Serial Robber Arrested in BC
A 36-year-old man from Burnaby, British Columbia is facing 27 charges in relation to a series of armed robberies. The nine robberies took place over the past two months in Burnaby and Richmond, British Columbia. All of the crimes occurred at currency exchanges or financial institutions. The man has been charged with 11 counts of robbery, nine counts of wearing a disguise in the commission of an indictable offence and seven counts of using an imitation firearm in the commission of an indictable offence.He was caught after Richmond RCMP were notified of an attempted robbery in progress. The man allegedly tried to enter a currency exchange business through the rear door with a weapon and the authorities were called. Police in the area saw the man fleeing the premises and he was arrested. Both Burnaby and Richmond police had been looking for the man. The two police forces recognized that there were similarities between the four robberies in Burnaby and the five that took place in Richmond and realized that the same person could be responsible.
“Burnaby and Richmond RCMP investigators quickly realized they could both be looking for the same suspect – the suspect description was similar, though he took pains to disguise his features, and there were similarities in the way the crimes were committed,” said Sgt. Peter Thiessen in a press release. In each robbery, the man walked into the institution wearing a mask. He threatened those inside with a knife or a fake gun and demanded cash. The man has been remanded in custody until he returns to court later in February. The man was not known to police before these robberies.
Business owners can protect their offices from crime and provide assistance to law enforcement officials by installing security systems and video surveillance cameras in their businesses. Not only to security cameras work as a deterrent, but they also provide detailed and very credible evidence to law enforcement officials. For information on which cameras will work best for you, please contact us today and we can set you up with the right security camera system for your needs.
Stopping Employee Theft
Companies spend a lot of time and money protecting their businesses and offices from intruders and employee theft. That’s a smart thing to do. Keeping your property safe from the outside world is definitely necessary. However, while your office may be protected from outsiders, is it protected from people inside your own company?According to the US Department of Commerce, employee theft costs businesses up to $50 billion each year. While shoplifters, robbers, thieves and other intruders can harm your business greatly, those who work in your organization can potentially cause even greater damage. Protecting your business from employee theft is important.
Employee theft can be difficult to detect. Employees are often given free reign within stores or offices. They are also frequently alone in areas that contain valuables and sensitive information. While most employees can be trusted to refrain from stealing and to prevent others from stealing, that’s not true for every staff member. Here are a few tips to prevent employee theft:
Install and monitor security cameras. Video surveillance is not just useful for keeping your business safe from intruders. Security cameras can also prevent employee theft. You simply can’t be everywhere at once, but security cameras can be. There is no more powerful evidence than video evidence. Installing security cameras in your place of business will also deter employees from attempting to steal company property as they will know that they are being watched. Let all of your employees know that the surveillance cameras in your building are being monitored regularly and this will decrease or eliminate employee theft.
Access control and proper locks are also critical for preventing employee theft. Your stock room should be locked at all times and only those employees who need access should be given keys or passcodes. Consider providing only managers with keys to locations holding valuables and have them record who requests to enter the room. An access control system that utilizes key tags or key cards is also a very efficient way to limit access to certain areas. These systems can be set up to only allow certain employees into certain areas of a building. This not only restricts access for some but it also gives employers the ability to monitor the movement of all employees within the organization. For more information, please visit the access control section of our website.
It is important that you create a culture of responsibility in your office. Make sure that employees understand that theft hurts every member of an organization and ensure that everyone feels comfortable enough with management to come forward with an evidence of employee theft without having to worry about the ramifications.
If you suspect that an employee is stealing from your company, allowing someone to steal without reporting it or aiding the criminal efforts of an outsider, ensure that you get legal advice before making accusations. Employee thefts should be reported to the police department. Law enforcement authorities can also offer advice on the legal process.
Staying Secure on a University Campus
Unfortunately, university campuses can sometimes be dangerous places. For example, two students were robbed on the University of Toronto Scarborough campus in late January 2012. At around the same time, a rash of thefts from automobiles took place at the University of Windsor. University campus crimes can be even more severe and violent as well. In April 2010 a female student was attacked and raped near the York University campus. However, there are several safety measures you can take to keep yourself safe on your university campus.
It’s very important to remain alert at all times, even if you are in a location that you know very well. You can never be sure of the intentions of those around you. Keep your head up and your eyes open and be aware of your environment. It also helps to stick to areas where there are other people. You do not want to end up becoming a crime victim in an isolated or deserted part of campus. This is especially true at night. You should always plan your route in advance so that you can get to your destination quickly without getting lost or sidetracked and make a plan that involves avoiding dark, isolated or deserted areas.
