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"By monitoring local crime trends - usually easily accessible from local police websites - board and committee members can keep abreast of what is taking place in their backyard. When a security problem or vulnerability arises, the traditional method of dealing with it is to look for the most cost-effective, or no-cost, method to address it, rather than the most security-effective solution. From a criminology perspective, this has some similarities, although not exact, with the broken window concept. Briefly, the broken window theory states that a security vulnerability unaddressed will attract further security incidents that will escalate both in severity and frequency."

Advice for security professionals who may encounter persons in distress or dealing with a mental health issue. Currently, one in five Canadians suffer from a mental health issue. Given the nature of security work, the chances of encountering a person with a mental health issue is much higher than 20 per cent. In order to properly assist someone having a mental issue, it is important to understand what is happening and how you can best help. In most provinces in Canada, in order to obtain a security licence, an individual is required to have a first-aid certificate. There is similar training for security practitioners that is offered by the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC), which is called Mental Health First Aid. One of the major obstacles people with mental health issues face is the reluctance to speak about what they are going through. As a society, we need to make it OK for people to discuss their issues and get the help that they need.

Condominiums have several choices when it comes to addressing security concerns within the building. As it often is the case, these choices come with concerns about making the wrong choice. On occasion, this "paralysis by analysis" can turn into a lack of progression as decisions get delayed in order to research each option thoroughly, thereby stalling the issue. One of the most important points that a condominium should keep in mind is that their security systems must be integrated. This means that all the different componenents of the security systems (e.g. lighting, security cameras, access control, key procedures, etc.) must be harmonized so they are in sync with one another.

William H. Webster, a former director of FBI and chair of Homeland Security Advisory Council, once said, "Security is always seen as too much until the day its not enough." Although the quote was said during a debate titled National Security vs Personnel Liberty, its equally applicable to condominium corporations and their operational procedures. Condominiums face several challenges when it comes to implementing and upgrading security. The first could be the governing body; boards of directors are elected from the owners (mostly) of the condominium and they are charged with managing the well-being of the condominium. These owners usually come from diverse backgrounds and bring their own expertise to the board. However, if there is no one familiar with security or risk management on the board, quite frequently (in absencd of serious or frequent security events) security is pushed to the back burner.

As condominium residents become more knowledgeable about the responsibilities of a condominium corporation and management, the security of the building is quickly becoming a more frequent topic of discussion at many board meetings and AGMs. When added to the number of security incidents that occur, its no wonder that this topic is getting so much attention by investors and tenants alike.

Properly Maintained Condominiums are Less Likely to be Targets of Crime. (CPTED is an acronym for Crime Prevention through Environmental Design). As many may know, CPTED is an acro- nym for Crime Prevention through En- vironmental Design. CPTED Concepts are known and have been utilized for the past 50 years for the purpose of reducing opportunities for crime. This concept also has a history of increasing responsible and positive use of the property while at the same time decreasing the likelihood of criminal behaviour. Implementing CPTED can be defined as follows: Provides the opportunity to reduce crime within the condominium....

Two recent events in Toronto have called into question the security of master keys in condo buildings. In one case, a Riverdale condo is facing a bill of $30,000 to $40,000 to re-key its building after its master key was snatched from its re safety box and used to steal a bike secured in a storage locker, according to a CBC news report. In the other case, a locksmith company in Toronto has been advertising that it will copy security locks for condo owners. In addition, a quick check of Google reveals several chat forums in Toronto and the U.S. where condo owners are advising each other of potential locksmiths that will ignore the instructions, 'DO NOT DUPLICATE,' emblazoned on these keys. These owners are also comparing notes on how to approach the locksmith for the best results.....

