Bookmaker/Betting Shop Security

February 3rd, 2012 by Anthony

One thing AMCO specialises in is an all around security package for bookmakers. With over a thousand bookmakers nationwide covered by AMCO monitoring, on a wide range of alarm systems and specifications we have the confidence and experience to offer a system that reduces costs, reduces losses and gives your staff extra security and peace of mind. It can also be used to cover lone workers and in high risk environments.

Burglar alarms for bookmakers

We offer a system that will detect an intruder into your companies premises as soon as an intruder enters, or according to specifications that you set. Our advanced audio monitoring lets us identify if a genuine intruder has entered within moments, and we have developed techniques to identify staff when stores may have a high turnover of temporary staff or cleaners. If an intruder is detected we can then inform the police and also challenge the intruder and let them know they have been identified and that the police are on their way. This advanced monitoring solution means they do not stick around for the time it takes to break/remove a safe or valuable TV and IT equipment.

Experience within the betting industry

We have a wide portfolio of stores nationwide that we have been protecting for many years. This experience means owe understand your requirements and also the techniques burglars or armed robers use when targeting the betting industry, from the oportunistic to the professional. We are also highly experienced in securing staff against agressive and barred customers, agressive drunks, acts of vandalism and underage persons who are refusing to leave. We can help bookmakers comply with legislation in relation to gambling commision requirements on the protection of the vulnerable and protect the health and safety of your staff.

Access control

We utilise multiple methods of access control, such as magnetic locks and deadbolts so stores can identify troublesome persons before it enters the store and prevent access. We have wide expeience of retro-fitting equipment according to the risk factors of the store.

CCTv monitoring

We can fit both overt and covert CCTV, designed for general coverage of the store, blind spots and close range images of offenders faces. These can assist in proescution, the production of security bulletins about known confidence-tricksters and detection and evidence of theft, both internal and external.

Work around your existing business

We have wide experience of working in trading stores on maintenance, installation and the addition of our monitoring equipment, CCTV and maglocks. Our engineers understand the requirements of a working bookmakers and can install proffesionally and with a minimum of incovenience around your customers and staff.

Hold up / panic alarms

Whilst most companies use panic buttons that can only be used in an emergency, with the police response of cutting off your response after false alarms, we offer a unique alternative. The AMCO interactive monitoring solution is ideally suited for bookmakers, as we will explain the system in detail to your staff and staff are actively encouraged to use it when suspcious, this gets them used to the system should a robbery occur. The system uses unique codewords to prevent both armed robberies or to alert us to the fact that your staff are suspicious and require monitoring assistance. This gives your staff the added peace of mind that there is a 24/7 security presence available at the push of a button.

Cost saving advantage

Because of our experience within the industry, we can offer monitoring for a low price and we are used to working with a massive range of existing equipment. We can offer maintenance and installation at a fraction of the cost of some of our major competitors.

To talk about your business requirements please call 0845 833 8823. We can cater for bookmakers ranging from small independents to major national chains. We are highly experienced in taking systems over when monitoring contracts run out, and may be able to save your business thousands in alarm costs, thousands in losses and, most importantly, make your staff more secure.

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How to upgrade to alarm monitoring

February 3rd, 2012 by Anthony

If you’ve already decided you do want to upgrade to our 24/7 interactive monitoring, but don’t know the process, we are here to help!

We will just need a few details of what you have already so we can give you an accurate quote for the add on work.

If your panel is in working order

If your existing alarm is in working condition, that is great news as we can work with most alarm panels and add our interactive monitoring service. To make sure we know what we need to do and that your panel is compatible we just need a few details.

Are you happy with the coverage of your existing alarm sensors

We will always discuss this in further detail with you whilst we’re adding on monitoring, but if you know of any or would like to add extra sensors, please let us know. Alarm systems are all limited in the number of sensors they can have, and we will need to check your existing system has space for more. If the sensors are old and not picking you up when you walk into a room, we will have to replace them with more modern sensors.

Where is your panel situated, and what is its model

Alarms often comprise of two main components as well as sensors, they have a control panel and a keypad. Sometimes these are combined. Common locations for the keypads are in hallways or cupboards. The panels are often found in under stairs cupboards, airing cupboards, loft spaces or in the case of existing monitored alarms, near phone lines. AMCO recommend fitting of alarm panels in secure locations, somewhere a burglar will not access within 20 seconds.

If you have the manual, let us know, otherwise the model will often be written on the keypad or the panel cover. If it is not, if you call our team on 0845 833 8823 with a description of both we may be able to identify the model over the phone.

If the panel is not in working order

If your panel is not in working order, do not panic but call us. We may be able to rectify the fault on the existing panel, it could be caused by a number of issues, but if you call us with details of what the fault is we may be able to deal with it. If not, we will have to replace the panel, and may have to replace sensors. We can test wiring to see if it is in working order. If it is not, we will also need to do new wiring runs.

You can add AMCO monitoring equipment from only £179.99 to your existing alarm system. To check your system is compatible please call us on 0845 833 8823 or visit our online compatibility checker

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Burglar Alarm Advice

February 3rd, 2012 by Anthony

Here at AMCO, we get a lot of people asking for advice on Burglar Alarm systems, both from existing and new customers. We would like to answer some of the most common questions.

How quickly can an intruder be detected

With a well-designed system focussed around key vulnerabilities in the house an intruder should be picked up near-instantly. Also if someone gets in through a route that isn’t your normal entry route the alarm goes off immediately, there is no delay for entering a pin code.

With an AMCO monitored alarm, the system then connects to us and we are able to verify there is an intruder, scare them off, and notify the police and keyholders. This whole process takes less than one minute.

