General Security
Places of worship have high value furnishings and fittings all of which are very attractive to theft.
Crime prevention requires physical initiatives by removing the smaller items of value to a secure area within the place of worship when not needed for services.
GATES
Starting at the perimeter, gates can be kept locked at night if thought necessary. They should be well maintained and you should make sure that hinges function properly and the gates cannot be easily lifted off.
BOUNDARIES
It is essential to have a definable perimeter. The perimeter is usually a wall, fence or hedge. It is designed normally to denote that property the other side is different from the public side.
HEDGES
Remember that the best form of hedging for a barrier is one that is thick and difficult to penetrate. Choose something like hawthorn, privet, holly, yew, laurel, etc. The height of the hedge is important. If you want natural surveillance, the height will have to be restricted to between four to five feet in order that people can see over.
WALLS
Stone or brick walls should be maintained and any broken stones or blocks should be replaced or repaired as quickly as possible.
TREES
If you have trees near or within your boundary, then make sure if you want people to be able to see into the area of the place of worship etc. that they are correctly pruned. Wherever possible, if trees or shrubbery are overgrown, prune to the height you require. From the boundary or perimeter there should be only entrances you require.
THE ROOF AND FALL PIPES
Places of worship are normally irregular in shape and design. In most cases, due to this, it is impossible to maintain natural surveillance of the building line. Access to the roof is normally relatively easy due to large cast iron fall pipes and strategically placed fuel tanks, etc.
ANTI-CLIMB PAINT ON YOUR FALL PIPES
Advertise the fact that you have used anti-climb paint on your fall pipes, it will be a good deterrent. Roof materials can also be painted or coated with a bitumastic compound which will deter theft and make disposal of any metal much more difficult.
LADDERS
Ladders appear to be a favourite item to have around a place of worship. Ordinary ladders used by helpers or contractors must NEVER be left where they are convenient for criminals to gain access to a building. If they have to be left outside, they should be padlocked to fixtures.
SHEDS AND OUTBUILDINGS
Most places of worship have a gardener/handyman type person who does many jobs in order to keep the building and its surrounding features in good order. If you have a shed or outbuilding to house tools and machinery, then give that area some consideration.
LIGHTING
The use of effective security lighting is very important, particularly for isolated buildings. Regrettably in many premises the light provided for security does not equate with modern methods of installation or efficiency. Timing devices for switching lighting on and off are susceptible to variations in length of daylight and power interruptions. The easiest method to switch lighting on and off is to use a photoelectric cell. This device switches lighting on when daylight fades and off when it returns.
DOORS
During the day, where it is felt it is essential the church be open to visitors, then entry should be confined to a main door. All other doors should be locked. By doing this you limit the criminal's opportunity to escape undetected. Locks on large doors are usually suitable for their task, if you are in any doubt ask your local Crime Prevention Officer or locksmith to check for you. They will very quickly be able to tell you if it is suitable.
All doors should be kept locked and bolted where practicable when the building is not in use. However, it may well be considered desirable that the place of worship be kept open for visitors and any other legitimate person wishing to use it. Unfortunately, there are some people who will use an open place of worship as an invitation to steal. You may have to consider, therefore, publishing set times when the Place of worship will be open and arrange for a representative to be in attendance during those times.
KEY SECURITY
Never leave keys to places of worship under a mat or anywhere else. Criminals usually know all the hiding places. Never leave keys in the lock. Perhaps one exception to this is where another door is used as a fire escape but the external keyhole must be securely blocked up. A register should be kept of all authorised key holders and no keys re-cut without your permission.
BOILER HOUSE
The boiler house door tends to be neglected. It is normally out of sight (and out of mind). The construction is sometimes flimsy and must therefore be looked at carefully. It should be repaired or replaced as necessary. Remember - considerable damage can be done to the structure of the building if the central heating system is made unserviceable by vandals during winter months.
WINDOWS
Many churches have stained glass windows, usually set high in the walls. Damage caused to these windows, which may be hundreds of years old will be very difficult and expensive to rectify. There are two main methods of protecting these:
(a) The fitting of a fine wire mesh across the windows from the outside.
