Answer to Question #178136 in Management for Sep2 Q5

Question

You are the shift supervisor of ten (10) day-shift security officials, who are employed at Peter Wholesalers (Pty) Ltd. Peter Wholesalers has sustained serious financial losses owing to night-time burglaries. The manager at Peter Wholesalers, knowing that you are studying security management at a university, has requested that you write a report to management to persuade them to install security lighting to solve the problem. In addition to this report – and on the basis of the information from your learning guide and the knowledge you gained through your studies – write an essay on the different types of security lighting and make recommendations to the Board of Directors on the different areas in which security lighting could be installed.

Answer 1

Security Lighting Installation to Solve Night-time Burglaries

Improved security lighting can extensively be an effective be an effective way of preventing night crimes. Following the recent night-time robberies which have left Peter Wholesalers sustaining serious financial losses, it is crucial for the management to consider installing security lighting to help in preventing more theft. Consequently, improved lighting in the business facility can reduce night-time burglaries by:

1.     Improving visibility – will deter potential offenders from conducting their activities due to the increased risk that they will be seen or interrupted. Also, the presence of night-shift security officers and other authority figures will become more visible therefore perpetrators will not proceed with their actions due to the fear of getting caught.

2.     Increasing informal surveillance – lighting installation will encourage many people to use the streets within the business and will in turn intensify natural surveillance. This enhancement and change in activity patterns will work to reduce robbery by increasing the flow of potentially capable guardians. As result, the proximity of other patrol security officers and pedestrians will act as a constraining measure according to the offenders’ perspective.

3.     Acting as a psychological deterrent – in which offenders may conclude that the image of the business facility is under order, social control and there is increased surveillance. Perpetrators will may reason that theft in a lit facility is riskier this influencing their decision where they refrain from advancing their activities.

On the other hand, it is possible that security lighting installation could lead to increased crime opportunities. This events might occur as a result of increased visibility, which allows better vulnerability assessment, determining the value of available resources and making it easier for thieves to steal and escape. However, security lighting will be an effective measure for situational night-time burglary prevention which aims at increasing risk and reducing opportunity for theft.

Besides, there are different types of security lighting that can help deter robbery in the business and keep the assets safe by helping security officers see hazards easily. One of them is high-intensity discharge lighting which distributes bright light and illuminate large spaces. Thus, they can be installed in backyards, warehouses and parking lots. Another type of lighting is landscape path lighting which safely illuminates frequently used walkways and paths. As a result, it can be installed on passageways. Additionally, the Board of directors should install motion-activated lighting whose senses trigger illumination when motion is detected within the specified radius. I would recommend this type of lighting to be installed in parking areas, business facility streets and driveways.