NCJ Number
175807
Journal
Security Management Volume: 42 Issue: 6 Dated: June 1998 Pages: 68-74
Date Published
1998
Length
5 pages
Annotation
In 1996, at Hughes Aircraft Company in El Segundo, California, crime on company property and in the surrounding area was rising steadily, especially auto theft and burglary, so the company's security department implemented a Plant Site Watch program to improve security.
Abstract
The goal was to determine if concepts that worked well in Neighborhood Watch programs in residential settings could be adapted to the business environment. To implement the Plant Site Watch program, the security department applied a three-point approach: (1) comprehensive awareness campaign to convince employees to look for suspicious activity and report it to security; (2) fundamental changes in the security function; and (3) partnerships with the local community. In particular, the guard force was supplemented by alarms, card access readers at some buildings, and full turnstile systems controlling access at other buildings. The entire site was monitored by closed circuit television, and intrusion alarm and motion sensor systems were installed in areas where government contracting work was performed and where money was handled. To enhance the effectiveness of the Plant Site Watch program, changes were made to the guard force that involved increased patrols, bike and cart patrols, rooftop surveillance, and emergency telephones. At the end of the first year of the program, auto thefts had been reduced by 35 percent and employees became more comfortable with giving the security department tips that led to the apprehension of thieves. In addition, improved security gave employees a sense of control over their work environment. 1 photograph