Food delivery services like Uber Eats and DoorDash have become an increasingly popular choice across Canada, including for residents of condominium buildings. While these services offer convenience for condo residents, they can create significant security and safety risks for buildings. Your condominium’s residential security team can implement measures to mitigate these security risks and provide a safer food delivery experience that protects all residents. In this blog, we'll explore the security challenges posed by food delivery services and how residential security guards can help maintain building safety.
Why Do Food Delivery Services Pose Security Risks?
Food delivery services create several issues for residential buildings. Delivery drivers frequently request access to residential floors, compromising access control measures designed to keep buildings secure. The practice of permitting delivery drivers access to secured residential floors can unintentionally allow access to unauthorized individuals, and even thieves.
This past June, in California, a thief posing as a delivery driver broke into a condominium and stole “thousands of dollars worth of valuables”. The victim stated, “I think his M.O. is the whole brown bag in one hand, having the phone in the other, seeming like a resident or a food delivery person." Cases like these highlight the need for enhanced security practices when it comes to food delivery.
Additionally, some drivers leave food unattended in building lobbies, creating health hazards. Uncollected food can spoil, attract pests, and create unsanitary conditions in common areas that affect all residents.
What Do Residential Security Guards Monitor For?
At Blackbird Security, our residential security guards are trained to identify and prevent security risks associated with food delivery services. Here's what they watch for:
Unauthorized Building Access
Concierge security guards stationed at the front desk monitor all individuals entering the building. They ensure delivery drivers remain in designated areas and don't access residential floors without proper authorization. Through CCTV monitoring, guards can also watch for delivery drivers entering through other access points such as the parkade or back entrance.
Unattended Food Items
Residential security guards monitor lobbies and common areas for food items left unattended. When uncollected food is discovered, guards document the incident and coordinate with building maintenance teams to have items removed before they create health hazards.
Suspicious Behaviour
Through a combination of experience and vigilance, residential security guards become familiar with legitimate delivery drivers and their standard procedures. This allows them to quickly identify suspicious individuals who may be posing as delivery personnel to gain building access.
How Do Security Guards Maintain Safe and Secure Food Delivery Practices?
When issues with food delivery are identified, residential security guards take steps to maintain building security. They may implement strict policies requiring residents to meet delivery drivers in the lobby and prevent delivery to residential floors. Guards can also designate specific areas for food pickup, such as a table near the concierge desk, and ensure these areas remain clean and secure.
Using industry-standard reporting software like TrackTik, guards document all incidents related to food delivery, including unauthorized access attempts and unattended food items. These reports help building management address ongoing issues and adjust policies as needed.
Partner With Canada's Number One Condominium Security Provider
Maintaining building security while accommodating modern conveniences like food delivery requires a balanced approach. Through a high-quality residential security team, condominium communities can ensure their buildings remain secure while still allowing residents to enjoy the benefits of food delivery services.
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