If you're paying for security, you want the right amount of it. Too little leaves gaps. Too much eats a budget that could go elsewhere. For most Brisbane and South East Queensland businesses, the real choice comes down to two services: mobile security patrols or a static security guard.
This guide is for business owners, property and facility managers, and site supervisors. It covers what each service does, which sites suit which option, and how to work out what your site actually needs.
What is a mobile security patrol?
A mobile patrol is a licensed security officer in a marked vehicle who visits your site on a schedule, or at random times, during the hours you choose. On each visit, the officer checks the site and then moves on to the next one on the run.
A typical patrol visit can include:
- checking doors, gates, windows and fences
- walking the perimeter and looking for signs of entry or damage
- locking up, or opening up, at set times
- turning off lights and checking alarms are armed
- responding to an alarm activation and checking the site afterwards
- a written report on what the officer found on each visit
Because the officer covers several sites on one run, you pay for the visits, not for a full shift.
What is a static security guard?
A static guard is a licensed security officer posted at your site for a fixed shift. They stay there the whole time: at a gatehouse, a front desk, a loading dock or a site entrance.
A static guard can:
- control who comes in and out, and check passes or sign-in
- stay visible the whole time as a deterrent
- watch CCTV and respond on the spot
- deal with staff, contractors, visitors and the public face to face
- step in early when something starts to go wrong
We've written more about how static guards enhance security for businesses. This post is about deciding between the two.
When mobile patrols are the better fit
Patrols suit sites where the main risk sits after hours and nobody needs to be on site the whole time. They're usually a good match if:
- The site is empty at night or over the weekend. Think warehouses, offices, depots, factories and shops after close.
- You have more than one site. A patrol run can cover a few of your locations on the same schedule.
- You need lock-ups, open-ups or alarm response. You don't have to send a staff member out at 2am because an alarm went off.
- The risk is lower or occasional. Patrols deter opportunistic break-ins, loitering and damage without paying for a full shift.
- Budget is tight. Paying for visits instead of hours usually costs less than a guard on site all night.
A Brisbane example is an industrial unit at Eagle Farm or Acacia Ridge that's empty from 6pm to 6am. Two or three random patrols overnight, a lock-up check and alarm response cover the main risks without paying for 12 hours of a guard.
When a static guard is the better fit
A static guard suits sites where something has to be watched or managed the whole time. Book one when:
- You need access control. Visitors, contractors or deliveries have to be checked in and out.
- There's high-value stock, equipment or materials on site. A patrol between visits leaves gaps a determined thief can use.
- The site is in a high-risk phase. That includes a construction site during lock-up and fit-out, a store that's closing or relocating, or a site after a recent break-in.
- The public or your staff need someone there. Think shopfronts, reception areas, car parks, events, or a workplace where tensions are running high.
- Your insurer, client or head contractor requires it. Some contracts specify a guard on site.
A building site in Fortitude Valley holding new appliances and fittings before handover is a good example. A guard on site overnight, with access control at the gate, is often worth more than a few patrol visits.
The hybrid option
It doesn't have to be one or the other. Many sites run a mix:
- A static guard during the risky hours, patrols for the rest. For example, a guard at the gate during trading or deliveries, then patrols overnight.
- Patrols most of the year, a guard for peak periods. For example, Christmas trading, a stocktake, or a project's handover weeks.
- A guard at your main site, patrols for the others. This works well for businesses with one high-value location and a few smaller ones.
A mix often gives you the cover you need without paying for a guard around the clock.
A quick checklist to work out what you need
Answer these honestly:
- Does someone need to check who comes in and out? If yes, lean towards a static guard.
- Is the site empty for long stretches, such as nights and weekends? If yes, lean towards patrols.
- Is there high-value stock, equipment or cash on site after hours? If yes, look at a guard, or a guard plus patrols.
- Have you had a break-in, damage or trouble in the last year? If yes, step your cover up, at least for a while.
- Do you need alarm response so your staff don't get called out? If yes, patrols cover that.
- Do you have more than one site? If yes, a patrol run can usually cover them together.
- Does your insurer or a contract require a guard on site? If yes, that decides it.
If most of your answers point one way, that's your starting point. If they're split, a hybrid setup is probably right.
What drives the cost
We can't quote a fair price without seeing the site, but these are the factors that change the cost:
- Patrols: how many visits a night, what each visit includes, whether you need alarm response, and how far your site is from our patrol runs.
- Static guards: shift length, the days covered, public holidays, and what the guard needs to do on site.
- Both: how long the agreement runs, and whether you need cover year round or only for a set period.
A good provider will tell you if you're paying for more cover than you need, as well as when you need more.
Talk to ANSIC about your site
ANSIC provides security services across Brisbane and South East Queensland, including mobile patrols, alarm response and static guards. Our officers are licensed in Queensland. If you're not sure which option fits, we'll look at your site, your risks and your budget, and recommend the right mix.
Call 1300 240 829 or request a quote and we'll talk it through.
FAQs
Are mobile patrols cheaper than a static guard?
Usually, yes. You pay for scheduled visits rather than a full shift on site. The trade-off is that nobody is on site between visits.
Can a mobile patrol respond to my alarm?
Yes. Alarm response is one of the main reasons businesses book patrols. An officer attends, checks the site and reports back, so your staff don't have to go out at night.
Do I need a static guard on a construction site?
It depends on the stage of the project and what's stored on site. Early stages are often covered by patrols. During lock-up and fit-out, when materials and fittings are on site, many builders move to a guard overnight.
Can I change from patrols to a guard later, or the other way around?
Yes. Security needs change, so we can step your cover up for a busy or high-risk period and bring it back down when it's over.