Where should I keep valuables?

Whilst the AMCO system will scare off intruders in your house, it is impossible to prevent somebody smashing a window and running of with an item of yours. For that reason we recommend not keeping jewellery, laptops, cash or valuables near a window or within easy access should a break in be attempted.

How easy are the systems to operate?

Unless requested by the customer we always set the alarm systems up so that they are as easy as possible to set and unset. We also, once payment has been received, do not lock any part of the system out, a common practice in the industry to cause customers to require costly engineer visits.

Do you have any other home security advice

Yes, we do. Advice can be specific to the type of home you live in. We would recommend viewing some police advice on securing your home.

Please contact us for any further home security advice on 0845 833 8823

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24/7 Medical Alarm Alert systems for the elderly

January 24th, 2012 by Anthony

It is a fact of life that when we get older we start needing more help and support from the people around us. It’s also a fact that nobody likes losing their independence so it’s best for the elderly if the assistance can be there, but only when they really need it or request it. There are numerous medical alert systems available, where AMCO is different is we can offer 24/7 medical, fire, personal attack and intruder monitoring for one low monthly monitoring cost through a completely integrated system.  Making the AMCO system the perfect alarm system for pensioners and the elderly.

What type of system is best for you / your loved ones?
We can place wired panic buttons near any locations where accidents are likely to occur such as near staircases. We also offer a wireless system that can be carried in a pocket or worn as a pendant on a neck-chain.  The wireless system is fully compatible with all AMCO wired or wireless alarms and is a minimum of inconvenience in installation, which will usually take less than an hour to install.  We can also add the wireless medical button system to any new installation or any monitoring upgrade.

So what happens when activated?

In case of activation one of our monitoring team will speak over a loudspeaker placed in the property, and will ask what service is required.  We will then notify ambulances immediately and/or any relatives that have been listed for us to contact.  The microphones we install are very sensitive, so if someone is struggling to speak we will be able to identify what is happening.  Please see the article of how an AMCO alarm saved a gentleman’s life here for an example of the system in practice.

To discuss yours or your loved ones requirements, or for further security advice, please call our head office on 0845 833 8823 and ask to speak to a security consultant.

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How does AMCO differ from Chubb, Secom, ADT etc.

January 23rd, 2012 by Anthony

Before signing any contract, an important thing to consider is what you are actually signing up to. AMCO believe in being open in everything we do about what service you will receive. We believe our system is the best for monitoring, and would like to take you through a comparison with Chubb, ADT, Secom etc. of what you will normally receive from different monitored alarm systems.

ADT, Chubb, Secom etc.

Either your alarm, fire or panic alarm is triggered in your premise. A signal is then sent from the alarm panel to your companies monitoring station. This is logged, and should be processed. Soon after, the company will phone back the premise; if they receive no answer they will start calling key holders sequentially until all contact options are exhausted.

Only then, if they are satisfied that the alarm is genuine, will they pass on the information to the Police or Fire control stations. The Police or Fire Service have little information as to what has signalled the alarm. This often leads to a low response grading by the Police causing delayed response times. This process can take from a few seconds to several minutes or even longer if key holders cannot be contacted or do not know what is happening.

Real world example

Your staff are the victims of an armed robbery. If they press the panic button they believe that the phone line will ring and the armed robbers could find out. A robber can also tell on most panic buttons when they have been pressed. Your staff are going through one of the most traumatic experiences of their lives, and the system could put them at significant risk should they press the button.

Two detections

The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) have guidance that an alarm should only be passed to the Police with two separate detections. A burglar must be detected twice over a sustained period or by different sensors. This leads to delays in confirmation, time that could be the difference between a burglar being caught, and leaving with your valuable possessions. Some forces guidance also states the alarm could be a lower priority depending on site history.

The AMCO difference

As soon as one signal is detected, you are connected to the monitoring station. This takes 20 seconds or less. Monitoring controllers literally hear what is going on in your premise and can tell if the alarm is genuine within moments. Our sensors are powerful enough to hear footsteps on carpet. If there is an incident in progress, emergency services will then be given precise details of what is happening. The more information they get, the more secure you, your family, property, and in businesses security – your staff are. We will also challenge the intruder to frighten them off, minimising any potential damage and losses.

What about accidental activations?

If there are no signs of danger, our controllers will speak to you at your premise through a special device. You will have a code word, and a duress word. The controllers will then be able to close down accidental signals without bothering the police, or see that you are in danger and get an emergency police response.

So why not just consider all activations emergencies?

The Police have advice on responding to activations. They have little or no information using traditional monitoring, so after very few callouts they will no longer respond. The Police will send you a letter letting you know – you will have bought a useless system.

AMCOs system sounds expensive…

The equipment to do this is not. Traditional call back monitoring is ineffective, this is why we offer superior monitoring for less.

Deterrence

Traditional systems have two methods of deterrence – firstly, the bell box showing the building is alarmed. Secondly the actual bell that lets your neighbours know the system has gone off. History has taught us these are ineffective, people are so used to false alarms that they are usually ignored, and what’s more – you annoy your neighbours.

AMCO have a unique deterrence. Our controllers will talk to the burglar and make them aware they are under live surveillance. Almost always the burglar runs off empty handed. The burglar does not have time to loot the house looking for everything of value, unlike with a traditional system.

AMCO also have a £1000 cash reward for information leading to their imprisonment. Not only will they see our name and know they will not get away with robbing from you, they will see the cash award for them being jailed.

Where can I get more comprehensive information?

To compare our systems check the latest offers

To change from Chubb, ADT, Secom or anyone else, chek the change company quotations.

To discuss your home or business requirements further you can contact us on 0844 833 8823

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