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How Security Is Shaping the Cannabis Industry

How Security Is Shaping the Cannabis Industry

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Frank Costa, President, Nexgen Protection Services

A surveillance system can help protect your business from theft, particularly employee theft, which is a widespread issue in the cannabis industry. For large outdoor growing operations, having a monitoring system in place provides peace of mind by securing your property from all angles at all times.

Source:
Baxter, K. (2025, January 13). How security is shaping the cannabis industry. Security InfoWatch.

#protectionservices #securitystandards #publicsafety #mobilesecurity #securitythreats



Security Protection to Ensure the Safety and Well-Being of Students

Security Protection to Ensure the Safety and Well-Being of Students

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Frank Costa, President, Nexgen Protection Services

To ensure the safety and well-being of students, security protection should encompass both physical measures—such as secured perimeters, surveillance systems, and controlled access points—and proactive approaches, including anti-bullying policies, mental health support, positive student-teacher relationships, and comprehensive emergency response plans. All of this should be implemented while fostering a safe and inclusive school environment.

Source:
Intelligent Security for Safer Schools. Security InfoWatch (January 2, 2025).

#protectionservices #securitystandards #publicsafety #mobilesecurity #securitythreats



Active Shooter Situations: Handling Conflicts & De-Escalation Tactics

Active Shooter Situations: Handling Conflicts & De-Escalation Tactics

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Active Shooter Situation

A violent altercation at an AutoZone auto parts store on Broadway in Newburgh, Orange County, left one man dead from a gunshot wound and another injured from stab wounds.

Frank Costa, NEXGEN Protection Services

NEXGEN Protection offers 24/7 security for your business with armed guards trained to protect and de-escalate conflicts. Our team of professional, armed guards is rigorously trained and experienced in handling complex security challenges, ensuring safety, peace of mind, and compliance with regulations.

Two men were injured—one sustained stab wounds, while the other was shot. Officers immediately rendered medical aid to both individuals. The man with stab wounds was treated for non-life-threatening injuries, while the man with the gunshot wound was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Importance of Parking Lot Security During the Holiday Season

The Importance of Parking Lot Security During the Holiday Season

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Frank Costa, President, Nexgen Protection Services

The holiday season brings increased activity to shopping centers, office complexes, and other public spaces, making parking lots prime targets for various security threats. Understanding these risks and implementing effective countermeasures can help reduce threats to both individuals and property.

With large crowds and busy lots, personal safety risks such as assaults, robberies, and carjackings become more prevalent. Criminals often target individuals carrying cash, credit cards, or valuable items. To counteract these threats, mobile security cameras equipped with motion sensors and two-way communication can provide an added layer of safety. These cameras enable security personnel to monitor isolated areas more closely. The ability to relocate cameras based on real-time data and activity trends ensures that security coverage can adapt to shifting risks, providing a more comprehensive safety strategy.

To mitigate these security threats, parking lot owners should invest in enhanced lighting, permanent and mobile surveillance systems, increased security patrols, and emergency call stations. Mobile security cameras, in particular, offer a versatile and dynamic solution for monitoring parking lots. These cameras can be repositioned as needed, provide real-time surveillance, and serve both as a deterrent and a responsive tool for addressing security issues.

Additionally, patrons should practice personal safety measures, such as parking in well-lit areas, staying vigilant, and securing their belongings. By combining strategic security technologies like mobile cameras with proactive safety practices, property owners, managers, and patrons can work together to create a safer and more secure environment during the busy holiday season.

 

SOURCE: 

Survey: Parking lot safety influences holiday shopping habits, Security Magazine, 2024.
#protectionservices #securitystandards #publicsaftey  #mobilesecurity #securitythreats

 

Retailers Must Leverage Technology That Goes Beyond Thwarting Theft to Predicting It

Retailers Must Leverage Technology That Goes Beyond Thwarting Theft to Predicting It

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Frank Costa, President, Nexgen Protection Services

Violence remains a major concern for the retail industry. Retailers and solution providers must collaborate to develop and implement technology that goes beyond simply thwarting theft. Efforts must focus on predicting and preventing theft. By doing so will proactively reduce the risk of violence and mitigate crime.

