Crime School

Home Invasion robbery can strike anyone including American Idol star Scotty McCreery.

* There was a knock on the apartment door at 2:00 am.

* The door was opened and three heavily-armed robbers barged in.

* Robbers took wallets, phones, and electronics totaling $1,600.

* America’s Morning Show host Blair Garner called about the May 2014  home invasion robbery of country singer Scotty McCreery.

Home Invasion Robbery

Country music star Scotty McCreery won the 10th season of American Idol in 2011. At the time of this incident, McCreery was a 20-years old and a student at Raleigh's North Carolina State University.

According to police, McCreery said he and his friends bought hamburgers and returned to the apartment to eat and watch the movie, Gladiator. Just as the movie was getting good there was a knock on the apartment door about 2:00 am.

One of the guys who lived in the apartment figured it was just a neighbor. He looked through the peep-hole in the door. He only saw one guy standing outside the door who wasn't wearing a mask or gloves, so in his mind, he didn't look suspicious.

A home robbery can strike anyone including American Idol star Scotty McCreeryTweet This

Unbeknownst to them, there were three other men hiding out of view of the peep-hole. When McCreery's friend opened the door they barged in with their guns waving.

The first guy in the room had an assault rifle, and he put the muzzle right against the sternum of the guy who opened the door.

The home invasion robber who seemed to be in charge put a pistol to McCreery’s head and another robber pointed a pistol at another guy's head. "It definitely puts your life in perspective when you're staring down the barrel of a pistol", McCreery said.

The home invasion robbers took wallets, cash, phones, and electronics totaling $1,600.

The home invasion robbers made the five students lay face-down on the floor and count to 100 before getting up. Fortunately, No one was hurt.

Scotty McCreery & home invasion suspect Mikkail Shaw

McCreery Home Invasion Follow-up

Only one 19-year old home invasion robbery suspect Mikkail Jamal Shaw turned himself in and was arrested.

Do you think McCreery was recognized by the robbers at the restaurant and then followed back to the apartment?

* Witnesses reported that the home invasion robbers ran up the stairs directly to that apartment so it seems likely that it was a targeted home invasion robbery.

* Sometimes home invasion robbers select the victim for who they are, what they're wearing, or what car they're driving rather than the location where they live.

Lessons about Home Invasion Robbery

* A group of young male students can feel invincible and not worry about home security

* A young celebrity, like McCreery, must be concerned about being recognized

* McCreery must know who is on the other side of a locked door before opening it

* It’s 2:00am. You must consider the time of day as a safety factor

* With guns are pointed at your head it's not the time to be heroic, but keep thinking about options for defense

* I think colleges should provide personal security awareness orientation for all new studen...

Do nightclubs have premises liability for mass shootings?

Nightclub Security Liability Elements:

* A legal duty to make the nightclub reasonably safe.

* The knowledge that violent crime was reasonably foreseeable.

* Security was not reasonable or adequate, under the circumstances.

* The injury was caused by negligence and breach of duty.

Interview with Business Insurance magazine.

Reporter Rob Lenihan.

Podcast Time Stamps:

[01:15] -- Already talk of lawsuits about Orlando nightclub security liability.

[01:35] -- Aurora, CO mass shooter civil trial has returned a defense verdict.

[03:35] -- Interview with Business Insurance magazine and Rob Lenihan.

[04:20] -- Non-lawyer definition of the elements of nightclub security liability.

[05:58] -- What legal basis for premises liability at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando.

[07:15] -- Nightclub security liability seeks reasonable standard of care.

[08:10] -- A reasonable nightclub security plan is based on a risk assessment

[09:40] -- Adequate security is based on a comprehensive security plan.

[10:25] -- Reasonableness test for adequacy is based on a standard of care.

[11:15] -- Negligent nightclub operators fail to provide adequate security.

[12:15] -- Successful lawsuits identify a correlation to negligent operations.

