The Importance of Security for Places of Worship in Chico, CA

In recent years, high-profile shootings and hate crimes have brought the issue of violence at houses of worship to the forefront. Sadly, the frequency of mass shootings at churches and other places of worship continues to increase. The 2017 shooting at a small church in Sutherland Springs, TX was the 14th fatal shooting at a house of worship since 2012, according to the Associated Press. These tragic events remind us that no place of worship is immune from potential attack. Chico, CA churches cannot afford to be naive about potential security risks.

Attackers often look for ‘soft’ or easy targets. Criminals do not want to take extra risks and will often choose to attack areas that are the most vulnerable, providing greater opportunity for them to easily inflict harm. The proactive effect of having visible security measures in place – like building access control and video surveillance – can go a long way to deter potential attackers and protect your congregation.

Robust Security for Your Church Facility in Chico, CA

At Crime Free Living, we understand the unique challenges faced by Chico, CA houses of worship. We specialize in providing innovative security solutions that secure public and private buildings, improve overall safety, and protect congregants, clergy, and staff members.

Whether you are a small rural congregation, a large megachurch, or any size house of worship in between, Crime Free Living can provide effective, proven security solutions that help ensure the safety of people and property, while staying within your budget. Our access control and video surveillance solutions help protect your church by securing entry and exit points, and by providing continuous monitoring around the clock, along with video-based evidence should an incident occur.

Secure Your Place of Worship with Crime Free Living


Learn how we can help protect your Chico, CA place of worship against violent incidents, break-ins, vandalism and other security concerns. Contact us today for a church security needs assessment with one of our expert technicians.

Schedule A Needs Assessment

Access control is a growing trend in physical Ssecurity and is an ideal solution for safeguarding churches, synagogues, mosques and other houses of worship, as well as their annexes and outbuildings.

While the entrance to a house of worship may be monitored by a staff member, this provides little defense if an intended shooter gets past this initial entrance point. Access control enables a facility to go into lockdown mode and secure vulnerable access points, creating a barrier that can stop an intruder from gaining easy access to congregants.

Crime Free Living provides IP-based access control solutions that allow Chico, CA places of worship to restrict access during services, community events and off hours. A robust access control solution provides your staff members with card-based credentials that are required to enter and exit the building. Doors can only be opened during certain times, and only by authorized personnel. For anyone else to gain access, staff members must physically use their access badge to let them in or out.

An access control system also can be used to segment your facility and create lockdown for various zones or the entire facility. Restricting access and creating barriers buys time during a crisis, and protects occupants until emergency responders are able to arrive. First responders can be granted access with a designated proxy card through a designated lockdown door, so they can secure and clear the area and establish a safe evacuation route.

For larger Chico, CA places of worship, Crime Free Living offers multi-building solutions that provide 24/7 protection of building interiors, common areas, grounds, and parking garages.

Crime Free Living provides customized, remote viewable video security systems designed for worship environments of all sizes, to improve safety and simplify systems management for administrators.

Having a comprehensive video security solution that includes multi megapixel video security cameras, security DVRs to record video evidence, and posted signage provides church officials with 24/7 live and recorded surveillance, real-time alerts, and the ability to react and protect the congregation from a crisis situation.

And if your place of worship uses a vehicle fleet, Crime Free Living provides mobile surveillance solutions that enable your facility administrators to monitor church vehicles to ensure driver safety and protect passengers in transit.

Integrating video surveillance with access control provides a multi-layered approach to church security, maximizing visibility to entry/exit points and areas where people are concentrated. Desired areas can be secured and monitored remotely in real-time to ensure safety, help prevent unwanted incidents, and provide video evidence if an incident were to occur.

