Unarmed guards are no longer an option

Issue 6 2021 Logistics (Industry), Security Services & Risk Management

Bradian Logistics Solutions is a company in the logistics industry, storing and moving high-value and high-volume goods. The company boasts a very low loss ratio, which the company’s business development manager, Michael Berger, says is through the technological advances in areas “such as the use of data analytics to improve processes and software integration across multiple legacy platforms and suppliers…”


Massimo Carelle.

With 21 years in the business, the company has seen more than its fair share of criminal activity and intentions. Berger says Bradian has “mastered the ability to control the critical factors within the supply chain, from secure warehousing to ensuring the last mile is carried out to perfection. A client selling high-value and high-volume consumer mobile and related products in a retail space has no margins for error.”

Berger has an article on LinkedIn going into more detail; it can be found via www.securitysa.com/*bradian.

Focusing on risk management

Massimo Carelle is the managing director of Bradian Risk and Security Solutions, which is responsible for ensuring stock is received, held and delivered to the people it is intended for. Hi-Tech Security Solutions asked Carelle what has been happening in the logistics business since the initial lockdown in 2020 and also with the riots in July 2021 which saw many warehouses gutted.

In the initial ‘hard lockdown’ criminal activity decreased, but as soon as the rules were relaxed there was a spike in attacks on the logistics industry, Carelle says. He also notes that criminals today are more violent than ever in carrying out their nefarious activities and, in general, more organised and informed. The ‘new normal’ of wearing masks also makes it harder to identify people, even those on blacklists who may be hanging around collecting information for their syndicate masters.

Sadly, the justice system is failing the logistics industry and law enforcement often seems powerless in the face of the syndicates.

Carelle puts it simply: The warehouse/cargo/logistics industry has been under siege since the first lockdown. Unfortunately, because of the extra effort that is put into the security operations, this means that the price consumers pay for their products is also increasing to cover these additional costs.

Intelligence is a commercial necessity

One of the tools Bradian uses in its fight against crime is intelligence and investigation, which gives it an advantage over just using the traditional security approach – although that is still very necessary. Intelligence and cooperation with the crime intelligence unit has helped the company (and others) be more prepared for the onslaught. The person heading up the intelligence unit for the company has years of experience in making connections and finding out information that would otherwise be lost.

As noted above, Carelle adds that the criminal syndicates are very organised today with professional communications among their ‘members’ as well as funding to ensure they can carry out high-value heists. Some of their information is gained from insiders, knowingly or not and willingly or not. And as also mentioned, violence is part of the business.

In terms of communications, these syndicates often make use of ‘stopper groups’ whose only task is to interfere with police or armed response companies as they respond to an emergency, buying more time for criminals onsite to get the goods they are after. High-value goods are their favourite – such as mobile phones – but sweets and alcohol are also profitable items to sell on the black market.

He adds that it is no longer realistic to have unarmed guards looking after a warehouse as they are simply targets and unable to defend themselves in worst-case scenarios, which happen all too often. Additionally, the trend to automate as much as possible is also growing to avoid the possibility of collusion or intimidation. This could have a significant impact on the number of jobs in the industry over time, but the criminal element has no morals or scruples and innocent employees are at risk.

Remote monitoring is also growing as another layer to the security operation, guarding against a case where the security staff onsite are overpowered.

In summing up, Carelle notes that there are still logistics operations out there that see security spend as a grudge purchase and go for the ‘cheap and nasty’ solutions, until they are hit and they realise the real cost of not having security in place. In the case of Bradian, security is part of the budget, an important part, as the company’s ability to deliver naturally has an impact on the confidence its customers have in its ability to deliver (literally).


Credit(s)




Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page



Further reading:

From the editor's desk: Showtime for Securex
Technews Publishing News & Events
We have once again reached the time of year when the security industry focuses on Securex. This issue includes a short preview, with more coming online and via our special Securex Preview news briefs. ...

Read more...
Chubbsafes celebrates 190 years
Gunnebo Safe Storage Africa News & Events Security Services & Risk Management
Chubbsafes marks its 190th anniversary in 2025 and as a highlight of the anniversary celebrations it is launching the Chubbsafes 1835, a limited edition 190th-anniversary collector’s safe.

Read more...
New law enforcement request portal
News & Events Security Services & Risk Management
inDrive launches law enforcement request portal in South Africa to support safety investigations. New portal allows authorised South African law enforcement officials to securely request user data related to safety incidents.

Read more...
Continuous AML risk monitoring
Access Control & Identity Management Security Services & Risk Management Financial (Industry)
AU10TIX, launched continuous risk monitoring as part of its advanced anti-money laundering (AML) solution, empowering businesses to detect behavioural anomalies and emerging threats as they arise.

Read more...
Digitising security solutions with AI and smart integration
Regal Security Distributors SA Technews Publishing Integrated Solutions
The Regal Projects Team’s decades of experience and commitment to integration have brought the digital security guard to life as a trusted force for safer, smarter living.

Read more...
Open and collaborative logistics systems
Hikvision South Africa Surveillance Logistics (Industry) AI & Data Analytics
E-commerce and other high-volume logistics operations need open and collaborative technology ecosystems that drive efficiencies, throughput and digital transformation. Hikvision discusses the benefits of harnessing open and collaborative systems in the logistics market.

Read more...
From the editor's desk: We’ve only just begun
Technews Publishing News & Events
The surveillance market has expanded far beyond the analogue days of just recording and/or monitoring screens. The capabilities of surveillance technology today extend to black screen monitoring with ...

Read more...
The future of the surveillance channel
Duxbury Networking Technews Publishing Elvey Security Technologies SMART Security Solutions Surveillance
The video surveillance market has evolved from camera-based specifications to integrated solutions that solve customers’ problems. Moreover, the growth of AI and cloud has changed the channel even more, with more to come.

Read more...
AI means proactive surveillance
DeepAlert Technews Publishing SMART Security Solutions AI & Data Analytics Surveillance
SMART Security Solutionsasked DeepAlert for some insight into how AI is transforming video surveillance, even to the extent of it being taught to protect the privacy of those in the cameras’ view.

Read more...
The state of the VMS market
Arteco Global Africa Milestone Systems Cathexis Technologies Technews Publishing Surveillance
SMART Security Solutions asked three platform vendors in South Africa, one that is developed and maintained in the country with an international market, for their views on the state of the VMS market and where it is headed.

Read more...