Securitas AB

Securitas AB

Company type	Public
Industry	Security services
Founded	1934 in Helsingborg, Sweden
Founder	Erik Philip-Sörensen
Headquarters	Stockholm , Sweden
Area served	Worldwide (44 countries as of 2024)
Products	Guarding services, mobile patrols, surveillance, investigative work, consultancy
Number of employees	336,000+ (2024)
Website	www.securitas.com

Overview

Securitas AB is a Swedish multinational corporation specializing in security solutions, including guarding services, mobile patrols, surveillance operations, investigative work, and associated consultancy. The company’s headquarters are located in Stockholm, and as of 2024, it employs more than 336,000 personnel across 44 countries worldwide. Securitas AB is publicly traded on the Nasdaq OMX Stockholm exchange within the Large Cap category.

The firm owns Protectas AG, a Swiss security business operating in Switzerland, which should not be confused with the independent Swiss company Securitas AG, part of the Swiss Securitas Group.

Since its acquisition in 1999, Securitas AB has served as the parent organization of Pinkerton, a renowned American detective agency with historical significance.

History

Securitas AB originated in 1934 in Helsingborg, Sweden, initially established as AB Hälsingborgs Nattvakt following Erik Philip-Sörensen's acquisition of a modest guarding firm. The subsequent year, the company adopted the name Förenade Svenska Vakt AB. Its growth was driven by the purchase of multiple smaller security firms, primarily focused in southern Sweden.

In 1949, the firm launched AB Securitas Alarm, a subsidiary dedicated to security technology. Over the next ten years, Securitas began extending its reach beyond Sweden's borders.

A significant technological milestone occurred in 1961 with the development of the Securi-Coll automatic access control system. The company then introduced a payment solution for Swedish petrol stations, later adapted to facilitate cash withdrawals. Notably, on May 7, 1968, Securitas unveiled the world’s first ATM connected to a banking network at Oxie Sparbank in Malmö.

The year 1972 marked a rebranding to Securitas, named after the Roman deity symbolizing security and stability. The corporate logo featured three red dots alongside the "Securitas" name, symbolizing the company’s foundational values: Integrity, Vigilance, and Helpfulness.

In 1976, ownership transferred from Erik Philip-Sörensen to his sons Jörgen and Sven Philip-Sörensen. By 1981, the group split between them; international operations evolved into Group 4, while Swedish activities retained the Securitas identity.

Securitas changed hands in 1983 when sold to holding company Skrinet and again in 1985 when acquired by Investment AB Latour, under Gustaf Douglas's control. Under this new leadership, the company concentrated on security services and initiated international expansion in 1989 through acquisitions in Norway, Denmark, and Portugal, along with establishing operations in Hungary.

The company went public on the Stockholm Stock Exchange in 1991. In 1994, it distributed ASSA AB (acquired in 1988) to shareholders. Throughout the 1990s, Securitas expanded via acquisitions across eleven European countries and into the United States.

A major acquisition occurred in February 1999 with Pinkerton National Detective Agency joining Securitas. This was followed by the purchase of Burns Security in August 2000 and several regional U.S. security firms, positioning Securitas among the world’s largest security providers. In 2001, the company reorganized into five business sectors based on service types and acquired Loomis Fargo & Company.

By 2003, U.S. security services were unified under the Securitas brand and cash handling operations were structured as distinct divisions with joint management overseeing both U.S. and European markets.

In 2006, two divisions—Securitas Systems (handling alarms, monitoring, and access control) and Securitas Direct (serving homes and small businesses)—were spun off to shareholders and listed separately on the Stockholm Stock Exchange. That same year saw the creation of Mobile (servicing small to medium clients) and Alert Services (electronic surveillance for residential and commercial properties), which by 2007 formed the Mobile and Monitoring business segment. Subsequently, Securitas Direct was rebranded as Verisure across all markets except Spain and Portugal.

November 2007 witnessed the sale of Loomis’ United Kingdom cash handling operations to Vaultex Ltd., jointly owned by HSBC and Barclays. That month also marked Securitas’s entry into the Peruvian market. In 2008, Loomis was distributed to shareholders and listed on Nasdaq OMX Stockholm.

Securitas expanded further in September 2010 by acquiring Reliance Security Group’s UK security services. The following year, it completed the purchase of Chubb Security Personnel within the United Kingdom.

By 2012, Securitas operated across 53 countries and territories worldwide.

In 2013, Securitas acquired Pinkerton Government Services, which provides cleared security solutions for government agencies requiring Department of Defense or Department of Energy clearances. This segment was rebranded as Securitas Critical Infrastructure Services and operates both domestically in the U.S. and internationally when cleared services are necessary.

October 2015 saw Securitas acquire Diebold Incorporated's Electronic Security division in North America. Based in Green, Ohio, this unit ranks as North America’s third-largest commercial electronic security provider with approximately 1,100 employees servicing over 55,000 monitored customer locations and more than 200,000 service sites.

In March 2022, Securitas collaborated with Citizen to pilot an on-demand private security service version in Chicago.

