Bullet Proof Security Systems, News, Information | Demand TSS

After a 26% spike in first quarter bank robberies following a 57% increase in 2008, the New York City Council proposed a mandate that would require all bank branches to install bulletproof glass barriers. This morning, the Council’s Public Safety Committee held a hearing for bank industry officials to express their concerns over the “bandit barrier” legislation.

“Bulletproof fortifications around tellers in banks — known as “bandit barriers” [. . .] — have pitted banks and the police against each other in a policy argument over safety, expense and businesses’ rights to manage their own security.”

Read “Banks and Police Clash Over Proposal for Bulletproof Barriers” by Dominick Tao, The New York Times.

Taken from nydailynews.com.

By Frank Lombardi

Bank stickups will be the talk of City Hall on Monday.

With the backing of Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, the City Council is moving ahead with a bill to mandate that all 1,698 bank branches in the city erect “bandit barriers” around their tellers.

The bill specifies that bullet resistant barriers or partitions be installed to prevent individuals from getting access “to the protected area where the tellers transact business.”

Failure to erect such barriers will carry a fine of up to $1,500 for each violation, plus an additional fine of as much as $1,500 if the violation isn’t corrected and a $1,000 fine for each day the violation goes uncorrected.

Many banks do have such barriers, but the tougher ballistic standards required in the bill might force them to build new ones.

Banking industry officials will get a chance to sound off at a public hearing this morning being held at City Hall by the Council’s Public Safety Committee.

The bill was prompted by a 26% spike in bank robberies during the first quarter of this year, on top of the 57% increase in robberies last year over the prior year.

However, industry officials report that the robbery rate has fallen since March. A total of 135 robberies were reported through June 23, compared with 192 for the same period last year – a drop of 30%.

In the past, Kelly has expressed special concern about the bank branches now owned by TD Bank, which acquired Commerce Bank last year. The 73 TD/Commerce Bank branches around the city were hit by robbers 46 times last year.

None of the TD Bank branches have bandit barriers; the lack of them is intended to give customers a more inviting atmosphere.

Lawrence Sherman, a criminologist who is a consultant for TD Bank, said, “Not one customer or employee has been injured in the course of a robbery” at any TD/Commerce branch in the city since they began operating in 2001.

But the bill’s main sponsor, Councilman Oliver Koppell (D-Bronx), blasted TD Bank’s lack of barriers, saying: “Chase branches all have the barriers; so do Citibank’s. It’s crazy they are so adamant” about not having them.

When installing a bulletproof barrier, it is important to analyze all weak points of your facility, including transaction windows and doors. Total Security Solutions offers a wide variety of bullet resistant doors, including acrylic doors, aluminum frame doors, transactional doors, wood doors, and most recently, steel doors. The all-steel bulletproof door comes pre-hung on a steel frame and can be customized with peepholes, view windows, and door scopes.

Our bulletproof doors enable access to staff areas as required and even meet ADA standards. They work hand-in-hand with the complete bullet resistant barrier to provide a safe and secure work environment for employees of banks, credit unions, convenience stores or police stations. All available bullet proof doors provide Level 3 security according to the Standard UL Protection Level Ratings.

While we do offer custom sizes for its bullet resistant steel doors, standard bullet proof steel doors are 3’x7’. The bullet resistant steel door also comes standard with a heavy-duty continuous hinge, deadbolt lock sets with thumb turns and cylinders, and a LCN closer. Read more about custom options available for our bulletproof steel door.

New security measures discussed for City Hall following a scrap between a Councilwoman and a Council “regular.”

Taken from LansingCityPulse.com.

By Angela Vasquez-Giroux; published Wednesday, June 17, 2009.

An East Lansing prosecutor has declined to press assault charges against a Lansing City Council gadfly after an altercation with a Councilwoman last month, but efforts to beef up security at Lansing City Council meetings are ongoing.

Third Ward Councilwoman A’Lynne Robinson was involved in an altercation with Charlene Decker, one of Robinson’s constituents, after a May 28 Council Committee of the Whole meeting. Robinson sought an assault charge claiming that what started as an argument over public comment rights ended in a physical altercation.

“After reading the police report and conferring with the victim, I did not issue assault or assault and battery charges, simply because the touching did not appear to be intentional,” Tom Yeadon, an East Lansing prosecutor, said.

Robinson had accused Decker of grabbing her finger, which allegedly happened as Robinson swatted Decker´s finger away as Decker pointed it in her face. Lansing City Attorney Brig Smith was a witness to the incident, which is why Yeadon was given jurisdiction over the case.

While Yeadon was determining whether to file charges, Robinson held a meeting with City Clerk Chris Swope, Lansing Police Department Capt. Edward Forrest, Council administrative assistant Therese Horn and Smith.

The outcome was a list of suggestions, like locking doors and holding all meetings in Council chambers.

But loftier suggestions would have the saloon-style doors that separate Council from the audience fitted with electronic locks controlled by the Council president. Earlier this year, Lansing resident Barry Schiffer kicked open those doors and angrily approached Council after a profane tirade — including talking about is AK-47 — that ended with him being subdued by police.

Other ideas include adding bulletproof glass to the barrier separating the audience from the Council and installing cameras in stairwells and other areas around Council chambers.

First Ward Councilman Eric Hewitt says that he doesn´t think safety is an issue and wondered aloud about the cost of the safety measures.

Robinson, however, feels the security is necessary. For Robinson, the direct access to Council by the public is a concern. Rules were changed recently so that members of the public are no longer able to access the hallways behind Council chambers.

The escalation in incidents over the past six months has shown a need for increased safety measures, Robinson said.

