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Author: Clara

A thief’s reaction to the activation of a Fog Cannon

Posted on by Clara

Activation of security fog is also activation of the acute stress response of the thief

In many contexts we are told that thieves immediately flee the scene when they activate one of our Fog Cannons be that in connection with either a burglary or robbery.

This is especially in connection with security against robberies in e.g. kiosks, we often get questions about the criminals’ reaction patterns when the security fog has just been activated. Do they flee, or do they stay?

It is deep in us humans to flee when we become afraid instead of blindly continuing on into something unknown – and especially into something where you can not physically orient yourself and do not know how to escape.

When simplified, it is a collaboration between the parts of the amygdala* and hypothalamus** in our brains that activate the body’s response (e.g. stress and escaping) when it detects a serious threat. The amygdala in particular is crucial for when the body is put on alert. When this occurs, the need for survival and protection will dominate over less urgent needs such as financial gain and hunger.

For a person who is engaged in or is about to engage in something criminal, the sound of police sirens or the sound of a starting a Fog Cannon will trigger a signal of a threat to the person’s amygdala and hippocampus***. The combination of the sounds, the security fog itself and the consequent reduced visibility utilises the stimuli associated with the amygdala’s fear response in criminals.

The security fog is therefore specifically designed to activate the criminal’s alertness and evoke an immediate escape response by taking advantage of the brain’s automatic need to prioritise survival over economic gain.

Therefore, time and time again, when the fog is activated, we experience that a burglar or robber immediately flees the location rather than direct his attention to the “prey” – or even worse to innocent people in the room.

This essential information has been confirmed by The Knowledge Center for Psycho Traumatology at the Department of Psychology at the University of Southern Denmark.

NOTE! As with all other safety equipment, it is important to inform staff/users about the Fog Cannon and how it works. What to do in case of fault triggering of the fog, and especially how to deal with a robbery situation where a Fog Cannon is activated.

* Small area in the temporal lobe of the brain, which, among other things, handles fear and defensive reactions

** Anterior part of the brain, which controls e.g. temperature, hormones, metabolism, thirst, hunger, sexual behavior, fear, anger and various activity rhythms

*** The hippocampus is a region of the brain in the medial temporal lobe. We have two hippocampi, one on each side of the brain. The hippocampus is part of the limbic system and plays a role in human orientation and memory.

A high tobacco tax sold Fog Cannons

Posted on by Clara

PROTECT New Zealand has won a tender issued by the government, and sold hundreds of Fog Cannons to small owner-operated convenience stores, liquor stores and petrol stations.

Prior to this, a dramatically increased tobacco tax led to more night and daytime robberies than normal. Some shop owners were hurt and even killed, which understandably caused a huge upset. Protests and demands started to the government for better protection.

The situation was a great opportunity and success for PROTECT New Zealand.

40% decrease in robberies

National prevention manager Superintendent Eric Tibbott said Fog Cannons  had led to a 40 percent decrease in reported aggravated robberies.

“Where we’ve put the Fog Cannons  in, we’ve also checked the CCTV, and of those we’ve had very little property stolen and no violence committed against the victim in those locations so it’s very, very effective”, Tibbott concludes.

Police Minister Stuart Nash:

“Fog Cannons  have been activated by workers in 29 businesses and in all cases, there were no injuries to staff and minimal property loss for business owners.

There were 21 robberies in December 2019, a fall of more than 70 percent on the 78 robberies in April 2017.”

Image source: Ryan Andersen/Stuff.co.nz

Release from the German police: “A sufficiently dimensioned security fog system should be installed in the immediate vicinity of the ATM”

Posted on by Clara

The German police has recently issued a statement about the risk assessment of ATM security, where, among other suggestions, it is highly advised to install fog security systems in the ATM lobby.

Recommended actions for ATM operators

In particular, criminals from the Netherlands are increasingly attacking ATMs that are positioned outside. They are increasingly using explosives, some of which can lead to devastating damages. A child’s father was injured by blowing up an ATM directly on a residential area. In the near children’s room, it is only thanks to fortunate circumstances that no child was killed or at least seriously injured.

Number of cases are increasing

In 2019, 105 ATMs were blown up in Nordrhein-Westfalen, at least nine of them with explosives. As of May 4, 2020, there were already 78 explosions in 2020, of which at least 27 were explosives. The number of ATM blasts could double compared to the previous year. Analogous to the development in the Netherlands, the delinquents are increasingly using explosives and focus their crimes on machines that are not operated in a secure foyer.

