Protect yourself from “Juice-Jacking” – use a condom
Read moreWhen I first heard of “Juice-Jacking” it reminded me of years ago when “The Juiceman” was doing late-night TV...
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Who Needs To Be Mindful Of Cybersecurity?
Read moreLast year, in a post on cybersecurity, we specified that business leaders need to be particularly careful with their online...
I am a Physical Security Consultant. What do I do?
Read moreAfter retiring from over 30 years of service with the Portland Oregon Bureau of Police I became a private...
How to Avoid Camping Disasters: Safety and Security Tips for Safe Camping
Read moreThe United States is blessed with abundant recreational areas for campers. In the United States there are close to...
Home Safety Considerations During COVID
Read moreGuest article by Blog reader Cindy Aldridge. Article submissions from readers are welcome. For article submission guidelines please see:...
Cybersecurity: As Daunting as It May Seem, Business Owners Should Implement It
Read moreGuest article by Blog reader Brandon Butler. Article submissions from readers are welcome. For article submission guidelines please see: https://physicalsecurityonline.com/submit-an-article/...
Are Security Window Bars a Thing of the Past?
Read moreThe practice of putting security bars on windows and doors reportedly dates back to before the Roman Empire. Even...
Install Security Systems and Boost Your Home’s Value
Read moreGuest article by Blog reader Brandon Butler. Article submissions from readers are welcome. For article submission guidelines please see:...
WIFI-enabled doorbell cameras as a crime deterrent, What’s the Truth?
Read moreIn 2013 Jamie Siminoff started marketing a motion sensing WIFI-enabled doorbell video camera called Doorbot. After being turned down...
How To Ensure Your Vehicle’s Security Through Dash Cam
Read moreIn this remote era, it is a necessity to keep an eye on your belongings. Installing a dash camera...
SYNTHETIC IDENTIFY THEFT: a new way for fraudsters to steal your money!
Read moreAs a private investigator in my hometown of Portland, Oregon I have always investigated a lot of frauds but...
CCTV Surveillance: From Crime Prevention to Behavior Control
Read moreImagine you are eating dinner with your family when you get a phone call from the Security Officer on...
You Are Not Defenseless! Defend Yourself with Common Everyday Weapons
Read moreSome time ago I wrote an article entitled Practical Personal Self-Defense Weapons where I reviewed a number of practical...
Driving Out the Homeless with Spikes, Ear Piercing Sounds, and Water Torture
Read moreAccording to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Annual Homeless Assessment Report, as of 2018 there were...
The Physicalsecurityonline.com Layered Home Security Plan
Read moreOver the years I have researched numerous security products and written a number of articles on ways to protect...
Security Lights That Track Intruders
Read moreThe history of motion activated sensors for alarms can be traced back to the 1950’s when New York inventor...
Research Resources for Security Professionals (or anyone interested in security issues)
Read moreI spent over three decades in law enforcement investigating crimes and arresting crooks. My law enforcement career gave me...
Some Thief Stole My Tools From My Van! Here’s what I did about it.
Read moreI’m not a tradesman. I don’t make my living in construction or home remodeling but I do like to...
How Effective are Home Alarms in Deterring Burglars?
Read moreIf you are thinking of purchasing a home alarm system then the first question that may pop in your...
PORCH Pirates are real and they are after your property! You don’t have to be a victim!
Read morePorch Pirates, Porch Maggots, or just opportunist thieves – whatever you want to call them, package thieves are prowling...
Security Signs with Menacing Eyes
Read moreAs a private investigator in my home state of Oregon I frequently get hired to look-into “things.” Many of...
Thwarting Outboard Motor and Propeller Theft
Read moreAs a private investigator in Portland, Oregon people hire me to investigate a wide variety of cases: missing persons,...
CCTV Cameras Don’t Guarantee 100% Surveillance; Here’s Why
Read moreSecurity concerns are a major issue these days owing to our cosmopolitan lifestyle and our hectic work schedules. It...
From Security Guards To Digital Sensors; Pros And Cons Of All Security Solutions
Read moreHaving a sense of security is imperative. Whether it is your residence or your place of work, if it...
