The most obvious concerns for high-value target properties are theft of belongings – typically jewellery, artworks and items that are easy to sell – and damage to property. The more serious threat, however, is personal safety. If assailants gain access to your property, you or your family could be taken hostage, which could lead to a ransom situation.
To keep properties safe, on-site CCTV equipment and alarms should be regularly maintained and tested as part of a security regime. If they’re performing as they should, disconcerting false positive alarms can be minimised. It’s also important that residents let the security team know when the family is at home and when they plan on being away.
Following the recent burglary of England and Chelsea footballer, Raheem Sterling’s home in Surrey where £300k worth of items were stolen, the safety and security of residential property – and in particular, the homes of high-net-worth individuals – has again been cast in the spotlight.
During the holiday season, if you have a large disposable income your options could include ringing in the new year on a tropical beach or a ski slope. But, as the Ecclestone family experienced in 2019, your home could be the target of a meticulously planned burglary.
For Raheem Sterling and other high-profile footballers, the danger lies with the real-time broadcast of their attendance at international games, often far from home. With the World Cup scheduled in Qatar, an organised gang took the opportunity to plan the burglary well ahead of time.
Despite the obvious trauma of the break-in, Sterling’s family was not at home during the theft. In 2018 however, Sterling’s partner, Paige Milian, returned home to find a burglary in progress. Thankfully, Milian was not harmed but the reality of security measures keeping our families, homes, and possessions safe cannot be underestimated.
Unsurprisingly, more low-level crime like shoplifting and petty theft has increased, fuelled by the cost-of-living crisis. But while attacks on properties like Sterling’s are often much more highly organised crime – particularly as the kind of property they are likely to steal would not be easily disposed of – in the face of a financial crisis, opportunist assailants could be targeting high net worth individuals.
CCTV and alarm monitoring systems (internal and external) and a physical security presence can greatly reduce burglaries and invasions. Working together, these measures can trigger an immediate response if a security threat is detected, and physical monitoring personnel at our Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) can then communicate to the assailant that they are being watched and will speak with the emergency services directly for a fast response.
For extremely high-risk customers, having a security officer staying at the home to guard against illegal activity 24/7 combined with remote CCTV monitoring while you’re away might be the best option. For on-site officers, our personal protection app, CorpsGuard, is linked to the ARC via mobile devices so that they can either activate an alert or let the security team know they are OK.
CorpsGuard also works as a personal protection app for our customers, meaning you are not only protected at home, but can be monitored wherever you are, and you need to trigger a panic alarm. The app has a variety of features, but for personal users it is a gateway to safety that is unparalleled when you are alone or particularly vulnerable.
Physical options like attendance by mobile patrollers can be considered too; these should be at random times to avoid would-be intruders recognising patterns in the visits and coordinating their attack accordingly. Having a nominated key holder nearby – a trusted neighbour perhaps, or via your security company will help the police to enter the property if needed. It is vital that your security team know who the keyholder is.
Inside the property, we always advise panic alarms to be installed. And in the absence of a purpose-built panic room, having a room where an occupant can lock themselves in and activate a panic alarm could save further trauma.
How do you know what security you might need?
That answer is simple, speak to us. Our consultancy service provides you with unparalleled access to professional, highly trained experts who are best placed to give you advice. Not every security provision will be right for you, but there will always be a solution available. If you have any concerns, act now. Compared to the loss and mental anguish of a security breach, the cost to secure your home will be much less than you might expect.
Corps Monitoring is a division of Corps Security – the UK’s longest running security company. Corps Monitoring offer a range of technology solutions including CCTV Monitoring Services, CCTV Sensor Activated Monitoring, CCTV Live Surveillance, Fire Alarm Monitoring, Intruder Alarm Monitoring, Personal Protection Services, Key Holding, Call Centre Monitoring, Lone Worker Monitoring and more.
