“Security
is an attitude towards life & not just some systems or rules”… Me.
Above
is not just a quote or set of words but these were the feelings which came to
my mind when I offered to speak or share my views on the subject of security of
a building. Well, in a society very close to my residence, a chain snatching
incident happened with a resident of that society right at the gate & in
the crowded hours of evening, which started a big discussion on that society’s
WhatsApp group. We happened to have our small unit in that society so I too am
a member of that WhatsApp group. After going through the discussion of which
focal point was obviously safety & security, I said to the members with my
little exposure to this aspect I can give a small presentation to interested
members about the security aspect of a building & then members can decide
further course of action on which they agreed, & outcome is as below! I am
deliberately using the format of the PPT slides & elaborating the
points, as that way every point can be explained to the readers also to
the core of its meaning! At
the same time this is a learning or say innovating experience for me also as by
me, nearly fifty percent of security is achieved in the planning of a project
itself & rest is its execution once people start living in that building,
so I thought the process of presentation about security will be useful to my
team as well our project’s residents also! And
of-late (post Corona) somehow crime rate is increasing as may it be Cyber
Crimes or chain snatching or breaking in flats, large number of people either
don’t have jobs or are interested in making easy money & the outcome is,
every day you open any newspaper & you find city news page full of
housebreaking & such crimes is a fact! Though that’s not the subject of my
sharing & many will say what’s Police is doing , well police can’t protect
your head while driving but you have to wear a helmet the same way, it’s your
home of which you also must take some precautions to protect it, that’s
security!
1.Object of Security
Systems.
Theft,
Mishap, Natural Calamity, Life Threats, Property Loss, Goods Loos (Cars/
bikes)and such. As its important to understand the object or outcome we want
before we initiate some system or else like the phrase in Marathi “Aag
Rameshwari & Bamb Someshwari” like situation, means we spend & form
some system which will be useless for the object we have in mind!
This fact not only the society people but even the building/ project
planners also needs to be understood.
2.Residential
Society.
Let’s
focus on a residential complex as in a commercial building users are different
so will be the means . Here the first object is to prevent theft , protecting
our valuables & safety of life of the residents & later our valuable
goods.
3.Preventive
Measures & Corrective Measures.
Security
is two-fold, post & after! This means just the way we take vaccines to
prevent a disease, the vaccine doesn’t ensure that we won’t ever be infected
but it increases our immunity for the disease & in case we suffer from the
disease then we have to take necessary medicines. Same way security measures
are like a vaccine against theft & that’s prevention yet incase if theft
happens, we can then look at post measures for the same.
4.Preventive
Measures.
Study
the society layout & planning. Mark loopholes from the angle of objective.
Most important is to avoid any bad incident & let the bad people know what
you are dealing with, they must know what are preventive measures taken by the
society as that creates fear in the mind of a criminal. No theft or burglary
like crimes happens by chance or is an accident because the thief is risking
his life & can’t afford to return empty handed. He or they (a gang) usually
study the target which is your home & society & they will hit the
weakest one on the security front.
Display
signages of safety measures in bold. Just the way the sign of “Beware of
Dog” on a bungalow gate makes you cautious while entering that bungalow,
the security measures must be visual enough to make the thief remind you
are not unprepared! Unfortunately, in the respective society where the
chain snatching incident happened there was CCTV but no signage of its
existence displayed was there!
Right
entry exit checks. Every entry & exit must be checked! For that you need right security servicemen
equipped with whistle, stick torch etc. This is the weakest link
in most societies especially single stand buildings. If you hire
a watchman with meager payment to save the money then first, he will find a
parallel job to make his needs meet (Moonwalking for IT guys) which will make
him less alert on his job as a watchman. And second is, he won’t risk his
life when the need arises i.e. To confront the thief or say bad guys! So always
hire the right security service.
Single
entry Single exit. This is important in planning aspects then the security team
can keep a clear watch on who has entered the premises & who has left,
which many buildings especially projects with a greater number of buildings
don't follow, just for convenience of easy entry & exit nearer to their
buildings or wings!
Spend
on compound walls & secured entrances to individual buildings. Even if the
builder has not given you a safe & proper compound wall, the society can
extend its height, as it must be felt like an obstruction for the thief!
Free
entry only to the authorized/ legitimate occupants. In any building only the
real occupants or users must have free entry that too via card or some
recognition.
All
visitors must be monitored at entrance. This is something many people find
irritating or inconvenient or insulting but very same people smilingly allow
themselves to be frisked at malls or hotels! And let’s accept, security is
above emotions then only it's effective!