Tail-gating is when an unauthorized person follows a resident into a condo building to bypass security. Traditional remedies for this issue include security awareness education for the residents as well as detailed signage. However, this continues to be a problem for condo corporations, because even if the authorized condo resident notices that someone is following them, rarely do they feel comfortable confronting the person. And recent innovations in delivery services may raise additional security concerns, placing renewed importance on access control. Uber has faced an uphill battle when it comes to security acceptance. One of the most cited criticisms (by their competitors) of Uber's transportation system is the lack of registration of the drivers. Now condo corporations may face a new security challenge as Uber enters into food delivery industry. One issue that may arise is the fact that the people delivering the food are not employed of the franchise that is delivering food....

As technology and knowledge advance, clients are expecting more and more from their security installers and certified dealers. Part of that reliance stems from the fact that they are looking to their security providers to stay current on security trends and be familiar with recognized security theory/principles. The security dealer who is able to present his/her security recommendations in a cognizant and professional manner, referencing established security principles, is bound to stand out from the masses. One of the Security Principles that security providers would be advised to implement into their proposals/recommendations is that of Layered Protection. Layered Protection or Defence in Depth is a security concept where assets are protected by rings of security measures. In the center of the rings is the protected or critical asset. As you progress from outer to the sequential inner rings, at each layer, the security measures get more stringent. The reasoning behind this concept is illustrated as follows....

"Security is always too much until the day that it is not enough". This quote, coined by former FBI director William H. Webster, perfectly summarizes the physical security industry. The irony of this fact is that a well- functioning security solution is transparent to the end-user. It is only if the security system fails that it comes to the attention of management. For this reason, both developers and condominium boards have shown some reluctance to invest in high-end security methods. There are many good reasons for this hesitation. Previously any security system over and above a camera system (referred to as a video surveillance system or VSS) has been seen as an upgrade due to the cost of the equipment and of running cables. Recent advances in the equipment have made VSS, and other technologies, much more useful and affordable to condominiums....

CPTED is an acronym for Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design. The purpose of implementing CPTED principles into the design of the condominium is to reduce the opportunities for crime that are inherent in the design of condominiums or their neighborhoods. CPTED has a proven record of being properly researched and utilized successfully on an international basis. It also has a history of increasing responsible and positive use of the property while at the same time decreasing the likelihood of criminal behavior. The goal of implementing CPTED can be defined as follows....

Condominiums are a different type of animal when it comes to security management, and this is definitely apparent when discussing security requirements and upgrades. This article is prepared using the Ontario Condominium Act (herein referred to as ACT) as a primary reference, but security professionals will note a similarity to other provincial legislations as well. To start off, condominiums are built by developers with the primary purpose of selling the units to individual owners or investors. When these investors purchase the units, they become proportional owners of the building. Unlike a rental building, where the developer maintains the ownership of the building and then rents units to realize revenue on a monthly basis, the condominium developer has a short term relationship with the building. Their goal is to sell the units, get out, and then move on to the next project.

Within the condominium industry, there has recently been concern about third-party suppliers that are duplicating fobs for owners. Most worrisome would be the lack of control that the condominium corporation can now exercise over the access within the facility. Condominium corporations use fobs to control entry to their buildings for several reasons. Fobs provide information on who accessed the common element with a date and time stamp, which may be important in the event of a security incident.

It is often repeated that property managers wear many hats as they service the facilities and the owners within the corporation. this is also valid when it comes to safeguarding the assets and the residents of the building. Condominium security has evolved over the years - historically, it was a simple matter of ensuring that all door closures functioned, the locks were working, and that there was a fresh (daily) tape in the CCTV (Closed Circuit Television) system. Modern times have shown a significant evolution in the security solutions that are available to condominiums...

Condominium security has undergone many changes over recent years. Previously, security within a condominium building was simple matter of ensuring that all the doors were locked and that the daily VHS tapes were changed in the CCTV (Close Circuit Television) system. The topic has become far more complex with the advancement of technology in security equipment. It is important to kepp up with these changes in technology as it is not the only thing who is becoming more sophisticatedl: so are the criminals targetting our buildings. We are currently seeing an unpredecented rise in petty theft and damange incidents within condominium communities.