[14:00] -- There is a step by step process how to assess and respond to risk.

[15:45] -- Mass shooters seek maximum publicity from the media.

[17:30] -- How to stop shootings: Gun control; Anti-terrorism; FBI watch-list

[18:30] -- I predict civil litigation will argue Orlando nightclub security liability.

Do nightclubs have premises liability for mass shootings?Tweet This

Nightclub Security Highly Visible Bouncers

Nightclub Security Liability Checklist

* Did a club evaluate the nature of the nightclub venue?

* Did a club analyze the prior crime-history and police call?

* Did a club evaluate the location, traffic, and demographics?

* Did a club consider the relative crime risk assessment based on evaluation?

* Did a club develop a comprehensive security plan based on risk?

* Did a club comply with laws, regulations, and standards?

* Did a club partner and fully cooperate with law enforcement?

* Did a club hire, train, and supervise adequate personnel?

* Did a club modify the nature of premises as conditions required?

Learn More about Premises Liability Litigation

Download 113-page eBook written by Crime School host Chris McGoey

Security Expert’s Guide to Premises Liability Litigation

Evaluating Crime Foreseeability and Inadequate Security Cases

WANTED: Show Guests with Crime Stories

Are you a property crime victim or violent crime survivor?

* Do you have a business with crime problems to solve?

* Do you have crime or loss prevention programs to share?

* Do you have crime prevention products to review?

* Contact —  Chris with your ideas for a show.

Shopping Center Security Plan to Prevent Teen Crowds and Fights

* How to anticipate when large crowds might descend on a mall?

* How to develop a security plan for teen crowd control?

* How to plan for an emergency response to social disorder?

Interview with Shopping Centers Today magazine.

Contributing Editor Steve McLinden.

Podcast Time Stamps:

[00:45] -- Shopping Center Security - Topic introduction crowd control.

[01:30] -- Thousands of youths descend on malls and cause violence.

[02:40] -- Interview with Shopping Centers Today Magazine Steve McLinden.

[05:15] -- How can shopping center security prevent crowd violence?

[06:00] -- What factors affect shopping center security and crowd violence?

[09:45] -- Is social media a cause of sudden teen crowds and mob violence?

[12:20] -- Mall managers must focus on anti-loitering rule enforcement.

[17:00] -- Shopping Center Security training on loitering behavior response.

[20:00] -- Mall managers must include a security and police response plan.

[21:05] -- Shopping Center Security curfew for teens been tried and failed.

[26:15] -- Mall managers need more shopping center security plan training.

[28:20] -- Shopping Center industry needs emphasis on security planning.

Disruptive teen behavior in malls causes good customers to stay away.Tweet This

Play video of Kentucky incident.

Shopping Center Security Helpless to Stop Fights.

Shopping Center Security Challenge of Crowd Control

* Definition: Retail REIT - Shopping Center Real Estate Investment Trust.

* Teens hanging out at malls is an old problem with a new twist.

* Social media has driven large groups of teens to gather at malls.

* A single Tweet or Facebook post can direct teens to a mall hot spot.

* Social media is used to plan unorganized social disorder rallies.

* Teens arrive quickly like flash-mobs and overwhelm security and police.

Evaluate then Execute a Comprehensive Security Plan

* Evaluate trends in traffic patterns and prior incidents of violence.

* Compare recent incidents trends in similar malls in the region.

* Evaluate mall procedures and responses by mall security and police.

* Evaluate patterns of teen loitering by day, time, and location.

* Partner with police to develop a plan to enforce loitering and trespassing.

* Being vigilant against known teen groups that loiter and disturb.

* Issue and enforce trespass warnings against know troublemakers.

* Strict loitering standards and enforcement prevent future incidents.

* Comprehensive security plan needs to anticipate and respond to a crowd.

* Monitor social media mentions that advocate social disorder at malls.

* Seek training how to anticipate and respond to teen disturbances.