5 Proven Apps to Ensure Your Safety During a Natural Disaster
Read moreNatural disasters are an unfortunate yet inevitable part of our lives, they are occurrences that live to reshape the...
Home is where the hound is: Finding the Perfect Home for Your Dog
Read moreEDITOR NOTE: This article was authored by Jessica Brody – a reader of this blog. Since this blog is...
Practical Personal Self-Defense Weapons
Read more“Woman attacked by stranger in parking lot” “Officers investigating robbery in which a woman was punched and her purse...
Check Me Out!
Read moreAs a private investigator here in Portland Oregon I work all kind of cases for business owners, attorneys, and...
HELP! Someone stole my house!
Read moreAfter retiring from law enforcement, I became a private investigator and physical security consultant here in my hometown of...
Protect Your Valuables by Stashing them in Plain Sight
Read moreWhen a burglar breaks into your home the first thing the burglar usually looks for are small expensive items...
Protect yourself with Secret Phone Numbers
Read moreWhat is a “secret” phone number? A secret phone number is simply a phone number that does not identify...
What You Should Know BEFORE You Hire a Private Investigator
Read moreMost people do not regularly hire private investigators and seeking out a private investigator and selecting the best investigator...
Body Cameras for Private Security Officers: Why it’s not happening
Read moreAbout three year ago I wrote an article predicting that some private security officers would soon start using body...
Important Security Reminders for Seniors
Read moreToday, there are more older adults than ever before, and these people are more vulnerable than ever as well....
Physical Security for Commercial Businesses
Read moreAll businesses need physical security systems in place of some sort. Cyber security has a tendency to get emphasized...
How Thieves Enter Your Home & How to Protect Yourself
Read moreIt’s a homeowner’s worst nightmare; you come home from a night at the movies to find your...
5 Free Personal Safety Apps for Your Smartphone
Read moreWe live in a world where personal safety is not 100 percent guaranteed. Anything could happen when you are...
Thieves go Nuts over Nut and Crop Thefts
Read moreAs a private investigator here in Oregon, I get inquiries from all kinds of people asking me to investigate...
The Creepy Guy Case
Read moreSooner or later most security directors, security managers and supervisors will inevitably become aware of an employee who feels...
Legal Responsibilities of Dog Owners
Read moreTo dog lovers, their pet is a member of the family. But to the law, a dog can sometimes...
Reasons Why Your Business Needs a Surveillance System
Read moreAnybody who runs a business can agree that there is always the urge to install a surveillance system. Although...
Opportunities for Security Professionals Grow with Legalized Marijuana
Read moreThere was a time in the United States when possession of just a small amount of marijuana residue could...
Off Grid Locations Require “Old-School” Layered Security
Read moreOne of the challenges of securing a remote location like a cabin, boat shelter, shed, barn, or other structure...
How to Avoid a Locksmith Scam
Read moreMost of the time, locksmiths have been the last people you call when you are completely locked out in...
Is Your Company Security Policy Worse than Worthless?
Read moreOne of my earliest cases as a private investigator involved a chain of auto repair shops where managers at...
Confession and Statements Obtained by Private Security upon Promise of Leniency Ruled INVALID
Read moreOver three decades in law enforcement I investigated many crimes and as an Internal Affairs investigator and police manager,...
Increase your situational awareness with simple steps EVERYONE can do!
Read moreEDITOR’S NOTE: Mental awareness of your surroundings and recognizing potential threats is the first and most important component of...
Keep a Close Eye on Your Eyeglasses. Thieves are stealing them!
Read moreIt has been said that “thieves will steal anything.” After three decades in law enforcement I have to agree....
BLAST the Burglars with Pepper-Spray!
Read moreEvery year homeowners and businesses in the United States spend more than 30 MILLION on various types of burglar...
Is “Women’s Self-Defense” Necessary?
Read moreI have conducted these types of classes, and see other schools promote these courses all the time. The question...
