Look, I get it. You’re a business owner in Tampa, and every week there’s another story about break-ins, theft, or worse happening to businesses just like yours. Even though the police department keeps saying crime is down, it doesn’t feel that way when you’re the one locking up late at night or worried about your employees walking to their cars.
I’ve been in the security business for over 12 years, and I’m seeing something I haven’t seen before – Tampa business owners are calling us faster than ever. Not because crime is necessarily getting worse, but because they’re finally realizing that waiting until something happens is way more expensive than preventing it.
The Numbers Game Everyone’s Playing
Tampa Police just announced some pretty good news – crime dropped 22% in the first half of 2025. Violent crime is down 19%, and get this – homicides dropped 63%. That’s legitimately impressive.
But here’s the thing nobody talks about: Tampa still has 21 crimes per 1,000 people. That’s higher than a lot of places. So yeah, things are getting better, but “better” doesn’t mean “safe enough to ignore.”
I had a restaurant owner tell me last month, “Vince, I don’t care if crime is down 50%. My place got hit twice, and I’m done playing the lottery with my business.”
Why Downtown and Business Areas Stay Risky
Crime statistics are city-wide averages. They don’t tell you that downtown Tampa, Ybor, and busy shopping areas are still magnets for trouble. More people = more opportunities for bad things to happen.
Think about it – if you’re planning to steal something, are you going to hit an empty residential street or a busy commercial area where there’s cash, inventory, and distracted customers?
The smart criminals aren’t stupid. They know which businesses have security and which ones don’t. Guess which ones they avoid?
What I’m Seeing Businesses Do Right Now
Every day, I get calls from Tampa business owners asking the same questions: “What do I actually need?” and “How much is this going to cost me?”
Here’s what’s working:
Security guards are back in a big way. Not just for banks and jewelry stores anymore. I’ve got guards working at restaurants, retail shops, construction sites – places that never thought they needed security before.
Some want armed guards because they’re dealing with cash or expensive inventory. Others go with unarmed security because they just want someone professional there to handle problems before they get out of hand.
24-hour protection is becoming normal. Businesses are realizing that most break-ins happen when nobody’s around. Having someone check on your place regularly – or just knowing someone will respond fast if an alarm goes off – changes everything.
The Real Cost of Getting Hit
I wish I could tell you about all the businesses that saved money by skipping security. But I can’t, because the ones that got robbed or vandalized? They ended up spending way more than security would have cost them.
Just last month, a client called me after their office got broken into. They lost about $15,000 in equipment, plus their insurance deductible, plus the time dealing with police reports and insurance claims, plus the productivity lost while employees felt unsafe.
“I should have called you six months ago,” the owner said. “This whole mess cost me more than a year of security would have.”
Different Businesses, Different Needs
Not everyone needs a team of armed guards. Here’s how I usually break it down:
If you deal with customers all day – restaurants, retail stores, service businesses – you probably want unarmed security. Someone who can handle difficult customers, watch for shoplifters, and make everyone feel safer.
If you’ve got valuable stuff – electronics, jewelry, large amounts of cash – armed security makes sense. The visible deterrent factor alone prevents most problems.
If you’re in an office building or warehouse – you might just need someone checking access points and doing regular patrols. Simple but effective.
Questions You Should Actually Ask Security Companies
Don’t just ask about price. Ask:
- How long have your guards worked for you? (High turnover is a red flag)
- Can I talk to some of your current clients?
- What happens if my regular guard calls in sick?
- Do you do background checks? (You’d be surprised how many don’t)
- How fast can you get someone here if we have an emergency?
The Tampa Reality
Here’s the truth about Tampa: it’s a great place to do business. The crime reduction numbers prove the city and police are working hard to keep it that way. But you still need to protect yourself.
The businesses doing well aren’t the ones hoping nothing bad happens. They’re the ones who decided to be proactive about security.
We Cover More Than Just Tampa
USA Security & Protection Group LLC works throughout South Florida:
Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Delray Beach, Weston, Plantation, Port Saint Lucie, Palm Bay, Cocoa Beach, Fort Myers – and of course, Tampa.
Whether you need private investigation, security guard services, personal protection, or anything in between, we’ve probably handled something like your situation before.
Stop Waiting for Something to Happen
Every business owner I talk to says the same thing after they get security: “I wish I’d done this sooner.”
Don’t be the business owner calling me after something happens. Call now, while you can still prevent problems instead of cleaning up after them.
Reach out to us at (954) 477-1088 or USACURITYPROGROUPLLC@GMAIL.COM. We’ll come take a look at your situation and give you straight answers about what you actually need – not what we want to sell you.
