Learning About Home Security

Any experienced security guard will tell you that different reasons present not only different challenges, but also different opportunities when you're on patrol. Being on an outdoor patrol during the wintertime might initially seem like a less-than-desirable post — you may be cold and wet at various points, and long to get inside and warm up. Fortunately, a heightened degree of attentiveness during a wintertime security patrol shift can reveal signs of suspicious activities — which may be the difference in you apprehending a suspect. Here are some specific things to watch for.

Fogged-Up Windows

When a vehicle sits empty in cold weather, the windows typically stay clear. However, when someone is sitting in a vehicle with the heater turned off, his or her breath will quickly cause the windows to fog up. If you're on patrol and there are parked cars in the area that are supposed to be empty, pay special attention to their windows and windshields. Should you see a fogged-up vehicle, approach it with caution to see if someone is inside. There's a chance that someone may be waiting in the vehicle for an opportunity to break into a nearby building, for example.

Tracks In The Snow

Freshly falling snow makes it very difficult for suspects to move around a prohibited area without leaving a trace of their presence. If it has recently snowed or is currently snowing, look for tracks in an otherwise fresh patch of snow. Perhaps you can quickly assess a legitimate reason for them to be there, but this may not be the case. If you're suspicious about the tracks, you could be looking at evidence that a suspect has left behind. Fortunately, you can immediately follow the tracks through the snow and hopefully catch up to whoever is up to no good.

Sounds From Afar

Being outside on a wintertime patrol means that you should also keep your ears alert. Suspects may leave clues about their presence in the form of sounds. For example, if the snow is crunchy, someone walking through it can be easy to hear, even from a considerable distance away. The suspects are apt to keep their voices low, but what they might not know is that sound can travel farther in colder weather. This can mean that if a pair of suspects are whispering to one another about a crime they're in the middle of committing, even if it's across a large premises from where you are, you may pick up the sounds of their voices and be able to go investigate.

Contact a company, like A P I Security, for more help.