Sheriff Offers Storage Security Class

Sheriff Wendell Hall presented a training session for all owners and managers of local storage facilities in Santa Rosa County. The training was presented by his crime prevention specialists at the sheriff's office on March 2, 2007. The training was brought about by recent burglaries of mini-warehouses and other storage facilities. Therefore the impetus of the training was to teach the owners and managers various techniques to decrease their chances of becoming a victim of such crimes. The focus of the training is that the average offender reacts to a combination of three elements: (1) an available and suitable target (2) a motivating desire to commit the crime and (3) a favorable opportunity to carry it out. Through education they can minimize their potential of becoming a victim by eliminating two of the three elements above. Several methods were reviewed such as; effective background screening of employees, integrated door locks, door alarms, use of DVR's, recording options, landscaping, access to property, doors and windows, exterior and interior lighting, skylights and gate access. The session was attended by fifteen local business owners and lasted for two hours. Hopefully owners and managers can return to their businesses with the knowledge to be able to reduce the opportunity of becoming a victim in Santa Rosa County.