Security for Rural Church PA Equipment

[rockyridgefarm]

I know this is a crazy question, but where else can you find such an amazing brain trust??

Our church is in a very desolate spot. Break ins aren't at all unusual. So the guys that handle the PA stuff thought they;d try to make it secure. Since that is an area that I know a little about, they asked for my input.

Seems they want to move the sound board out of the auditorium, into an adjoining room. There is a 2'x4' window that they could peer and "hear" through. They could make that room more secure, so thieves and vandals would leave it alone.

Of course, my suggestion that you can't run sound from in there wasn't what they wanted to hear. But I have been there, and it don't work. There are two new churches nearby that the architect put the sound in an adjoining room, and now, they are having to remodel brand new buildings to undo that.

But what does work? I mean, can they leave it there, and is there some great way to make it secure? It would be great if there was some kind of key that was required to make the equipment function.

 

[fivestring]

Some folks would disagree with me, but here goes....

<font color="blue">Engrave either a driver's license number or the name of the church PROMINENTLY on the front AND top of all equipment. </font>
Right off the bat, you have eliminated pawn shops as a source for receiving stolen goods.
Right off the bat you have eliminated all honest folks (like here on TBN) from buying stolen equipment.
Who's left?
Bad boys, thugs, etc. But, they won't be able to use the equipment in public because as soon as someone honest (like us here on TBN) sees the church name or another person's driver's license number on the equipment, they will call 911.
Here, we call it "OPERATION ID". We have decals clearly stating that all items have been marked for easy identification by law enforcement. We can run driver's license numbers and id the owner in seconds. We can not run social security numbers and we do not endorse using social security numbers for ANY identification numbers.
The engraving MUST be on the front or top. This way, a thief will notice it right off the bat. If items are marked on the bottom or sides, they'll steal that equipment.

 

[Hambone]

That is a good idea, but, one question.
What do you do when you want to sell that item?

 

[fivestring]

Add the new name or number below the previous one.
An attempt at scratching off the old one is a dead giveaway that the item is probably too hot for most folks (like those of us here on TBN).

 

[Golfgar4]

Mike,

It's a shame when a church has to worry about these kinds of things. Of course, it's a shame when anyone has to worry about them, but it seems especially sad when it's a church.

Our church would not be considered rural, and maybe that's why we've not had similar problems. However, we have tried to anticipate the possibility.

For a long time, our PA stuff was located in an old, unused shower stall. Yes, you read it correctly. A shower stall! Not only could you not see what was going on, but you couldn't even sit down while you were not seeing!

We finally built some cabinets in a little hallway just off to the side of the doorway leading to the altar area. Anyone operating the system can stand there and see at least the front half of the sanctuary.

When the carpenter (a member) built the cabinets, he rigged the doors (4) so that they all lock from one location. I'm not sure exactly how he did it, but I know it works!

Like I said, to my knowledge we've never had anyone try to break in, so I can't say that these cabinets have kept the system safe. But it might be something to look into.

Good luck. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[BillG_in_TX]

We had a break-in at our church one time, and all that the thief took was a small PA system, the pulpit bible and the communion chalice and paten set. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif I guess he was starting up his own church. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[chucko]

I don't know how much PA stuff you are talking but could you not just unplug it and lock it up when not in use?
how many wires are you talking 10+- (I am asuming it is a small church)

 

[rockyridgefarm]

<font color="brown"> could you not just unplug it and lock it up when not in use?
</font>
UMMM, no!

We have a 24 Channel mackie board, three amps, sound shaper, two tape decks, DVD, VHS, Video projector, two computers, fm transmitter equip.

Funny what you can't live without...

 

[JimMc]

Your sound people will need to be in the room they are controlling. We built a platform on a riser at the rear of the auditorium with a door to the stairs. To access the platform without using the door, you would have to scale a 10' blank wall to the sound balcony. Not un-doable but it takes a motivated thief. If they are that motivated, they are likely to do whatever it takes regardless of your precautions.

 

[DavidJ]

In a past life we owned a music store and I've done some pretty amazing stuff to prevent theft. I agree with you about moving the mixer into another room, it just doesn't work very well, however you could move the amps and static (i.e. seldom adjusted) equipment into that room. You could have a nice metal lockable cover made to fit around the mixer, etc. and lock it when you leave. That will usually send the crooks looking for an easier target. You could mount the equipment on a platform if the ceiling's high enough and have a ladder that could be raised and locked or removed.

One thing I don't suggest is to bolt the mixer down and leave the face of it open. If they can't steal it they'll wreck it so it's not worth repairing.

PM me and we can discuss some other options I've done and seen.