Executive Vice President - 2011/04

April 2011 145
Executive Vice President
Mark Smith: [email protected]
HI, FOLKS! Spring is here and it’s time to
get out and spruce up the field. Unfortunately,
my club in Kansas City and my new club
here in Arkansas have been vandalized.
It took a tremendous effort from many
Hot Springs RC club members to put our
flying site back together and we’re still
working on it. It didn’t take long for both
clubs to contact me about AMA insurance
coverage for vandalism issues at the field.
President Steve Stephens surveys the damage
and rebuild.
We’re fortunate to have retired construction
owner Ray Weber (L). It’s all about
teamwork.
Economics dictate that we cannot afford
to insure our flying sites; therefore, this
month I wanted to share some important
information I received from AMA’s
insurance representative, Paul R. Bretsen,
CPCU, AMIM, First Vice President of The
Harry A. Koch Company. Paul sent me the
following:
Tips for Preventing Vandalism and Site
Theft
While vandalism and theft are not
common at most flying sites, they can be
costly both in terms of damage to the site and
theft of club equipment. Because flying sites
tend to be in more isolated areas, they are
vulnerable to both theft and vandalism by
criminals who recognize an easy opportunity.
Here are some steps you can take to make
your site more theft and vandalism resistant.
1) Human and organizational measures:
• Develop positive relations with
neighboring residents and businesses.
Neighbors are your eyes and ears.
• Neighbors should be armed with
information about who should have site
access, as well as your home phone number.
• Ask local sheriff or police to patrol at
random times.
2) Mechanical and environmental design
measures:
• In making your security plans you have
considered how much you’ve got to lose. The
greater the value and vulnerability of your
equipment and buildings, the greater your
investment in security should be.
• Use metal doors and frames with
deadbolt and locking handles.
• Consider metal-framed windows or
limited window openings that are narrow
enough that someone can’t squeeze in or
items cannot come out.
• Consider political aspects of the flying
site in designing security measures. Is there
anything controversial about the flying site?
• Consider the history of crime problems
in the geographic area in designing security
measures.
3) Surveillance:
• Where can intruders hide?
• Where can intruders enter and exit?
• Enhance natural surveillance by clearing
lines of sight. Do materials, fences,
shrubbery, weeds, etc. provide cover for
criminals?
• Increase mechanical surveillance with
shielded security and/or motion response
lighting. Usefulness is relative to the presence
and cooperation of neighbors.
4) Access control:
• Are fences installed? How secure are
they? What type of padlock is used?
• Do a lot of people know where you keep
keys to storage sheds?
• Are keys left on site?
• Are combinations changed when
someone is discharged?
• Are alarms installed? Monitored or
internal? Silent or audible? Motion, heat or
contact initiated? Who responds? Would
responding police know who to call in the
middle of the night?
5) Territoriality:
• Are there any controls over who enters
and leaves the site?
• Are questionable visitors challenged?
• Is graffiti showing up on the site? If so,
what are you doing about it? It should be
painted over or removed immediately.
Why is flying site vandalism and theft a
problem? Thieves are always looking for
targets that present little risk and high returns.
Flying sites often fit the bill. There is often
little or no security. If a thief is caught, the
penalty is often light.
The following are a few common
characteristics of flying site claims. Thieves
and vandals are fairly lazy people looking for
the easier targets. Most thefts occur in the
evenings, usually within an hour after flying
has ended. Most potential thieves will not
attempt to steal if they cannot enter and be
clear of the site in less than 10 minutes.
Suggested Theft Prevention Measures
1) Plan and manage your theft prevention
efforts. Effective theft prevention requires
commitment. If you do not make it a priority
then nobody else will either.
2) Minimize the theft potential. Lock
sheds and trailers during non-working hours.
3) Maximize theft protection to your
equipment storage areas. Store equipment on
premise in a locked building equipped with
double cylinder dead bolts and monitored
security alarm. Many landscape contractors
store equipment in converted overseas
shipping containers. Make sure these
containers are padlocked and protected by
padlock shields.
Restrict access to equipment storage areas
to designated workers. Provide security keys
to these workers that are stamped “Do Not
Duplicate.” Keep your equipment storage
building and surrounding area well
illuminated and free of hiding places such as
shrubbery, trees, or other visual obstructions.
Nighttime lighting is essential. Elevate
lighting to eliminate dark areas that should be
visible from adjacent streets. Where possible,
lighting should be positioned so that it does
not limit the view or create glare problems to
persons routinely checking the area.
4) Investigate and report all theft losses.
Establish reporting procedures. These should
include immediate contact with area police
and key personnel in your company. Your
local police should be contacted for training
assistance. A list of names and phone
numbers of key personnel and area police
should be provided with each work crew.
Provide information regarding previous
theft losses to investigating police. Request
their input to prevent future losses. Prosecute
thieves apprehended by police to the fullest
extent possible. Set the example and send a
message that equipment theft will not be
tolerated.
That’s it for this month. Don’t forget to
slather up and keep in touch!
Mark Smith
Executive Vice
President
75 Largo Dr.
Hot Springs Village
AR 71909
Tel.: (913) 568-4347