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Khou News reported a story on Steve Mueller who drives his small vehicle around his East Houston Neighborhood on Crime Watch Patrol Seven days a week, however, with Gas Prices continuing to rise, he will have to cut back to about twice a week.

Now, Why would you even consider reporting something like that?, Criminals watch the News, "Hey, let's go hit that neighborhood, crime watch Patrol is scaled back", sure, it didn't give the exact Location of that neighborhood, but I'm sure word would get out as to where it is, since you couldn't miss the white chevy truck with rotating lights atop.
There are somethings that you don't report, else could put that Neighborhood in Jeopardy of increasing crime.

Briankey wrote:Khou News reported a story on Steve Mueller who drives his small vehicle around his East Houston Neighborhood on Crime Watch Patrol Seven days a week, however, with Gas Prices continuing to rise, he will have to cut back to about twice a week.

Now, Why would you even consider reporting something like that?, Criminals watch the News, "Hey, let's go hit that neighborhood, crime watch Patrol is scaled back", sure, it didn't give the exact Location of that neighborhood, but I'm sure word would get out as to where it is, since you couldn't miss the white chevy truck with rotating lights atop.
There are somethings that you don't report, else could put that Neighborhood in Jeopardy of increasing crime.

no offense to that guy, but he's wasting his time anyways. We had a guy like that drive around our apartment complex and while he was hassling people at the pool without a "pool pass", thugs were breaking into cars and stealing radios on the other side of the complex. Wasn't hard for their lookout to see him coming a mile away with those lights flashing.

That's right, I think People are weak and Niave, still think a security patrol is really going to scare someone off. In reality your just making yourself a target.
Security Guards don't make any money. There a waste of money.
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no offense to that guy, but he's wasting his time anyways. We had a guy like that drive around our apartment complex and while he was hassling people at the pool without a "pool pass", thugs were breaking into cars and stealing radios on the other side of the complex. Wasn't hard for their lookout to see him coming a mile away with those lights flashing.[/quote]

Briankey wrote:Security Guards don't make any money. There a waste of money.

I'm sure if a security guard is employed, they probably make a living. I know the one's where I work earn an hourly wage, so I'm sure they make some money.
Where is a waste of money? or do you mean they are? Well, I see security guards as any other type of deterrent, it may have flaws, and it may be defeated, but it reduces the success of crime, overall.

I had thought about a side job working as a security Guard, but while riding my bike, I stopped and talked to most of the ones around Port Arthur/Beaumont, most at Refineries, they tell me 6 to 10 bucks an hour is tops, I won't work for that.
Security Guards might be good for running off Kids playing around, but for hardcore criminal thugs, they won't run, but probably beat you down good, or else kill you. I'm sure refineries make enough money that they could hire full time "Armed" LEO's instead of mostly Low wage unarmed security Guards.

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I'm sure if a security guard is employed, they probably make a living. I know the one's where I work earn an hourly wage, so I'm sure they make some money.
Where is a waste of money? or do you mean they are? Well, I see security guards as any other type of deterrent, it may have flaws, and it may be defeated, but it reduces the success of crime, overall.[/quote]

Briankey wrote:I'm sure refineries make enough money that they could hire full time "Armed" LEO's instead of mostly Low wage unarmed security Guards.

Well, to be honest, there is a reason the refineries and a lot of similar places hire security guards instead of LEO's. You (and most of the people talking about this) need to understand the concept of security and what the guard is really expected to do. The security guard is not expected to protect the refinery against crime. They know that any real criminals would be able to take out the security guard. They also know what their true risk is.

The security guard at most refineries is hired to be more of a fire watch and log people in and out than for any real security. The companies need a log of people after hours so they can tell if everyone is evacuated in case of a problem. The added benefit of the security guard helping in case of minor problems is a bonus, but not truly expected. The guard might be able to help in case of a disturbance - either a show of force with a disgruntled employee being escorted out or a domestic that came to where the other half works - and he might be able to curb some of the employee theft problems.

But this is 99% of the threats against the refinery. The remaining 1% is the current terrorist threat and no one expects any security to stop that (takes a full dedicated team like DOE has for nuclear plants).