Security recommendation

From the perspective of the State Criminal Police Office of Nordrhein-Westfalen, the document “Measures to protect ATMs” from March 11, 2019, which was approved by the Interior Minister, should therefore be updated as follows:

The installation of outdoors vending machines with adjoining residential areas implies an immediate danger to the life and health of the residents due to the actions of the Dutch thieves. A viable security concept that could allow these ATMs to continue operating is not yet known. Due to the described risk situation, the immediate closure of these locations should be sought.

Vending machines operating in a sufficiently large foyer and which are guaranteed in accordance with the aforementioned safety concept, available to all operators, can still be managed in close consideration of the known risks in adjacent residential developments.

Additional information on securing ATMs in the foyer area

We strongly recommend that ATMs are no longer accessible between 23:00 and 06:00, the critical time. During this time, the self-service area should be closed and secured with a burglar alarm system connected to an alarm center and an event-controlled video surveillance system. Doors, windows and the entire interior must be electronically secured so that a break-in or unauthorized entry is immediately and effectively recognized.

ATMs in the foyer should be placed at a maximum distance from windows and doors. A sufficiently dimensioned security fog system should be installed in the immediate vicinity of the ATM.

With the closure, the foyer is checked assuring person-free conditions. In the event of an attempted theft in the foyer area, the security fog system can be triggered automatically or alternatively directly by the alarm center.

Heine Michael Andreasen appointed as the new CEO at PROTECT A/S

Posted on by Clara

The board of directors in Protect A/S has appointed Heine Michael Andreasen as the new CEO of the company as of February 1, 2020.

Chairman of the board and interim CEO, Jakob W. Moeskjær, says: “We have been thorough and taken the time we needed to find the right person, to help lifting the sales and revenue forwards in Protect A/S. I look forward to welcoming Heine, and to see him lead the company forward with the collaboration of our dedicated employees and partners”.

Heine Michael Andreasen, 40-year-old, has, for the past 3 and a half years, worked for Berner (leading European supplier to the auto and construction industry) in different commercial rolls, and was later appointed as the director of sales. Heine Michael Andreasen also has a long career from working at Hilti (manufacturer of high-end power tools) in Lichtenstein, the Middle East, and Denmark. Alongside internal training at Hilti, the new CEO of Protect A/S has a bachelor’s degree in economics and a master’s degree from Copenhagen Business School in industrial marketing and purchasing.

With his very international profile, and his experiences in sales and leadership, Heine Michael Andreasen will contribute to Protect A/S, at a time when the competition is fierce, and the company faces a positive and exciting revitalization.

Heine Michael Andreasen will continue to drive Protect’s leading position in the world market for fog machines, for burglary protection purposes, that the company has built up since 2000. In just a few years, the Aarhus-based company has become a global player and the world’s largest manufacturer of products to safeguard values ​​with artificial fog.

As CEO, Heine Michael Andreasen joins Protect’s management group with the main responsibility for the commercial part.

Jakob W. Moeskjær: “I am convinced that Heine Michael Andreasen with his background and management style will fit in well with Protect and that he, together with the management team and colleagues, can further develop and strengthen Protect’s market positions”.

Heine Michael Andreasen: “I have great respect for what Protect has done in only a few years and what the company stands for in the security industry at home and abroad. I know that these are high quality products and that Protect can show a dedicated sales network around the world that I look forward to working with. I believe that Protect’s special solutions to problems with burglary, robbery and vandalism has significant potential for further development and growth. I am really looking forward to meeting and collaborating with the employees and partners of Protect, and together we will exploit the potential and create a fantastic company”.

Protect A/S is 100% owned by Genua A/S.

ISO and VdS have given their approval to the PROTECT™ factory

Posted on by Clara

Fog cannon manufacturer PROTECT™’s production facilities (image) hold both an ISO 9001 and an ISO 14001 certificate as well as the approval from VdS to produce high-quality security equipment.

Since 2000 PROTECT™ has been developing, producing and exporting fog cannons to protect assets during burglaries until security guards and police arrive.

Fog cannons are installed together with conventional security alarms. When the alarm is activated, the room fills with fog dissuading the burglar from entering. If the burglar is inside the room when the fog is discharged, it is impossible for the burglar to see and locate valuables to steal.

TÜV: “Excellent!”

PROTECT™’s unique fog machine production set-up with highly skilled employees and manufacturing competencies for specialized, high-demand order production, recently achieved the two important ISO-certificates ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.

Three persons from TÜV in Germany thoroughly went through all the procedures at the factory. The preparation part lasted more than 7 months and the exam was two full days. Fortunately, TÜV was very satisfied with what they saw. The certification was issued to us with no remarks at all and with the comment: “Excellent”!

