Commercial security concerns as wave of burglaries hits UK golf clubs

Commercial security concerns as wave of burglaries hits UK golf clubs

According to police reports, the beginning of 2018 has seen a number of burglaries hitting golf clubs throughout the UK. This raises a number of questions regarding commercial security in the UK.
 
A spike in burglaries at UK golf clubs
 
In December of 2017, police forces warned UK golf clubs to be extra vigilant following several incidents in which golf clubs had the batteries stolen from their golf buggies. The victims of this trend included Oakmere Golf Club in Nottinghamshire, Seckford Golf Club in Suffolk, Sene Valley Golf Club in Kent, South Lakes Golf Club in Cumbria and Barnham Broom Golf Club in Norfolk.
 
 Since these incidents, Royal Musselburgh Golf Club has reported around £25,000’s worth of theft and damage to the club, which took place when thieves broke into outbuildings and stole golf buggies.
 
Craig Mackay, president of Royal Musselburgh Golf Club, described the crime as particularly devastating as the buggies were most often used by a number of members with mobility issues, allowing them to play on the club’s course.
 
“This is a devastating scenario for our members as many if the carts stolen or damaged are used by our members who, for a variety of reasons, are unable to walk the golf course,” said Mackay.
 
On the 10th January this year, Saffron Walden Golf Club in Essex had around £15,000’s worth of equipment and golf clubs stolen from the club’s shop.
 
Rob McNicholas, head professional at the club, said that CCTV on site had captured a man sneaking around the premises a week prior to the burglary.
 
“We are certain that this guy is connected with the break-in. He was seen walking around the shop, sussing us out,” said McNicholas. He added that security at the club was now being reviewed, as this was the first instance in which they had ever been broken into.
 
Is there a commercial security system that could have prevented this?
 
This case of Saffron Walden Golf Club, unfortunately, proves the futility of CCTV surveillance in the modern day. Although CCTV at the club captured images of a prime suspect staking out the club, this was neither able to prevent the crime prior to it happening, nor catch the culprit after the event.
 
All that is required is for a thief to cover his or her face with a hood, a scarf or a balaclava and already any CCTV surveillance in use has little to no chance of stopping or ultimately catching the intruder. A SmokeCloak commercial security system, however, actively deters the thief in the first place. Furthermore, even if they should successfully break-in, they will not be able to take anything. As soon as your SmokeCloak device detects an intruder, an impenetrable cloud of fog is deployed, flooding the premises and making it impossible for the intruder to take anything as they cannot see a thing and are thus forced to flee the premises.
 
Commercial security by SmokeCloak
 
SmokeCloak, therefore, is the only proactive security measure on the market which will prevent intruders from taking your stock or damaging your equipment. In every case of golf club burglaries so far in 2018, all theft and damage would have been entirely prevented by the inclusion of a SmokeCloak device in the club’s security measures.
 
To find out about having a SmokeCloak commercial security system installed on your premises, call us today on 01604 839000 or, alternatively, you can fill out our contact form and we’ll be sure to get back to you as quickly as possible.
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