Retailers have reported an increase in both the average number of shoplifting incidents and the amount of dollars lost due to shoplifting over the past year (National Retail Federation, The Impact of Retail Theft & Violence 2024).

Protecting store associates and customers, while reducing today’s levels of violence and retail crime, requires a whole-community approach and collaboration across all stakeholders.

SOURCE: 

Wolfe, C. New Study Shows Shoplifting Is Up 93% Since Before the COVID-19 Pandemic, Loss Prevention Magazine, 12/19/2024.
#protectionservices #securitystandards #publicsaftey  #mobilesecurity #securitythreats

 

Creating a Loss Prevention Culture: A Thoughtful, Strategic Approach

Creating a Loss Prevention Culture: A Thoughtful, Strategic Approach

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Frank Costa, President, Nexgen Protection Services

Set Up a Loss Prevention/Asset Protection Team

Creating a loss prevention culture requires a thoughtful, strategic approach. Here are four key steps to establish a cohesive and proactive loss prevention framework:

1. Define Your Mission and Scope

The first step in fostering an effective loss prevention culture is to clarify its focus, goals, and priorities. This involves defining the specific areas your company’s loss prevention efforts will address, such as waste management, operational inefficiencies, and workplace safety.

Equally important is determining how the success of your loss prevention culture will be measured. Beyond traditional metrics like shrink reduction, consider tracking waste, gross margin, accident frequency rate (AFR), safety compliance, and other indicators that align with your business objectives.

Establishing these foundational elements helps shape the structure of your loss prevention efforts, guiding leadership, field management, and store-level teams.

2. Assemble a Dynamic Team

A successful loss prevention culture thrives on a team with diverse skill sets. You need a mix of traditional loss prevention expertise and operational knowledge to effectively combat evolving tactics in organized retail crime and other complex loss events. This means having team members skilled in investigations as well as those with deep knowledge of business operations.

Building a robust loss prevention culture is about more than preventing theft; it’s about understanding how every facet of your business contributes to loss. A diverse team ensures you’re prepared to tackle challenges from multiple angles.

3. Foster a Unified Loss Prevention Environment

Building a true loss prevention culture requires teamwork and collaboration. Strong interdepartmental relationships and clear policies are essential for effective decision-making and risk mitigation. These policies provide employees with a framework to minimize errors, ensure proper data handling, and enforce compliance.

By collaborating with sales, operations, and other departments, loss prevention becomes seamlessly integrated into the business culture.

4. Leverage Technology for Scalable Growth

Investing in technology can significantly strengthen your loss prevention culture. While the initial costs may seem high, tools like incident management software and audit platforms with workflow automation can handle increased workloads without proportional increases in costs, making them ideal for scalable growth.

SOURCE: 

Wolfe, C. Why Human Resources and Loss Prevention Should Train Together, Loss Prevention Magazine, 12/20/2024.
#protectionservices #securitystandards #publicsaftey  #mobilesecurity #securitythreats

 

Organizations Must Be Ready to Assess Potential Security Risks to Protect Everyone

Organizations Must Be Ready to Assess Potential Security Risks to Protect Everyone

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Frank Costa, President Nexgen Protection Services – 

Security leaders across environments — spanning retail stores, corporate businesses, residential communities and cities — should prepare for threats that will require fast and informed action. We all have experienced major cultural moments, including the 2020 election, COVID-19 pandemic, and nationwide protests. 

It is critical for organizations to put in place security protocols to preserve employee and public safety while respecting the rights of citizens.  Creating a plan and protocols to address these incidents will help you ensure a coordinated response.

  • Establish communication protocols. Create clear communication protocols that explain how information will flow to key parties, such as store or business leadership, employees, customers, neighboring businesses and law enforcement.

  • Assess physical defense measures. How can you protect your building from damage or control the flow of traffic and people?

  • Promote de-escalation tactics. Reinforce your communication protocols during this training. Ensure that the safety of every employee and customer is the number one priority, reminding them to not get involved if physical violence occurs.

