Sounding Board
Security news you can use
Fall 2009

Fall Security Review

    Another spectacular Pacific Northwest summer has come and gone.   The lazy days of sun and fun are behind us and it’s time to focus on practical matters again.  Make

Pretty as a picture - Fall foliage may be beautiful, but doesn’t do much for security and video surveillance.  Check cameras to ensure they record what you want to see and no views are obscured by plants, objects or glare from outdoor lighting.

one of those matters a security assessment and you’ll increase the security of your business or home.
    Call your Sonitrol Pacific Security Consultant or Customer Service Representative to schedule a comprehensive review of your school, business and/or home security.  A few minor changes can make a major difference.
    Get a head start with these items:
• Inspect doors and windows.  You want solid frames, well fitting doors and windows, and strong, non-bumpable locks.  If you aren’t sure how reliable yours are, talk to one of our experts or a reputable locksmith.  Investigate access control systems to better manage who comes and goes, and when.
• Test lighting.  Good outdoor lighting accomplishes two things: one, well lit walkways ensure the safety of people making their way to your door, and two, lighting up dark corners of yards and porches discourages possible burglars and vandals.  Make certain all outdoor lights work and change burned out bulbs.  If your outdoor lighting is on a timer, adjust it for the shorter daylight hours.
• Clean up the landscape.  Rake the leaves, complete fall pruning and ensure no security camera views are blocked.  Roll up hoses, and put away tools, ladders and mowers.  Landscaping can enhance perimeter security by eliminating hiding places and communicating attention is paid to your facility. 
• Lock ‘em up.  Put possible targets of theft or vandalism into storage or a garage.  Pack up the company picnic table and the BBQ grill employees use during lunch.  At home, put away toys, bikes, motorcycles, and cars.
• Guard the garage.  Garages and roll up doors are a point of weakness if not given needed attention.  Make certain the door between your garage or warehouse and home or office has a strong, non-bumpable lock and use it. (see "Intrusion News" for more warehouse security tips)
• Reset timers.  Check and reset timers on outdoor or camera lighting, security cameras and DVRs to account for shorter days.

Crime Stoppers Q2 Donation

    During the second quarter of 2009, Sonitrol Pacific detections led to the arrest of 71 suspects in 34 separate incidents. In recognition of the officers and dispatchers involved in these 34 incidents, Sonitrol Pacific donated $3,400 to Crime Stoppers organizations in Oregon and Washington.
    Wayne Ohlemeier, Sonitrol Pacific Chief Technical Officer, presented Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound with a check for $1,400 in recognition of the 14 arrest incidents at Sonitrol Pacific protected sites in the north Puget Sound area.
    Heather Rosenthal, Sonitrol Pacific Tacoma General Manager, presented Tacoma/Pierce County Crime Stoppers with a check for $800 in recognition of the eight arrest incidents at Sonitrol Pacific protected sites in the south Puget Sound area.
    Jim Dopp, Sonitrol Pacific Vice President of Finance, presented Crime Stoppers of Oregon with a check for $1,200 in recognition of the 12 arrest incidents at Sonitrol Pacific protect sites in the Portland Metro area.
    Sonitrol Pacific enthusiastically supports the crime reduction efforts of Crime Stoppers organizations throughout the Pacific Northwest. Our security systems provide important alarm verification information to law enforcement personnel that aids in arrests. This is a winning partnership and we look forward to future donations.

Intrusion News: Total security for warehouses

    Warehouses and distribution centers face unique protection challenges.  Attention must be given to the safety and security of people, prevention of burglary and internal theft, and meeting local, state and federal shipping and storage requirements.  For complete protection, warehouse facility managers partner with security experts who design systems that deliver:
• Monitored security systems and cameras and 100% intrusion detection throughout the building (including the warehouse) that employees turn on when they leave
• Surveillance images recorded in real time with (minimum) 30 days stored
• Regular review of facility access control reports
• Employee ID picture badges issued and worn at all times
• Security cameras that view the yard and track movements of vehicles and people
• 100% camera coverage of all dock doors (internal and external views) and all sides of facility
• All facility doors alarmed with sensors
• Office doors controlled with security card access and cameras
• Ability to update access permissions 24/7 to regulate employees, vendors and visitors
• Controlled access between office and warehouse (cards and cameras)
• Limit access of bays/warehouses to authorized visitors only,  document and track their movement

Access Control: Protecting tenant security, management reputation

    An Oregon woman broke her lease and moved from her apartment because she didn’t feel safe after learning her property management company didn’t rekey between residents, allowing a previous tenant to let himself inside her home.
    After being plagued by a series of thefts from her home, the woman discovered a man was using a key to get inside at his convenience.  The man lived in the same complex as the woman since 2007, but moved to different apartments within the complex.  Police suspect he kept the key after one of his moves.
    Rekeying a single unit after tenant turnover can be quite costly; rekeying an entire facility due to employee turnover even more so.  For many businesses, their budget simply can’t stretch to accommodate the cost and tough decisions must be made.  Managed access control offers a cost effective solutions for both senerios.
A good access control system will:
• Eliminate need to hire a company to lock/unlock a building.
• Eliminate rekeying costs.
• Keep you informed on who has access to your facility.
• Grant or deny access to individual card holders in minutes.
• Include personal assistance for training or changes to users
• Allow different levels of access for different people (limit days, times, locations inside a facility, etc.).
• Prevent a building from unlocking if no one is there (storms that prevent travel).
• Integrate with security, eliminating need for multiple systems, passwords and data entry sets.
• Notify if doors are propped or forced open.
• Allow free egress from a building in case of emergency.
• Include full system maintenance and service at no extra charge.
    In short, a good access control system saves time and money, increases facility security and employee safety.  Managed access control by Sonitrol Pacific offers a fantastic return on investment.  Contact your Sonitrol Pacific Security Consultant for more information.