Emergency
Contact Numbers boards in each lobby & entrance. The local police & all
such essential numbers must be displayed in bold in all lobbies as well near
watchmen. And the watchman cabin must be near the washroom so even during that
time the gate must not be unguarded & under his eye sight!
5. Secured
entrance lobby.
With
a manual lock key system. MS Grilled entrance lobby is the best & basic
thing for every building entrance. Which you can lock at late night & the
keys can be with every flat holder for late night visitors.
Thumb
entry system. This is a lock which opens with only the thumb impression of
authorized residents. But the problem is elderly people’s thumb impression it
doesn’t take.
Intercom
confirmation entry. Best & most effective, any visitor is allowed inside
the premises only when confirmed by the security via intercom call with the
respective flat holder. This takes a bit of time but it is an effective system.
ID
Card entry. Just like in Five Star hotels, all the residents have their
magnetic card which is the access key to their respective building’s lobby
door.
Emergency
Alarm for Watchmen. There must be an emergency alarm switch hidden near the
watchman, so incase of such a situation he can alert society with one push.
One
more thing is, the society must give the watchman a dedicated mobile phone with
its sim card, maybe a basic model & with society key members numbers feeded
in it as this will help him to communicate with the watchman.
6.Security
of property i.e. vehicles.
Jammers
by society. When going outstation for longer duration the society can have its
own set of vehicle locks & the member can lock it like traffic police
jammers with it for added safety.
Society
Stickers. Every vehicle must have society issued stickers on it, if possible,
with bar-codes also can be there on the stickers.
Anti-Theft
Alarms should be fitted to all the vehicles for any attempt to open or start
the vehicle with the wrong key or forcefully.
Tracking
devices are a must especially for cars. As well you can have them fitted to
your two wheelers also now. And display all such initiatives in the parking
lots in bold!
7. Corrective
Measures.
CCTV
is nowadays a common amenity but nobody takes effort to check its footage’s
effectiveness. Good quality night vision cameras & regular servicing &
results of the system, is the matter of concern here.
Right
& aware record keeping of entry/ exit is a must &, if possible, make it
in a computer of society office. At the same time maintain a database of all
maids/ drivers/ visitors including character certificates from local police.
8.Personal
Attitude of Residents
Detailed
Information of all occupants is important data in case of some crisis &
needed to be stored at society computers. We can use any committee member or
office bearer’s personal PC/ laptop also for this in case of small size
society.
Information
of regular outsiders, maids, drivers & their character certificate from
local police stations, this is the responsibility of every flat holder.
Know
your neighbors & keep keen eye on any irregular activity around, such as
suspicious persons, broken or open doors of a flat etc. Small things make a
difference such as, having a light fixed outside of your entrance with a switch
inside flat for night visitors in case lobby lights are off, then you can check
who is standing outside of the main door. As well have a security/safety
gate with double Kadi/Konda so as nobody can lock you from outside. MS Safety
grills to toilet windows also are a must & right design of grills &
fixing so they stand firm & can’t be easily removed.
Periodical
cross checking of security systems is also necessary & for that form a
committee for the same with adequate powers through general body meeting.
9. Budget
of the security systems
There
are two types of expenses, one time & recurring. One time is civil works
& systems such as CCTv & whatsoever needed to be done. Recurring is
maintenance contracts for all these systems & staff you appoint such as
watchmen etc. And you can always take expert advice as well security audits
done by them & even take assistance from local police also.
10. Friends,
security, as I said, is an attitude & it's ever evolving & your
attitude only will define how hard you can make it for a thief or burglar to
break into your home or society; thank you & I conclude with this note!
The
video of this presentation you can watch at YouTube link below & please do
share to make others aware as well improvise…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aj3AAD1lmA&t=1s
-
Sanjay Deshpande
Sanjeevani Dev.
Please view my sharing about
finding a Right Home/ Office in Pune, at YouTube link below & share if
liked...
https://youtu.be/27j3I3rwGPQ?si=-ODYBxVI2Dl_C345
Please do visit my blog
links below to read about real estate & home buying!
https://visonoflife.blogspot.com/2024/12/right-home-buying-in-2025.html
https://jivnachadrushtikon.blogspot.com/2024/12/2025.html
Creating Togetherness; team Sanjeevani Way (Click link below)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/65629150@N06/albums/72157627904681345
For any of your complaints about city, log in at link below
www.punecorporation.org
Think Green, Think Life
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