Learn More about Premises Liability Litigation

Download the book written by Crime School host Chris McGoey.

Security Expert’s Guide to Premises Liability Litigation.

Evaluating Crime Foreseeability and Inadequate Security Cases.

Loss Prevention Agents are a surprise to shoplifters when caught.

* Shoplifters feel that their theft was undetected.

* Shoplifters thought they were careful not to be spotted.

* Shoplifters saw no one following before exiting a store.

* Shoplifters are shocked when loss prevention agents detain them.

Podcast Time Stamps

[00:39] - Shoplifters are surprised when caught.

[00:55] - The high cost of shoplifting.

[03:00] - Loss Prevention Agents Focus on Shoplifting.

[03:30] - Loss Prevention Agents have Special Training.

[03:56] - LP Agents Know their Store Inventory.

[04:45] - LP Agents Study Shopper Behavior.

[06:00] - Loss Prevention Agents Practice Profiling.

[07:15] - Loss Prevention Agents use Technology.

[08:30] - Loss Prevention Work as a Team.

[09:30] - Loss Prevention Train to Detain & Arres.t

[10:40] - Loss Prevention Agents Document the Crime.

[11:25] - Loss Prevention Agents Facilitate Prosecution

[12:48] - Footnote: 27th Annual Retail Theft Survey.

10 Things Retail Store LP Agents Want Shoplifters to Know.Tweet This

Shoplifters are Monitored by Video Surveillance.

Retail stores do not want to be in the business of apprehending shoplifters. It is an unfortunate business reality and retailers have now declared war on shoplifting by dispatching an army of loss prevention agents to combat theft of inventory and fraud losses.

* Shoplifting losses are a staggering $15-billion dollars every year.

* Shoplifting costs millions in LP Agent payroll and equipment.

* Shoplifting is a profit killer that must be controlled.

* Shoplifting is a major factor in retail store failure.

* Shoplifting causes prices of all items to rise.

* Shoplifting losses contributes to lost jobs.

10 Things Loss Prevention Agents Want Shoplifters to Know:

01 - Loss Prevention Agents Focus on Shoplifters

Their primarily job function is to prevent retail inventory loss. So they are focused on you and will detect, deter, or apprehend you to recover the stolen merchandise.

02 - Loss Prevention Agents have Special Training

It takes special training, dedication, and plenty of on-the-job-experience to become good at detecting shoplifters. The best ones know from experience most of the techniques used by shoplifters and they can spot the behavior even before the theft occurs.

03 - Loss Prevention Agents Know their Store

Shoplifters are at a disadvantage because a good LP agent has spent thousands of hours roaming the sales floor. They know all the hot spots and the best angles for surveillance. Frequent shoplifters are shocked when they attempt to steal in the wrong store, at the wrong, time, and come up against  professional loss prevention agents.

04 - Loss Prevention Agents Study Shopper Behavior

After thousands of hours, they become experts at monitoring shopper behaviour. A shoplifter if often detected because they don't act like a shopper and are quickly identified as a likely shoplift suspect.

05 - Loss Prevention Agents Practice Profiling

Does that surprise you? Not illegal profiling of a protected class, but rather profiling a location within a store, certain behavior, certain techniques and mannerisms that are outside the norm for honest shop...

Why might burglars choose your home before others?

* Look at your home and habits from the perspective of burglars.

* Discover what you should do before burglars come calling.

* Evaluate your own home like a burglar and take action.

* Involve the family and develop your own security plan.

* Set a date for annual review and update the commitment.

