Large Scale Central

Open House Security and Safety ?

General Discussion
#1

Boomers excellent posting on hosting an open house included my response concerning security.

The topic is worthy of a second posting – especially when both security and safety are the topic.

Your experience with security needs at an open house?

Example: One need for guests to enter the house is usually a request to use the restroom. To limit entrance into our home, we rely on open house guests asking us to use the restroom. We then have them use a nearby entrance and then inside have one or two direction arrows to the main bath. In this manner both my wife and I have some idea who has entered and when they return. I have been told having a “restroom” sign outside does encourage the curious to enter and look around.

Safety needs?

For our open houses, I take out a one million dollar policy with our home insurer - either for the one or two days. I remember it was cheap.

#2

Wendell,

When we signed up to have our layout open for the NGRC we were given the option to have access to restrooms. We opted out and it’s not because we are not hospitable. We did accommodate three people who couldn’t “hold it” out of the 400+ visitors. Most people spent about 1/2 hour at the most during their visit so I think restroom breaks are possible between layouts. We had security concerns, as well, and with just the two of as hosts we could not watch inside while entertaining our layout guests. The signage we had out front may have welcomed someone that was not a railroad fan, but someone who likes artwork and jewelry. In our case the liability insureance was covered by BAGRS. It’s a difficult call when you have such a large group, we made it as easy as possible with just the two of us.

#3

Well, if you are going to let people into your house, you do need to use common sense, Nothing laying around that could be of value. That includes mail that may have account numbers and such. We could lock our bedroom doors in our house, if we were to have such a situation. That would help to deter snoopers.

My mom let a lady and her child go inside our house unattended during the block party. It concerned me because I didn’t know those people. But nothing bad happened. But it could have, since things weren’t prepared for traffic though our house.

#4

If I was ever on a bus tour (unlikely because of my location) I would have an adult family member on duty inside the home as host or hostess to point out where the facilities were. That there are eyes on duty inside serves as a deterrent to otherwise honest folks. Nothing will ever stop the dishonest ones.

#5

when we still lived on our ranch, we organized a lot of garden parties. (louder and longer, than would have been permitted in town)

i found, that the best (but not cheap) security measure was a bathroom outside the house (built beside the shower for the pool)

it simply eliminated reasons for anybody to enter the house. (at least, since the pocket phones eliminated the "i need to make a call"s)

#6

The Pennsylvania Arizona [PAZ] is seen from the back alley and I am sorry to say “no longer” accepts visitors in to see the layout. I have found that the adults ‘do not’ pay attention or ‘keep in check’ their young children and the last time I had trains going in “all” directions due to a young girl switching my manual throws, she was out of sight behind the pine tree!

Unforunately my neighbors ‘full length’ driveway borders one side and people just use it ‘like the back alley’, even squeezing between their parked car and the fence. Private property…

#7

Has anybody ever rented portable toilets? Not sure of the cost, but could be good insurance.

#8

I did two port-a-pottys during the first convention here as we are (still) septic, and it was cheaper than pumping the tank.

I’ve had tools stolen from my shop during just operating sessions.

I had two cars stolen off the layout during the first GR convention.

There are other things you can do, not overt, but when your jacket slides back a bit, most folks know.

That and they see the 12GA SBS in the shop.

I had one moron rip three Pola water spouts and weights/chains/pulleys off, plus the spout off the sanding tower during an ops session.

You never know.

Had a shipment of Sierra sound systems taken from the shop during an ops session (came while we were running).

I put everything I can away, and suspected pilferers (never proven) suddenly find themselves with one of the regulars in the shop if they drift that way. We see them heading over, I give the high sign, and somebody baby-sits while they are in the shop. Funny thing, one in particular, something always disappeared when he was alone…since we assign “baby-sitters” not one thing has gone when he drifts towards the shop.

TOC

#9

baby sitting possible suspects seems a good idea to me.

specially, because most honest people will not even notice, that they are watched. (save you send in a 6’ 6" bodyguard…)

#10

Its a shame that we have to resort to such tactics. We open our places for the viewing pleasure of folks, and this is how some people treat us.

#11

During our NGRC Open House last month we had only one incident of “theft”. One of our security cameras caught the “Perp” red handed taking cherry tomatoes…He had actually asked Molly if he could have one, she’s the one standing under the umbrella.(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

#12

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#13

Dan DeVoto said:

Wendell,

When we signed up to have our layout open for the NGRC we were given the option to have access to restrooms. We opted out and it’s not because we are not hospitable. We did accommodate three people who couldn’t “hold it” out of the 400+ visitors. Most people spent about 1/2 hour at the most during their visit so I think restroom breaks are possible between layouts. We had security concerns, as well, and with just the two of as hosts we could not watch inside while entertaining our layout guests. The signage we had out front may have welcomed someone that was not a railroad fan, but someone who likes artwork and jewelry. In our case the liability insureance was covered by BAGRS. It’s a difficult call when you have such a large group, we made it as easy as possible with just the two of us.

…

We had the same thoughts. We oped out also on the restrooms due to we had a McDonald and shopping center not to far away. Only thing that we had to do was change to the side gate instead of the back parking lot gate and add a table,with guest book there out front… We had our Grand dtr., wife and her friends greeting guest. Just to much stuff laying around and so easy to pick up. We have a great turn out and very polite guest for all of the 12 hr open house. Other thing we had cam’s all over due to live internet broadcasting and some recorded that guest was able to see them self on there phones.

#14

I do not do so called “Open House Days”.

That is not to say that we are not open for people to visit.

Anyone that is interested, knows where to contact us. We get new people visiting almost every week. They usually call to ask if they can visit ahead of time.

This railroad is operated every Saturday morning, but the main reason for it to exist, is not to show off what we have. It is for interested people to operate, and enjoy. They find us, and we welcome them. We get more than enough interested people joining us, without having “Open House Days”.

Besides…we do not do “Roundy Roundies”, , so many people would be bored…after 10 minutes…!!!

Fred Mills