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While we’ll all leave our property empty from time to time, a lengthier vacancy can present a window of opportunity for thieves, trespassers, and other criminals. That’s especially concerning for businesses with confidential files, expensive equipment and restricted areas all forming part of their site.
There are solutions that you can put into place, though. At ProFM, we’ve long been dedicated to securing vacant properties, and with our latest deep dive, we’ve compiled an expert selection of tips on how to secure an empty property effectively and efficiently.
To properly secure an empty property, we’d advise investing in both physical security measures, such as security officers, canine handlers, and barriers or fencing, and security technology like CCTV cameras, intruder alarms and access control features.
You’ll discover much more detail, alongside practical advice, in our guide below.
Arguably, one of the most robust and effective solutions when it comes to guaranteeing the safety and security of a site is opting for vacant property security officers. These expertly trained security professionals can offer a full suite of services.
The core duties of any security presence at a vacant property include:
Not only will these responsibilities all fall under the jurisdiction of your empty property security guards, but just their presence will provide a visual deterrent to any opportunistic thieves or trespassers.
It’s been seen time and time again that more visual security measures, and specifically security guards, are arguably the most effective way to ensure the safety of your premises. This is something scientific research supports, with security guards being a proven crime reduction method across a range of different environments.
Ultimately, security officers that are positioned at strategic points across your vacant property offer one of the most robust solutions when it comes to securing your premises, your assets and your investments.
Another of the mainstays across the security industry, and one that’s seen a considerable evolution since its inception, CCTV offers a comprehensive solution to the concerns you might have when it comes to your vacant premises.
Now offering a far more high-tech and sophisticated solution than its grainy predecessors, a modern CCTV package encompasses a huge range of tools that simplify the process of how to secure your vacant property.
By opting to use a trusted and well-established provider like ProFM for your vacant property CCTV monitoring, you’ll be permanently connected to our round-the-clock Control Room, who are fully in control should the worst happen.
Plus, with our commitment to the very latest in technology, we’ll be able to react at the first sign of a disturbance or intrusion and deploy support accordingly. This can take the form of a registered and expertly-trained security professional, or, in extreme cases, an immediate referral to the emergency services.
Often seen as an extension of more traditional static security guarding, mobile patrols go far beyond just a bolt-on for a more conventional option. In fact, they’re often a strong supplement to the existing security presence you might already have on site, particularly if you’re concerned about how to secure an empty property that’s previously been targeted.
Equipped with a vehicle for larger or more sprawling premises, mobile security patrols will undertake routine walk-rounds of your premises, ensuring the integrity and completeness of any measures you have in place, such as fencing or barriers.
They’ll also be able to investigate any breakages (especially important if your empty property has security vulnerabilities in windows, doors, or fragile walls) and report these using a thorough system that prioritises keeping you in the loop.
This offers a more all-encompassing peace of mind, especially if there are areas of concern at multiple entry points or if you’ve had concerns in the past about trespassers gaining access at a specific point.
While it’s easy to assume that these are only necessary for much bigger vacant properties (construction sites or disused buildings, for instance), they’re also equally valuable for smaller premises. That extends to office buildings and commercial sites, especially over periods of extended closure like renovations or holidays.
Perhaps self-explanatory, but opting for a key holding service will mean that a copy of your property’s keys are kept in a secure, undisclosed location off-site. This not only ensures that you’ve always got access to your premises as and when you need it, but it also means that the keys can be used in the event of an emergency.
This extends to include any disturbances or break-ins, as well as the first sign of trespassing or anything that could further compromise the security of your empty property, such as vandalism or antisocial behaviour. Our expertly trained personnel at ProFM Group proactively use your keys to ensure that your premises is always safe.
We’re able to deploy expertly trained operatives at a moment’s notice, with an average response time of just 30 minutes across the UK. This ensures that not only are all alerts responded to promptly but that you’ll always have experts on standby should the worst happen.
It’s an integral part of the key holding and alarm response package we’re able to offer for vacant property security. You can rest easy in the knowledge that, regardless of when an intrusion happens, our trained operatives can provide a swift and effective response.
You’ll also be able to couple this key-holding service with a lock and unlock package, which, should your site become occupied again, will mean that none of your staff will need to shoulder the responsibility of opening the property each morning or securing the property again in the evening.
The site perimeter is arguably one of the most important when it comes to keeping your empty property secure. It offers the first line of defence against any unwanted visitors, and without effective measures in place, you run the risk of criminals exploiting any vulnerabilities.
With ProFM Group, you’ll have access to our bespoke solutions for fencing, barriers, and boarding, all alongside the ultra-bright security lighting you’d expect to complement those perimeter solutions.
Good perimeter security is an absolute necessity in keeping a vacant property secure, and by opting to strengthen your existing defences (or install entirely new measures), you’ll be in a much better position to deter criminals at that first hurdle and protect your property far before anything can occur.
Not only does a stronger perimeter act as a repellent to any potential trespassing, but it conveys the right impression to any passers-by and possible purchasers and shows you’ve done your due diligence in how to secure an empty property.
It’s also a crucial consideration if you’re planning to sell your assets or you’re looking to use it as a site of a possible development such as housing or public services. These areas will inevitably be checked as part of a health and safety inspection, and choosing to secure your empty property effectively now eliminates headaches further down the line.