There are many aspects that impact the results that your video security system will deliver. Here are a few of the main things to consider:

  • Camera Resolution – High quality, multi megapixel resolution cameras that can capture crystal clear images are essential to protecting your place of worship, and are surprisingly affordable. Instead of settling for cheaply made cameras that produce grainy images, Crime Free Living can help you select cameras that provide crisp, detailed color video footage, anytime day or night.
  • Camera Technology – The two types of technology behind today’s video security cameras are HD-TVI and network IP. HD-TVI is best for retrofitting existing analog camera systems with higher resolution cameras, without the need to run new cabling. Network IP provides the highest resolution for the best forensic detail. Both technologies offer resolution of up to 8.0 megapixels (4K).
  • Camera Form Factor – Video security cameras are available in many form factors: dome cameras, bullet cameras, turret cameras, pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras, fisheye cameras, vandalproof cameras, and more. Depending on the type of surveillance coverage you need and the physical environment in which your cameras will be placed, particular camera form factors will be appropriate. Our installation team can recommend the right mix of camera types to meet your church security needs.
  • Camera Placement – Whether they cover entrances, building perimeters, parking structures, main areas, or auxiliary facilities, each camera in your video security system must be located and mounted precisely in order to provide the optimal results. At Crime Free Living, our expert technicians are trained in optimizing camera placement to ensure maximum coverage and crystal clear video footage, even in low light or nighttime conditions.
  • Weather Rating – A significant component of your Chico, CA church’s overall security solution is the use of outdoor cameras, to cover your buildings’ perimeter, access points, and parking areas. Crime Free Living offers cameras with IP67 weather rated enclosures, IK10 impact resistant enclosures, and built in heaters and fans, to withstand all types of environmental conditions.
  • Covert Cameras – Depending upon your needs, it may make sense to install hidden cameras in certain locations. Today's covert cameras are disguised to look like smoke detectors, clocks, and other ordinary objects. They're excellent for running routine surveillance, or for special surveillance applications like determining the source of recurring theft.
  • Recording Devices – Whether you decide upon HD-TVI or network IP cameras, there is a wide array of recording devices to choose from, depending on your camera count, bandwidth and data storage needs. Security DVRs and NVRs can be equipped with as few as 4 channels, or as many as 128. All recorders offered by Crime Free Living offer the latest H.265+ compression technology, to maximize your storage space. No matter what size your Chico, CA house of worship, our expert installers can recommend a security recorder that fits your needs now, and can grow with you as your needs expand.
  • Remote Monitoring – Remote viewing is another significant benefit of today's professional video security systems. Using your mobile device or laptop, you can check in on your church buildings from anywhere you happen to be. Attending a convention or retreat on the other side of the country? You can still load up your live feed and see what's going on – anytime.
  • 24/7 Alerts – Video security systems provided by Crime Free Living will link your Chico, CA church to a 24/7 live monitoring facility. For a nominal monthly fee, these security professionals keep a constant watch over your system, alerting you immediately if there is ever an issue. If a break-in, fire, or other emergency occurs, they immediately dispatch first responders to your property to keep you and your business safe.

Crime Free Living is committed to offering the highest level of security to houses of worship in the greater Chico, CA area. We can create a church security solution that meets your unique needs and specifications, while remaining within your budget. 
Our expert team has many years’ experience working with Chico, CA houses of worship, providing:

  • Professional access control and video security system design, to ensure that your facility’s entire footprint is fully protected
  • Professional installation that is structured and scheduled to minimize any impact on your worship services or other community activities
  • A custom-designed security plan, and detailed instructions on how to operate and get the maximum benefit from each component of your access control and video security systems
  • Ongoing support for the life of your security systems; our expert team will answer all your questions, and work with you to maintain and upgrade your systems as needed
    Get the peace of mind that comes from knowing that your Chico, CA house of worship and congregants are protected. Call us today for a customized, no obligation security assessment! 

FREE SECURITY ASSESSMENT

Contact us today for a free security needs assessment with one of our expert technicians.

Speak To A Specialist (530) 327-7268

What Our Customers Say

"I had the Alibi system installed several years ago. It has functioned flawlessly. The image quality is exellent both night and day and in all weather conditions. I particularly like the replay (which can be set at various speeds) and zoom functions of the system. Tech support from Crimefreeliving has been excellent. I have received quick responses to questions, and timely home visits — as when I changed IP carriers and my Alibi system needed to be reset. I have recommended Crimefreeliving to several friends."

