The Security Zone (TSZ) is putting identity theft on the front burner in T&T with the opening of its first retail store, says its chairman Kurtis Rudd.The company, which was established almost six years ago to treat with corporate security solutions, has been helping ordinary citizens, promoting personal safety in response to increased in criminal activity across the country.
On Monday, Rudd and his management team opened the first TSZ Retail Store on Mooneram Street, St James, offering competitively priced over the counter security solutions. Service and support will be a key feature of the new outlet.Items available at the store include concealed cameras, biometric locks, closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems and clone-proof wallets to block attempts to illegally obtain digital information.
"Identity theft is a big problem in the first world. It really hasn't taken off in a big way in T&T yet and because of that we haven't really taken time to understand the impact of identity theft. We put a lot of emphasis behind protecting things that you can touch physically," Rudd said."It is very easy to put some cameras and burglar proof around your tangibles. You have a credit card in your wallet and your credit card limit is $75,000, (and) in one shot that's gone!"
Rudd added: "While you may focus on the tangibles, we are also focusing on people protecting their intangibles as well, to give people a piece of mind. Identity theft is a cause for concern."We have to be one step ahead of the bandits."Traditionally, said Rudd, there are no full service options for the average consumer, so someone interested in personal security systems would have had to go the wholesale route at great personal expense. TSZ has introduced solutions to that.
He admitted the retail store concept is a risk for TSZ."With the corporate customers you are guaranteed business once you have a contract with them. This certainly is a business risk. It's a leap of faith because we have invested almost a million dollars in equipment and waiting for the customers to retail, so we will be going on a very aggressive marketing campaign to sensitise the general public.
"Even the individual security companies that may need particular items! They might have to go abroad to get supplies. Now they can get those items right here at very competitive prices," Rudd said.