Patrol, Observation, and Report Writing
Patrol
Purposeful patrol deters and detects. Vary routes and timing; check doors, windows, lighting, alarms, fire exits, and access points. Record the baseline so anomalies stand out. A guard who walks the same loop at the same time creates a predictable gap.
Observation
Observe head-to-toe: sex, race, age, height, weight, hair, clothing, marks, gait, direction of travel. Note time, location, lighting, and witnesses. Separate observation from inference: 'He appeared intoxicated' is weaker than 'He smelled of alcohol, slurred speech, and staggered.'
Report writing
Use who, what, when, where, why, how. Write in first person, past tense, chronologically, with 24-hour time. Include exact words in quotation marks, actions taken, evidence, witnesses, and notifications. Do not write conclusions such as 'he was suspicious' or opinions. Correct errors with a single line and initials, not by rewriting. Submit promptly; preserve notes.
Worked example
At 02:14 the guard finds the east door ajar. Report: 'At 02:14 I observed the east door at 400 Main St. ajar approximately six inches. I cleared the immediate area, notified the supervisor, and called police. No forced entry was visible. I secured the door at 02:22.' That is factual, timed, and shows the sequence.
Traps
Vague times; opinions; missing actions; late reports; altering a submitted report; failing to note camera or alarm data.