On July 22, 2022, Securitas completed its acquisition of Stanley Security Solutions, including Stanley Healthcare, from American firm Stanley Black & Decker. These entities were subsequently renamed Securitas Technology and Securitas Healthcare respectively; initial agreements had been signed on December 8, 2021.

Cassie Heppner Homicide

In February 2020, Robert Pavao, an American Securitas security officer contracted at Timberland's corporate office in Stratham, New Hampshire, fatally shot Timberland employee Cassie Heppner. Following his conviction for second-degree murder, Pavao received a prison sentence of 55 years.

Suspension Related to Harvard Union Demonstration

In January 2022, Walter J. Terzano, a Securitas officer working under contract at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, faced suspension due to his participation in protests amid tense union contract talks between Securitas and the Service Employees International Union. Terzano organized protest signs and encouraged fellow Securitas personnel to demonstrate outside the residence of Harvard’s President Lawrence Bacow. After a formal complaint from Harvard’s facilities and maintenance director, Securitas suspended Terzano. However, the National Labor Relations Board determined that the company had engaged in unlawful retaliation against him.

Sexual Misconduct Scandal

In 2010, the CEO of Securitas Sweden was arrested for procuring sexual services from a prostitute in Stockholm. He was convicted two years later in 2012. The firm committed to eradicating the prevailing sexist and misogynistic culture within its organization.

A 2022 Swedish television documentary revealed that two employees of Securitas Sweden had paid for sexual services during business trips and were suspected of bribing Malmö city officials. Both individuals were subsequently terminated by the company.

Operations

File:Göteborg, Ordningsvakt, Västtrafik, 20230521, 12.jpg

Securitas personnel and patrol vehicle contracted to monitor Västtrafik buses and trains in Gothenburg, Sweden

Securitas is structured into three main business divisions: Securitas North America, Securitas Europe, and Securitas Ibero-America. Additionally, the Group maintains a presence across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia, collectively categorized under the AMEA division.

Across its segments, the company generally operates under the Securitas brand. However, specialized services such as due diligence, background checks, security evaluations, brand protection, safeguarding intellectual property, executive protection, investigative services, cyber monitoring, computer forensics, social compliance audits, and IT security are delivered globally through the "Pinkerton" brand.Template:Fix/category

These specialized operations fall within the North American business segment. The North American region hosts three operational hubs located in Toronto, Ontario; Parsippany, New Jersey; and Westlake Village, California. In Switzerland, general security services are uniquely offered under the Protectas brand rather than Securitas.

On-site Guarding

The core focus of Securitas lies in its on-site security and guarding solutions. Their on-site guarding unit supplies security officers assigned to various functions. The most frequent roles include static guard duties, reception staffing, patrol assignments on foot or vehicle-based rounds. Specialized tasks may encompass fire-watch responsibilities, fire extinguisher inspections, access control and credential issuance, console monitoring, safety inspections, alarm response and emergency management, as well as what the company terms "customized and site-specific security assignments." Furthermore, Securitas provides security services tailored for special events such as concerts and sports competitions.

Mobile patrol

Securitas offers a mobile patrol service, which they label as "mobile guarding." This option is designed for businesses that require security presence without the need for constant on-site guards. Subscribers receive patrol visits ranging from once to several times nightly. The service package also covers incident response for security issues arising when no officer is physically present at the location.

Remote guarding

The Remote Guarding service entails Securitas personnel overseeing a client’s premises remotely from a centralized command center. Upon detecting any unusual behavior, officers can communicate directly with individuals on-site via speakers and alert law enforcement or emergency responders if required. Mobile patrol teams frequently act as responders to incidents identified by remote monitoring staff. Additionally, Securitas provides remote escort services, where an off-site officer supervises an employee’s walk to or from their vehicle.

Securitas Technology

Securitas Technology, which includes the Securitas Healthcare division, specializes in supplying hardware such as locks, fire detectors, security cameras, and related equipment. They also develop and maintain the software systems used to monitor this hardware. Beyond physical security devices, Securitas Technology delivers cybersecurity solutions aimed at safeguarding hardware, software applications, and electronic data.

Risk Management & Private Investigations

Securitas' corporate risk management and investigative services are conducted through their subsidiary, Pinkerton.

Gallery

• A Securitas branch office located in Gillette, Wyoming
  A Securitas branch office located in Gillette, Wyoming
• Securitas patrol vehicle operating in Stockholm providing port security
  Securitas patrol vehicle operating in Stockholm providing port security
• A mobile patrol van belonging to Securitas in the Netherlands
  A mobile patrol van belonging to Securitas in the Netherlands
• Securitas port security personnel conversing with a Harbourmaster in Norway
  Securitas port security personnel conversing with a Harbourmaster in Norway

See also

• Loomis, notable for robberies during its period as part of Securitas
• Securitas depot robbery, detailing the 2006 incidents impacting Loomis’ UK cash handling operations under the Securitas brand prior to its 2007 sale to HSBC and Barclays
• Surfside condominium collapse, a 2021 structural failure for which Securitas agreed to pay over $500 million USD in a subsequent settlement

External links

• File:Commons-logo.svg Media related to at Wikimedia Commons
• Official Securitas AB Site
• Pinkerton Official Site
• Securitas Epay Portal