Perimeter Control (aka Stopping book theft)

One of our primary functions in working the InfoDesks portals is perimeter control, or ensuring that materials intended to remain in the Library are not pilfered surreptitiously.  For the remainder of this post I will be referring to items leaving the library; generally items which set off the gate coming in are non-events and may be disregarded unless very unorthodox.

To do this we have been given three useful tools:
1) "Knogo" security gates at the portals, which sound an alarm when a sensitized (actually, magnetized) item intended to remain in the Library is passing through the gates,

2) The magnetic sensor strips which reside in the books and media we check out to patrons, which can be de-sensitized (de-magnetized) to allow users to pass through the gates unhindered or sensitized to set off the alarm,

and most important...

3) YOU and your sentient human brain, which can determine based on the below procedures how to identify whether the person who just set off the gate alarms, is a threat to the collection, a victim of a missed sensor strip, or just carrying something from a corporation which also uses security strips (e.g. Best Buy, Amoeba, Berkeley Public Library, etc.)


If the Gate Alarm rings out when someone is leaving:

1)  Assume innocence and/or forgetfulness on the part of the patron

2)  Verbally stop the person and ask if they have any BOOKS on them.

If so, you will need to verify the items are checked out to the patron properly using the Alma System to lookup the item and ensure it is properly checked out (see details in "Using Alma to verify if a book is checked out to patron (when alarm sounds)" blog post.

 *  If the item is checked out to the patron, but improperly desensitized, you may allow them to leave, but advise them to stop by a circulation desk at their convenience to have the item properly desensitized. [Side note: A few of the older books do not desensitize even when they have been passed through the desensitizer. Removing the defective tattle tape would damage the book, so they will just always set it off. If a patron complains that they are frequently stopped by the alarm, you can explain that some older books and ILL books do not desensitize.]

 *  If the item is not checked out to the patron, you must retain the item or refer them back to the circulation desk to properly check out the material.  (if it is after hours for circulation the InfoDesks WILL NOT hold the materials for them overnight, and they may not leave with the item if not properly checked out to them.)

If no library items, you may inquire further if they have other items which may set off gates (some metal objects, other media from private companies, public library books, etc.); have them isolate the item and walk through the gate again to ensure that the non-UCB library item is what is setting it off.

3)  Ask the person to empty his/her backpack, purse, etc. if necessary to ensure no items are present.



Less than altruistic circumstances (aka thiefs, cheats, and scofflaws!)

4) Patrons may NOT hold an item above their head as they walk through the gate. If they do, you need to stop them and find out if it is their own personal book or laptop, or if they are in fact trying to steal library material. If it is library material they were trying to steal, you should call UCPD immediately and security to detain the individual.

5)  Be wary of individuals who seem to consistently set off the gate alarms; someone you have to stop every shift either has a book they need to get desensitized (and you should be able to tell by checking the record); or may be into some less than legal business in our collection....I want names and descriptions.

6)  If you find concealed materials, or any attempt to hide/steal materials, you should call UCPD immediately and security to detain the individual.  Be very vigilant about the person's look, because you will be describing the interaction in an incident report later on!

7)  Last, but most likely for a theft, if the person just walks/runs out the gates and the alarm goes off, call Security so they can get an image of the person.  Do not leave your station, DO scribble down as good a description of the person (direction they left out the building, etc.) as you can immediately, you will be filling out an incident report.

These are the basics of perimeter control (out the library), we will discuss perimeter control (incoming contraband) in a later post.