(b) The use of unbreakable glazing materials, e.g. polycarbonate has many benefits, but should be professionally fitted.
CELLARS
Cellar flaps on doors should be secured internally by means of tie-bars and padlocks. The external surface of the door should be lined with sheet steel. If no internal access is possible to the flap or door, they should be secured externally with good quality padlocks or a close shackle padlock for high security.
SAFES
Many places of worship have safes - of a type. Most are not SAFE at all. Old safes give the appearance of being solid and totally secure, in some cases this is not the reality. Experience has shown that old safes do not withstand an attack with modern drilling and cutting tools.
Although the cost of a new safe may be thought high, your Place of worship may possess many items of great value, particularly in relation to gold or silver jewelled altar ornaments. Many of these have great historical significance - they may be irreplaceable. The choice of safe for a particular risk is influenced by a number of considerations.
(a) The value of items you intend to keep in the safe.
(b) The size of items you wish to place inside.
(c) The location of the safe, it should be either in a wall or free standing bolted to the floor.
(d) The weight of the safe. Removal of the safe so that it can be attacked elsewhere is a method often used by criminals.
OFFERTORY BOXES
Theft from offertory boxes is probably one of the most common crimes committed in places of worship. Many places of worship still have wooden boxes which are fixed to the sides of pews or to wooden structures in the building. These should be replaced with metal wall safes and should be bolted and grouted into the masonry.
It is appreciated that in order to fulfil their function, offertory boxes must be positioned in conspicuous positions. It is therefore essential they are emptied frequently, the money being banked and not left to accumulate.
INTRUDER ALARMS
An intruder alarm is designed to provide a warning at the earliest possible moment of entry or attempted entry by a criminal into the protected premises and should conform to British Standard 4737.
The reasons why you should consider an alarm system:
(i) Having an alarm system, in conjunction with good physical security, if an attack is made, will warn other authorities or people living nearby, who can take the necessary action.
(ii) If a criminal considers the presence of an intruder alarm at your premises will prevent a successful outcome to his operation, he may decide not to bother. The mere fact that the alarm is there may be sufficient to dissuade him from his purpose.
(iii) In view of the high cost of manufacture and installation of some forms of physical security to a high standard, the capital cost of an intruder alarm may well be lower. Enquiries are sometimes made as to the amount of discount or premium reduction an insurance company will give when an intruder alarm is installed.
If you consider it would be a help, your Crime Prevention Officer will give you further advice. The intruder alarm companies are very competitive and it is suggested that you seek quotations from at least three companies. Certain standards have been attained over the years and you should make sure that the company you choose are members of NACOSS. That way you will have certain safeguards.
Consult with your insurance company before you sign a contract, they may have some observations to make.
PHOTOGRAPHS
Taking photographs of precious items is again an important factor, for two reasons:
(a) Should an item be stolen, you can accurately describe the item and provide the relevant photograph for use by the Police. In addition to internal communication they are also in a position to take advantage of many antique trade magazines and papers offering a free service in publishing stolen items with photographs. A magazine called TRACE is available monthly and specialises in retrieving stolen works of art and antiques.
(b) Should you be needed to identify property, which has come into the possession of the Police, then you can positively say that you are the owner, it is your item and provide proof.
INVENTORIES
It is also important that one person has the responsibility of instituting an inventory of all items in your Place of worship. Anything of value and which can be moved should be included. Include everything, even those things that you may think are of so little value that no one would steal them. Your knowledge may not be as good as the criminals. Measure items accurately and record all signs of damage such as scratches, dents, splits, tears and any other blemish and imperfection.
SUBSTITUTE ITEMS
Consideration should be given to displaying plastic, plate or wooden replicas, when the building is open to the public. The valuable items remaining locked away in a secure place.
INSURANCE COVER
Whether you own or rent any articles in your place of worship you need insurance protection for the contents. The sum insured is the amount of money for which your contents are covered. Your policy requires you to insure your contents for their full value. When completing an insurance proposal form you will have to state what the full value of your property is. The estimate should be what it would cost you to replace an item at today's prices.
