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Worldwide terrorism became a phenomenon starting in the 1970’s, yet in the US the turning point wasn’t until September 11th, 2001. As is generally known, the four-airplane hijacking by Arab Al-Qaeda members brought down the World Trade Center Twin Towers, punctured a section of the Pentagon, and would have hit a DC target had it not detoured to crash in a field in Pennsylvania. Since that fateful 9/11 morning, security against terrorism stiffened vigorously. Airports in particular, under the auspices of the federal Transportation Security Agency (TSA), which was established due to the 9/11 attacks, are notorious for punctilious security to try to prevent any act of in-flight terror. Passengers and baggage are subject to hi-tech x-ray type screenings, chemical hand-swipes, individual searches, and emptying liquids from drinking bottles.  Now, almost 14 years later, everyone’s used to it – it’s just what airports do.

But airport security is on a grand scale, specifically aimed at those traveling on planes. But what about the places people frequent locally? Even your nearby grocery store can be victim to terror attacks, as happened recently in a Parisian suburb. In Israel, which suffers constant terror threats from neighboring countries, it’s the norm to have a private security guard at entrances to not only grocery stores, but restaurants, shopping malls, movie theaters, central bus stations, hospitals, and universities. Everyone who enters gets their bag opened for a security check, and oftentimes an x-ray machine scan as well; anyone suspicious is pulled aside. But this is not common in the US unless it’s a large public event or high-profile building or institution. Maybe it should be.

What is the main role of private security personnel with regard to terrorism prevention? Awareness. Keeping an eye for suspicious individuals. Terrorists often exhibit the same pre-meditated behavior:

1)    Surveying the surroundings by looking, photographing and/or note-taking

2)    Attempt to gain information from employees or other customers.

3)    Testing the Security System for Faults

4)    Purchasing Weaponry

5)    Seeming Out of Place 

6)    Solely cash purchases, or conversely checks bounce/credit cards rejected.

7)    ID Misrepresentation

8)    Diverting Security Personnel

9)    Working with a group, perhaps in order to rehearse their plan of attack.

Since private security personnel are already trained to be on alert for theft, it is an easy extension to keep a very similar eye out for counter-terrorism purposes. Why not go that simple, extra yard? A private security officer assists not only in averting the loss of property and valuables, but more importantly, in averting the loss of precious lives as well.

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