Executive Vice President - 2011/04

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.

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.

1. Mechanical and environmental design measures:

• In making your security plans, consider 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 locks 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.

1. 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.

1. 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?

1. 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.

1. Minimize the theft potential. Lock sheds and trailers during non-working hours.

1. Maximize theft protection to your equipment storage areas. Store equipment on-premises in a locked building equipped with double-cylinder deadbolts and a 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 for persons routinely checking the area.

1. Investigate and report all theft losses. Establish reporting procedures. These should include immediate contact with area police and key personnel in your organization. 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

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.