Protect yourself during a job search – Tips to avoid fraud, identity theft, and scammers
Read moreEditor’ note: This is an interesting article from a reader & contributor. When searching for a job, security is...
TIMBER THEFT: A Growing Problem
Read moreAfter I retired from law enforcement I became a private investigator in Portland, Oregon. I had investigated many crimes...
Security Robots on Patrol
Read moreNo one would ever call me a “techie.” I still have challenges operating my Smartphone and sometimes out of...
Ten Thoughtful Tips to Thwart Pet Theft
Read moreFor those of you dog lovers fortunate enough to be able to say your little buddy has always been...
Self Defense for The Elderly
Read moreEditor note: This article was re-published from http://selfdefense-training.blogspot.com/2015/03/self-defense-for-elderly.html. The topic of personal safety and self-defense for the elderly is...
Martial Arts: “Should I do it?”
Read moreDriving through Anytown, USA, one might see a Karate School and think something like “Should I do it?”, or...
Learning Martial Arts: A False Sense Of Security
Read moreEditor note: This article was written by Agatha Marrama back in 2012. I republished it here because it makes...
Thwarting Burglars with Your Doorbell
Read moreGone are the days when one could leave the house with the doors unlocked and never give a second...
Why Would Anyone Hire a Physical Security Consultant?
Read moreIn addition to owning and operating a private investigations business in my home state of Oregon, I also work...
Fences That Keep Burglars Out – an effective compromise
Read moreIn one of my previous articles, “Invisible Dogs that Deter Burglars” I wrote about residential burglaries and how people...
Invisible Dogs that Deter Burglars
Read moreBefore I became a private investigator and physical security consultant in my home state of Oregon I spent 34...
Pepper Spray as Means for Home Defense—a Less Lethal Alternative
Read moreImagine you are sitting on the couch watching television. Your program is interrupted by the sound of a window...
California Medical Marijuana Dispensary Security; Review and Recommendations
Read moreEditor’s note: While this article focuses on security issues for California Medical Marijuana Dispensaries, much of the information is...
Airport Security Scanners: are they hazardous to your health?
Read moreAirports’ Backscatter Security Scanners Easily Meet Radiation Standards, Panel Says By Julie Appleby Kaiser Health News Before they were...
Guide to Choosing a Dog for Security
Read moreEditor’s note: This article is much longer than other articles posted on this blog. While few readers will read...
Maritime Security; How Important is It?
Read moreIn the movie Captain Phillips (based on true events) directed by Paul Greengrass, the Captain and crew of a...
Live To Fight Another Day: Strategic Self Defense
Read moreRecent FBI statistics show that violent crimes in the United States including murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault occur...
Padlocks as a Medium for Security
Read moreLock is defined on Dictionary.com as, “a device for securing a door, gate, lid, drawer, or the like in...
SECURITY ANIMALS: More than just Dogs
Read moreAfter retiring law enforcement I started a private investigations and physical security consulting business in my home state of...
Tailgate Theft: Who Would’ve Thunk?
Read moreBack in 1993 I bought a new Ford F250 PU truck. At the time I was working the graveyard...
INVESTIGATIVE HYPNOSIS: Is it effective or completely bogus?
Read moreWay back in the 1970’s when I was a college student studying criminal justice I participated in a student...
NamUS: An Important Tool in Missing Persons Investigations
Read moreAs a private investigator in my home state of Oregon, I often have clients who want me to find...
Police Suspect Sketches – How Accurate and Useful are they?
Read moreSome trace the history of police suspect sketches to French police officer Alphonse Bertillon (1853 – 1914). In all likelihood, some police...
The Illusion of Security – Confessions of a Burglar
Read moreEditor Note: Physicalsecurityonline offers readers the opportunity to submit articles related to security issues. This article was submitted by...
Clever Thieves Use High-Tech gizmo to break into cars
Read moreIn my job as a private investigator and physical security consultant I am sometimes asked to not only find...
Steering Wheels Locking Devices – Do They Really Prevent Vehicle Theft?
Read moreSteering wheel locking devices like The Club®, have been around for decades. The Club® was originally invented by a...
