Revellers intent on seeing in the New Year were sorely disappointed and surprised when they arrived to find the East London venue boarded up!
The organizers, well, more accurately a group of illegal trespassers, had spotted the opportunity of a large house that had been vacant for some time and therefore ideal for a party, as clearing up afterwards would not be a priority! So, word spread about the venue and by all accounts hundreds were planning their weekend at the large vacant property. It was going to be an “open house” event. In fact, if the venue proved that good – some had planned to claim squatters’ rights after 72 hours by posting a Section 5 Notice on the front door – and extend their stay and partying for up to 3 months!
However, unbeknown to the illegal intruders, their entry through an apparently and very conveniently open door(!) had triggered the PIRs of Secure Site’s temporary vacant property alarm, Void Alarm™, immediately and silently alerting a mobile patrol unit to the site.
Arriving within just 30 minutes of the alert resulted in the trespassers being caught on the premises and the Police being called. Their subsequent arrest resulted in them seeing in the New Year in a far more sober way in a local Police cell – but at least they were saved a hangover! The property has since been secured properly – in sheet steel – putting an end to any future party!
For the landlord, the foresight to install Secure Site’s vacant property alarm, saved him far more of a headache – including damage to his property, the frustrating process of getting squatters evicted and the vast costs that usually go with this, as well as the usual 12-16 weeks it can take.
Vacant property is always seen as an easy target – and despite insurers’ requirements to have empty properties inspected on a weekly basis – many landlords ignore this and simply hope for the best. Acting as an early warning system, Secure Site’s Void Alarm™ is secured within the property and inconspicuously monitors any movement detected by PIRs placed across access points. As the alarm system is self-powered it doesn’t need hard wiring or mains electricity supply, and being wireless the PIRs can often be concealed yet still communicate with the control box. Being a temporary system, it can be fitted and secured in place, the next day, by our trained installers and can only be removed when instructed by the landlord.
Using GSM communication, any trigger or activation sends a text to the alarm receiving centre and a patrol is immediately dispatched to site and the incident dealt with. It should really be an essential part of every landlord’s defence against illegal intruders and squatters – unless you don’t mind letting one of your properties become the venue for the next big rave!
