops, and valuable assets within this timeframe and often leave the place ransacked because they leave in such a hurry.

Most theft takes place in the late evening to early morning hours, between 6 pm and 6 am, so that is the time you are most likely to see an increase in criminal activity around your property.

Vandalism

Vandalism refers to the destruction of business property and equipment, which is mostly deliberate. Vandals usually pick vacant properties in secluded areas. They tend to spend from minutes to hours, depending on the security condition of the place they are vandalising.

On average, you can expect vandals to spend anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour on a location where they can cause damage and even shift their focus to stealing as well.

THE ROLE OF RAPID RESPONSE IN PREVENTING LOSS AND DAMAGE

Rapid response remains one of the strongest tools for law enforcement to counter criminal activity.

In the UK, rapid response is a critical factor in preventing loss, damage, and escalation of incidents. Rapid response is the foundation upon which services like keyholding, alarm response, and mobile patrols are built.

Here are the ways rapid response helps:

Immediate Intervention

During an alarm, the time between activation and action is crucial. A rapid response ensures that trained personnel leave their positions and head towards the property in the quickest time possible.

This can allow them to reach the location within minutes before the situation worsens. Ideally, response times should be within 6 minutes.

This can allow enforcement personnel to interrupt intrusions, contain small fires or hazards, and investigate suspicious activity before it escalates.

Crime Deterrence

Rapid response isn’t just a reactive measure; it also serves a proactive purpose. As mentioned above, criminals are more afraid than you think, which is why they are more likely to abandon an attempt if they know a professional security team will arrive quickly.

Deterrence can occur when there are visible response vehicles in the vicinity or when there is a dedicated plaque on the wall that highlights that the property is maintained by a private security contractor.

Just like CCTV systems, where people can modify their behaviour when they know they are being recorded, these simple measures can also make criminals think twice. Monitored spaces are inherently seen as higher-risk targets, and criminals actively choose to avoid them when planning a robbery.

Fulfilling Standards and Requirements

Response times aren’t just important for mitigating disasters, but they are also crucial for fulfilling insurance requirements. Insurance companies want their customers to have a solid baseline for security so that they can reduce the risk of loss in the first place.

Many insurers will calculate premiums differently depending on multiple factors, one of which is based on the usage of monitoring services for the property.

If you fulfil all the requirements and have a track record of no minor or major events, then your property may be able to secure premium discounts.

If you go with professional security companies like Calder Security, then you can be sure to get high-value services. Professional companies are certified and accredited, which means that they follow strict standards such as the BS 7984, which highlight response times, training, and accountability.

By following standards, companies also focus on creating a transparent paper trail of all security events. This way, you do not have to do anything! The company will document response procedures, outline keyholding arrangements, and log all security activities or actions on your property.

This level of documentation can prove to be extremely useful if, in the rare event, you do claim a loss in the future.

Emergency Access

Whether it’s residential or commercial properties, providing immediate access to emergency responders is crucial for securing a property.

This is why services like keyholding are so important. Professional keyholding services involve assigning a security professional and providing them with the keys to your property. This individual will remain on patrol around your area so that they can quickly visit the property if the ARC sends out a request.

For example, in the case of a fire on your property, the alarm system in the premises can transmit a signal to the Alarm Receiving Centre, where operators can validate and confirm the threat and forward the request to emergency services and the keyholder.

The keyholder, being near the property, will quickly go over and wait for the emergency responders at the property. Once the emergency responders arrive, the keyholder will provide full access to the property so that the fire can be put out.

This can save a lot of time and allow the professionals to deal with the threat in the quickest way possible, thereby reducing the chances of major loss.

24/7 Availability

The biggest benefit of going with rapid-response services is that they are at your disposal 24/7 throughout the year. These teams work in shifts so that you do not have a moment where your property is left vulnerable to threats.

Some people might opt for casual keyholding services where they would give keys to family members or friends. Entrusting civilians with such a huge responsibility is not just wrong but also dangerous.

Never mind availability issues, sending out regular folks to investigate threats on a property can prove to be dangerous because you will essentially be putting their life at risk.

