Darren Tubb, pictured, General Manager, Ad Hoc Security UK Limited, talks about the consequences of not protecting properties effectively enough, especially those which are vacant.
In 2017, there were 1.8 million recorded cases of anti-social behaviour in the UK. The number of burglaries rose nine per cent to over 400,000 and the number of criminal damage and arson cases sat just shy of 600,000. With so much crime happening against property in the UK, better security measures must be taken to ensure these buildings are kept safe. One of the biggest targets for crime in the UK are vacant properties, and with an estimated 200,000 homes sitting long-term vacant in the country (not including commercial properties), the target isnโt going to diminish.
Protecting vacant properties from anti-social crime needs to be a top priority for property owners. When buildings arenโt adequately secured, they become a host to all sorts of crimes such as asset stripping, illegal occupation, vandalism and arson, the costs of which are enormous. It speaks for itself therefore that if property owners are to avoid this, it is imperative that they secure their empty buildings effectively.
The default solution, all-too-often, is more traditional methods, such as manned security. However, with a price tag on average of about ยฃ300 per day, this isnโt in everyoneโs budgets, nor does it guarantee every inch of the property being properly monitored.
Ad Hoc Security UK Limited provides a range of property security solutions, including its Smart Tower Security System. The device, which uses SMART technology (the same technology used in monitoring US defence centre The Pentagon), boasts a 360 degree camera which can be programmed to move zones at set intervals for 24/7 monitoring. By using wireless communication technology, the camera is able to filter large objects from those that are small, ensuring the alarm is only triggered when there is a clear threat. Sitting at six meters tall, the tower also has 36x optical zoom which can magnify distances up to 150 yards and 12x digital zoom to digitally enhance optical image.
In addition to its Smart Camera Tower, Ad Hoc also deploy its Smart Alarm System to properties which need extra protection. The alarm system, which monitors properties 24 hours a day, 365 days a year with a manned response when necessary, can detect motion, a threshold breach, smoke and extreme temperatures, making it the perfect fit during winter months.
Ad Hocโs Smart Tower Security System and Smart Alarm System, have been used successfully by a number of property owners to protect their properties around the UK. In one case, at a site in London, the growing crime of fly-tipping saw a property dumped with mounds of waste repeatedly, the removal costs of which in one month equated to nearly ยฃ25,000. At another site (a former NHS clinic in Sittingbourne), with the help of the Smart Tower, the owners were able to identify and arrest a trespasser who damaged the property in a forced entry attempt.
Properties of all kinds, including commercial, residential and open land, donโt have to be targets for crime. If they are effectively secured with technology like Ad Hocโs Smart Cameras and alarm system, then there will be less opportunity for crime against property owners not to mention the associated repair costs.
Visit: www.adhocproperty.co.uk.