Eye on SonaVision: VAM = more jail cell slam

    It’s a common TV news report.  You hear, “police are asking for your help in identifying these suspects,” followed by a clip of recorded surveillance video showing one or two or three people in hooded sweatshirts breaking into a business.
    Problem: the business owner made a significant investment in surveillance technology with the goal of deterring crime or catching suspects when a burglary did occur; however, since the security camera system wasn’t monitored, the end result was a movie of someone burglarizing the store with no way to catch the suspect.
    Solution: Video Alarm Monitoring or VAM.
    VAM is an innovative verification technology.  SonaVision, our video surveillance system, lets you see what’s going on at a protected site 24/7 and with VAM, our operators review activity in or around your facility when an activation signal is received.  Operators view video images remotely and verify threatening activity. Our Operators relay this information to police dispatch in real-time, giving dispatchers a quick, accurate assessment of the event.  
    Sonitrol Pacific’s VAM helps reduce vandalism, trespassing, theft and burglary.  It works in concert with verified audio detection, access control and other Sonitrol Pacific services.  Our VAM option delivers greater security for property with real time analysis and police dispatch.
    VAM turns “can you identify this person” into “police arrested two suspected burglars ... .”

Fire Watch: Who's watching out for you?

    A fire can devastate a business and an expertly serviced and monitored fire detection system is crucial.  When choosing a fire monitoring provider investigate these points:
• Look for a UL listed central station
• Experience is key, find out how long they’ve provided fire monitoring services
• Ask for and call on references
     Sonitrol Pacific’s Operations Center experts deliver when it comes to fire monitoring.  Our team also provides related services, such as service work, annual confidence testing and inspections, elevator emergency phone monitoring, and freezer and cooler temperature monitoring.  These monitoring services can be integrated with your existing Sonitrol Pacific services giving you a single vendor to call for service or billing questions.

Joining the Fight

    The American Cancer Society 2009 Relay For Life of Portland took place July 18 and 19 at Willamette Park and the Sonitrol Pacific team is proud to have made a contribution to the  local fight against cancer. 
    After months of fundraising, three Sonitrol Pacific teams took to the track and spent 18 hours walking, running, and celebrating.  Our three teams raised almost $9,000.
    As a whole, the Relay For Life of Portland raised more than $85,000, a great jump from the $33,000 raised in 2008 and a great success considering 2009 was only the second year for this particular Relay.  The event drew more than 40 teams and 400 participants.  In 2008, 12 teams took part.
    Relay For Life is the American Cancer Society’s signature activity and started in 1985 in Tacoma. It offers everyone in a community an opportunity to participate in the fight against cancer. Teams of people camp out at a local high school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Relays are an overnight event, up to 24 hours in length.
    Teams of people from all walks of life have fun while raising much-needed funds to fight cancer and increase awareness of cancer prevention and treatment.
    If you want to join the fight, you can find a Relay in your community at www.relayforlife.org .  If you’re interested in participating in the 2010 Relay For Life of Portland, register at www/relayforlife.org/portlandor .  Teams are already registering and fundraising for the 2010 Relay season.
    Sonitrol Pacific thanks our clients, team members and networking partners who helped us celebrate, remember and fight back against cancer.

Employees of the Month

Denise Smith

Heather Orso

Salena Wolfe

Matt Moran

    Denise Smith, Heather Orso, and Salena Wolfe were named the Sound Security Employees of the Month for June, July and August, respectively.
    The Sound Security Board of Directors chose Operator Denise Smith as the June Employee of the Month due to her passion for Sound Security and Sonitrol technology, and her boundless energy.  Denise provides guidance and direction to those who work with her and is a supervisor who leads by example.  She catches people doing things right and acknowledges them publicly.
    Seattle Customer Service Representative Heather Orso was named the July Employee of the Month because she is an innovative and persistent problem solver, focuses on the success of clients and our company, and takes action to realize personal and organization goals.
    Salena Wolfe, Everett Office Support Specialist, received the Employee of the Month award for August for being the queen of volunteering.  She always raises her hand to accept new projects and tackle new assignments.  Salena looks for new ways to better support clients and teammates, and maintains a great attitude while doing it.
    The Sound Security team is proud to recognize these three individuals for their dedication to our clients and for living our mission each day.

Nominate an Employee of the Month

     Customer Commendations of members of the Sonitrol Pacific team hold great sway when the Board sits down to choose an Employee of the Month.  If you'd like to recommend someone for recognition, email one of our corporate officers or call the general manager at your branch office.

Employee of the Quarter

    Matt Moran earned the Sound Security Employee of the Quarter award for the second quarter of 2009.
    The Board of Directors chose between Operator Jaime Maranville, April Employee of the Month; Technician Matt Moran, May Employee of the Month; and Operator Denise Smith, June Employee of the Month.     Moran wins $500 and is now eligible for the Employee of the Year award.

Summer 2009 Arrests

In June, July and August, 72 suspected criminals were arrested due to a detection by Sonitrol Pacific.  So far in 2009, 136 suspects have been arrested after a call from the Sonitrol Pacific Operations Center.

View our complete 2009 arrest record.