Podcast Time Stamps:

[0:50] - I know your neighborhood

[1:15] - Your home is familiar to me

[1:50] - Your home is poorly secured

[2:15] - Your home is dark at night

[2:37] - I know things about your lifestyle

[3:12] - Your front door is hidden from view

[3:55] - There are no alarm warning signs

[4:23] - There's no dog protecting your home

[4:42] - Your neighbors are not alert for burglars

[5:04] - I know you’re on vacation

Burglars See a Protected Home

10 Reasons Why a Burglar will Choose Your Home.Tweet This

*

I know your neighborhood

Burglars know the streets and getaway routes because they live, work, or attend school nearby and routinely drive down your street and pass by your home. Burglars can select any home to burglarize, but I like yours best.

*

Your home is familiar to me

I've been in your home before as a service worker, repairman, painter, or have made a delivery. Burglars might be a dishonest acquaintance of one of your kids. I've already checked out the security of your home for future reference. If given access, I may unlatch a window or copy a key to make my return a little bit easier.

*

Your home is poorly secured

From the street, burglars can spot your bad habit of leaving doors and windows open during the day. I burglarize homes during the day. I may park down the street to pick-up on your daily departure routine. To make sure, I always knock first and then look in through uncovered windows for any occupants.

*

Your home is dark at night

Burglars like to prowl outside your home in the dark and peek in your windows. I know you don’t have outdoor security lights. I hate motion sensor lights that suddenly snap on. It scares me and draws attention to my presence.

*

I know things about your lifestyle

Burglars may select your home because of you...and the fact that you drive an expensive car, wear nice clothes, and jewelry. I think you’ll have valuable things inside for me. I've looked through your trash and found evidence of a new laptop computer, and drug prescriptions. I know you live alone, leave early, and return home late.

*

Your front door is hidden from view

My approach to your front door is blocked by overgrown foliage so neighbors won't see me. I won’t appear suspicious to neighbors because I carry a clipboard and wear a bogus uniform. I have a cover story in case someone confronts me. I search for a hidden key first, then attack the weak door and window hardware that won’t require much force or create much noise to open.

*

There are no alarm warning signs

I’m afraid of home alarm systems. Burglars won’t risk breaking-in if they see multiple alarm company signs. I know most home alarms are probably not set, but I won’t risk getting caught unless I can see through the window that the green-light on the alarm keypad is telling me that it’s disarmed....

A disorderly house in California is a liquor licensed premises that disturbs the neighborhood or is maintained for purposes which are injurious to the public morals, health, convenience or safety.

A liquor license outlet that:

* (a) disturbs the neighborhood with noise, loud music, loitering, littering, vandalism, urination or defecation by patrons, graffiti, etc.; or

* (b) has many crimes ongoing inside, such as drunks, fights, assaults, prostitution, narcotics, etc.

* The liquor license premises includes the parking lot (and 20 feet of sidewalk in some cases). (Calif B&P Code 25601 and 24200).

* What kind of liquor license establishments can be considered a disorderly house in California?

* How does a business operating as disorderly house affect the neighborhood and local law enforcement?

* Is a liquor license owner in California responsible for patron conduct in the parking lot and front sidewalk?

* How does the State Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control learn about crime and nuisance complaints?

* How are liquor license owners notified about disciplinary actions against their license?

* Does a disorderly house accusation affect future liquor license suspension or revocation actions?

* What is the most common cause of a disorderly house accusation?

* What does California law say with regard to selling alcoholic beverages an intoxicated customer in a licensed establishment?

* What are some of the physical signs a person shows when they are intoxicated?

* What is the difference between obvious intoxication and legal intoxication?

* What does BAC mean?  (e.g. Blood Alcohol Content)

* What methods are there to count drinks served?

* Should a bar use a BAC chart for training how to estimate intoxication?

* Should a bar or nightclub allow patrons to reach .08 BAC?

* What if bar patron isn’t driving, can they drink past .08 BAC?

* How can a bar prevent a patron from reaching .08 BAC?

* Can an alcoholic beverage server sell to an obviously intoxicated person if on foot?

* May an intoxicated patron be permitted to enter or remain in a licensed establishment?

* Is a server responsible for knowing a patron’s BAC level?

