| Galatians 6:10 |
| "... doing good for all believers... " |
| 12/14/09 - Church Security - adding layers of security |
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In all of our training, be it seminars, webinars, or newsletters, we stress the importance of adding as many layers of security to your church, school, or ministry between you and the bad guys. We have also noted that there is no one solution to prevent crime whether you are addressing physical, electronic, or procedural security measures. However, every layer adds another dimension to your overall protection - the more layers, the better security. It is called "target hardening". One of the measures we have spoken about in the past is glass film protection for windows and glass doors, which has become a real challenge for churches these days. Churches are no longer the brick building with few windows and solid wooden doors. Styles today are mostly glass to give a very open and inviting feel. Unfortunately the more glass, the more risk because glass is easily defeated in a break-in and a target for vandalism. Below are just a few samples of news reports from the hundreds that we have seen: - Police say the latest attempt happened early Monday when a fire extinguisher was thrown through a stained glass window..... Bryan, TX 3/16/09 - A naked man who hurled himself through the front window of a Rainier Valley church early Saturday, leaving behind shards of glass and smears of blood infected with hepatitis C, may have targeted the property because of something that happened there 29 years ago. Seattle, WA 6/9/09 - Early Friday morning, Watertown Police were called to the scene of a robbery at the Immaculate Conception Church at 110 3rd Street S.E. in Watertown. Officers say that someone broke a glass door to get inside the church. Watertown, IA 6/14/09 - Police say suspects threw a brick through a church window to get inside this weekend. Mint Hill, NC 6/17/09 Even when a church has an alarm system we have seen many instances this year alone where the criminal will take a rock or brick, heave it through the front door and run in and grab electronics, safes, etc. and be gone before the alarm company and police ever respond. Glass is tempered and meant to shatter into little pieces for safety, but it doesn't offer much in terms of resistance against attack. In the past we have spoken about the benefits of protective window films systems, but up until now we have not had a resource that could provide these products and services on a nationwide basis - now we do! The Christian Security Network is very pleased to announce the Glass Break Protection Solutions program and its partnership with the National Glass Service Group who provides products from 3M and Pentagon Protection USA, among others, to offer the Christian community solutions. Adding window film and anchoring protection is a proven physical security measure that is used in government buildings, public schools, corporate buildings, and hospitals. They may be added to exterior or interior doors or windows. Depending on which product is installed, this window film can withstand attack and stop or delay entry all together. And not only are these window films an outstanding security measure, but they may also act as an energy saving product and come tinted so people cannot see in, which we recommend in certain areas like children's classrooms, office where valuable are visible, etc. Most likely you will not install these window films to all your glass doors and windows (which would be great), but a free site inspection can help you determine your most vulnerable points and apply the film to those areas. Your glass doors would be the first entry point to consider applying these films because this is the area most often attacked. All of us at the Christian Security Network are excited about this new resource and hope that you will request information and begin to include this in your overall security plans! In Christ, Jeff Hawkins Executive Director |