If you are unfortunate enough to suffer loss or damage, your insurance policy can help you to put things right. Whatever you do, don't leave it to chance - you may regret it. But what it cannot do is compensate you for the upset and inconvenience, so take all the precautions you can to prevent the worst from happening. Whatever you do to improve your security, inform your insurance company.
WHAT THE POLICE NEED TO KNOW
You should report what has been stolen and precisely what objects are, using your inventory and photographs, these will be a tremendous help. Police throughout the country recover daily a large number of objects that they believe are stolen property.
Unfortunately, many of these items cannot be returned to their rightful owners because nothing on the items positively identifies them. If the advice already given has been acted on, then you are much more likely to have your property returned.
ADVICE ON THE PROCEDURE TO BE ADOPTED IN THE EVENT OF A BREAK-IN - AT THE TIME
If you disturb someone who has broken in or entered by other unauthorised means DO NOT confront the person if you are alone. Your job is not to challenge or confront the criminal. Too many cases arise where people who disregard this advice are assaulted unnecessarily.
ACTION
Use the nearest telephone - dial '999'. By doing this you will get a fast response. If you are in a position to get a description of the offender, do so - remember, brief, simple details are the best. Male or female, approximate age, height, build, colours and style of clothing. Is there anything that stands out about this person? Are there any accomplices? Is a vehicle being used? The registration number would be ideal. If you are unable to get this, the type of vehicle, colour, part of number. If a van, any logo on the side or back? Which direction did either persons or vehicle go?
AFTER THE EVENT
If you arrive at your building and find there has been a break-in, telephone your nearest Police Station (you should have these details to hand). Do nothing else until an Officer arrives - preserve the scene. This may seem strange, but as far as the Police are concerned, it is very important. Sometimes Police work can be sophisticated. It may well be that the Scenes of Crime Officer or photographer can play their part in the investigation. The first Police Officer to arrive will advise you on what to do. REMEMBER: DO NOT TOUCH OR CLEAN ANYTHING. PRESERVE THE SCENE OF THE CRIME.
After the Police have done their work at the scene, then everything can be put to right. Where graffiti has occurred clean the area as soon as possible, if not removed, more will soon be added. It is important to show a caring and proud attitude.
CLEANING GRAFFITI
Removing stains from marble or granite can prove difficult. These stones are porous materials and if not thoroughly sealed they will we susceptible to staining. The way that a stain can be removed is to use a safe chemical that will pull it out of the stone, and an absorbent material that will soak up the stain. The chemical absorbent combination is commonly referred to as a poultice. Poultices are commonly powder or cloth materials that can be mixed with a chemical and placed on top of the stone. It is best to purchase powders that are designed specifically for stone and tile. Consult a stone restoration specialist or your stone supplier if in doubt. To apply a poultice, take the followings steps:
- Clean the stained area with water and stone soap. Remember to blot rather than wipe.
- Pre-wet the stained area with a little water. Distilled water is recommended.
- Mix the poultice material with the chemical. Mix until a thick paste.
- Apply the paste to the stained area, over lapping the stain by at least 1/4 inch. Do not make the application too thick.
- Cover the paste with cling film and tape with low-contact tape.
- Allow to site for 12-24 hours.
- Remove the cling film and check the paste is dry. Leave until thoroughly dried.
- Once dry, remove the paste by scrapping and rinse the area.
- Examine the stain. If it remains, but somewhat lighter, re-apply the poultice. If it does not improve, consult a stone specialist.
SPECIAL RISKS
There may be special risks associated with your building at certain times of the year. For instance, at certain festivals, special objects may be out on display which are not normally so.
Flower festivals are sometimes a special risk with special artefacts being on display when large numbers of the public are invited. There may be more money in your building. If this is the case, and you are unsure as to whether a risk is constituted, get in touch with your local Crime Prevention Officer, who will help you. Your biggest asset is constant public surveillance, pre-designed routes for the public to take and additional, temporary, physical security. Each occasion has different aspects for you to bear in mind. Let the Crime Prevention Officer know what your ideals are and he will advise accordingly.
Further Information
Please also see the pages on church security on the website of Ecclesiastical. These cover general anti-theft advice and in particular guidance on theft of metal.