* Use the CARE system for not over-serving bar patrons

* C = Counting number of standard-size drinks

* A = Be attentive to patron consumption, mood, changes in behavior

* R = Rating your guest sobriety level (green, yellow, red)

* E = Executing your duty to serve alcoholic beverages responsibly

BAC chart (e.g. 160 lb. man takes 3 standard drinks to hit .07 BAC)

* What is considered to be a standard drink in California?

* Are alcohol beverage servers required to know how many standard drinks are in each drink they serve?

* Do large drinks and multi-liquor drinks increase BAC at a faster rate?

* What factors affect intoxication?

* Are liquor license owners expected to be “My Brother’s Keeper”?

* Why is having an adequate number trained staff important?

* Does the server's job include taking care of the obviously intoxicated patron?

* Do other states have the same or similar liquor license laws?

* How do liquor control agents or local law enforcement officers investigate and enforce liquor law violations?

* What drives ABC investigations, undercover, and task force work?

* Did you use of undercover investigators to prove actual notice of a violation to bar staff?

* Recommends having a security plan ready to defend a disorderly house accusation at the hearing.

About our Guest Lauren C.

Safe living alone is taking charge of your environment and lifestyle.

* Millions of people are safe living alone because they plan it that way.

* Safe living alone requires an intentional security vigilance and mindset.

* Most people living alone build a safety network of friends and neighbors.

* Interview by Emily Bell with Zillow magazine.

Podcast Time Stamps:

[00:40] -- CrimeSchool.com/38 show introduction and initial thoughts.

[01:58] -- Interview about safe living alone with Emily Bell at Zillow.

[02:45] -- Location of the residence is a factor that determines crime risk.

[03:20] -- Type of housing and density affects crime risk.

[04:00] -- On large rental housing properties most people appear as strangers.

[04:45] -- Safe living alone involves intentional control over the environment.

[05:20] -- Lifestyle choices makes a difference in crime risk and safe living alone.[06:25] -- Most crime victims involving strangers were not paying attention

[09:00] -- Should people pretend to others that they are not living alone?

[09:35] -- Advantage to safe living alone is being in charge of environments.

[10:30] -- Level of awareness when out in public makes a difference to safety.[11:20] -- Looking down at smartphones too often compromises awareness.

[14:00] -- Smartphone apps will not help during a physical confrontation.

[15:00] -- Safe living alone requires a security plan for being able to see at night.[16:00] -- Should women carry pepper-spray for self defense against assailants?

Safe Living Alone Requires an Intentional Security Vigilance and Mindset

The best home security phone app is between your earsTweet This

Safe Living Alone Security Plan Tips

* Do crime risk research for a location before selecting a residence.

* Higher floor apartment units limit criminal access from the ground level.

* Develop a network of family, friends, and neighbors to support you.

* Call on this network to stand by while repairmen are in your home.

* A security plan and safe routines will reduce exposure to crime risk.

* Ask for help to test the quality of doors, locks, and window access points.

* Make sure rental housing units replaced or re-keyed all door locks.

* Lock doors, windows, and use an alarm system every time you go out.

* Use light timers to simulate occupancy or if planning to return at night.

* Be on high-alert outside your apartment or vehicle door and scan area.

* Carry a flashlight if often out at night and need to walk in dark areas.

* Don't use full name on a mailbox if it describes a woman living alone.

* Be sure telephone answering machine doesn't announce alone status.

* Beware of social media postings that identify location or living alone status.

* Never open your door to strangers without knowing who is on the other side.

* Rely on your fear instinct and investigate or avoid suspicious circumstances.

* Plan your movements day and night and make contingency plans to be safe.

Related Safe Living Alone Podcasts

* Home Security Burglars, Robbers, Safe Rooms

Active shooter survival favors those prepared to react. 

* Early awareness of an active shooter increases the margin of safety.

* Quick threat assessment increases your reaction time to escape.

