Start with a Security Review

Using a comprehensive survey, we review what is in place now at each property in an affordable asset portfolio and how well those measures are working together to drive results. Among other things, we examine whether the outcomes of these measures are being tracked and what type of notifications management receives.

Typical security measures and systems we review include:

• Access control systems like gates and doors
• Video surveillance systems
• Uniformed security patrol
• Incident reporting and recordkeeping
• Standard operating procedures with emphasis on notification and follow-up
• Lease enforcement using criminal and civil enforcement
• Stakeholder engagement including local agencies like police
• Owner reputation and liability considerations

Implement a Managed Security Program

Our innovations combined with practical approaches to crime prevention and response empower stakeholders to secure their apartment neighborhoods from the inside out. We help management know who is doing what and where, which informs how to disrupt those responsible for crime and disorder as well as what needs to be done to remove them from the community. In a custom-designed security program, we coordinate four overlapping security objectives for each community in an affordable portfolio.

Monitor, Respond, Resolve, Record

Using the MRRR approach a typical program may include some or all of the following measures from our network of providers:

• VSAAS, IP video surveillance service with remote access and video storage
• Uniformed security patrol using off-duty police officers and security guards
• Remote video system live monitoring coordinated with on-site security patrol
• Wrap around criminal incident tracking using open sources like social media
• Comprehensive incident reporting in digital, indexed recordkeeping systems
• Community outreach and stakeholder engagement advice and support
• Case management and litigation support for lease enforcement actions
• Security program continuity and capability support for property managers
• Indexed Records Management and Recordkeeping

Many security measures automatically generate security related information in the form of incident reports and video footage. We can manage this information for you.

Most multifamily real estate companies still rely on paper records and are generally lagging other industries in making the transition to digital recordkeeping. Our security programs are built on a digital framework which captures and stores security related records in systems that allow for these records to be searched. Most crime and disorder problems in apartment communities are concentrated in a few locations and involve a small number of associated bad actors. A searchable database allows management to concentrate resources and focus efforts on the identified drivers of crime and disorder.

Litigation Support

Our clients have found that the information developed by our security programs can be critical in civil cases related to personal injury/premises liability as well as lease enforcement actions in landlord tenant court.

We work closely with attorneys in responding to Interrogatories and Requests for Production of Documents in civil liability cases. The ability to produce good comprehensive and detailed records can reduce potential exposure to damage claims.

Our case management services support successful lease enforcement and property recovery actions in landlord tenant court. We organize information and prepare witnesses for hearings about the removal of tenants whose criminal activity is contributing to disorder issues at properties.