An intelligent addition to any vacant property or premises, installing an access control system allows you to better monitor the flow of guests and attendees, as well as receive an immediate alert of any unauthorised access attempts.
Most recognisable as barriers and bollards, controlling access to your unoccupied property can take multiple forms, all of which can massively assist in limiting the amount of unauthorised traffic that enters your property. That’s especially true of bollard systems, which can be raised and lowered with sophisticated mechanisms.
Barriers have their place on vacant premises, too. These are strongly advised when you’ll require vehicular access to the site, as they can be raised and lowered as and when necessary. They’re also an essential consideration if you’re looking at how to secure a vacant property with the intention of selling or converting it into an active site.
We’d advise placing these at the entrance to your vacant property or at any other regularly used access points for your site. That could include side entrances or access areas for any necessary vehicles or site traffic.
Access control also conveys the right message to any possible investors. If you’re taking the time to invest so thoughtfully in your vacant property security, it’s clear that you’re passionate about what you’re doing and what the premises means to you.
Plus, you’re protecting what could potentially prove to be a lucrative asset for the future and preserving the time, money and effort you’ve taken the time to invest in.
An essential part of securing an empty property encompasses one of the most common hazards for any property – fire. Having a complete fire safety plan in place is vital and offers an additional layer of security for your vacant property outside of protecting it from trespassers.
There’s also a legal obligation of any property owner or proprietor to have a fire safety plan in place, regardless of whether or not the property is occupied regularly. According to the latest governmental guidelines, this extends to:
Of course, this can be a huge amount to consider for any vacant property owner, but there are ways to deal with that additional pressure. With complete Fire Safety services from ProFM, you can rest assured that all of the plans we put into place together are expertly curated and designed with your property in mind.
Vacant properties are perhaps even more in need of this than others in a similar vein, especially as the threat of trespassers and vandals brings with it the risk of arson and deliberate fire starting. Coupling a comprehensive fire safety plan with vacant property security is essential and provides the reassurance you need to rest easy.
While canine operatives may seem a daunting prospect at first, they’ve been proven to add a level of safety to any robust package for securing a vacant property. They’re one of the largest deterrents in the security market and provide a supportive and effective presence alongside their expertly trained handlers.
Canine patrols offer additional sensitivity to the disturbances and noises that can be the early warning signs of an intruder or trespasser. That extends to scent, too – you’ll doubtless have heard that dogs can lock onto a scent to identify someone, and that’s used to expert effect by canine security handlers and their faithful companions.
Of course, those heightened senses also mean that the detection of other materials is possible – a crucial consideration if you’re looking to secure an empty property that’s had a history with illegal or illicit activities. We’re able to provide dogs and handlers who’ve got expertise in finding:
Naturally, canine patrols work harmoniously alongside other security presences, particularly a strong and large-scale CCTV system, and can offer that additional degree of protection and security for your vacant property.
While it’s fine to leave your property while you’re on holiday or otherwise occupied, there can be issues that arise in that scenario if your premises are left for a longer period of time or during times of inclement weather.
These concerns span from those that could worsen if left (like damp, mildew or mould) to more serious issues, such as leaking plumbing, loose flooring, or ingress from invasive plants or weeds. There are also more site-specific concerns, such as dampened construction materials or chemical spillages.
While consummate providers like ProFM Group are more than happy to continue securing your property with limited input from you, we’d always recommend visiting to ensure that your site is kept in the condition you’d like to see it in.
This can also allow you the opportunity to provide any input you feel would be beneficial and address any concerns or queries you might have. We’ve seen this most often with those who are looking at how to secure an empty property with the ultimate goal of converting it later down the line – it’s an easy way to root out issues now before they present more of an issue.
It ought to go without saying that any time you plan to leave your property vacant, you should ensure that all of your doors, windows, and access points are locked and secured. It may seem basic, but it’s something many people neglect.
According to the latest statistics, 34% of all burglaries happen with criminals gaining access through an unsecured front door, with more still finding entry through an unlocked or open window.
It’s a sad reality that this is how the bulk of breaking and entering happens, and without careful attention to your security at a vacant property, you could find yourself becoming part of that statistic.
Our advice would always be to ensure that every potential way of entering your property (be that doors, windows, skylights, cellar access or otherwise) is completely locked and inaccessible to the outside.
This is all mitigated by opting to employ an exceptional security company, who will provide this level of security as standard, alongside a full suite of other services.
By opting to secure your empty property with ProFM, you’ll have access to our unparalleled level of support, passion and dedication to every contract we undertake. Plus, our unique approach to security means you’ll receive a completely tailor-made and bespoke service that’s built with your premises in mind.
We’ll build a security solution for your unoccupied premises from the ground up, taking into account the size and scope of your property, any external circumstances, and the budget you’ve assigned yourself for the project.
This can range from a simple yet regular patrol of your property by one of our expertly trained, SIA-licensed professionals to a full complement of canine handlers, security officers and a suite of CCTV cameras.
Ultimately, this is something we’ll take great care in discussing with you, and we’ll come to a conclusion and a solution that matches everything you’re looking for from your security package.
Get in touch with our knowledgeable in-house team, and we’d be more than happy to provide you with a free, no obligation, as well as discuss your vacant property security needs at length to determine what’s right for you.
CCTV & Electronic Systems