* Moving away from the threat reduces your risk of harm.

* Develop an active shooter survival mindset and security plan.

* Our guest is violence assessment expert James S. Cawood.

* He is President of Factor One and can be contacted by email.

Podcast Time Stamps:

[01:15] – Active shooter survival scenario.

[02:00] -- What can you do to avoid being a victim.

[02:25] – Basic choices are to run, hide or fight.

[03:10] – Introduction of violence assessment expert James S. Cawood.

[05:10] -- Beginning of active shooter survival discussion.

[05:25] – Active shooter mass murder at San Bernardino, California.

[05:45] – FBI study on mass murder in United States – 2000-2013.

[07:00] -- Active dynamic violence prevention should be our focus.

[11:00]– Need for situational awareness training.

[11:30] – What does a gunshot sound like?

[12:40] – Active shooter survival key is awareness of the space.

[14:30] -- Plan where to run for active shooter survival.

[16:40] – Only hide if no place to run for active shooter survival.

[20:00] – Active shooter survival in first fifteen minutes.

[20:40] – Distance and barriers matter to active shooter survival.

[21:50] – Hide behind bullet resistant barriers to buy time.

[25:15] – Fight to incapacitate the active shooter.

[26:50] – Take Model Mugging training to experience a fight.

[28:45] – Active shooters picked soft targets so weapons haven’t mattered.

Active shooter preparedness advice to run, hide, or fight.Tweet This

Active Shooter Survival Tips

* Develop your own active shooter survival security plan.

* Scan a room. Think about how would you escape from where you are right now.

* Come up with an active shooter survival plan for home, work, and places you routinely visit.

About our Guest James S. Cawood

* Jim Cawood is President of Factor One, a California corporation specializing in threat assessment and management, violence risk assessment, behavioral analysis, security consulting, and investigations for more than 25 years. He was also a police officer.

* He has successfully assessed and managed over 4500 violence related cases throughout North America.

* Mr. Cawood is a graduate of U.C. Berkeley, holds a Masters degree in Forensic Psychology from Argosy University, and is a doctoral candidate in Psychology at Northcentral University.

* He has served on the faculties of Golden Gate University, in their Security Management degree program and the University of California, Santa Cruz extension, teaching Threat Management.

* Mr. Cawood is currently serving on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Threat Assessment and Management (American Psychological Association) and is the former Association President of the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals (ATAP).

* Mr. Cawood has earned the Certified Protection Professional (CPP); Professional Certified Investigator (PCI); Physical Security Professional ...

Convenience store robbery worries late-night retail store operators.

* Will bad cash handling attract robbers to your store?

* Does poor cash handling contribute to employee theft?

* What cash handling best practices will prevent robbery?

* What tools prevent convenience store robbery and manage cash?

* Options to safely manage convenience store bank deposits?

Podcast Time Stamps

[01:16] - Introduce Convenience Store Decisions writer Pat Pape.

[01:37] - Correlation: cash handling and convenience store robbery.

[02:15] - Best practice for managing cash in convenience stores.

[05:00] - Convenience store robbery is a selection process.

[07:00] - Policy: Never accept bills larger than $20.

[08:00] - Immediately drop all $20 bills in view of the customer.

[11:00] - No c-store should cash large checks as a business practice.

[17:18] - Prevent convenience store robbery invest in a cash controller.

[22:30] - Thoughts about moving cash between registers and backroom.

[27:50] - How, were, and when to safely manage bank deposits.

[32:30] - Other convenience story robbery prevention techniques.

There is an absolute correlation between cash handling and robbery.Tweet This

Example of high-risk cash handling.

Convenience Store Robbery Prevention

I was contacted by Pat Pape. She is a writer for C-Store Decisions Magazine. She asked tough questions about cash handling and its effect on convenience store robbery:

* Is there a correlation between cash handling and convenience store robbery?

* What are some examples of how bad cash handling contributes to convenience store robbery?

