Doing a story for my college's newspaper

[NormalDude]

Hey guys. New to the site. I'm currently writing a story on security (specifically, bank security and armored transport) and was wondering if you knew of any websites you could point me to that could give me some info on this topic. This forum seems pretty active, but are there any bigger security forums you know of?

I'm on my college's newspaper editorial staff and I've also worked for almost two years in LP at Best Buy. Any info on this topic would be much appreciated. Thanks.

edit: BTW, my college is in NJ.

[davis002]

This forum seems pretty active, but are there any bigger security forums you know of?

This is arguably the largest and most active security forum I know of. You will find members both ends of the totem pole here.

[NormalDude]

Oh, even armored transport security?

Because that is actually the main focus of my article. One of my questions that I'm having a hard time finding the answer to is how much money armored trucks typically transport. I saw this video and was shocked that an armored car would carry so much money.

[davis002]

Oh, even armored transport security?

Because that is actually the main focus of my article. One of my questions that I'm having a hard time finding the answer to is how much money armored trucks typically transport. I saw this video and was shocked that an armored car would carry so much money.

That's a question that I highly doubt anyone will answer. If the main focus of your article is armored transport security, you will have an extremely difficult time getting precise facts due to OPSEC concerns. Unfortunately, you should expect nothing more than general answers to your questions.

[SecTrainer]

There isn't "an answer" anyway. Depending on its clients, the point in its route, day of the week, company policy and many other variables, an armored car might carry anything from "a little" to "a lot" of money. I mean, technically, an armored car CAN carry however much money it takes to fill up the physical volume of the truck, leaving room for the volume occupied by personnel, using bills of the highest possible denomination. It's a purely mathematical calculation as far as what's "possible".

One way to get at this question without members being asked to reveal sensitive information is just to use a Web search engine on "armored car robbery" or "armored car heist" and similar phrases for published news stories. These will often say how much money was stolen. Then try throwing in the word "biggest" or "record", etc. into these phrases to cut to the robberies with the highest loss figures. Between all of these searches, you'll get a feel for how much range there is in what a car will be carrying.

[gixxer32404]

The bad thing is we don't really know what your true motive is. But u may find this interesting:

http://news.cnet.com/bank-robber-hir...st-fools-cops/

[tanko]

Hey guys. New to the site. I'm currently writing a story on security (specifically, bank security and armored transport) and was wondering if you knew of any websites you could point me to that could give me some info on this topic. This forum seems pretty active, but are there any bigger security forums you know of?

I'm on my college's newspaper editorial staff and I've also worked for almost two years in LP at Best Buy. Any info on this topic would be much appreciated. Thanks.

edit: BTW, my college is in NJ.

So you're writing a, "story," on armored transport eh? What particular angle are you going for, or are you just going for a general article about the history and general information about armored car transport in America, or all over the world? There are some good stories that are in Sweden, Austrailia, Germany, and Iraq.

Most of the information you probably want, you won't be able to get considering most employees are required not to disclose it for obvious reasons.

Another thing, I would be VERY careful of is releasing any damaging information before this article goes into circulation. I would even consider asking an individual with your local armored car company, like Garda, about if there is anything you can take out of the article.

[Chucky]

I don't buy this guy at all. Even if he's taking a Criminology class then it seems strangely weird that he would focus on only one aspect of such a vast field. Hope I'm wrong but don't think so this time.

[Swifty]

I too think this sounds just too wierd but if normal guy wants to contact me VIA private message here I can shed some limited light on the topic.

[SIW Editor]

NormalDude, as a trained journalist myself and administrator of these forums, if you want sources, you are going to need to be very, very candid about who you are and what your project is. You're talking to security guys. They will Google you. They will Google the school, the paper and maybe even call a supervisor to verify you are who you say you are before they even consider sharing the type of information that is not already publically available. You will also need to respect operational security, because at the end of the day, if they divulge info that would break their operation security, their job could be axed, and in this economy, that's not good. You can find my contact info on the main part of the site under "contact us" and I can give you pointers, but I would suggest you start with these in this post:

1. State your name.
2. State the name of your paper and the paper's website.
3. Further define the "story angle" to the audience here -- bank security and armored transport is a little loose, and I mention that as a journo, not as a security guy. Better stories happen when you narrow the focus. Consider an angle like: Are armored transport vehicles being given the protection they need? or something of that sort that really narrows the story and its information mission.

Please understand if those of us on the forum are suspicious; frankly, that's part of being a good security pro. Some of us are naturally skeptics and suspicious people, others learn those skills because they are often needed in this industry. Just like your time in LP; I'm sure you didn't believe that every customer who came in your store was there to spend greenbacks. You knew that you had to be watching for the one that had another purpose. Same here with the attitudes and suspicions you are experiencing. No one means any disrepect; this is just part of a vetting process and it happens with most new members, especially those requesting somewhat private information.

FYI, this is by far the largest security discussion forum and security news site on the web in the English language. There might be a bigger one in Russian, but my Russian isn't so good. You've stumbled upon the right place to talk to the pros in this industry.

Geoff