Police arrest serial robber known as 'the locksmith'

Abdelatif Redjil was given a five-year sentence in September with two years suspended for stealing two Picassos worth an estimated 50 million euros from the home of Diana Widmaier-Picasso, the painter's granddaughter. But he escaped and has been on the run ever since. He was nearly arrested on 14 October while trying to force open the safe of an ATM in Colombes, near Paris. His two companions were arrested.  

Redjil is also suspected of having a hand in a heist on a branch of Axa bank in February, in which the robbers got away with 33,000 euros and left no trace.

"Entering quietly without breaking anything, that's the speciality of Abdelatif Redjil," a police source told Le Parisien. "He's a break-in ace."

Redjil is also known as the man with the golden fingers.

Facial recognition security to keep handset data safe

By Stewart Mitchell, writing in PC Pro

Mobile phone security could come face-to-face with science fiction following a demonstration of biometric technology by scientists at the University of Manchester.

Mobile phones carry an ever-increasing level of personal data, but PIN-code log-ins can prove weak - if even applied - leaving those details vulnerable if a handset is stolen.

Facial recognition software could change that picture drastically.

Live CCTV from mobile units enhances policing of football matches

Vemotion Interactive real-time video solution has been successfully deployed by Leedswatch, the CCTV operation run by Leeds City Council, Community Safety, to enhance is support of West Yorkshire Police operations at key football matches.
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Honeywell launches new release of global security management system

Pro-Watch 3.80 fully compatible with current Windows Operating System

Honeywell has released its Pro-Watch 3.80 Security Management Suite that simplifies overall system management through enhanced Microsoft compatibility. Pro-Watch 3.80 includes several new advanced features made possible through improved integration with Honeywell’s Maxpro VMS (Video Management System) and various third-party systems.
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Crime ring busted at security event

Night cleaning crew swiped more than dust in trade show booths but got caught on surveillance cameras being displayed
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Samsung launch space saving compact flat dome cameras

Measuring just 100 x 115 x 42mm, the three new dome cameras are designed for environments where there may be limited space, such as in lifts, entrance lobbies, stair wells, small shops and transport applications. 
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Dangerous Survey

Police would like to make people aware of the following report on BBC’s “Watchdog” programme featured on 4 November 2010 about the following marketing survey that is soon to be sent to over a million homes.

N-Power, Unilever and TalkTalk are among the many companies sponsoring a survey that is to be sent out by TNT. They request you fill in a questionnaire detailing your personal information and to leave it on your doorstep in an unsealed paper bag for collection the following day. 

Mr Li’s visit – a great success!

UAP / Tradelocks' Helen Foote reports: "Following an extremely busy few weeks preparing for Mr Li’s visit to the UK, we are delighted to announce that the Lishi training courses at the ALA Convention, the Reebok Arena in Bolton and here at UAP’s Head Office turned out to be a huge success.

"The show proved to be a fantastic networking opportunity for us at Tradelocks. With Lishi as the main sponsor, we had a crowded exhibition stand yet again, so thank you to all who visited us.
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Device to sniff out homemade explosives

Cascade Technologies, the gas-detection technology specialist based in Stirling, has installed a new security device at Glasgow Airport that can identify homemade explosives, reports The Herald.

The company, which has developed the technology and struck the "field trial" deal as part of its partnership with Paris-listed aerospace to defence giant Safran subsidiary Morpho, said the new walk-through system allows "rapid detection of homemade explosives and improvised explosive devices (IEDs)"by analysis of air samples.

Foreigners have been banned from visiting Big Ben over security fears

According to a report in the Daily Mail tourists from abroad will no longer be allowed to tour the world famous London landmark.

They have now been banned due to mounting security problems. Clearance checks for foreigners which were to ensure that terrorists could not target the historic clock tower became too complex and costly. British citizens are still allowed to visit Big Ben, but must first apply by writing to their MP.

Information Commissioner announces outcome of Google Street View investigation

Google UK will be subject to an audit and must sign an undertaking to ensure data protection breaches do not occur again or they will face enforcement action, Information Commissioner Christopher Graham has said.

The Commissioner has concluded that there was a significant breach of the Data Protection Act when Google Street View cars collected payload data as part of their wi-fi mapping exercise in the UK. He has instructed Google UK to sign an undertaking in which the company commits to take action to ensure that breaches of this kind cannot happen again. An audit of Google UK’s Data Protection practices will also be undertaken. The Commissioner has rejected calls for a monetary penalty to be imposed but is well placed to take further regulatory action if the undertaking is not fully complied with.
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Award for Fingerprint Biometrics

Lumidigm Receives Frost & Sullivan New Product Innovation of the Year Award for Fingerprint Biometrics. 

Lumidigm has announced that the research firm Frost & Sullivan has found Lumidigm to be at the top of its class in fingerprint biometrics product innovations. According to Frost & Sullivan, Lumidigm’s "innovative technology allows Lumidigm fingerprint sensors to provide highly accurate biometric data even in adverse conditions where traditional fingerprint sensors fail."
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Scoring in South Africa

Almost 1,000 CISA Astral cylinders from Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies were supplied for the Cape Town FIFA 2010 football stadium for the recent World Cup.

Supplied by W&B Hardware, a member of the ILIAD Group SA, the CISA Astral cylinders were specified as they are a flexible solution for Masterkey locking systems with a possibility of up to 63,000 different cylinders on a single system. This makes them ideal for commercial applications and areas with large and complicated access control requirements. In addition, the reversible flat key with code card makes unauthorised duplication extremely difficult.
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Peter the Pirate has retired

Hello everyone,

Been very busy with work, had a nice contract upgrading 500 locks. No direct replacement so a lot of work modifying metal cabinet doors. Dunno how you lot have been but it’s been mad here.
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GMB to play a key role in security industry discussions

It is expected that GMB will play a key role in discussions to ensure a robust regulatory framework for security industry from 2014 and beyond.
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Opportunity for West Midlands defence and security firms to reach new markets

West Midlands firms in the defence and security sectors are being invited to find out how they can secure new export business at three UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) roadshows in Malvern, Birmingham and Coventry.
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Terror scare boosts stocks in security firms

Smile for the camera

It was never going to be the crime of the century, reports the Daily Mail, but for a few seconds, as he turned from the bookmaker's counter with a bundle of bank notes in his pocket, armed robber Lorenzo Mason thought he had pulled off the perfect heist.

Google under fire in the UK for capturing private data

Google has come under government scrutiny in the UK for knowingly downloading private data from unsuspecting individuals. This was done during Google's journeys up and down Britain in the guise of their street view mapping cars.
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£70k council spend on door security replacement

Council chiefs are spending £70,000 to upgrade a door security system which was fitted only five years ago.

The swipe card entry system is fully functional, but Basildon Council is replacing it.

It comes after the council learned replacement controllers for the system are no longer available, so if it breaks down it will have to be completely replaced at a cost of at least £110,000.

Lockie locks up thief

Regular visitors to the Professional Locksmiths Forum (www.plf-uk.info/) would have read this story: When a shoplifter was spotted in action stealing from his shop Mark Ward of Anglia Locksmiths kew what he was supposed to do: apprehend the suspect, call 999 and wait for the police to arrive.