Posts by Matt Smith
Alarm Ordinances in Washington State
Alarm ordinances are a reality of security system ownership. Authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) throughout Washington State, including cities and counties, have alarm ordinances in place to help them allocate law enforcement resources and minimize false alarms.
Read MoreWinterizing Pipes in the Pacific Northwest
With historically cold winter weather upon us, these conditions remind us of the importance of winterizing our pipes to prevent them from freezing. Frozen pipes can lead to a flooded business, resulting in untold property damage and insurance headaches.
Read MoreProtecting Your Business from a Holiday Fire
For businesses that create a festive holiday atmosphere, there is an elevated risk of a fire breaking out during the holiday season. Fortunately, there are authoritative resources with tips to help you protect your business from these risks. Here’s what you should prioritize.
Read MoreGiving Customers a Safer Shopping Experience
Whether it’s during the holidays or another busy shopping season, retail businesses have an obligation to provide customers the safest experience possible — from the moment they park their vehicle, to the time they exit the parking lot. Unfortunately, two Pacific Northwest metro areas are currently experiencing some of the highest auto theft rates in the country. If you operate a retail business, here’s what you need to know.
Read MoreGuardian Security Holiday Hours 2022
At Guardian Security, our normal business hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM through 4:30 PM — but during the holidays, we understand that customers could be impacted by any changes to our business hours. With that in mind, we’d like to fill you in on the slight adjustment to our business hours on specific holidays.
Read MoreFighting Catalytic Converter Theft with Video Surveillance in Washington State
Catalytic converter theft has been rampant across the country for the past several years. During the onset of the pandemic, catalytic converter theft jumped by 325%, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). In 2022, more than a dozen states are introducing legislation to crack down on the crime in the past year. In March, Governor Inslee signed House Bill 1815 into Washington state law.
Read MoreVideo Verification for Your Alarm System in Washington State
An alarm system may be the cornerstone of your security strategy, but there’s one more thing it needs to be as effective as possible: video verification, which can be added to an existing alarm system so that live video will be sent to our monitoring center in real time when your alarm signal is activated. Here are the ways adding video verification to your security can maximize the effectiveness of your alarm system.
Read MorePreventing Business Theft & Vandalism at Halloween
Every year, insurance companies see an increase in claims in the days following Halloween, due to the theft and vandalism that tends to happen around the holiday. Travelers Insurance notes a 68% increase in vandalism claims around Halloween compared to all other days of the year. They also note a Halloween uptick in crimes like theft (8%) and mysterious disappearance of items (5%). Here are some ways you can minimize your Halloween related risks as a business owner.
Read MoreBest Uses for Access Control in the Pacific Northwest
Access control systems have set a new standard for properties of all types. Here are some of the best, and fastest growing, uses for access control in the Pacific Northwest.
Read MoreVideo Surveillance to Protect Pacific Northwest Retailers from Slip and Fall Fraud
Slip and fall liability claims are nothing new, but data from the National Insurance Crime Bureau shows there is an increase in potentially fraudulent slip and fall claims since the onset of the pandemic. Now more than ever, quality video surveillance can help protect Pacific Northwest businesses from suspicious slip and fall claims. Here’s what you need to know, and how proper video surveillance coverage can protect retailers.
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