Safeguarding Residential Communities 6 securitas solutions
In 1663 Sir William Hilton, aboard the good ship “Adventure,” reported that tall pines, majestic oaks, fertile soil and ideal growing conditions existed on a 12-mile-long island off the coast of the New World. Sailors named the island’s port, Hilton Head, and within a few years, English settlers had established large plantations on the island and surrounding areas to grow indigo and cotton. Developers kept that history in mind as tracts of land were converted to residential housing beginning in the 1950s. Today, carefully planned “plantation” developments remain a distinctive feature of Hilton Head Island, where 35,000 permanent residents host more than two million visitors each year. <strong>Securitas</strong> USA is the leading provider of contract security services for the private plantation communities on Hilton Head Island and beyond, offering a wide range of residential services. stringent access control “We consider <strong>Securitas</strong> USA services to be an extension of the amenities we provide,” says Jill Cox, assistant to the general manager of Moss Creek, a private golf, tennis, boating and equestrian community of about 1,000 residences. “The officers are our goodwill ambassadors, and at the same time, they know what questions to ask visitors and what to look for in vehicles.” A <strong>Securitas</strong> USA visitor management system is used at Moss Creek to document arrival times and print passes for all visitors and contractors, usually based on residents’ online pre-notification of who they are expecting and when. Daily or annual fees are collected from contracting companies that work in the development, and the visitor management system indicates whether the fee has been paid or if payment is due. Vehicle license plates, as well as each contractor’s driver’s license information and photograph, are scanned and stored in the system, and can be quickly recalled for subsequent authorization and access. Daily activity logs, patrol officer reports, revenue tracking, and lists of visitors and contractors on the property are easily compiled and printed. In addition to around-the-clock staffing of the Moss Creek security gatehouse, <strong>Securitas</strong> USA officers patrol the 1,068-acre development and maintain a security presence at the community’s marina and waterfront swimming complex. <strong>Securitas</strong> USA’s gatehouse officer also remotely controls access to Moss Creek’s new fitness center, denying entry to anyone without a fitness card indicating approval to be there. “The responsiveness and professionalism of (<strong>Securitas</strong> USA Site Manager) Randy Connelly and his staff are outstanding and very much appreciated in this community,” adds Cox. “They are respected by our residents and their friendly demeanor is welcoming to guests, renters and prospective homeowners.” experienced law enforcement At Del Webb’s Sun City development in Beaufort County, SC, a gated community of more than 7,000 rooftops and over 13,000 residents, <strong>Securitas</strong> USA uses the visitor management system to help control access and document more than (Left page) <strong>Securitas</strong> USA Officer Barbara Youmans greets residents and guests at Moss Creek, a private golf, tennis, boating and equestrian community near Hilton Head Island. WWW.SecuritaSinc.com 7