crosby intruder alarms

Lock Down

Posted on July 1, 2017

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In light of recent events, security in the UK is at an all time. While we are assured that the chance of a security breach or incident is highly unlikely, holiday park owners and facility managers are right to be cautious and take appropriate measures to safeguard themselves, staff and visitors.

When the owners of Hampshire-based touring and caravan park Sunnydale Farm were looking for a solution to reduce uncontrolled vehicle access to the site, it was the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system from IDS Group that caught their attention. Open all year round, the park is visited by many campers, tourers and suppliers each day. Having previously tried traditional gates and overhead height barriers to control access to their site, owners Stella and Bill Matthews were looking for a more secure, efficient and automated solution.

For the entrances, IDS Group installed two electronic barriers and two ANPR cameras for incoming vehicles. They also incorporated 1080p HD resolution IP CCTV cameras with infrared night vision to automate the access to the site and give a general overview. As the vehicles are typically caravans and longer than the average car, it was important to strategically position the ground loops effectively to avoid the barrier coming down too soon, due to the length of the vehicle.

The exit required more consideration, such as the safety of children, cyclists and proximity to the main road so IDS Group installed an electronic barrier with a longer loop for the delayed exit. The ANPR cameras provide barrier control and create time log recordings of length of stay.

Barrier“In a lot of cases holiday parks have several entrances and exits and receptions desks are not always located at either of them - this makes it difficult to monitor who leaves or exits their sites. So many holiday parks are having to deal with unwanted guests, as such, this can lead to theft, vandalism and a threat to customer security,” explains Tas Kyriacou, Head of Business Development at IDS Group.

ANPR and barrier solutions have been growing in popularity over the years and the control this security solution provides to staff can significantly reduce risks to the park. According to IDS Group, an ANPR solution can start from around £6,500 up to £12,500 depending on many variables. CCTV solutions can start from £4,000. “Just like anything else in life, you get what you pay for, so if you invest in the right technology, you will be sure to enhance the safety of your customers and property and since your customers are what generates revenue, you will need to protect your assets,” says Tas.

“However before thinking about the technology, it is important to find a security company that can understand your requirements and have the ability to deliver what is required. A good security company is imperative to the delivery of the right solution.”

DAYLIGHT ROBBERY

Earlier this year a caravan was stolen from Bynea’s Gateway Caravan Park in South Wales. The high-value caravan was taken in broad daylight between 9am and 11am in the morning. Elsewhere in the country, offenders gained access to a window of a static caravan at a holiday park in Dorchester and stole valuable items of diamond jewellery. And in Scotland, police appealed to the public for more information after two mountain bikes were stolen from a caravan park in Peebles in August last year. The bikes had been taken along with the chains that had been used to secure them to a tree.

Unfortunately, cases of holiday park crime like these are not uncommon. And worryingly, crime levels across the country are on the rise. The Office for National Statistics said that recent police data showed a nine per cent rise in overall crime in 2016. Last year Avon and Somerset police pledged to increase resources in Burnham, Brean, and Berrow after a number of incidents at holiday parks over the summer months. Police officers and holiday park owners met to discuss ways of cracking down on crime in the area. Owners of holiday parks in BCodeurnham, and its surrounding areas, said they had to deal with a number of caravan thefts, as well as drunk and disorderly behaviour on a regular basis.

This prompted the police to upgrade their Pubwatch scheme - a partnership where independent groups of licensees work with police to pre-empt crime and antisocial behaviour in licensed premises. The scheme saw the installation of more high-quality radio systems and more staff onsite who are able to connect directly with the police. In Lincolnshire, the local police force offers a Caravan Park Watch Scheme to tackle caravan related crime across the county.

Caravan site owners, Lincolnshire Police and other representatives from the caravan industry meet regularly to discuss caravan related issues. The initiative was set up initially to tackle a growing number of burglaries occurring on holiday parks, especially during the winter close down period. Since the Caravan Park Watch scheme was implemented in 2014, caravan related crime rates in the area have dropped by over 45 per cent.

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Company Contacts

Crosby Intruder Alarms  Tel. 0800 917 1441  www.crosbyintruder.co.uk

IDS Group  Tel. 0208 819 1044 www.idsgroup.uk.com

Leisure Days Tel. 01422 396 770 www.leisuredays.co.uk

Wilby  Tel. 01422 358 525  www.wilbyltd.co.uk

 

Stop Thief!

Posted on July 13, 2016

thief

Holiday parks can safeguard sites and visitors with a wide range of deterrents, as Ashleigh Mackenzie reports…

Crime is at an all-time low, according to the latest findings from the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW).

Reported offences were down by seven per cent compared to 2014 and continues the long term downward trend seen since the mid-1990s; the lowest estimate since the survey began in 1981.

Holiday parks possess a wide range of attractive options to deter prospective thieves. While complete protection from such occurrences can never be guaranteed, there are a number of measures and precautions that holiday park operators can implement to safeguard their parks and their guests.

“One of the biggest security issues facing holiday parks is theft of contents from holiday caravans and business property, particularly in the closed season,” reveals Gareth Walker, head of Leisuredays Development.

“Monitoring comings and goings is a big issue for park owners, as by their very nature holiday parks have people coming in an out all the time, sometimes making it difficult to distinguish holiday makers from those intent on committing crime.”