Outstanding scanning system

Especially our new barcode scanning system was praised by the TÜV delegates. “It’s a top professional registration system”, they said.

“On behalf of the factory we are of course very proud of this and we want to thank all personnel at the factory”, says Technical Director René Jensen, PROTECT™.

ISO 9001 means excellent quality management

ISO 9001:2015 is a quality management system used by more than 1 million companies all over the world. To many people ISO 9001 equals efficient quality management as well as a structured customer dialogue.

The certification also requires a clear definition of processes, values, ongoing monitoring and evaluation.

ISO 14001 helps protect the environment

ISO 14001:2015 is a management system to help manage the environmental impacts of the production, reduce the consumption of resources and provide the management with an overview of the company’s environmental performance.

According to PROTECT™, ISO 14001 will hopefully show visible results, which can ultimately be seen at the bottom line – and at the same time, it is an internationally recognized environmental management system that can help open doors to new markets.

The highest possible standard for PROTECT™ VDS-2200i

Additionally, PROTECT™ holds a VdS-certificate for production of the PROTECT™ VDS-2200i fog cannon designed for e.g. the largest warehouses, office environments, and shopping malls.

Further, VdS from Germany visited the PROTECT™ Production site to inspect and approve the facilities which they did with successful results.

A VdS-certification is the highest possible standard in the field of protection and security equipment. PROTECT™ is the only manufacturer of fog cannon that hold this acknowledgment.

Danish fog cannons stopping burglars around the world

Posted on by Clara

Since 2000 PROTECT™ has been developing, producing and exporting fog cannons to protect assets during burglaries until security guards and police arrive. The Danish security company has seen a huge rise in exports to a number of new markets in regions such as South America and Australia. PROTECT™ has also achieved sales in the European market far above its forecasts.

Security fog was virtually unknown when PROTECT™ launched its fog cannon 17 years ago – first in Denmark and later across Europe. Today, many businesses and homeowners – as well as most burglars – know how security fog can conceal assets until the guard or police arrive. Sales of PROTECT Fog Cannons® are therefore steady. PROTECT™ is now giving extra focus to unexplored new export markets.

Powerful acceleration in export markets

PROTECT™ is the undisputed market leader. Today, PROTECT A/S exports more than 90 per cent of its production to more than 50 countries worldwide. Furthermore, PROTECT™ is working to extend people’s knowledge of security fog on new markets.

“Several new markets were completely unaware of security fog. But ‘seeing is believing’. When we fire off a fog cannons in the premises of a potential customer, and the owner cannot find his way around his own store, he is usually convinced,” says PROTECT™.

“I believe we have been successful in our export markets because we always have local distributors and key Danish employees who know the regions, languages, and cultures. And of course, the fog systems and products have to be faultless.”

As examples of their export success, PROTECT™ lists a number of systems and contracts:

  • A Dutch bank with systems installed in almost 250 branches and more than twice as many on the way.
  • A New Zealand convenience store chain with 400 installations and even more in the pipeline.
  • Three different Brazilian banks, which to this date in total have over 7,500 installations in their branches.
  • Two large European retail chains with over 200 stores each.
  • Tobacco shops in France, where a new law requires the protection of tobacco products with security fog. Since there are 30,000 tobacco stores in France, the potential is enormous. 8-10% of French tobacco stores are already secured with fog from PROTECT™.
  • A rental concept in Australia, where mobile security units are used to protect construction sites and new buildings. For the protection of appliances, interior, plumbing products, lamps and tools that attract the burglars. An almost finished home is an easy target for the thieves, and that is where the fog will secure the valuables.

400 convenience stores in Sweden

Posted on by Clara

Sweden is one of our mature markets and a country in which we are experiencing great success. Reitan Convenience Sweden AB is in the process of installing PROTECT Fog Cannons® in most of their approx. one hundred 7-Eleven and 300 Pressbyrån stores spread across Sweden.

“The fog has a preventive effect. The burglar knows how effective it is. We therefore erect clear signs indicating ‘security fog protection’, so burglars do not even try to break into. By avoiding broken windows and doors, we save both ‘down time’ and money,” says Security Manager Lars Eklund, Reitan Convenience Sweden AB. He also notes that only doors and windows which are stocked by suppliers are installed in stores with security fog protection. It is faster and cheaper to replace them if a determined burglar attempts to enter.

“We chose security fog protection in close consultation with our insurance company. We chose PROTECT™ because the products are simple to use, the service costs are low and they are easy t integrate with the existing alarm systems in our stores.”, Lars Eklund explains.