As businesses evolve and adjust to economic conditions, so does the criminal element. A general increase in criminal activity will result in an increase in thieves targeting unmanned remote locations where they can come and go practically unnoticed, and telecom towers fall into that category. By their very nature, telecom towers are awash with expensive electronic equipment that is highly prized by criminals..
Unfortunately, the equipment used for telecom towers is highly sought after and is easily disposed of on the black market.
In order to steal the equipment at a telecom tower, the criminals only need to cut through the fence and force their way into the electronic cabinets, all of which can be achieved with readily available power tools. Entry can be gained fairly quickly and with a minimum of noise.
However, their activities leave a trail of destruction that needs to be repaired and more importantly, the theft results in the telecom tower no longer working, leaving thousands of customers with no or reduced mobile phone coverage. This in turn could endanger lives if people are unable to call the emergency services.
Once the damaged fence has been repaired and the stolen equipment has been replaced, what’s to stop the thieves returning several weeks later? This is where Sysco Technical Solutions Ltd (Sysco Tech) can help to resolve the situation.
Whilst upgrading any physical security measures around a telecom tower is encouraged, it will not stop determined thieves; it will just slow them down slightly. Determined thieves will go to any lengths to steal what they want, and if this means cutting through a better padlock or a stronger fence, then so be it.
What will deter and potentially stop the thieves is knowing that the telecom tower is protected by an alarm system, which will alert the police and/or a private security team.
This is where Sysco Tech Perimeter Intrusion Detection Systems (PIDS) will change everything against the thieves. A PIDS installation using a microphonic cable system or individual Point Sensors on the perimeter fence and Point Sensors inside the electronic cabinets will allow the detection of intruders attempting to gain access to the site and/or the electronics cabinets.
The PIDS triggering audible and visual deterrents like flood lights or strobe lights and sirens or recorded messages will put the intruders on the back foot. Additionally, remotely monitored CCTV with a live audio feed, with the security operatives informing the intruders that they are being monitored and that the police have been informed, will definitely deter the intruders.
A word of caution, whilst CCTV cameras are useful for verifying what is taking place at the telecom tower site, they can never replace a quality PIDS installation as they are unable to alert you to an intruder entering the site. CCTV cameras with state-of-the-art video analytics and AI motion detection cannot eliminate false positives (false alarms) or false negatives (where the camera fails to identify a genuine threat). However, a PIDS/CCTV installation is a very powerful combination.
Multiple PIDS installations across multiple sites can be monitored from a single control room, ensuring that within seconds of an intruder attempting to climb or cut through a fence or climb over a wall, the PIDS will have detected their presence and activated the additional security measures.
Sysco Tech can, in consultation with the Client, design and install a PIDS installation tailored to each site, regardless of location. Additionally, Sysco Tech PIDS installations require very little maintenance and are capable of operating for years with little to no intervention.
Contact Sysco Technical Solutions Ltd for more information.
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