How Safe Are You at Home and at Work?

By Linda Lee–

The first rule of security: don’t let saving money get in the way of protecting yourself, if you are concerned. Criminals are more resourceful than ever. Never underestimate how far they will go to commit a crime.

“Make an investment to keep your assets — including yourself – safe,” says Bryan Gregory, co-founder with his fiancée, Kellie Gregory, of Omega Consulting and Protection.

For starters, he says: “Do not tell people on the internet, or strangers on the phone, where you live, what you have, when you are going on vacation, or anything else that will invite them to come by and burgle your house.” (It goes without saying, make sure your teenagers follow the same rules.)

If you decide to him a security company, he said, you might also “be sure the person you hire is in good physical condition.”

“He or she, better they, should be able to react fast to stop a critical situation before it happens.”
Omega is based on Long Island, but the firm, which employs strictly active or retired law enforcement personnel, handles security needs not only throughout the United States, but also abroad. Wherever a client goes.

Celebrities may require a team of security specialists; most people can do with far less.

Gregory has handled celebrities. He once worked for the couple of Paul Anka and Peter Arnell. But the company primarily works with high-net-worth individuals, CEOs, or entrepreneurs, and business owners in need of executive protection, or personal security.

They may ask Omega for residential protection as well. An unoccupied luxury property is just as much in need of protection from squatters or burglars as an occupied one.

How do you know you need a security company? Celebrities, obviously, need protection. People who have several homes and leave them unoccupied for long periods of time. Business executives who are suddenly in the news, either good or bad. The very wealthy. If there is a business downturn, and mass firings, it might be advisable. Angry employees can be a threat.

Basically, if there is any reason you lose sleep at night. Perhaps that is the time to find out what it would cost to get professional security. “Just make sure the security team is licensed and insured,” Gregory says.

There are all levels of security, whether it is watching a house at night, keeping an eye on a child going home from school, even providing security for a wedding. Just ask.

Even a remote location can have unwanted intruders.

“Make sure the firm you hire has security officers with prior law enforcement experience,” Bryan Gregory says. “They need to be familiar with the law and have up-to-date training, in both armed and unarmed security measures.” Just in case.

Event security is one of Omega’s services. They can supply a team to make sure that no unwanted or unruly guests disrupt an event, whether it is a class reunion or a charity gala. Leave it to security to take the keys away from someone who has had too much to drink. That is their job. Not yours.

Some companies invite VIPs for a round of golf or want to make a presentation in a private room in a popular restaurant. Discreet security is needed to make sure that the right people get in, and the wrong people stay out. And they need to do it with discretion and courtesy. Omega’s staff is trained to do that. The whole idea of security is to make your life stress free.

Because of church, synagogue and school shootings, sometimes these places feel the need to hire protection. Omega provides that too.

Crime is an ugly fact. Whether crime rates go up, or crime rates go down, if a crime happens to you, that’s one crime too many. This map shows where the threat of crime is greatest in the Town of East Hampton. Not surprisingly, it falls where the most expensive houses are located, near the ocean.

Above, a representation of the most crime-prone parts of the town of East Hampton.

At the end of July, three East Hampton Village police wrestled a loaded Glock from a driver on Main Street. There was a home invasion of an elderly woman in the Springs on August 20. In August three men in East Hampton attacked a woman at an ATM with a knife.

Remember that many break-ins and reports of stolen property never make it to the local newspaper. What homeowner wants the world to know what valuables they have in their homes?

Southampton has a range of crime ratings. Dark green has the least crime. Light green is better. Tan gets a C. Red is an F.

In Southampton, crime again increases from north to south. Here dark green is safest. Tan is ranked grade C. And red (the Shinnecock Reservation) is given an F.

Overall Southampton gets a C from this rating service.

Because the threat of crime is ever present, it would be best not to hire someone who works alone. You need a team of professionals, who can provide a range of services. If there is an emergency, they can respond.

“So when you call a security firm,” Gregory says, “ask questions.”

Kellie Gregory, left, and Bryan Gregory, former NYC police officers and co-founders of Omega Security in Long Island.

“Make sure they are up to date, even on things like the Dark Web and cybercrime. They should be able to provide you with 360-degree security or know where to find it for you. The firm you hire must be able to anticipate to successfully protect you, your family, and your home or business.”

You could reach Bryan or Kellie Gregory at (631) 278-4568 or at OMEGA Consulting and Protecting.