Two years in the private security industry can show the reality of the stories we read in our daily newspaper. Crime does impact us in more ways than one can imagine, but we need it.
To wake every morning to list of break in attempts at local companies is a normal routine for me; it goes down as easily as my morning coffee, perhaps because the two have so many similarities, well they are both dark for starters, they both give me that early morning boost, and I do need both of them to get through my day.
Security is a vital part in the lives of most South Africans; we all need peace of mind. With crime statistics going through the roof, we find ourselves spending thousands on alarm systems, locks, security gates, and cameras. All these items have become essential in most South African business simply because theft and robbery is any South African companies greatest loss.
The methods that are used to get a quick buck are all the usual, which have been established, re – established, and published to the world over and over, yet we still struggle to prevent crime. The average smash and grab can cost a company 20 thousand and only take 3 minutes, while an average response company takes 3-4 minutes to respond to an alarm. The best way to prevent a break in is to slow the criminals down with locks and bars.
The entire existence of my career is based solely on the loss of others. A company will lose everything, contact their closest security provider and spend the last of their money securing their newly replaced stock.
The security industry is ever changing and will continue to grow at the same rate as crime. The technological breakthroughs that have spawned from the security industry are unbelievable, yet still continue to evolve. Hundreds of corporations are created for the sole purpose of preventing crime, and millions of criminals exist for the sole purpose of robbing those industries, is this the vicious circle that keeps our economy alive?
Crime is a worldwide problem and will never cease to exist, therefore, security will never cease to exist, and we cannot have one without the other. The ugly truth of security is that it is based on the “bad” in life, though for a good cause.
You pay your insurance every month, insurance exists to replace goods that are stolen or damaged, usually as a result of crime, and hundreds of companies are created to make this possible. Jobs are created and families are fed all because somebody stole your personal items.
My question…. Is crime good or bad for our economy?
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