The Regular Who Wants to 'Just Look'
You are guarding the service yard gate of a warehouse complex at 22:40. A man you recognise as a driver who delivers here most weeks approaches on foot, without his vehicle, and asks to 'have a quick look' inside bay 4 because he thinks he left his phone there. Bay 4 holds high-value electronics and is locked; the day supervisor has gone home. The man is friendly and known to you. Your post orders say no unauthorised entry after 20:00 and that all after-hours access requires the duty supervisor's approval by phone. You have the duty supervisor's number. The man says he is in a hurry and 'it'll take two minutes'.
1. What do you do, and what makes this a crime-prevention decision rather than a customer-service one?
Read the worked answer
Being a familiar face is not authorisation. The request breaks three controls at once: after-hours entry, unescorted access to a high-value bay, and no supervisor present.
- Decline entry politely: 'I can't open bay 4 after 20:00 without the duty supervisor's approval - that's the rule for everyone.'
- Call the duty supervisor and state the request, the man's identity, and the bay involved. Let the supervisor decide.
- If approved, escort him the entire time, log entry and exit times, and do not let him search alone.
- If not approved or unreachable, offer to take his details and have the phone looked for at the next shift, or to check the bay yourself with a witness present.
This is crime prevention because the pattern - known person, plausible pretext, pressure to hurry, high-value stock, no supervisor - is exactly how internal theft is set up. The rule protects him from suspicion as much as it protects the stock.
2. He becomes pushy and says, 'You know me, why are you being like this?' How do you respond and what do you record?
Read the worked answer
Keep it impersonal and firm: 'It's not about you - I'd do the same for anyone. The bay can't be opened after 20:00 without the supervisor, and I've called him. If he approves, I'll take you in myself.' Do not debate, do not apologise for the rule, and do not let him talk you into 'just a peek at the door'.
Record in the occurrence log:
- Time of approach, his name/company if known, and that he was on foot.
- The request made and the bay named.
- That you declined, called the supervisor, and the outcome.
- Any pressure applied and your response.
Report to the day supervisor at handover. A pattern of similar requests from the same person is itself intelligence worth flagging.