* What are some examples of best practices for cash handling procedures?

* How should a retailer go about training and enforcing cash handling procedures?

* Are there other convenience robbery prevention techniques that should be combined with good cash handling?

Unsecured change storage is bad cash handling

Steps to Better Cash Handling

* Make a commitment to convenience store robbery prevention.

* Learn ways to operate with the least amount of available cash.

* Set high standards for accuracy and cash accountability.

* Hire cashiers that have necessary cash handling skills.

* Train cashiers to adhere to a maximum drawer-cash limit.

* Use a timed-access cash controller with a drop safe.

* Drop $20 bills immediately in presence of the customer.

* Use the cash controller time-delay vend system to make change.

* Drop extra cash in numbered envelopes in $20 increments.

* Train cashiers to record drops by number for fast accounting.

* Make one or more daily bank deposits to remove cash from stores.

* Don't get a reputation for cashing paychecks...it's too risky.

Links to Things Mentioned in this Episode

* C-Stores Decisions Magazine

* Tidel Cash Management Systems

Learn More about Premises Liability Litigation

Download the book written by Crime School host Chris McGoey.

Questions about apartment security and a gang takeover of my building?

* My rental property was taken over by Los Angeles gang members.

* How can I get them out and make my building safe?

* I called the police and was told they can't remove them, is that true?

High-crime four-plex apartment building

A Crime School listener named Victor contacted me asking for advice about apartment security and gang takeover of his building. I spoke to him on the phone to gather more details.

Here is a summary of what Victor said:

* His elderly mother owns a two-story four-plex apartment building in a high-crime neighborhood of Los Angeles

* His mother is physically unable to manage the property any longer

* He lives eighty-miles away with his own career and family. He is trying to help out his mother part-time on weekends

* The building is taken over by gangsters who he believes forced entry and are living in the second-floor units

* He can't find leases or paperwork on any of the tenants so he doesn’t know for certain who is authorized to live there

* He used to get HAP payments from one section-8 tenant, but no one is paying rent now

* He has called the police. They say it’s a civil matter and cannot remove the occupants since they say they're tenants

* He has parked across the street during the day and night and observed a lot of gangster foot-traffic in and out of the units

* He suspects drug activity and prostitution is going on based on his observations of foot traffic

* There are a fence and gate around the property, but someone disabled the locks

* He wants to clean out the whole building and start over but doesn’t know where to begin and he is afraid

* There are two abandoned cars, probably stolen, parked in his lot

* He wants to know if he should buy video cameras or hire a security guard patrol to get proof of crime

High-density, high- crime neighborhood

Your Response to a Gang Takeover

* Your first priority is the safety of any tenants, unit occupants, and even trespassers.

* Next, you need to make an assessment of who is living there and the condition of every unit.

* Search for paperwork, leases, rent checks, receipts, deposit accounts, HUD correspondence, etc.

* You need to address this problem quickly, but in an organized manner with a plan.

* Until you get some training, hire a property management consultant that specializes in a distressed rental housing to assist with:

* lawful evictions.

* emergency board-up.

* a building rehabilitation strategy.

* new lease documentation.

* Develop an action plan and detailed to-do list with a distressed property consultant.

* Consider taking time off work, if possible, to address the major issues all at once.

* Determine if it’s in your family’s best interest to sell the building or heavily reinvest in it.

Plan of Action Timeline

Partner with Los Angeles Police Department immediately about criminal activity

* LAPD 77th Street Community Station is a half mile away.

* Introduce yourself to the police station Captain and solicit support.

* Meet your police beat-officers and patrol Sergeant (i.e. beats are now called cars).

* Ask for a free property CPTED security survey by the crime prevention unit.

* Follow the LAPD advice about posting no loitering and trespass signs.

Partner with the local apartment association

* Contact and join your local apartment owners association.

* Get a crash course in property management and tenancy rules f...