Road Rage: Terrorist Behind The Wheel
Read moreAggressive Driving Aggressive driving which is a traffic offense typically involves speeding, tailgating, changing lanes abruptly, flashing lights, honking...
The Lion, the Vic, and the Perp: Keeping a Cool Head Under Pressure
Read moreAfter taking over a new pride, the first thing a male lion will do is kill the offspring of...
To Carry, or not to Carry
Read moreRegardless of your political leanings or views on the 2nd Amendment, the decision to carry a concealed firearm for...
Repelling Robbers and Foiling Burglars and Thieves with Security Fog
Read moreAccording to the FBI, every 1.5 minutes a robbery occurs somewhere in the United States and a burglary occurs...
A New Approach to Physical Security: Combining Blue Light and Music
Read moreIn my physical security consulting business I recently consulted with the owner of a strip mall concerned with transients...
“I Just Received a Bomb threat . . . what do I do?”
Read moreDoes your company have a bomb threat policy and procedure? If you don’t know, or if you have one...
Physical Security Penetration Testing Can Make Your Business More Secure
Read moreWhen I retired from law enforcement and became a Private Investigator in my home state of Oregon, I started...
I am a Private Investigator. What do I really do?
Read moreWhen I retired from police work after 34 years of service, I became a Private Investigator in my home...
LIBRARY SECURITY: The Challenge of Library access and safety and security
Read moreA couple times each year I get together with a friend who lives in a typical middle-class neighborhood towards...
Personal Physical Security – Steps You Can Take To Protect Yourself and Your Family
Read moreIn today’s society, it is important for our young people to understand the meaning of staying alert. Alert to...
What Good are Security Surveillance Cameras?
Read moreDo security surveillance cameras really prevent crime? What does the research say? Every year thousands of large and small...
New Mind-Reading Technology Allows the Government, or even Private Companies to Read Your Mind!
Read moreNew mind-reading technology allows law enforcement and even private companies to look inside your brain for criminal intent. The...
Where is the Geezer Bandit?
Read moreIn the United States about 5,000 banks are robbed every year. Obviously, the number of bank robberies fluctuates from...
Body Cameras for Private Security Officers? It is coming.
Read moreCamera technology has advanced to the point that high quality video and audio can now be captured from tiny...
Private Employer Held Liable for the Acts of Off – Duty Police Officer Employed as Private Security Guard
Read moreIn a previous article “When Private Companies Hire Off-Duty Police Officers as Security, Who is liable when things go...
When Private Companies Hire Off Duty Police Officers as Security; Who is Liable When Things Go Wrong?
Read moreThe practice of private businesses hiring off duty police officers as security officers is nothing new. All across the...
Should Campus Security and Safety Officers Be Armed?
Read moreThe higher education system in the United States encompasses traditional four year universities, junior or community colleges, small religious...
Demystifying Security Risk Assessments
Read moreThis article will demystify security risk assessments by defining what a security risk assessment is and explaining some basic...
Crime Scene Response for Security Personnel – third in a series of three articles
Read moreDo it right the first time, because you won’t get a second chance. “With more than 2 million private...
Crime Scene Response for Security Personnel – second in a series of three articles
Read moreDo it right the first time, because you won’t get a second chance. “With more than 2 million private...
Crime Scene Response for Security Personnel – first in a series of three articles
Read moreDo It Right The First Time, Because You Won’t Get A Second Chance With more than 2 million private...
Landlord and Tenant Security: Are Landlords required to change or re-key locks?
Read moreFor years when a tenant moved out of one of my rental properties, as long as they returned the...
Infusing Emergency Preparedness Into Your Organization
Read moreI recently had the occasion to discuss emergency preparedness with senior members of the leadership team for a large...
What Every Business Owner Should Know About Vicarious Liability When Contracting Out Security Services
Read moreWhen a business needs security personnel, whether it is undercover store detectives, “bouncers,” or traditional uniform guards, more and...
Outdoor Security Lighting: Consider Going Blue
Read moreI recently had discussions with the manager of a small office complex about improving the security of a rear...