Armed response disabling gate

requiem

requiem

Expert Member
Joined
May 10, 2009
Messages
4,070
Reaction score
1,161
Hey everyone.


Just want to ask you all for your opinion on this matter.

With load shedding last night, when the power came back on the fence kept tripping and triggering the alarm. I have no idea if someone had tried to gain access and our local armed response company sent someone out just after midnight to come do a walkabout to see if all is good.

The armed response car arrives and parks in the road, guard rings intercom, I open the gate and guard walks up the driveway and spends the next 20 or so minutes walking about the property. About 5 minutes into his wandering I notice on the camera system that the gate is standing wide open, every attempt I make at closing the gate via the intercom fails. Turns out he had placed his cap over the vehicle sensor which prevented the gate from closing.

My primary line of defense is the perimeter and he had effectively disabled it. I called the Armed response company who have told me that "even though this is not in our training or standard operating procedures the Guards do this so they can get backup or get out of the property easily should there be intruders present".

Am I being unreasonable in being upset at what the guard did. Anyone could have walked in while he was wondering around in the property without him being able to see it?
 
Interesting. The problem of course is that while the gate is open intruders can enter - like you say.

Why does he need an escape route -what's he going to do if there's somebody unauthorised on your property - run?
 
maumau said:
Interesting. The problem of course is that while the gate is open intruders can enter - like you say.

Why does he need an escape route -what's he going to do if there's somebody unauthorised on your property - run?
Click to expand...
The kind of intruders who won't be deterred by an armed response company vehicle in the driveway are not ones who will care if there is a gate or not. I think the OP is being hysterical.
 
R13... said:
The kind of intruders who won't be deterred by an armed response company vehicle in the driveway are not ones who will care if there is a gate or not. I think the OP is being hysterical.
Click to expand...

This is true.
 
R13... said:
The kind of intruders who won't be deterred by an armed response company vehicle in the driveway are not ones who will care if there is a gate or not. I think the OP is being hysterical.
Click to expand...
Yea, this sounds like a no issue to me.
 
I think people's expectation of what guards can actually do is unreasonable.

They are not armed and generally alone. Thus if they do find a problem at your house they need to run away in order to get back up.

If the criminals already gained access to your house, then what difference does the open gate make? If they're only in your yard, then you're still safe in your house.

In conclusion, I think you are overreacting and may also need to adjust your expectations of security guards. They're not all Leo. :D
 
The gate was left open for the intruder, if any, to slip away quietly. The armed guard was not looking forward to a messy confrontation or an arrest.

“When you surround an army, leave an outlet free. Do not press a desperate foe too hard.” --Sun Tzu ​

 
requiem said:
Hey everyone.


Just want to ask you all for your opinion on this matter.

With load shedding last night, when the power came back on the fence kept tripping and triggering the alarm. I have no idea if someone had tried to gain access and our local armed response company sent someone out just after midnight to come do a walkabout to see if all is good.

The armed response car arrives and parks in the road, guard rings intercom, I open the gate and guard walks up the driveway and spends the next 20 or so minutes walking about the property. About 5 minutes into his wandering I notice on the camera system that the gate is standing wide open, every attempt I make at closing the gate via the intercom fails. Turns out he had placed his cap over the vehicle sensor which prevented the gate from closing.

My primary line of defense is the perimeter and he had effectively disabled it. I called the Armed response company who have told me that "even though this is not in our training or standard operating procedures the Guards do this so they can get backup or get out of the property easily should there be intruders present".

Am I being unreasonable in being upset at what the guard did. Anyone could have walked in while he was wondering around in the property without him being able to see it?
Click to expand...

So, why are you not viewing the cameras to see that doesn't happen, and that there isn't any movement you can alert him to, as a crim sneak and hides while he looks? Really concerned about your security? Going on living your best life while he walks around in the cold dark? Is there an assured way for him to go out (if you don't answer your phone or pass out in a drunken stupor)? You be surprised how hard it can be to get the attention of residents in a house, you can sometimes shout and hoot and shine torches into their windows from the street for 10 minutes with no response at all, at that's with someone awake!
 
My 2c on this.

I beleieve the security guards life is probably worth more than catching anyone in your property, if he disturbs the criminals and needs to retreat to safety he has an exit point. If he gets caught up with someone and needs backup they can get into the property quickly. I can also guarantee you that you would rather have the criminals run out the gate and get away than have a gun fight in your property.

Secondly he probably does this because he has been trapped in peoples gardens late at night after they open up and then go straight back to sleep without a care in the world. Leaving him in your property with no way out.

Its a non issue and probably safer for all.
 
I agree with the security, keeping the gate open. Did they find any problem on the fence. Maybe replace the battery. And in the day, check the fence, cut tree's, clean it, check connection. etc
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X