Key Holding
Published on July 12th, 2010.
This is a sponsored guest post written by Brash on behalf of Security Guards. Post powered by Sponzai.
Key Holding – Ian’s Night
G’morning folks. My name’s Ian. I’ve worked as a security guard for most of my life, working for different security companies. Now I’m not much of a writer but it’s been a little quiet now I’m on the nightshift so I thought I’d give it a go. Thought I’d have a bash at writing about key holding seeing as how nobody seems to know about it, nobody but businesses that is. But in a few places key holding is becoming quite popular with just ordinary people who want to make sure their houses are OK while they’re away. Good idea if you ask me.
So about ten to midnight when I started the graveyard shift, we gets a bell. Mr Ahmed down at the wholesale food store, he had to go take his little boy to the emergency doctors before, he tells me. Can’t leave his little boy because his wife is with her family for the time being so could I mosey on down to his store and switch the alarms on and all the rest of the paraphernalia (good thing I have a dictionary.) So at about two minutes past the hour, I down at Ahmed’s wholesale store. I have his set of keys from out the safe, layout of the place and the alarms codes. Takes me fifteen minutes to give the place a quick check over, as a good security officer should, then I set the alarm and the security lights and off I trot. Now it’s about 1.45am. Tried to draw the paperwork out for a bit once I got back but there’s only so much you can dramatise a simple call out. Since we got a new day time secretary, there’s been hardly a thing to do between call outs! Mind you, the last security company I worked for was mad busy, on the go all the time, so it makes a bit of a change!
So while I’m here and doing nothing, I may as well tell you a little about key holding hadn’t I? Not that I’m a trying to imply I sit here whistlin’ Dixie all night, because I don’t – some nights get so busy that you’d swear the horsemen of the apocalypse had been set loose! Now where was I? Ah, key holding! So at my security company we have different divisions – we have security guards and a full range of security services like IT security, retail security and security patrols, things of that nature. One division is key holding, which I like to do because it’s mainly a night time job. So with key holding anyway, we key holders nip to your business when the alarm goes off or if you’ve left it unlocked by mistake and can’t make it back and sometimes, just if you’re paranoid and like someone to check your business out every once in a while. Now as well we have none-business people asking us to key hold when they’re on holiday or to look after their holiday home. I think it’s more off a – oh, here we go, an alarm this time, department store!
Back door keys, check – now, let’s open the door quickly and quietly and get to the alarm box. Now, put the number in aaand…bliss! Alarms like that are enough to wake the dead! Right then, let’s check things out.
Hmm. I’ve just had a check of the store and right at the smallest window in the front there’s a smashed window. Only a small smash mind, more like a teenager worse for wear’s put his elbow through when he’s been staggering home. Not for me to speculate though is it eh? Have to take care of the security procedures now though, each person or business who wants key holding gives us a set of instructions to follow y’know. So, switch the lights on, ring emergency contact numero uno and explain the situation. Numero uno in this case is the boss and seemed a nice chap despite that I’ve just woke him up. Asked for details and asked me to get it fixed up before I left, he’d take a look in the morning. Said to get myself a coffee, so don’t mind if I do! After I ring the emergency repair company we use (who’ll have a board to board up the window and take measurements to fit the glass first thing when the world wakens up) I went and checked that the CCTV booth was secure – so the owner can find out what happened once he comes in tomorrow. I sweep up the glass and finish my coffee just as the repair company pulls up.
’Still workin’ the graveyard Bob?’ I says to the older one.
’Ar, s’long as it pays me wage Ian me lad!’ he says back, cackling. A good bunch, these night time lads!
Once they get done and we say our goodbyes I check everything over again, wash my cup, switch off the lights and switch the alarm on. Lock the door too. Think I might go make my nightly patrol to Mrs. Hanlon’s next, check her house is OK and leave the cat food out for her cat like she asked. Not that we’re pet feeders or anything – but it doesn’t hurt to lend a hand for an old dear does it? I’ll just double check this lock then be on my way – job’s a good ‘un!
Filled under Uncategorized.