Hi Guys

I'm doing some voluntary security work overnight for 8 nights for charity who had some huge marques stolen at this same event last year-so we don't want £40k going down the drain and the premiums going up!

I need some advice on gear-i will be sleeping in the marquees!

I will have my dog-a black lab which is soft and daft but can really bark-if the thief just said "here boy" he'd role over and shut up lol!

I will also have a sleeping bag, FAK, PSK and large Maglite, radio-we are all connected, there is 4 of us!

Have you guys got any ideas for any gear i should also carry!

thanks

mark

Baseball bat? <img src="images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Matt

You need to decide ahead of time whether you will be satisfied with a decent attempt to disuade / avoid burglary or intervene / prevent / capture burlars. If you plan on engaging the criminals then you need to give strong attention to whatever permissable weapons you might be able to deploy. If you plan on trying to scare them off but backing down if that doesn't work then you need to think defensively and think about signaling. If they aren't scared off by the radio / whistle / loud blast from air-horn / barking dog. They may be of the type that would wish to silence witnesses who have made themselves obvious.

add a loud whistle for each, at least one cell phone, and a plan. By plan I mean you should sort out who is to do what and where. As in, who responds to trouble and who calls the police. Oh yes, make sure the police know you will be there. At the very least, if its a slow night they may stop by to chat which makes for excellent security.

Chris

A comfortable folding chair, some reading material and a portable reading light, and/or a portable radio with an earphone (not headphones, you want to be able to hear what's going on around you) - 8 nights with nothing to do can get pretty long.

I would second the advice to take a baseball bat (or cricket bat, I suppose <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> ) - I wouldn't go looking for trouble, but if the thieves decided to come after me, I'd want something that would make them think I wasn't such an easy target. If your back's to the wall, the police are on their way, and you have a big heavy club in your hand, then they're going to leave you alone; or at least, one of them is going to have a pounding headache on the way home <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

A portable phone (cell-phone) programmed to call 999 would be a good idea for at least one of you.

Decide in advance what you're going to do with the thieves if you catch them. I wouldn't try doing the "citizen's arrest" routine, I think your choices are between quietly calling the police or trying to scare them away.

If the thieves stole £40k worth of marquees, they must have had a truck or van to carry the loot. Examine the exit routes - can they be blocked off? A spiked belt laid across the exit would mess up their getaway; however, I would be very, very careful to check the legality of this beforehand (make sure you're not breaking any laws by doing so, because I suspect you would be). It wouldn't be difficult to make; I imagine a plank of wood with long nails driven through it and sticking out at a 45 degree angle would even form a "one-way" barrier, so cars entering the grounds wouldn't be damaged, only cars trying to leave. (But I wouldn't want to test this on my own car, and I would definitely check with the police on the legality of it. <img src="images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> )

My approach to Threat-Risk assessments breaks security up into three parts - threat, vulnerability, and asset value. It's like the fire triangle - reduce any one of these and you reduce the risk.

Threat = a burglar; Vulnerability = an unlocked window; Asset = your silverware. Risk = a burglar comes in through the unlocked window and steals your silverware.

You can try reducing the asset value - spray paint your name on it in big purple letters to make it harder to resell. (This may not be an option, but most hotels used to embroider their names on the towels. Same idea.) You can reduce the vulnerability (e.g. Lock the window.) Or you can reduce the threat (e.g. Increase security patrols.)

Try thinking like the thieves - examine the area as if you were going to burgle the place. How would you get in? How would you get out? What is there worth taking? How difficult would it be to carry? How big a truck am I going to need to haul it away? How am I going to deal with that big black Labrador retriever? What could go wrong? (In your case, what could you *make* go wrong for them?)

Look for a way to slow the thieves down, especially hidden ways that they won't see until it's too late - this may break their rhythm and have unexpected results. I read once about a fur storage warehouse that kept getting broken into. Nothing seemed to work - the thieves had it down to a science. They came in, setting off the alarm; grabbed a handful of fur coats off the rack, and were gone in under 5 minutes, long before the police could respond.

Finally, an imaginative police officer suggested that they shouldn't be hanging all the fur coats up with the hooks on the coat hangers facing the same way. They rehung all the fur coats with every second coat hanger turned around - half the coat hangers faced inward, half faced outward.

A few nights later, the alarm went off. The police responded as usual, and just about killed themselves laughing when they arrived. There were the thieves, cursing like mad <img src="images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> about the "stupidity" of the warehouse employees, as they laboriously removed the fur coats one at a time from the rack.... <img src="images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

You're not dealing with rocket scientists here <img src="images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

And always remember, your life is worth more than a canvas tent <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Thanks Guys - some very good responses-we are a group of fundraising volunteers who said we would do it-and trust me these are no bunch of girl guides-we have 2 hairy ar*ed bikers, a bouncer from a rough club-(the volunteers son). We just haven't thought strategy!