Ideally, a holiday park should be surrounded by a perimeter fence, wall or hedge and only accessible through one entrance. This immediately limits access to the park for non-residents and potential opportunist criminals.

 

PRO-ACTIVE APPROACH

Many holiday parks will have a store of agricultural equipment and often vehicles for maintenance use around the premises. These can range in value but hold an appeal to criminals as items that are easily sellable. It is important for site owners to protect these items by storing them correctly and securely in locked buildings or compounds, with keys removed and stored in a safe place.

“Parks themselves can be more pro-active by being more vigilant and documenting registration numbers from suspicious vehicles that come onto the park, or by installing a security system that passes information onto them. This will allow resources to be sent quickly if an incident occurs,” comments Roy Williams of security provider Crosby Intruder Alarms.

“Parks may also want to consider an alarm system. This could be a standalone system that makes a noise if someone breaks into one of the properties, but a better option is to install an intruder alarm that can be monitored, logged and recorded on a mobile device by the park management or security team.” Crosby Intruder Alarms’ wireless systems not only comply with all current European and British Standards, but also meet the security requirements of many insurance companies.

As well as covering access points, the systems monitor the mains supply and notify the park owner if the mains goes off and when it is re-instated - a valuable tool for park home owners in particular. Furthermore, the system can protect from Carbon Monoxide poisoning from gas powered heaters and boilers and alert you of fire with the installation of smoke or heat detectors. All of this is controlled from the premises or remotely via an App.

COMBAT VANDALISM
It can be a tricky balancing act for park owners to protect their customers but also not create a heavily controlled environment. Pic:Leisuredays.

It can be a tricky balancing act for park owners to protect their customers but also not create a heavily controlled environment. Pic:Leisuredays.

Many caravan and holiday home parks suffer from some form of vandalism from time to time. Installing Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) can help to combat this problem. There is some very high quality CCTV equipment these days that doesn’t cost the earth that can provide clear images in both day and night situations.

“Good quality CCTV is imperative, if an incident goes to court and evidence from the CCTV system is required,” says Roy.

“In general, most parks should consider an alarm system that each caravan or lodge signals back to, a CCTV system to monitor entrances and exits to the park as well as other vulnerable areas and access control via a barrier system and cards to high risk areas. Our Crosby Intruder Alarms CCTV systems can be record in high definition on site and can also be controlled via an App on your mobile phone.”

Roy continues: “When considering security, the main pitfalls to watch out for are cheap systems, if it looks too good to be true, it probably is. Other problems include systems installed by unqualified, non-approved installation companies.” From an insurance point of view, commercial insurance is a two way street whereby insurers will do all they can to provide a safety net to protect a company’s assets and their ability to trade.

In turn, insurers may provide clients with guidelines to adhere to which they hope will serve to limit the potential for claims.

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Lock Down

Posted on June 26, 2015
Lock down

Above: Walk-in burglaries are known to increase during the summer months, so there’s no better time to assess the effectiveness of the security measures in place.

Lock Down

A man found guilty of burglary at Parkdean’s West Bay Holiday Park was recently handed a four year custodial sentence. During the trial, the jury heard how Anthony Bown had burgled the Nisa convenience store on the park, stealing cigarettes, cigars and tobacco worth £3,300.

In a separate incident, a cleaner admitted stealing electronic devices from caravans at Haven’s Devon Hills Holiday Park in Exmouth last summer. Richard Copley admitted two counts of burglary when he appeared in court and was subsequently jailed for eight months, suspended for two years, and ordered to pay almost £1,400 in compensation.

Incidents like these are unfortunately all too common in holiday park locations. While complete protection from such occurrences can never be guaranteed, there are a number of measures and precautions that holiday park operators can implement to safeguard their parks.

The good news is that the latest figures from the Crime Survey for England and Wales and police revealed that crime level fell by 16 per cent in 2014. Decreases were evident for all major crime types compared with the previous year; violence saw a 23 per cent fall, criminal damage fell by 20 per cent, and theft offences decreased by 12 per cent.

Lock down 2

Above: The Irish-manufactured HKC system is backed by Crosby Intruder Alarms and offers a flexible solution for caravans, lodges, lockers and sheds.

Walk-in burglaries are known to increase during the summer months, so there’s no better time to assess the effectiveness of the security measures in place to ensure that your park is well protected.

“Holiday park theft is becoming a big issue as caravans, lodges and holiday homes increasingly have more valuables in them,” says Roy Williams of security provider Crosby Intruder Alarms.

“It is commonplace these days to have two or more televisions, Sky boxes and other audio and video entertainment systems. It can be lucrative for a thief to target these units, particularly in the closed season when there is less chance of being disturbed.

“There is also an increased risk of theft from lockers or sheds, as these often go completely unprotected.”

While simple measures such as door and window locks and burglar alarms offer some degree of security, Roy recommends an all in one wireless system for intruder, fire, personal attack and mains fail.

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CARDEA SOLUTIONS
Tel. +44 (0)161 413 0766
www.cardea-solutions.com

CROSBY INTRUDER ALARMS
Tel. 0844 588 6912
www.crosbyintruder.co.uk

FRONTIER PITTS
Tel. +44 (0)1293 548 301
www.frontierpitts.com