Often enough, when contemplating the need for a security system to protect my own property and family, I tend to imagine that I am pitting my wits and resources against those of a criminal mastermind—that I am preparing myself for a home invasion by James Moriarty and his international team of seasoned henchmen and their elaborate plot to steal my Blue Ray player. They’ll have glass-cutting lasers. They’ll rappel from my roof and dive through my bedroom windows as I sleep. They will be terrifyingly silent and surgical. In the morning when I wake, there will be no sign of the intrusion save for the embarrassing dust-lines of the blank spaces on my shelves and walls where my material possessions once sat, and the distant, almost imperceptible laughter of Moriarty as he rifles through my movie collection.
Now his movie collection.
Of course, my imagination is quick to forget that not all criminals are masterminds.
On Wednesday, May 9, the vehicle of suretyCAM president, Ryan Boder, was the target of one such careless criminal. Under the cover of mid-afternoon, and with the precision of a cinder-block, the individual eagerly opened Mr. Boder’s window in order to help himself to the vehicle’s contents.
Pictured: Car Door Key.
Clearly having over-estimated his cat-burglary skills, the man struggled a few moments while the Viper car alarm system equipped on the vehicle blared and immediately alerted us inside the office via Ryan’s key-fob and his iPhone. Reaching in through the now shattered passenger window, the individual pilfered a laptop, turned, and immediately dropped his stolen goods and ran as Ryan exited the building to confront him. All of this visible on the security camera monitor in our office. You might ask, “Why would a thief target a vehicle parked in direct line of sight to security cameras, in the middle of a security company parking lot, with the security company logo emblazoned across the vehicle’s doors?” You also might ask, “Why would that same thief use a car registered to his name as the get-away vehicle, idling close-by with its license plate in clear view?”
Could have been the perfect crime.
The answer is simple. Crime isn’t always an organized, devious spectacle. It doesn’t always seek to out-think or out-maneuver. In fact, it is often as blunt as the bricks and fists it wields. But regardless if crime approaches as a spider or as a rhino, preparedness is always key. With a professionally installed Viper car alarm, properly positioned security cameras, and a 220 pound former linebacker working just inside the building, the thief we encountered at our office was outmatched and no further damage done—and for all his trouble, he got away with nothing but a warrant for his arrest.
Not much street value in those.
Many thanks to the good men and women at the Whitehall Police Department for handling the case quickly and effectively.
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About the Author:
Jason Carnahan serves as head of marketing and communications. He is suretyCAM’s lead editor and creative copy writer. Jason’s unique ability to wield the English language and blend complex technical concepts with readability and a touch of humor make his work both interesting and educational for all. Jason is a rising star in the security industry who serves the public disseminating his unparalleled expertise and always staying on top of the latest trends and happenings in the security world.