This is certainly going to make us think-we have got until start of september!

I like the idea of baseball bat!

All ideas really appreciated-no matter how daft they seem!

cheers
Mark

You might want to include a digital camera, or a disposable 35mm... If someone does try something, snap a pic of them red handed... Evidence for a conviction.

~Wesley

Sometimes the best gear is something you wouldn't consider: Yourself. Make your presence known. Sitting in a chair for 8 hours will bring on sleep awfully quick. Hourly walk-a-bouts that try to emcompass the entire area help. You become accustomed to where things are and how things are placed. After a round or two you will begin to notice if something looks "out of place". To avoid repetition, reverse the route.

As for the gear, a good flashlight (bigger isn't necessarily better), your radio (FRS?), and a baton seem to be givens.

A Priority Item: Comfortable shoes!!!!

I would like to expand on what others have said. All were good points; IMHO.

Will all of you be carrying flashlights? If so do you have extra bulbs and batteries for each? Do you have a backup light? Same thing goes for all of the radios…extra batteries.

Carry a small notebook, 2 pens and a pencil. Make notes about what you see. As many have said it before, things do have a way of conking out. This is why you need 2 pens. The pencil comes in handy if all pens give out. Also log your “patrols.” It is easier to defend your notes in court than your memory. Write simple things down like, 0030—walked perimeter fence, locks secured (try them each time) etc. This looks good to the police and if you are called to court you won’t look dumb trying to recall if the padlock was locked or not.

Do you have a way to keep warm (or cool) dry and comfortable? Inside of a car with the heater on can be dangerous. The mention of comfortable shoes is extremely important advice. Standing or walking for hours in cowboy boots, for example, will become painful over time.

What provisions will you have for bathroom breaks? You may need an extra roll of TP in case what is provided runs out.

Keep hydrated, drinking fluids (avoid too much caffeine) aids the mind in keeping focused. Also if you are normally a diurnal person the sudden switching to nights will play hell on your body. Staying hydrated actually helps you make a better recovery.

If you have a small AM/FM radio, use it if your client says it is ok. I do not recommend an earphone, rather keep the volume low, but not so much as to not be heard. Change stations about every half-hour or so. Anyone hiding in the shadows will know you are awake and changing stations helps to prevent you from falling asleep.

Have a light snack in case you get hungry. Something like a cereal bar is far better than a full meal, which weighs you down.

Remember; security guards are thought of as fat, old, lazy and their routine is predictable. You want to be the complete opposite. Anything else you can do to vary “routine” will keep you unpredictable.

Good luck.
stargazer


Buried deep within each of us is a spark of greatness, a spark than can be fanned into flames of passion and achievement. That spark is not outside of you it is born deep within you.

warm wet & wind bring the gear to cover all three .Smoke's, toilet paper; don't depend on it being thier when you need it!!!! <img src="images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Hi guys, one again thanks for all the sound advice! A week or so ago me and other three sat down at my place with lots of beer (i remember someone saying we had to think like thieves) I'm going to break it down in the way we did!

My Gear (we all have virtually the same kit-slight difference in torches etc.) Most gear will be about my person!

EDC-wave, resus pack, folder, money, mobile phone (fully charged)spare battery, fox 40, proton type light
Maglite-4d Cell
Petzl tikka for reading and fiddling!
Radio-to talk to each other with spare battery!
CS Spray, this was given by the charity as a back hand keep your gob shut this is illegal and we know it but we don't want you to die situation! (not much good but better than nothing)

I went out and bought a hydration system and it came with a rucksack, very small but handy for this i reckon!

IN BAG

Camelback hydration system
Couple of breakfast bars and hard sweets
Spare batteries for Mag and a spare bulb ontop of the one in the base!
Dog treats
Binoculars
Cagoule
STUFF LEFT IN MARQUEE-LOW VALUE

Dog bowl
Book
Chair with arms on!
Sleeping bag
Spare jumper
Hat
Sweets (boiled) and a couple of breakfast bars
Coat for the dog!

STRATEGY

We want to deter the potential thief! Not come to blows!

We intend to:

Roter system on two people on for two hours then off for two-whilst on duty will be walking round with other person!

Have a fire and leave lights on, the idea is to make it look as if there is someone in every marquee!

Vehicles will be left around the site so a get away can be made-one entrance for a vehicle to get to the the marquee's but it is possible to run about 100m to get to another exit where we can leave vehicles so we can exit if things get too nasty!

You must get through two padlocked gates to access marquees so we will check these regularly!

We have set routes for each patrol each night-the aim - every patrol is varied in some way-in some cases the two men split up!

The police are aware of our presence and have offered to come by! One is guy is taking a stove so the sargeant siad she would ask to see if any want to visit us on their break which would mean 20 minutes with 2 cops every 1 or 2 hours (but this may not happen)!!! Other than that she said she would have increased patrols to us and put us high priority if we have to ring them!


