With security concerns on the rise, a local company has unrolled a new quick-response unit to answer calls for help.
“Society has changed,” said Security Associates CEO Carlton Crockwell.
“People are more concerned for their well-being, and we’re finding there are more incidents to deal with.”
The Alarm Response and Support Unit is now deploying security vans onto the Island’s roads, where they can react quickly to security issues at businesses and residences.
“We have over 3,000 alarms, and police are dealing with a lot of crime on the Island,” Mr Crockwell explained. “There’s more need for security than before, plus people are watching their dollars and cents. Instead of having a security guard physically present, they can put in a call and we will respond. It keeps us busy.”
For businesses, the Support Unit can swiftly deploy police-approved security to deal with shoplifters or disruptive customers.
Alarm Response and Support manager Ernest Paynter said late-closing stores and companies also call in security at lock-up time, so that staff feel safe going to their cars.
“Sometimes for women working late or for people who park their cars around Bulls Head, they have a system where they call our central station and our guys will go and drop them off.”
Mr Paynter said the firm has also been asked to patrol along Pitt’s Bay Road outside Hamilton, where tourists have been robbed in areas outside the range of CCTV cameras.
The new service follows on heightened protection at Arnold’s Markets, which recently advertised to hire its own guards. The Royal Gazette understands that Arnold’s locations around the Island are subject to stepped-up security in recent weeks.
An Arnold’s employee said the move was in response to occasional disorderly behaviour from “thugs and drunks”.
Supermarket owner Frank Arnold was unavailable for comment.
http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20111216/NEWS/712169938
