Security Systems Save Lives: Technology protects the unwary and summons needed help

“He’s lucky to be alive,” said a supervisor at a construction site where an apparently intoxicated man had climbed a crane in Abbotsford, B.C., on July 14. Redhanded security cameras at Radius first spotted the man at 9:46 p.m. on a warm Saturday evening. By the time police and fire and rescue services arrived, he was about 8 to 10 stories up, listening to music. At one point, he hung upside down. The suspect eventually slid down and tried to run. Police stopped him with pepper spray and bean bags and Abbotsford FRS hosed him down and took him to the hospital. [See news footage, security video.]

Coincidentally, at about 10 p.m. EDT also on July 14, two teenaged boys were arrested in Toronto for climbing a crane atop a condo tower. Crane climbers are just one of the many headaches facing business dealing with intruders. At Radius, we often encounter suspects behaving oddly or putting themselves in harm’s way at a client’s site. Aside from incidents involving drugs or unconscious suspects, our cameras have caught intruders in compromising situations, climbing on construction equipment and cranes, and wandering intoxicated in dangerous spots. That’s when we call in the police as much for the trespassers’ own safety as to prevent a potential crime.

Beyond remote video monitoring systems like Redhanded, fire and medical monitoring systems also protect the health and safety of clients and building occupants. Recent Radius dispatches include:

July 20: Fire breaks out in the kitchen of a hotel. The fire department puts it out and a VanFire technician attends right away to restore the fire monitoring system.

July 5: Radius operators dispatch the fire department within one minute of receiving an alarm from a restaurant. The entire building unfortunately still burns down, but no tenants are harmed.

June 24: A Radius medical monitoring client suffering chest pains requires and receives immediate help from medical services.

These are just a few of the incidents that come through our central monitoring station every day. While we’re proud to stop criminals in their tracks, it is great knowing our work just may save a life too.

Note: This blog discusses general safety and security topics. It is not intended to provide comprehensive advice or guidance. In all matters of personal safety and security, We encourage readers to research topics in depth and consult a security professional about specific concerns..

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