Just thought i'd keep you guys upto date, i will tell you how it goes!

Thanks again!

Mark-any last minute iadeas or thoings i have missed on our plan are welcome!

Since cops offered to come by ask them politely if they can:
a) give you one of their portable radios (slim chance but worth trying)
b) give you number of somebody who is going to be patroling the area
c) give you direct number to the station

That way you can shorten the response time by a lot.

Something else that I've seen cops doing a lot during comfortations is using open chanel. Obviously your radio communication is not being recorded so having open transmition won't help you much but if you have a small tape recorder it may be a a good help in case person you cought denies stuff later on. Also if threats are made to you it's hard to prove it in court since only two of you were present at the scene. Having a tape can make a big difference.

Matt

Having been a member for a fairly short time, but slowly making my way back through the postings, I came across this one from someone in the UK.
I am supposing the Marquee is being erected on the local village green or similar, with a dog as company and four others as back-up, I fail to see why a PSK would be needed, FAK perhaps, and as the local "Plod" will be in contact, I would suggest that the only other 'gear' you would need would be your MUMMY !!!!
Seriously, the forums are generally of great interest and it is disappointing to see it trivialised by questions like these.
I apologise in advance if I cause any controversy.

Did you actually read this thead? I thought that there were a number of decent suggestions in this thread for a non-police security detail. Not all of preparedness / survival is about having the gear to survive being dumped into the wilderness naked. A lot of urban survival is about situations like this where our daily activities bring us into areas and situations that might be handled a little more easily and with greater security if we take a moment and equip ourselves with thoughts, skills, attitudes and gear that is a little more forward thinking than most. This thread didn't actually discuss PSK's but some EDC gear and some steps that could be taken to stay better prepared to deal with the potential negative scenarios that might arise and how to avoid them. All in all very informative, I thought. Sorry you feel that making someones day / night a little safer while they are on duty voluntarily risking themselves for the good of society is some how trivializing your hallowed PSK.

Hi whisky,

Firstly i think your response was a new jerk reasction-if you read all the thread and the responses, my needs became much clearer!

The work was on a countryside park on urban fringe which often has things stolen-the year previous all the marquees were stolen! (we didn't want a repeat of this as it was very costly-insurance companies dragged there heals)

The reason for th PSK was i knew if i didn't mention other people would suggest that i should have that with me as EDC and not wanting to look silly or unprepared......

Perhaps the thread was a little off topic but i believe there is much more stragey and thought in a event like this and am aware some of the guys from here are/were security/police personall and also have a good take on most things! As avid reader and a contributer where i can trhis was more me asking a favour-perhaps it should have gone in the other section of the forum-Chris didn't movce it so i presume it's ok!

Hope i cleared that up!

Sorry for the typo's it early morning over here and i only just got up!

Mark

Mbrodw:
Hello and Good Morning, hope the coffee is on! Anyway, as one of the original posters to this topic who offered suggestions for equipment carried. I would like to know this (if not too much trouble) How did the job turn out? Who's suggestions did you finally go with, or did you use something from all of us?
Thanks

Stargazer
ASAP = Always Suspicious, Always Prepared

No Problem!

Strong black coffee was on!

Firstly and perhaps most important-no confrontation was ever made-thankfully!

We decided that deterent was better than having our butt pinned to a wall so we lit a number on camp fires around the place at various distances!

I must say we liked baseball bat idea and stuck to it religiously-we kept them close at hand all the time! We also obtained/blagged/illegallly recieved a number of pairs of plastic handcuffs (look like cable ties). Again these were carried by all the guys but never needed so i can't say how good they are but they were light and seemed very sturdy!

I decided i wouldn't take a radio or book instead we came to the conclusions that quiz books were better-we quized each other to keep a wake-sounds silly but worked well.

The police made an appearence on a couple of evenings and a number of them very kindly gavve us their personal mobile phone numbers-they said any bother give us a bell-this would have been much quicker than ringing in! We brought some bacon and made bacon butties on the fire for the coppers as a bit of a thankyou-needless to say they went down very well!

The dogs were useless-something i overlooked was that they slept most of the nights-they were happy to go for a walk but thre minute you stopped moving they flopped!

Oh well hope this updates a bit better-if you want any morte info i'm quite happy to expand!

Mark

Kuboto and hard plastic groin cup give you a lot of advantages.

Even in England where obvious weapons may be restricted, a kuboto on your key ring can be easily explained away as necessary for handling your keys.

In my early (and yes often stupid younger days), you had to watch out for the guy you fought with that screwed short screws facing out on a hard plastic groin cup. It gives a whole new meaning to "knee jerk reaction" if you kneed someone so equipped.

Bountyhunter