Patrol Techniques
Purpose and types
Patrol exists to deter, detect, and respond - in that order of frequency. The main types are foot patrol (best observation and personal contact, limited area), vehicle patrol (wide coverage, fast response, weaker observation of building interiors), bicycle patrol (a middle ground, quiet and approachable), and fixed post (concentrated protection of one asset). Exams test the trade-offs: which patrol type best suits a parking garage (vehicle or bicycle), a crowded lobby (foot), a fence line at night (vehicle with periodic foot checks).
Technique concepts
Understand randomized but documented patrol patterns - predictable patrol invites crime. Know interior and exterior routes, checkpoints and tour verification (keys, scan tags, or logs), and the practice of varying route, timing, and direction. Know the difference between preventive patrol (visible presence to deter) and investigative patrol (looking for specific problems or hazards). Observe-and-listen discipline matters: stop, look, and listen at blind corners and stairwells rather than walking past. Post orders define the route, the checkpoints, the reporting requirements, and the limits of the guard's authority at that site.
Traps and rule of thumb
Traps include treating patrol as a walk-through to be completed as fast as possible, ignoring life-safety hazards (blocked exits, burned-out lights, water on the floor) because they are not "security" issues, and failing to document the tour. Rule of thumb: a patrol that is not documented did not happen - and vary your pattern so it cannot be predicted.