For many in America, living in a security estate is the epitome of good, comfortable living and an aspirational lifestyle. According to the American Housing Survey, as conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of people living in gated communities rose to almost 11 million households in 2009, and the numbers keep rising. These gated communities also epitomize security, as estate living is perceived to be very safe and secure – after all, one has to be with all those high walls and exclusive security features, right?
Unfortunately, this is not always true. Whilst living in a suburban house or in a remote home may be more potentially dangerous than living in a gated community, there are still burglaries, assaults and even violent home invasions that take place on these estates. A mother and daughter were brutally beaten in January 2016 during a home invasion of their house in a gated golf estate in Spring Hill, Fla., whilst a woman was violently mugged and attacked in a gated community in West Palm Beach, Fla. in February 2016. Estates, however enclosed and exclusive, are not always as safe as they should be.
The services that OSP can offer estate owners and management teams that own or manage estates / gated communities of any kind, as well as individual homeowners, can include:
- a fully integrated security risk assessment for the estate or home
- considerations regarding the size and location of the estate, as well as the homeowner mix thereof
- assessment of adjacent and nearby road traffic and foot traffic relevant to the estate’s security profile
- a security gaps and needs analysis for the estate or individual house
- access control measures
- surveillance / CCTV / motion sensor and other allied capabilities and needs at all relevant points throughout the estate
- security personnel requirements at entrance / exit and on the estate proper
- security personnel profiling / hiring / vetting
- security profiles for other personnel and contractors for the estate
- illumination surveys for estate roads, sidewalks, paths, parks and other green areas, communal areas, etc.
- liaison and response profile with local law enforcement
- community liaison policies, rules and allied inputs
Estates / gated communities should be as safe and secure as they are perceived to be by community members and homeowners. However, merely having high walls and manned security points at the entrance and exit to the estate will not suffice. That is why a proper security management assessment and system should be essential for any such community.
OSP’s commitment is to provide our esteemed clients who own properties in or manage estates / gated communities with security solutions that are customer-oriented and customized to suit a specific estate.
The security of estates is our objective and what drives the service that we provide. It is what we do – and we do so with pride and conviction.