This was a shock to me when I first learned it. I had gotten out of the Army as an MP and took a job working security at the Celanese plant in Pasadena. They told me in case of a minor problem, I should call 911 and help get the responding units through the gate to where the problem was. In case of a major problem I should call 911 before I left the area myself. No one expected me to do anything in the way of a real response myself and they emphasized that I was not being paid enough to risk injuring myself by responding.

I have since learned that many places want security guards on duty more as fire watches and visible deterrents than as any real security. This attitude is what also helps keep security wages down and make it more of a job than a career or profession.

I can understand about the fire watches. I spoke to some ladies down at the Port Arthur refinery who seen to be more interested in filing their nails than anything, they were making 6 bucks an hour.

Other than security Guards, there isn't any security at these refineries. If they plan on having a firewatch on duty, they should pay better.

I watched a kid in Walmart Parking Lot burn rubber, loose control of his truck, and almost run into a steel barrier, the security guard in his Battery operated golf cart waited till the kid was almost out of the parking lot before he decided to make it look like he was giving chase, then Listened to the security guard tell the Manager how heroic he was trying to get the license plate number before the kid got away. Hey, it was so stupid I couldn't help but butt into the conversation and tell the Manager the truth about what really happened, rent-a-cop
Didn't do anything, he failed to mention that a women and small kid almost got run over by the truck.

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The security guard at most refineries is hired to be more of a fire watch and log people in and
out than for any real security.

I have since learned that many places want security guards on duty more as fire watches and visible deterrents than as any real security. This attitude is what also helps keep security wages down and make it more of a job than a career or profession.[/quote]

Briankey wrote:I can understand about the fire watches. I spoke to some ladies down at the Port Arthur refinery who seen to be more interested in filing their nails than anything, they were making 6 bucks an hour.

Other than security Guards, there isn't any security at these refineries. If they plan on having a firewatch on duty, they should pay better.

Why? Is the current staff not reporting fires?

Ya know, I had that same thought, but didn't put that in my last message.
Everybody is responsible for Fire Watch at work. No matter where you work.


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Why? Is the current staff not reporting fires?[/quote]

srothstein wrote: The security guard at most refineries is hired to be more of a fire watch and log people in and out than for any real security. The companies need a log of people after hours so they can tell if everyone is evacuated in case of a problem. The added benefit of the security guard helping in case of minor problems is a bonus, but not truly expected. The guard might be able to help in case of a disturbance - either a show of force with a disgruntled employee being escorted out or a domestic that came to where the other half works - and he might be able to curb some of the employee theft problems.

But this is 99% of the threats against the refinery. The remaining 1% is the current terrorist threat and no one expects any security to stop that (takes a full dedicated team like DOE has for nuclear plants).

This was a shock to me when I first learned it. I had gotten out of the Army as an MP and took a job working security at the Celanese plant in Pasadena. They told me in case of a minor problem, I should call 911 and help get the responding units through the gate to where the problem was. In case of a major problem I should call 911 before I left the area myself. No one expected me to do anything in the way of a real response myself and they emphasized that I was not being paid enough to risk injuring myself by responding.

I have since learned that many places want security guards on duty more as fire watches and visible deterrents than as any real security. This attitude is what also helps keep security wages down and make it more of a job than a career or profession.

The roles are changing at the plants though, because of Homeland security rules, there is more attention given to real security issues. I believe that security still protects the Celanese plant from stray matches and lighters.

Ok, I'm confused. Is "Crime Watch Patrol" an actual security service or a neighborhood crime watch? We have Cellular on Patrol, they walk or use their own vehicles, and seem to be pretty effective.

jmorris wrote:Ok, I'm confused. Is "Crime Watch Patrol" an actual security service or a neighborhood crime watch? We have Cellular on Patrol, they walk or use their own vehicles, and seem to be pretty effective.

Good catch. The original story never had a paid security guard or a truck with a light-bar. Here's the link: http://www.khou.com/topstories/stories/ ... 09d99.html.

It's about a guy who has volunteered his time for a decade to help with his Neighborhood Watch program. Homeowner's Associations may ante up a little money to support these efforts, but the point of the article is that Mueller, and other neighborhood watch volunteers are feeling the pinch from high gas prices.