Category: School Security

10/25/2023

FBI Crime Stats + Safety Tips

In honor of National Crime Prevention Month, Cothron’s Security Professionals is sharing advice on how to prevent crimes.

This month – National Crime Prevention Month – the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) released its 2022 Crime in the Nation Statistics. Thankfully, major crimes such as murder, rape, and aggravated assault saw a decrease, but robbery showed a national increase of 1.3%.

In Texas, specifically, there were over 100,000 reported accounts of burglary, 21,000 robberies, and almost 100,000 motor vehicle theft incidents last year.

Due to these crime statistics and the fact that October is all about the promotion of preventing crime, Cothron’s – Austin’s oldest and most trusted locksmith and security company – wanted to share some safety tips.

Preventing Crime In Homes, Businesses & Schools

Make sure there are well-lit entryways: Having lights at front doors, back doors, and other exterior doors helps you safely see your way into and out of places. Furthermore, they can help prevent burglars from trespassing.
Consider motion lights, alarm systems, and/or surveillance cameras: This can be taken a step further with lighting that detects motion, as well as security alarms and video surveillance systems, which alert you if there are intruders.
Use shrubbery to help cover windows and deter breakins: Shrubs can act like fencing, as it blocks people from looking or breaking into your house, place of business, or educational institution.
Upgrade door hardware to include smart locks, deadbolts, peepholes, and other safety features: You can also increase security by having upgraded locks installed.
Store valuables in a safe: When it comes to valuable belongings that are inside, make sure to lock them in a safe (preferably one with a hard-to-guess combination).

Preventing Crime While Driving, Traveling & Biking

Don't keep valuables in your car: If someone sees something valuable in your vehicle, that will make them more likely to break in and steal it. Try to leave those at home!
Hide personal belongings after you park: When you do have personal items with you, make sure to hide them if the car is going to be left unattended.
Always lock doors/windows: Of course, actually locking doors and windows is always a smart move (though you’d be surprised how many people leave them unlocked).
Use a high-quality lock when securing your bike, locking your luggage, etc.: And when it comes to locks, make sure to opt for strong and sturdy ones (like what we sell in our shops:).

These are just a few crime prevention tips to keep in mind during this month and beyond. As always, if you need help purchasing/installing any of these security features, you can contact us here. Stay safe out there, Texas!

8/16/2023

Tips For Increasing School Security

It’s back-to-school season, and Cothron’s, based in Austin, Texas, is sharing information on how to boost campus safety.

This year in Texas, there is a greater emphasis on school security, due to new legislation. These regulations – which came about after last year’s Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde – include armed officers and mental health support. But what else can schools do to increase safety?

Keep Exterior Doors Locked: A huge part of keeping out unwanted guests is regularly locking doors. Within schools, there are parents coming in to pick up their kids, teachers leaving campus for lunch, students moving throughout different buildings for different classes…Many campuses, therefore, have their doors on timers, allowing entry/exit at certain times of the day. Others utilize access control options, which are covered below. Find a solution that works best for you, and do everything you can to keep the front door locked.

Set Up Surveillance Cameras &/Or Alarms: Security cameras and alarms can be used to monitor what is happening around you. CCTV can be set up at entrances and other high-traffic areas, and if/when a door opens when it shouldn’t, a security alarm can alert everyone.

Designate Specific Perimeters: Schools must clearly communicate with faculty & staff, students, and parents, and part of this includes designated areas (such as where kids are dropped off/picked up), schedules (like letting visitors know when they can/can’t come to campus), and expectations (on what to do in case of an emergency, for instance).

Implement Access Control: More and more homes, businesses, and educational institutions are turning to security solutions that control who has access to buildings. A popular pick is fobs or badges that can be scanned to permit entry. Currently, many are also turning to identity-based access control, which uses biometric identity like fingerprints to open doors.

Have Response Plans In Place: We all remember doing fire drills when we were children, and today, emergency preparedness must be taken to a whole new level. Whether there is a natural disaster or an active shooter, there must be a clear, specific plan in place. Everyone needs to know exactly what to do and where to go, and the emergency drills must be practiced regularly.

Hire Security Guards: Some campuses rely on security professionals to monitor and protect. With this new Texas legislation, many school staff members will also be armed. If these solutions are right for you, gun safety must be a priority; if possible, keep firearms locked in gun safes to prevent any accidents.

Improve Classroom Security: Finally, each classroom should be as secure as possible. For classroom doors, consider fire-rated and/or bullet-proof options. Make sure they lock from the inside or even have an automatic locking system. Windows should be able to be covered, as well. These are just a few of the basic security measures to keep in mind, though there are a plethora of classroom safety options, including barricade devices.

As school starts, Cothron’s hopes you all have a safe and successful year! And if you are looking to boost security on your school’s Austin Area campus, contact us here.

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