Having an armed security guard onsite can serve as a tangible warning for criminals to stay away. For many businesses, they provide the perception of greater protection and assurance that if a violent situation were to occur, it can be quickly handled.
But armed guards might not be the most effective way to prevent or deescalate a violent situation, and the “scarecrow effect” alone may not offset the potential negatives in the way that technology can.
Research shows that the likelihood of a violent event occurring during a bank robbery, for example, greatly increases when an armed guard is present. This added risk of violence is a threat not only to the cannabis operator’s employees and customers but also to its bottom line, as businesses can be held liable if someone is injured or killed. When hiring a third-party armed guard, have your insurance provider fully review the policy exclusions and limits of the hired providers. Often liability, in part or total, is transferred to the cannabis operator in the event of a property or personal injury claim against the armed guard and his or her employer.
Stories such as the June 2021 shootout in Highland Park, California, in which a gun battle between an armed guard and two assailants left one dead and the guard wounded, or the tragic shooting of an armed guard at a Denver dispensary in 2017 seem to be increasing. Violence like that can create a stigma for the property, increasing reputational risks and potentially deterring customers.
Then there is also the direct expense. The cost of armed security is high. In fact, the average daily cost is $192 per guard, not including personnel benefit expenses, increased insurance costs and outsourced services expenditures.
Beyond costs, another factor to consider is whether the armed guard is trained on a cannabis operator’s theft and robbery policy. For example, many of the recent dispensary robberies in Portland, Oregon, have been pulled by groups of teenagers. An armed response to minors can be viewed negatively by law enforcement officials and the courts. Guards need to be made aware the operator’s policy on response to certain groups of potential assailants and trained regularly on procedures with compliance fully documented.
But the biggest disadvantage might be that security guards can’t catch criminals. In the event of a robbery, security guards can do little in the way of investigation or apprehension, especially once the assailant is off property. Additionally, security guards do little to help with product shrinkage within any segment of a cannabis business.
So, what’s the solution? Technology.
Highly visible video technology combined with GPS tracking devices placed in cash drawers and cannabis containers provide a greater level of deterrence and mean a cost savings of thousands of dollars. In dispensaries, cash and product are always the most attractive target for robbers.
A covert GPS device can be integrated into currency, cannabis, shelf product or transports. If the asset is stolen, a GPS tracker can be activated and alert law enforcement and the customer.
It may not be a scarecrow, but for owners looking to protect their investment, modern GPS technology can have an even greater effect on reducing theft.