Rich

"As a small business owner here in Chico we definitely saw the need for video surveillance. After expressing our needs and concerns Tim did an excellent job getting us set up with the set up with the appropriate equipment. He really took the time to address our concerns in a very friendly, professional and knowledgeable manner. I highly recommend Tim for all of your business and residential video surveillance needs."

Ron H., Owner/Auto Doctor

"I have to say I love having my security cameras at my home. Tim Truby did a wonderful job of installing the five cameras. He is very neat and cleaned everything up after the installation. He explained to me how to operate the monitor, my phone and IPad. However, I have had to call Tim because I'm not tech savvy and forget what he has told me. He usually just helps me over the phone and then all is well. I'm 80 years old and enjoy the comfort of knowing I have these security cameras."

Gloria

"Tim Truby designed and installed a 32 camera system for us here at the Butte County Mosquito and Vector Control District. We had received several other quotes from security system vendors, but Tim’s quote was the least expensive. Tim also installed the system quickly and has always been available when we needed him. We are very happy with our security camera system and we can highly recommend Tim Truby for all of your surveillance system needs."

D. Weseman, Butte County Mosquito and Vector Control District

Crime Free Living updated our old video system with a new 16 Channel HD Alibi Video Security System. The old system had been added onto by different installers which resulted in a cabling mess. There were cables that worked and cables that went nowhere. It was a mess. Tim sorted it all out and installed cameras that are very clear. He also installed a monitor for our cashiers to watch hidden areas, a monitor to watch the entry door, and a monitor that allows employees to watch the outside parking and gas pump area. All work was done on time and very professional! Will always recommend Tim and Crime Free Living.

S. AM PM Chico Arco Station

"I had Tim install an Alibi Video Security System at my residence and a couple business locations. The remote view option is invaluable to absentee owners or anyone who travels a lot. The clarity and quality of the cameras have allowed for viewing employee theft. The evidence provided from the HD video cameras was fantastic! Tim was professional and provided extra value from his law enforcement background."

J. Folsom Arco Station

"Tim, I want to thank you again for doing such a fantastic job on installing a wireless IP security camera system at our dream home. The extra time that you took to hide wires, and install a clean, professional system is much appreciated. I still can’t believe the clarity, quality, and ease of use of this new system. I wished that I would have met you before our original inferior system was installed by another company. Now, whether I am at home, or monitoring the system from around the world, I know that my home and family are safe and sound."

John M.

"In April of 2017, my husband and I made a phone call to Crime Free Living that turned out to be a smart and wise decision. Amazingly, in just a few hours, Tim installed four Dome Security Cameras, weatherproof enclosures, and hooked up into our home a 23" Full HD Widescreen Security Monitor. Even more than his professional expertise was the time spent with us in making sure that this system was working correctly and properly installed on our phones so that anywhere in our travels we can monitor our new home in Magalia."

Tieka and Don S.

"I have been using Crime Free Living for the last couple years ar work and at home and I really recommend this product. Tim is a very good service provider. If he can't figure it out, he's got good tech support with the system that he offers."

Gary D.

"I have known Tim for over 10 years. To date, Time with Crime Free Living has installed two separate surveillance systems for my company. With each system, Tim has listened to my needs and custom dsigned surveillance systems for my specific needs and within my budget. The equipment used is always state of the art, the workmanship is top notch, and Tim is the example of trustworthy. I would recommend him for any job."

Steve D., Down Range Indoor Training Center

images Certifications & Training

With 16 years of experience in law enforcement, Tim Truby, CEO, is fully certified in video surveillance and training.

  • Certified Advanced Crime Prevention Specialist
  • Academy Instructor Certification
  • California POST Certification in Specialized Surveillance Equipment
  • California POST Certification in Basic Crime Prevention
    • Advanced Crime Prevention through Environmental Design
    • Certified Alibi Security Dealer
    • Enhanced Risk and Threat Assessment (FEMA)
    • Incident Command System (100 & 200)
    • Certified Cognitech Video Forensic Investigator
    • Neighborhood Watch Toolkit Trainer
    • Computer Crimes/Investigations
    • Domestic Crisis for Crisis Negotiators
    Call (530) 327-7268