Mobile Patrol Security: New Year’s Property Protection Plan
Is securing your building on your New Year’s resolution list this year? The start of the year is the perfect opportunity for property owners to assess and reassess the plans and strategies that have worked well and identify those that need improvement. While profitability is top of mind for most during the reassessment process, security is an area where people often fall short, whether due to budget constraints or limited awareness about options. Mobile patrol security is a cost-effective, and underrated, solution.
At Blackbird Security, we have over a decade of experience protecting people and property across Canada. Whether your property is a retail plaza, corporate office, residential property, construction site, or warehouse, mobile patrol security is an ideal option to boost security and improve safety for the people you serve. This article will help you create an actionable security plan utilizing mobile patrol security.
Key Takeaways
- Break-ins, vandalism, theft from cars, trespassing, and vagrancy are issues that property owners need to proactively plan for this year.
- Taking a data-forward approach to security planning will help you get the most out of your mobile patrol security service.
- The right security company can help you identify incident trends and develop a security strategy.
- Partnering with a trusted provider like Blackbird Security will provide the best service and security outcomes.
Property Risks to Be Aware of in 2026
2024’s police-reported crime statistics showed a small overall decrease in crime compared to the previous year. While we’ll have to wait a few weeks to receive the official 2025 numbers from Statistics Canada, there are a number of issues that property owners should be aware of in 2026.
Break-Ins
Break-ins don’t just affect homeowners and retail businesses. Any building with a loading dock, rooftop access, parkade, or side entrances can fall victim to break-ins. Criminals typically target anything that might have resale value, which can include equipment, hardware, storage locker contents, and vehicles.
Car Theft
Thefts from parking lots are an issue in underground and surface parkades. Criminals will often either force entry into parkades or tailgate residents or visitors entering legally. Once inside a parking area, thieves will smash car windows to gain access to the contents inside.
Trespassing and Vagrancy
Trespassing and vagrancy are serious issues that threaten the safety of building occupants and can result in dangerous incidents when untrained individuals confront offenders. Vagrancy can create significant problems, as vagrants may block stairwells needed for emergency access or evacuation, and they may leave hazardous litter.
Vandalism
Broken windows, spray paint, and damage to doors or fences can be costly to fix, but must be addressed immediately. Vandals often target buildings that look under-protected, or that already display visible vandalism, as they know they’ll have a higher chance of getting away with it.
All of these risks damage a building’s reputation by creating unsafe environments for living, visiting, and working. Without trained personnel available to promptly address these issues, including removing people from the property if needed, bystanders and maintenance staff may get hurt.
The Benefits of Mobile Patrol Security Services
A common misconception with security is that it always involves a guard standing at a site, actively monitoring for issues. This leads many property owners to believe that security is too high of an expense, or unneeded based on the number of incidents they experience in a day. Mobile patrol security answers both of these concerns.
Mobile patrols are a cost-effective option that’s gaining popularity across Canada. While standard security guard services involve a security guard maintaining an active, on-site presence, mobile guards don’t spend their entire shift at the same property. Rather, they move between sites throughout their shift, conducting thorough patrols at each stop. Each site receives a predetermined number of visits throughout the day, which can be scheduled at random to increase deterrence.
In the event of an emergency or a serious incident, such as a fire alarm, trespassing, or vagrancy, mobile guards will professionally and safely respond. Having a professional guard available to respond to trespassers and vagrants prevents bystanders from getting hurt and allows for faster response times compared to dialling 911.
Criminals tend to target properties that look unprotected. Mobile patrols are a highly effective way to increase the security presence at your building, without the large price tag of a static security guard.
Now that you’re aware of the biggest risks heading into 2026 and how mobile patrol security can benefit your building, let’s dive into creating a security plan with mobile patrols at the forefront.
Your 2026 Mobile Patrol Security Plan
1. Compare Mobile Patrol Security Service Providers
If your building isn’t already protected by mobile patrols, you’ll need to compare service providers to find the one that best suits your property. The ideal mobile patrol provider is one that:
- Provides alarm response coverage
- Ensures rapid response times (ideally within 5-15 minutes)
- Has experience protecting buildings similar to yours (for example, residential condos, distribution centres, or large-scale construction sites)
- Provides service customization options and consistent communication
- Has the capacity and a large enough area of coverage to safeguard all of your properties.
Find out exactly how to choose the right mobile patrol security provider in our upcoming blog.
2. Plan Patrols Based on Data
Your service provider will analyze your report data, ask the right questions, and help determine the best time of day (or night) to patrol your building. The best time will be when your building typically experiences the highest number of incidents.
For instance, if you occasionally arrive in the morning to find smashed windows, overnight patrols may be the most useful. On the other hand, if your building experiences increased trespassing incidents during the day, a daytime patrol will be more effective.
The key is to look at your past report data, or gain insights based on eyewitness interviews if you don’t have a record of written reports, to effectively schedule patrols.
3. Allow Mobile Guards to Handle Trespassing, Vagrancy, and Unauthorized Access
Contact your mobile patrol guard to handle incidents of trespassing, vagrancy, or unauthorized access. Outline a clear reporting process for visitors, employees, and/or residents to report incidents, and ensure building occupants know not to attempt to confront vagrants or trespassers.
4. Regularly Analyze Reports
Your mobile security guard will create detailed reports for each patrol, including any incidents, suspicious activity, or property damage observed. It’s important to regularly analyze these reports to find patterns and close security gaps. Your contact at your chosen security company should regularly check in with you on strategic pivots.
5. Respond to Maintenance Issues Promptly
In addition to reporting incidents, your security guard will report maintenance issues, such as leaking pipes, litter, broken locks, and vandalism. It’s important that you or your maintenance team respond to these issues promptly to deter future crime and maintain your building’s safety.
Following these five steps will ensure your property stays safe and help you get the most value out of your mobile patrol services.
Partner With Canada’s Top Mobile Patrol Security Service Provider
At Blackbird Security, we safeguard hundreds of properties from coast to coast with mobile patrol security. Our guards are trained to handle every type of security incident, ensuring our clients receive the highest level of service. Our mobile fleets are always growing in top Canadian cities, including Vancouver, Toronto, and Calgary, and we proudly safeguard both national and local businesses.
Ready to start your New Year off the right way? Get in touch with us today to learn how our mobile patrol security services can protect your property.
FAQs
Do I need a security plan for my property?
Yes! Every building and business needs a physical security plan. Learn more in our blog, How to Optimize Your Security Strategy in 2026.
What types of buildings do mobile patrol security guards protect?
Mobile guards can patrol every kind of property, from commercial buildings (retail plazas, outdoor malls, warehouses, offices), to municipal buildings (libraries, town halls, community centres) and residential properties (condominiums, townhouse complexes, and social housing).
What are the biggest property crime risks in 2026?
Break-ins, theft from cars, trespassing, vagrancy, and vandalism are all issues that continue to pose risks for property owners.
What are the benefits of mobile patrol security services?
- They’re cost-effective, as guards don’t remain at a single site throughout their shift.
- Thorough patrols monitor your site throughout the day or night.
- The presence of mobile guards provides visible deterrence, discouraging crime before it happens.
- Mobile guards are trained to handle vagrancy and trespassing professionally, safely, and immediately.
- Guards respond immediately to triggered alarms.
