A typical homeowners association board is responsible for planning and implementing security plans to keep the community and its residents safe. HOA perimeter security plans are one of the most crucial aspects of protecting the community residents. The perimeter wall and security gate protection is the frontline of keeping out unwanted intruders and potential criminals from crossing the boundary.
Any gated community should already have a perimeter security plan in place. This is usually something done as soon as the HOA board is formed. Many communities commonly take their security and surveillance plans for granted. Unfortunately, not all HOAs spend a lot of time assessing the steps that are in place or forget to update them with the modern world. This leads to a number of problems that could be easily avoided if properly handled. Let’s take a look at the most common security mistakes that homeowners associations make and how to avoid making them.
HOA Perimeter Security – 4 Common Mistakes to Avoid
#1. Fail to Take Advantage of Professional Assessments
A professional assessment or perimeter security survey is an excellent way to find any major flaws in the current protection plan. With modern technology making so many advancements, common tricks used by criminals are popular since the tools and equipment they have didn’t exist until recently. Drones and cyber access give criminals more ways to find flaws in these plans, which they exploit to their advantage.
An HOA perimeter security audit can reveal:
- Damaged boundary walls
- Poorly lit boundaries
- Insecure gate entrances
- Locally reported criminal habits
- Potential target areas
- Security system malfunctions
An assessment done by professional security teams is one way to discover where your current plan is weakest. These HOA perimeter security surveys are free to take advantage of and can help you build a good working relationship with the local professional security team you choose. This way you can make quick fixes to any flaws the team finds and determine whether you should employ their services further.
#2. Refuse to Make Proper Investments
Not taking advantage of what the security audit discovers can be a costly and damaging mistake. Security plans should be altered to address the problems that match the community. For example, if a community is having a problem with loitering pedestrians or other unwanted visitors, the presence of a security guard is a good way to deter them from coming back. But depending solely on a single stationed security agent is not (and has never been) the most efficient solution.
Remote video monitoring services are a cost-effective option that makes proactive surveillance plans achievable. Not only are they a useful resource for keeping a vigilant eye on your entire property, remote guards collaborate closely with local law enforcement agencies to increase response times. Their skilled training also enables them to know what to look for and how to act with decisive action. This makes criminal apprehension and asset recovery much easier to accomplish.
#3. Poor Camera Placement & Outdated Technology
Having a reactive surveillance plan was the only real option for HOA perimeter security up until recently. CCTV systems, security cameras, and surveillance equipment should be seen as an investment and upgraded if they are outdated. Security cameras equipped with motion tracking, tripwire, and auto-tracking features are all available and accomplish what a fixed point camera cannot. When combined with AI technology and intelligent video analytics, these systems are capable of doing more at once than any security guard.
Security camera placement is another thing that might need to be changed. Trees, foliage, bushes, and other parts of the landscape might not have been there when the original HOA perimeter security plan was put in place. Proper camera placement is crucial for the camera to work as it should and should be assessed, whether you upgrade the equipment or not.
#4. Having HOA Community Members Providing Security
Depending only on neighborhood watch programs or volunteer perimeter security departments is a huge mistake that comes with a few different consequences. Even if you have an HOA member capable of providing protection, they might have a bias against someone else or worse. Additionally, should a major theft or crime take place, the person will most likely be asked to go to court by law enforcement to testify or be blamed by the community, forcing them to leave altogether
Find a third-party security agency that is experienced with HOA perimeter security plans. This way the HOA member’s integrity or character doesn’t ever come into question and the potential headaches from legal troubles can be avoided. The security agency should also be able to help you with the community protection survey and recommend other reputable sources for any services they can’t provide themselves.
Read Complete Perimeter Security Solutions for more useful information.
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