For many property owners, whether domestic or commercial, petty crime is a day-to-day occurrence that people learn to live with.
Whether it's a piece of graffiti on a garage door, frequent theft of small or non-expensive items or attempted break-ins, these types of crimes are common all over the country.
These minor incidents can be very frustrating, but are often accepted as part of life and the consequences dealt with by the property owners or tenants, with the hope that it doesn't happen again.
This is what Marsh Barton Security Services consider the first stage in the Three Ts of crime and security prevention: Tolerate, Transfer, Terminate.
If crime is tolerated, it is highly likely that it will be repeated.
The second stage, transfer, is when the tolerance runs out and CCTV systems are installed to deter crime and/or signs are put up to warn that the premises are being monitored.
Another common tactic used to transfer crime is using mobile patrols. Mobile patrols act as a deterrent and leave an element of doubt in the mind of the would-be intruder. Criminals would rather target premises where no security tactics have been employed.
The final stage is when property owners aim to terminate the crime altogether.
Staff or security specialists can be employed to remotely monitor cameras and CCTV, which will alert you on your smartphone in order to catch the individuals committing the offences and report them to the police.
Alternatively, via the 24-hour response line, the MBSS reaction team can be notified of suspicious activity and arrive at the property. MBSS have three reactive cars on the road and can react in minutes to an intruder or camera alarm, terminating the crime.
Ex-Royal Marine and MBSS director Marcus Di-Vincenzo, who also runs worldwide security consultancy MIG Security, which is responsible for looking after high profile, high net-worth individuals and corporates, believes the Three Ts are absolutely crucial to reducing risk and reducing crime.
Marcus said: "The three Ts are essential to keeping property safe from all kinds of criminal activity. If all properties in the same area, such as Marsh Barton or the Sowton Industrial Estate, were to employ the same strategy, these places could become crime free.
"Whether it's on a tanker passaging through the Gulf of Aden evading pirates, or a local business in Devon, we use the three Ts to assess the level of security needed, keeping both budget and practicability in mind."
Marcus, who is responsible for looking after companies in the FTSE100 and has been involved in fighting piracy off the coast of Somalia, continued: "Crime prevention is more cost effective and successful than dealing with the consequences of crime. Our team ensure that properties are kept safe from harm and any suspicious activity is dealt with before it develops into a crime."
If you would like advice on how to employ the three Ts for your property, call the MBSS team on 01392 426947 or visit www.mbssuk.com.
