To Our People - Clients, Dealers, Staff and Community,

At Reed Security we're paying attention to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. It's unsettling and share the same concerns as you.

We have increased measures to Reduce the Spread. We encourage you to consult these trusted sources before making any decisions or disseminating any information: 

• Public Health Canada 
• Saskatchewan Government
• WHO 

INCREASED MEASURES

• As of today none of our employees have traveled to a country or area with an “Active Travel Health Notice” per Public Health Canada. If an employee did we would not allow the person to return to work until the end of the mandatory government recommended self-quarantine - which is currently 14 days. 
• If you (employee) travel outside of Saskatchewan please consult a government website to assess the risk level and current protocols for your trip and return. All travel outside of Saskatchewan should be disclosed to the office for the safety of all employees and our clients.
• If you (employee) are faced with self-isolation and do not have adequate supplies please let us know and we will do our best to assist you.
• If you have upper-respiratory symptoms (headache, coughing, fever, other flu-like symptoms), please notify us and stay home; and we recommend you consult a doctor and a trusted information source to determine the best next steps.
• As of today most clinics and doctors offices request that you call first if you think you have COVID-19 so that they can be prepared for your arrival.
• Please do not come to work within 24 hours of having symptoms of a cold or flu.
• If a household member is symptomatic, but unconfirmed COVID-19 please consult a professional and use your best discretion in deciding when it’s safe to return to work.  
• Should you (employee) require self-isolation or extended time off for illness please contact Employment Canada about benefits.
• If you (employee) are confronted with someone who is COVID-19 symptomatic please maintain a safe distance of at least 2 meters or 6 feet, as always you have the right to refuse work that you think is unsafe.
• While we are extremely happy with the job our cleaning staff does we have requested they increase their current cleaning to include wiping down public surfaces with alcohol based wipes.
• Our goal is to reduce the staff in the office at any given time by 20%. Please discuss work from home or reduced in office days with your manager. 

 
REDUCE THE SPREAD

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and especially after using the restroom and before eating.
• Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, wherever available. 
• Avoid touching your nose, mouth, and eyes.
• Avoid shaking hands, hugging, or other personal contact.
• If you need to cough or sneeze, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or your bend of your elbow.
• Wipe down your cell phone with alcohol based wipe several times per day.
• Once per day wipe down public surfaces with an alcohol based wipes. This includes the front counter, light switches, door knobs, proximity card readers, and security system keypads.
• Everyone (including clients) is required to wash their hands before and after using our boardroom.
• Do not share computers, desks or phones.
• Where possible do not share tools or van space.
• Anyone can be denied entry into our office, or asked to leave the office if they are displaying symptoms that make our staff feel unsafe, a sign will be posted to indicate this at the front door of our office.

Grainews.ca recently consulted Virgil Reed, Founder, CEO of Reed Security on options to increase farmyard security. 

Not so long ago, farmyard security meant keeping a rifle and ammunition handy. “Farmyard security has always been an issue, but today there’s a lot more awareness about it due to events in the media,” says Reed.

“Farms have poor response times from the police due to their remote locations, so farmers need to take more proactive measures and create a security plan in the event an unwanted visitor comes in their yards. The security plan should include professional security solutions as well as common sense.”

“Stay away from Wi-Fi cameras and always install wired whenever possible,” cautions Reed. “Wi-Fi cameras are unreliable and the signal is often too weak or has interference. We’ve learned this the hard way over the past 18 years. We do install commercial grade Wi-Fi antennas when we need to connect the home to a shop or barn, but the antennas require direct line of site.”

Here are 4 WAYS TO INCREASE FARMYARD AND ACREAGE SECURITY IN 2019:   

1. HIGH DEFINITION

Reed says a four-camera ReedHD™ High Definition Camera package from Reed Security with professional installation offers superior quality imaging to cameras on offer online or at big box stores. Reed’s cameras record in 2MP to 4K, or four times the quality of 1080p HD. These cameras all have IR NightVision that allow the camera to see 100 to 300 feet in pitch dark. 

Hint: Proper lighting is crucial to camera performance. Rather than relying on NightVision keep your yard lights on and add Motion Lighting for best results.

2. SMART CAMERAS

Video motion detection is unreliable and causes too many false alerts - the weather, the lighting and wildlife all create false alerts. You cannot depend on video motion detection - you will become frustrated and you start to ignore the alerts.

Instead, we recommend ReedHD™ Smart Cameras with Avigilon people and vehicle detection. This technology uses sophisticated video analytics to minimize false alerts. Smart security cameras learn the site and only alert a user's smart phone when an actual car, truck or person is in the view of the camera. Existing i.p. security cameras can be upgraded to smart cameras with an Avigilon Blue subscription.

 


3. HD SMART PTZ

HD SMART PTZ (pan/tilt/zoom) security cameras allow the user to control the camera similarly to a joystick. Instead of a joystick the user controls the HD PTZ camera from a smart phone, tablet, PC or NVR. Our 2MP security camera has a 30x optical zoom (4.3 to 129 mm lens with auto-focus) that allows the user to clearly see over 1,000 feet in both day and night. Available in HD or SMART. 

Hint: HD SMART PTZ cameras should be installed in conjunction with HD cameras. HD SMART PTZ cameras can only record 90 degrees field of view when not controlled by the user.
  

4. ALARM.COM INSTANT ALERTS

If you already have video surveillance cameras and do not want to upgrade to smart cameras, we can install wireless motion sensors to cover your driveway. When movement is detected you will receive an alarm.com instant alert on your smartphone. You can then log-in to your existing smartphone app and view cameras. This option requires a professionally installed home security system and alarm.com subscription. 

Hint: Most wireless motion sensors are not built for harsh climates. Install an outdoor model such as the DSC PG-9994.    

SOURCE: GRAINEWS.CA, REEDSECURITY.COM

Property that has two or more tenants is considered a multi-tenant property. This could be retail, industrial, office, condominium or an apartment building. Managing the security systems of multi-tenant properties can be a challenge for landlords and property managers - especially if the security systems are from different security providers.

We have extensive experience designing centrally managed security systems for housing authorities, property management companies, landlords, housing co-operatives, REITs, development companies and condominium corporations. Our security systems are remotely managed via easy-to-use central management software and high speed internet connections.

Instead of going to the property every time you need to change an access code or retrieve the footage from a security camera for the Police, you can login with apps for your PC, tablet or smartphone. This is a huge time saver!  We can manage the security of your properties for you when you subscribe to a Concierge Service Plan.

We design layered security solutions that will save you time and money. The amount of security layers we implement are based on your needs and budget.

Let’s start with the good news. Over the past decade the crime rate in Canada has plummeted by 25 per cent. Since 1998, the earliest data available, crime has been cut by a third. In 2016 the crime rate across the country sat at 5,904 incidents per 100,000 people—that’s the second lowest rate recorded by Statistics Canada.

Now for the bad. The severity of the crimes committed in Canada is on the rise. Although the crime severity index, the measure of all police-reported crime that takes into consideration both the volume and the seriousness of the crime, touched a low of 66 in 2013, it has been creeping higher ever since.

AND THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACE IN CANADA 2018 IS...

According to Maclean's.ca North Battleford, Saskatchewan with a CSI of 353 has the worst crime record among Canada’s cities and municipal police districts. 

The crime rate in this industrial and agricultural community is four times higher than the rest of the country. That alone isn’t alarming. Smaller communities tend to be more susceptible to inflated crime rates, with one or two incidents getting magnified when they are recast for a population of 100,000.