Cover Story
(Continued from page 43) A recent survey of 233 police agencies conducted by the Police Executive Research Forum found 44 percent of those forces experienced a rise in crimi- nal activity that they attributed to the economy’s nosedive. Although experts stop just short of calling the increase a crime wave, sociologists note that crime has intensified during every recession since the late 1950s. A good operator has a game plan for reducing expenses, refocusing the com- pany’s marketing, as well as upgrading to more efficient equipment during an economic downturn; so why not crime prevention? As the nation’s unemploy- ment rate nears 10 percent, it’s time As the nation’s unemployment rate nears 10 percent, it’s time operators get serious about protecting their businesses, their customers and their employees.“
— Kate Carr
operators get serious about protecting their businesses, their customers and theiremployees.
A true crime story Dennis Ramsey has been washing cars for over 30 years now, so when his express exterior wash in Columbus, OH, was hit this past May, he thought he was prepared. He had cameras, an alarm system, and locked doors. But despite his three decades of experi- ence and surveillance technology, Ramsey said he could have done better. First things first, the alarm at Klean-A-Kar Express wasn’t set that night. “I’ve gotten a little lazy,” Ramsey sheepishly admitted. “We didn’t set the alarm, and I’m kind of embarrassed