In the case of professional rapid response teams, you can rest assured that you will always be serviced by a professional who is trained in investigating various issues and even escalating issues to authorities.

They are available 24 hours a day, and since criminals usually strike after dark, you can be sure that they will respond to threats even at 5 am in the morning.

Highly Personalised

Rapid response services can be personalised according to your needs. If you require very quick turnover times, then you can mention your requirements to the security company, which can help you outline an appropriate Service Level Agreement or SLA.

Professional companies like Calder Security work with the property owners to figure out their expectations from the service. Some owners may want a response time under 10-15 minutes, while others may not specify the timing at all.

In most cases, security companies aim to respond within 15 minutes, especially if a property is located within the patrol zone.

If you want to have a specific plan for your property, then consultants can help you map out your requirements and then develop a specialised proposal just for you.

Please note that additional requests that fall out of the typical scope of rapid-response services warrant additional charges. So, the more specific you get, the more you can expect the SLA to cost.

The general SLA for rapid response services is more than enough for residential users, but commercial property owners may benefit from having a personalised system.

ADDITIONAL MEASURES TO PREVENT LOSS AND DAMAGE

Security breaches can be devastating if you do not have the right countermeasures. While rapid response services are a great foundation, there are also several steps that you can take to improve the overall security of your property and reduce the risk of loss and damage.

Here are some of the top ways you can save your property from threats:

Perimeter security

Want to be proactive? Then perimeter security will be a great addition for your property. Perimeter security allows you to respond to suspected activity before they become dangerous threat.

For example, perimeter security can pick up on loiters and track their movement around the premises to confirm if they are a threat. If the threat is confirmed, then the rapid response team can be sent to the property to investigate.

Additionally, you can also install gates, security fencing, and barriers to prevent intruders from gaining access to your property. You can also consider physical barriers such as bollards and anti-ram devices to protect against vehicular threats.

We also recommend that you keep the premises well-illuminated using security lights, particularly during nighttime or after business hours, to deter potential intruders.

CCTV surveillance

CCTV cameras are one of the most effective deterrents against security threats. They are the gold standard for surveillance and can be used to prevent threats as well.

You can place them around the property, including the entrances, exits, and other critical areas, to give complete coverage. This kind of coverage can also boost the effectiveness and efficiency of monitoring services since the operators will be able to see everything remotely and keep an eye on your property.

Alarm systems

Alarm systems, including burglar alarms or intruder alarms, are crucial for every type of property. They are your first line of defence against various types of threats.

These alarms work using sensors that can detect threats in key locations around the property. The sensors can detect unusual movement or activity and sound a loud siren to alert all those around to the intrusion. Depending on the alarm system, the alarm can also send out an alert to the ARC or directly to the police as well.

Their presence is usually enough to scare away low-level criminals, and when placed correctly, they can deter professional burglars as well. You can also integrate these alarms with other security hardware, such as access control systems, CCTV cameras, and security lighting, for even greater proactive security.

CONTACT CALDER SECURITY

At Calder Security, we provide a comprehensive range of security solutions that include not just professional installation but also monitoring, maintenance, and repair services.

We are members of the Master Locksmith Association (MLA), approved members of the Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board (SSAIB), and also conform to all the relevant British and EU Standards. We follow all the best practices in the industry and install only high-quality, state-of-the-art security systems.

We offer various levels of monitoring via a 24-hour monitoring centre manned by security professionals who perform checks to confirm the alarm, notify the keyholder(s) and, if appropriate, alert the police.

We understand the importance of regularly maintaining security systems since the inability to do so might result in serious faults and consequent vulnerabilities in your property’s security.

We provide professional maintenance checks and reminders for when the checks are due to help you stay compliant with the law and work fast to restore your security systems to excellent condition.

We offer a 24-hour call-out service for customers and can also repair systems not installed by us. Our engineers are highly skilled and can restore faulty systems to full working order in one visit.

Contact us here or call us at 0800 612 9799 to talk to our experts for more information on the role of rapid response in preventing loss and damage.

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