“I don´t know that state legislators have been threatened with AK-47s, or called racial epithets,” she said after being informed that there is less security in some state buildings. “We have.”

Taken from The Huntsville Times; published June 17, 2009

A U.S. House subcommittee has approved $3.5 million for security improvements at Redstone Arsenal’s Gate 7 entrance on Martin Road, according to U.S. Rep. Parker Griffith.

The money – included in the Pentagon’s 2010 construction budget – will be used to build a guard house, canopy, guard booths and a covered vehicle inspection station. Anti-terrorist protections measures, including security lighting, bullet resistant glass at the guard house and booths, among other upgrades, are also included in the cost.

The project must now be approved by the House Appropriations Committee for Military Construction and the full House and signed by the president.

Total Security Solutions recently completed a bullet proof barrier installation in a national financial institution. The secure sound bullet resistant barrier system incorporated bulletproof transparencies, bullet resistant fiberglass, and currency trays. Secure sound bullet proof barriers, as well as Arch Window and Baffle Window systems, are typically utilized by banks, credit unions or check cashing facilities because they provide a friendly access portal for staff/customer interaction, an architectural appeal, and security from UL Level I to Level III.

In addition, we provided bulletproof wood doors, which are made of plastic laminate or wood veneer over fiberglass bullet-resistant sheathing, with or without vision windows.

Cleaning and maintaining abrasion resistant or uncoated bullet proof acrylic.

DUSTING: Dust bullet resistant acrylic with a soft cloth or chamois, wiping gently. NO paper towels.

WASHING: Wash bullet resistant glass with a mild soap or detergent and lukewarm water solution. Use a clean soft cloth or natural sponge and as much solution as possible. Rinse well. Dry by blotting with a damp cloth or chamois. Grease and oil are best with hexans, kerosene or aliphatic naptha. AROMATIC COMPOUNDS MUST NOT BE USED.

ANTI-STATIC COATING:  The anti-static coating on bullet proof acrylic successfully prevents the accumulation of electrostatic charge. Between applications of the anti-static coating, bullet resistant glass only needs to be dusted with a soft damp cloth or chamois. Mild detergents (for example 1% Joy in water) provide good anti–static properties while serving as excellent cleaners for bullet proof acrylic.

POLISHING: After cleaning and polishing, the bullet resistant acrylic may be waxed with a good grade of commercial wax. Waxing will improve the appearance of the bullet proof glass by filling in minor scratches. The wax should be applied in a thin even coat and brought to high gloss by rubbing lightly with a soft dry cloth.

SCRATCH REMOVAL (for uncoated bullet proof glass): Most minor scratches can be removed by hand polishing. The polish should be applied with damp pads of soft cotton flannel and rubbed parallel to the scratch in a straight back and forth motion. Excessive rubbing at one point should be avoided. Electric buffers should not be used; they will form depressions in the surface of the bullet resistant acrylic causing optical distortions.

DO NOT USE:

• Window cleaning fluids
• Scouring compounds
• Gritty cloths
• Leaded or ethyl gasolines
• Strong solvents such as alcohol, acetone, carbon tetrachloride, lacquer thinners, Windex, etc.
• NO PAPER TOWELS

Taken from STNG Wire Reports.

Published Monday, June 8, 2009.

A bank branch in the River North area was robbed Monday afternoon and the FBI suspects the “Red Line Robber,” who is believed to have struck at least eight banks.

The robbery happened about 2:25 p.m. at the Charter One Bank branch at 33 W. Grand Ave., according to police News Affairs Officer JoAnn Taylor.

The robber — who unconfirmed sources said was wearing sunglasses — displayed a weapon, though he did not fire it, and no one was injured, Taylor said. He got away with an undetermined amount of cash, and there was a dye pack included, Taylor said.

Investigators believe the robber is the “Red Line Robber,”who is a serial bank robber now suspected n eight thefts from Chicago banks dating to January, FBI spokesman Ross Rice said. He earned his name because all of the branches are located near CTA Red Line stations.

Further details about Monday’s incident were not yet available and FBI agents remained at the scene as of about 4 p.m., he said.

The most recent robbery Red Line bank robbery occurred May 12 at the MB Financial Bank branch at 1 E. Wacker Dr. The day before, the same robber entered the Chase Bank branch in the 6400 block of North Sheridan Road but left without attempting a robbery after he apparently noticed the teller’s area was encased in bulletproof glass.

He is described as a black male with medium build, 30 to 35, 6 feet to 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds. He has worn sunglasses, a dark-colored baseball cap and a black colored bomber jacket during most robberies.

He is considered armed and dangerous because he carries a handgun, and the FBI believes he rides the CTA to and from the robberies.

A $10,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the identification of the suspect. Anyone with information should call the FBI at (312) 421-6700.

Total Security Solutions recently added a new accessory to its line of bullet proof products – the TSS-MK1 Talk Thru. Promoting natural voice transmission through the use of evenly spaced louvers, the TSS-MK1 Talk Thru is made of stainless steel and has a 6” diameter. It is designed to fit bullet resistant glass that is .25” to 1.875” thick and provides up to Level 3 security according to the UL (Underwriters Laboratory) bullet resistant materials rating system.

The TSS-MK1 Talk Thru can be integrated into a variety of bullet proof barriers in which voice communication is important, such as bullet resistant transaction windows or bullet proof walk-up windows commonly found in banks or convenience stores.

Due to Total Security Solutions’ in-house manufacturing capabilities, the TSS-MK1 Talk Thru is available at a siginificantly reduced cost in comparison to other similar bullet proof products. To order the TSS-MK1 Talk Thru, call 1-800-513-1468 or email info@demandtss.com.