Condominium / Strata Security - Access Control and Piggy-Backing: Let's All Do Our Part!

One of the major pieces of the puzzle to prevent unauthorized access from strangers to the a condominium / strata to ensure ensuring all residents are mindful and respectful of the building accessibility rules. To address this item, everyone needs to ask themselves this question: “how am I contributing or compromising the building’s security?”. On-site security staff act as a deterrent to anyone looking to cause mischief in the building or around the grounds, but they also need resident's help to make sure they are 100% successful in their mission to keep the condo community safe.

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Three routines to keep your condominium / strata community safe

Set up your own buzzer code and let only your gets it

All residents should have their buzzer code set up and grant entry ONLY to their own guests. By doing this, the condominium / strata’s security knows that the guest is welcome to be here as the resident has granted entry. This will eliminate the need for security to question the guest as to the reason they are in the building. All food deliveries should also be granted entry by the resident, or the resident may accept the food delivery in the main lobby.

Failing to follow these recommendations will create unnecessary delays, and misallocation of security’s resources. Regardless of the type of visitor, should a visitor become rude / aggressive / belligerent, security will most likely have the authority to deny building access if they feel that their safety, the safety of other residents, or the corporation is being threatened and/or compromised. 

Avoid piggybacking of another resident

All residents must use their access devices to gain entry to the condominium / strata, regardless if the door was opened by another resident. This offers a peace of mind to the person in front that whoever is behind is not piggybacking off their access. Now what is piggybacking? And, why isn’t it ok? One of the main reasons is that piggybacking is considered trespassing as there is no way of knowing if the person entering has the right to be on the premises. 

In security, piggybacking, akin to tailgating, occurs when someone follows an authorized individual to gain entry into a restricted area or pass a checkpoint. This can be done electronically or physically and may be legal or illegal, authorized or unauthorized, depending on the context. However, the term typically implies an illegal or unauthorized act.

Tailgating specifically refers to an unauthorized person following someone into a restricted area without the authorized person's consent. It suggests non-consent (much like a car tailgating another vehicle), whereas piggybacking usually implies the authorized person is complicit.

Piggybacking gained public attention in 1999 when airport security flaws were exposed. A study revealed that most undercover agents successfully bypassed checkpoints, carried banned items onto planes, or boarded planes without tickets. Piggybacking was identified as one method used to access restricted areas.

Piggybackers have various methods of breaching security. These may include:

● Stealthily following an individual authorized to enter a location, giving the appearance of being legitimately escorted

● Joining a large crowd authorized to enter, and pretending to be a member of the crowd that is largely unchecked

● Finding an authorized person who either disregards the law or the rules of the facility, or is tricked into believing the piggybacker is authorized, and agreeably allows the piggybacker to tag along

Don’t go where I can’t follow! - J. R. R. Tolkien

Report suspicious or wrong behaviors

It is very important that all suspected incidents of piggybacking or wrongful access to the common areas of the condominium / strata are reported to the security staff. This will prompt the security to address this matter immediately.

This simple action can be a preventative to stop the majority of mischievous activity before they occur. If the person is a legitimate resident, then condo managers will be able to follow up with that person to reiterate the rules and policies of the building, and be able to stress the consequences.

-Stratastic Inc.

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