Security taking new measures

Friday, March 27, 1998 | 10:15 a.m.

Security is becoming an increasingly important issue in America as citizens try to protect themselves from rapists, murders, thieves and even terrorists armed with anthrax and other biological weapons.

The recent murder of four students and a teacher at an Arkansas school and a serial rapist preying on women in Las Vegas focuses attention on the need for some kind of security system that will at least deter those who would harm others.

The $38-billion-a-year security industry this week put on display some of its most advanced equipment at a three-day International Security Conference and Exposition that began Wednesday at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

More than 40 new products were on display at the event featuring more than 500 exhibitors with displays of state-of-the-art security equipment, services and technology.

One of the latest products designed to protect women from rapists is called a Defender DNA, manufactured by Pik Inc. of Hawthorne, Fla.

The device, about the size of an ice pick, will be on the market in about two weeks, according to his inventor Robert Smith.

The Defender has what Smith describes as a "disorienting" siren at one end and a retractable spike at the other which pierces the attacker. There is a barb on the spike that collects a DNA sample.

"A woman can carry this in her hand as she's walking down the street or keep it beside her bed," said Smith, a retired restaurant manager who began designing the product three years ago. "When she is grabbed, she just stabs him anywhere and at the same time the siren goes off."

He said the 120-decibel alarm, combined with the unexpected spike, should be enough to drive away any would-be rapist.

The Defender costs $39.95.

"I will replace it for free if the owner has to turn it over to the police," Smith said.

Strategic Vista Corp., of Ontario, Canada, offers a portable alarm system designed with apartment residents in mind.

Called a Lorex Home Security System, the device costs $249, is easily set up by the owner and is transportable to the next location in the event of a move.

The system has a motion detector which sets off an alarm and dials a network of phone numbers encoded into the system by the owner. The designated receiver of the call will receive a message taped by the owner of the system giving instructions.

The system, which will be available in 40 days, can be expanded to include other devices.

One of the world's leaders in school security systems is Sensormatic Electronics Corp., of Boca Raton, Fla., which got its start more than 30 years ago making product security devices for Macy's and other stores -- the devices are attached to clothing and other products and must be removed or they will set off an alarm when taken from the store.

Fifteen years ago the company had annual sales of about $250,000. Today its annual revenue is $1.1 billion, demonstrating the increase in security consciousness.

School security is becoming one of its major lines of product, Vice President Stephen Hall said.

"It will do nothing but grow in the next five years," Hall said.

He pointed out that recently President Clinton released a survey of schools across the nation showing that 57 percent of them have serious problems with vandalism and violence.

Though it may be impossible to be completely protected against incidents such as the five murders at the Arkansas school, it is possible to deter it.

One of the company's most popular school security systems, called HyperScan, contains video cameras set up at locations in schools throughout the school district that are monitored from one location.

Vandalism at one high school in Los Angeles almost disappeared when the cameras were installed, Hall said.

Until the school bought the system, the district was spending $15,000 a year in repairs caused by simple acts of vandalism. Last year, according to Hall, the district spent only $1,000 in vandalism-related repairs.

He said the Huntsville (Ala.) School District installed cameras in 34 different schools. The control system was at one location, thus saving money on having security guards at each school.

"The school district invested $2 million in the security system and they say the system has paid for itself 10 times over in just a couple of years," Hall said.