How Condo Security Guards Conduct Overnight Patrols

Condominium security guards conduct overnight patrols using a variety of strategies, tools, and protocols to provide complete coverage. Security incidents can occur at any time of day, but residential buildings are particularly vulnerable at night when it’s dark and foot traffic is lower. This is especially true in prime-target building areas, such as parkades and mailrooms, which are less likely to receive visitors at night. These factors make overnight residential security patrols an asset for condo communities. 

What Do Overnight Condo Security Patrols Cover?

Overnight residential security patrols follow a set of SOPs to cover every area of a condo building. These routines are systematic, repeatable, tailored to the unique needs of each property, and proven to be effective against crime. 

Perimeter and Entrances

Security guards check all exterior-facing doors, windows, and gates to ensure they remain secure, can open freely, and aren’t damaged from tampering or potential break-in attempts. While monitoring the property’s perimeter, guards scan for loiterers or suspicious vehicles parked around the property. 

Amenity and Common Areas

Security guards conduct walk-throughs of gyms, pools, lounges, and other resident-only spaces to ensure they stay secure after hours. They also look for after-hours use of restricted spaces.

Parking Garage, Storage, Bike Rooms, and Stairwells

Parking garages, which often include bike rooms and storage lockers nearby or within, are a key area of concern for residential security guards. Their remote location and the value of the property stored inside make them appealing targets for potential thieves. Overnight security patrols effectively deter burglaries, as thieves are far less likely to break into a parking garage that they know is being actively monitored.

While on patrol, security guards monitor for unauthorized vehicles or people lingering. They regularly check covered areas, gates, and stairwells for vagrants and signs of trespassing and damage. Read more about how security guards keep stairwells secure.

Secure Areas

Other secure areas, such as mechanical rooms, mailrooms, and garbage areas, are included on patrol routes to ensure they remain free from trespassing, damage, and other issues.

Incident Reporting

Excellent reporting is necessary for security patrols to be their most effective. Guards maintain detailed patrol logs containing photo and video evidence, timestamps, written reports, and actions taken during their shifts. Any security issues, including signs of attempted forced entry, broken locks, and suspicious activity, are reported and addressed immediately. In urgent or emergency cases, security guards will contact police or first responders. 

Blackbird Security guards use TrackTik for all reporting, allowing our leadership teams and clients to gain an overview of guard locations, reports, and incidents in real time. 

What an Overnight Condominium Patrol Looks Like

While every condo is different, with different layouts, amenities, and security needs, overnight patrols typically follow a similar structure and rhythm. Here’s an example patrol:

1. At the start of their shift, a guard receives a handover brief from the day team detailing recent incidents, maintenance issues, and anything out of the ordinary.

2. At the beginning of the first patrol, the first step is often to sweep the property’s perimeter, watching for suspicious activity and checking all exterior access points. 

3. After the perimeter has been checked, the guard patrols through shared areas and amenity spaces.

4. The guard proceeds to patrol hallways and check stairwells before entering the parking garage. They sweep every row of vehicles on each parkade level, looking between cars and behind columns.

5. Next, the guard moves to the bike room, storage lockers, and/or garbage room.

6. Finally, the guard returns to the building’s front desk to finalize any reports and provide updates to their partner.  

Using TrackTik, Blackbird Security guards check in at electronic tokens placed in key areas. This ensures that patrols cover every area and allows guards to easily tell if they accidentally missed an area on their route.

What Else Do Condo Security Guards Monitor on Patrol?

You may be surprised by what condo security guards look for, beyond the typical signs of trouble. Here’s a quick overview:

• Maintenance issues: Throughout their patrols, security guards monitor for things including burnt-out light bulbs, litter, and leaking pipes. These issues are reported so that building management teams can coordinate with maintenance.

• Noise by-law violations: Security guards respond to rule-breaking levels of noise to ensure compliance with local bylaws. 

• Tailgating: An unauthorized individual or vehicle closely following a resident into the building or parkade is referred to as tailgating. Security guards watch visitors and vehicles as they enter the building to ensure it doesn’t happen. 

• Alcoves: Alcoves are often difficult to view from security cameras, so guards check them on foot while on patrol. 

A thorough strategy ensures that no element of overnight condo security is left to chance. Next, we’ll discuss how security guards monitor the buildings they protect using remote surveillance technology.

Monitoring Between Patrols: CCTV and Alarms

Between overnight patrol rounds, condominium security guards will monitor CCTV cameras to ensure comprehensive coverage of the entire property at all times. If a condo has multiple overnight security guards on site, one will remain at the front desk monitoring cameras, while the other conducts the patrol. This provides an additional layer of coverage, as the security guard monitoring the CCTV feeds can monitor for incidents taking place in other areas of the building or property.

Guards also monitor for triggered alarms at the site, including fire, motion-sensor, door, gate, and broken window alarms throughout the building. Overnight security guards assist with resident evacuations during fire alarm incidents and will promptly respond to security alarms, providing peace of mind and reassurance for building managers and residents. 

When to Use Mobile vs On-Site Security for Overnight Residential Coverage

Unlike on-site security guards, mobile patrol guards aren’t stationed at the building for the duration of their shift. Instead, they move between sites in marked security vehicles, patrolling each site on their list on a randomized schedule to deter potential thieves. This allows mobile patrol coverage to be more cost-effective than a static overnight presence.

Mobile patrols are conducted using the same SOPs as standard foot patrols, except the security guard doesn’t remain on site once the patrol is completed. However, mobile patrol guards are still able to respond to alarms even if they are off-site when they’re triggered. 

Here are some tips to help you determine if mobile patrols are right for your condo building:

• Neighbourhood risk: Condos located in high-crime, high-risk areas benefit the most from an on-site security presence, which effectively deters crime before it happens and can respond to any incidents immediately. 

• Incident history: If your condo experiences frequent break-in attempts or car thefts, an on-site presence may be a better fit for your needs. Although mobile patrol guards respond to alarms as soon as possible, the response time of on-site security guards remains quicker.

• Budget: For buildings that don’t require an on-site security guard but would benefit from protection, mobile patrols are a cost-effective option.

• Property value: Keeping your building free from crime is an effective way to raise property values and keep your residents safe and satisfied. 

Alternatively, a strategy that combines on-site security guards to maintain an active presence at your building with mobile patrol guards to conduct foot patrols may suit your building best. 

Partner With Canada’s Top Condominium Security Company

Condo security should be a top consideration, including during overnight hours. We at Blackbird Security have experience safeguarding condos in every major Canadian city, including Vancouver, Toronto, Edmonton, and Ottawa. Our residential security guards receive advanced training through our industry-leading in-house security program to prepare them for every challenge and provide you and your residents with optimal service. 

Get in touch with our team to learn how we can create a tailored security strategy for your building.

Curious to learn more about condominium security? Explore our full suite of residential security services, or read our guide to condominium security.