  • Implement safety technology. Cameras, alarms, motion detectors, and motion-triggered lights can all bring visibility to situations, add necessary deterrence if you make the decision to close a location, and gather evidence to help law enforcement pursue bad actors. Revisit your existing security investments to assess their capabilities, and consider whether you need new solutions to cover your gaps.   

 

SOURCE: 

Kelley, M. 3 potential security risks to stay ahead of post-election, Security Magazine, 11/20/2024.
#protectionservices #securitystandards #publicsaftey  #mobilesecurity #securitythreats

 

soft skills

Soft Skills Pay Off for Retailers Creating Safer Workplaces

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Frank Costa, President Nexgen Protection Services – 

De-escalating volatile situations starts with communication skills, which can help in understanding and then talking down a challenging customer. The overall goal in this stage is to calm the person down and bring him or her to a more reasonable interaction.

For sales floor associates, framing a conversation around collaboration or finding a solution to appease the customer is another tactic that can de-escalate a volatile shopper into a satisfied one.

Communication skills have broad benefits, helping sales associates communicate and provide customer service to shoppers who may enter a store in an aggressive mood.

Non Confrontational engagement with customers through the sharing of knowledge and tools on mitigating volatile situations ensures everyone is able to enjoy the shopping experience. 

 

SOURCE: 

Mosqueda, S. Soft Skills Pay Off for Retailers Creating Safer Workplaces, Security Management, 2/12/2024.
#protectionservices #securitystandards #publicsaftey  #mobilesecurity #securitythreats

fruad

Mitigating fraud, theft and scam risks within financial institutions

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Frank Costa, President Nexgen Protection Services – 

Social engineering schemes have been such an easy way for fraudsters to get money. To guard against this fraud exposure, banks and financial institutions have to work just as hard as the fraudsters, and stay on top of any new threats that emerge. 

One of the best ways to defeat a social engineering scam requesting payment is to make a phone call to a number that is on file and ask if the person you received the request from really sent those instructions. 

Confirming with the appropriate person on file through a verbal phone call that a funds transfer request can proceed is a smart way to identify scam (fraud) attempts. With possibly hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars at stake, it’s worth taking the extra time to confirm the validity of a funds transfer request.

SOURCE: 

Alger, J. Mitigating fraud, theft and scam risks within financial institutions, 12/2/2024.
#protectionservices #securitystandards #publicsaftey  #mobilesecurity #securitythreats

 

Diversity & Inclusion In the Workplace – Fostering Understanding and Fairness

Diversity & Inclusion In the Workplace – Fostering Understanding and Fairness

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Frank Costa, President Nexgen Protection Services – 

Federal laws prohibit discrimination based on characteristics like race, sex, religion, and disability. Promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace encourages innovation, improves morale, and helps attract top talent. Training on bias, cultural differences, and inclusivity helps employees understand and respect their coworkers’ diverse backgrounds.

 

To foster diversity and inclusion in the workplace:

  1. Foster supportive dialogues.
    Encourage your employees to be vulnerable and honest. Don’t pretend that it’s all business as usual in the face of major political events. Instead, set up open, empathetic spaces for people to process and come together.

  2. Reaffirm your commitment to your values.
    Many company leaders talk about diversity, equity, and inclusion, but this is a chance to live up to your commitments and make sure your actions match your words. Take a moment to let your employees know that no matter what’s happening outside company walls, within them, your leaders are committed to fostering safe, inclusive environments where all employees feel empowered to be their best selves and do their best work.

  3. Train everyone in inclusion.
    Make sure all of your team members—not just people leaders, but also more junior employees and individual contributors—understand what it means to foster an inclusive environment and are clear on the role they play in doing so. Provide training and resources that give employees the skills to practice inclusivity at work.

 

SOURCE: 

Ruiz, V. B3 Essential Employee Trainings For Your Company Curriculum, 10/7/2024.
#protectionservices #securitystandards #publicsaftey  #mobilesecurity #securitythreats