Many campuses have installed emergency phones and lights around campus. Always know where these phones are and how to properly operate them. Program the phone numbers for campus security and the police department into your cell phone and have it ready at all times, especially if you are forced to walk alone or through a deserted area. Walk with other people whenever possible. If you must travel through an isolated part of campus by yourself, find out if your university offers special escorts that can walk with you. Many universities and college now offer this service to students.
If you live on campus or near campus, be sure to always lock your doors and windows. Criminals can use an open door or window to invade your home. The same goes for your car if you have one. Always lock your vehicle and avoid leaving valuables inside. If you must leave items in your car, leave them in a place where they cannot be easily spotted from outside the car. Do not flash valuables or large sums of money around and keep items such as cell phones, laptops and other expensive electronics close to your body at all times.
Do not allow anyone into your room/home without permission. Avoid being alone with anyone you do not know well enough to trust. If you are going to leave campus by yourself (for a blind date, to attend a party, to visit a friend, etc.) make sure that you let someone you trust know exactly where you will be and when you will return. Never agree to meet a stranger in a private place (such as their home) and do not allow them into your home. Always meet in a public place where other people will be around.
It’s also important to be aware of the intentions of those around you. Never take food or drink from a stranger or someone you do not know very well. You never know what could be in it. Most importantly, always trust your instincts. If a situation feels dangerous, leave it immediately. Do not allow yourself to be talked into a scenario that feels wrong. Trust yourself and have confidence to leave these situations as soon as you can. Call a friend or campus security if you need help. Keep your company safe with our employee theft tips.
Online Banking Safety
Online banking is a great way to pay bills, manage your money, keep track of your spending and more. However, it is important to take a few precautions when banking online. Above all, always keep your password confidential. Giving your password to anyone for any reason immediately reduces the security of your account. When choosing your password, do not pick something that will be easy to guess such as your middle name or street name. Always add numbers, a mixture of lower case and upper case letters and other differentiators if possible. Make sure your password is unique to your bank account and not the same password that you use for any other service. Don’t write this password down anywhere. If you’re worried about forgetting it, a good password method is to use a word you will always remember and then to change it slightly. For example, instead of using your middle name “Steve” as your password, use “s1t2e3v4E567.” That’s the word “stevE” with a different number between each letter and at the end. This is easy to remember, but difficult to guess. You should also change your password regularly, especially if you log in a public computers. Always make sure you log out and close the browser window if you bank on a public computer.Make sure that you only supply your login and password to your bank’s official website. There are many ways to spoof a bank website and some methods are very convincing. Do not click links in emails that look like they are coming from your bank. Many of these emails are scams that will send you to a similar address with a look alike website. These websites are created to steal login information. A common trick is to change the address slightly in an attempt to confuse a customer. For example, if your bank’s website address is www.bankwebsite.com, a scam website may be set up at www.bamkwebsite.com or bankwebsite.othersite.com. If you receive an email saying that there is a problem with your account and that you must enter your login information into a different site, call your bank immediately to verify before giving away any information. The same is true if anyone calls you asking for your information. Do not provide it to them. Ask for their number and tell them you will call them back. Then call the bank and let them know what has just happened. They will be able to verify if the call came from their organization.
It is also very important to update your computer’s virus and spyware scanners and to run regular scans. Some viruses can track keyboard actions and steal your password without you even knowing about it. You’ll want to make sure that your computer’s firewall is functioning properly as well.
SafeTech’s 2012 City Crime Report Now Available
Protect yourself! Find out where and what type of crime is happening in your neighbourhood and your city with SafeTech’s 2012 City Crime Report. Use the 2012 City Crime Report to:- Determine exactly where crime is happening in Canada
- Examine the types of crime taking place in your region and across the country
- Compare different areas of the country on several different types of crime
- Recognize the severity and likelihood of crime taking place in your city
- Understand the overall crime situation in this country
SafeTech Alarm Systems has been protecting people and property for over 20 years. We have compiled crime statistics from across Canada, broken them down by province and city and presented them in a straightforward manner that will help keep you safe!·· To receive a free copy of SafeTech Alarm Systems’ Canadian City Crime Report 2012, please click here.
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