Pivot Point
Knowing when to change your security strategies to protect your bottom line.
By Melissa Somers
Executive Director, CPP SoCal
I’d say it’s safe to imagine that most of us have heard one form or another of the famous quote “insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results”. The origin of the quote is often attributed to Albert Einstein but it was actually first used in a mystery novel by Rita Mae Brown. Regardless of who said it, WHAT it exemplifies not only holds a ton of truth but serves as a wake up call for us to reflect on how we’re currently protecting our profits and consider if we need to change directions so we can best meet the very real challenges we face in today’s world.
I have witnessed a number of member companies that either have never felt the need to equip any of their fleet with tracking devices or only added it to their most expensive units. They were content to gamble with their current protocols and until recent years, that gamble paid off – usually. As our world started changing more rapidly after the pandemic, they were also left hoping that evil doers would wear out / give up or that the climate for crime in California would change, making it harder to get away with theft of any kind. I had several conversations with companies that had fallen victim asking them to consider a pivot in their stance that would include different ways of updating their prevention protocols that were met with stubborn reluctance. After all, why should their bottom line have to take that hit? They’ve never had to pay for tracking services before so why should they now? They vocalized how insane it felt for them to have to spend more of their hard-earned money when the bad guys got away with so much without ever having to pay for their transgressions.
It is a tough pill to swallow to HAVE to make any changes in our operational procedures and prevention protocols. ESPECIALLY when said changes need to occur because of the sheer number of criminals out there that are making it harder and harder to have a healthy bottom line. Compound these frustrations with all of the reasons behind these evil doers choosing this path and the difficulty with capturing them or facing any consequences for their poor choices and we find ourselves facing a big dilemma. I know I have been in the position of feeling perplexed as to why I had to even think about having to spend a dime to make my world safer simply because people are bent on committing crimes. I also knew that while hesitant, and not at all happy about it, at some point changes would have to be made if I wanted to feel any sense of calm. I can’t tell you how many times I would tell myself that very “definition” of insanity listed at the beginning of this article because I simply didn’t want to deal with the possibility of a negative outcome that I had every means of preventing. I begrudgingly accepted that it was time for me to pivot from my established path and step up my game to reclaim some sense of peace in perfectly preventable situations.
Here’s the deal: Crooks are almost always either in step or one step ahead with the newest technology available to implement in protecting our fleet or assets. With that said, if someone is set in their ways and unwilling to change with the times, instead of being a only tad behind, it becomes likely that they’re actually getting left in the dust. Unfortunately, it’s also possible that they could put themselves in a position where the price paid for catching up might very well be substantially higher.
There’s never a convenient time to pull yourself away from the daily expectations of your job, but it’s also vital to think about how incredibly inconvenient it would be to have to deal with a piece of stolen equipment. As often as necessary, ask yourself the following questions:
- Do I have sufficient tracking measures in place and on the equipment that is most vulnerable to theft?
- If there’s a tracking device on the stolen unit –
- Where to find the information
- Who to contact to gain access
- How often will it report?
- Will the tracking device let you know if it has been tampered with or removed from the unit?
- Can updates / reporting frequency be changed for more frequent information?
- Is my security system up to snuff and as bullet-proof as possible?
- Is said security system set up in a way that is ACTUALLY useful in a time of need?
- A grainy picture of a “guy in a black hoodie” isn’t going to help much
- Are after-hours notifications being sent to the best person to respond / react when needed?
- Do I know (or does the person responsible for filing a stolen report) where to find the best information to use when filing a stolen report?
- Is my inventory system set up to access the BEST information to filing a “good” stolen report?
Whenever and however often as necessary, it’s a good idea to think about that popular definition of insanity and take a few moments to think about whether or not we’re being stubborn or maybe just a tad behind. Knowing when – and how often – we need to pivot in a direction better suited for any situation is one sure-fire way to ensure that the only insanity we might have to deal with is not our own.
The Crime Prevention Program of Southern California (CPP) is a non-profit organization working with our members, law enforcement, the construction industry and area auto theft task forces to educate, empower and engage in a community fighting construction crime. For information on how you can join the CPP community, contact Melissa Somers, Executive Director @ 562-8609006 or email: [email protected]. Together, We Make a Difference.
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