Alarm installer with criminal past accused of stealing customers' credit cards and ID
Few provinces require criminal background checks on those working in the home security business
An Alberta man who wanted to make his home safer by installing an alarm system was appalled to discover the security company sent a man with a lengthy criminal record. The alarm installer would later be investigated for allegedly stealing his credit card information and ID while in his home.
"It's unbelievable that somebody that's supposed to be there to make life more secure took advantage of their position and stole my identity," GaryBrenner told Go Public.
"It's not like somebody broke into my house or stole my wallet they came into my house representing this security company went through my personal stuff."
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Go Public's investigation found that only four provinces B.C., Quebec, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador require criminal record checks on employees or contractors in the homesecurity industry.
Brennerlives inCochrane,Alta., just outside Calgary.He hiredSafety Alarm to install the alarm systemin April, and itsent a contractor right awayto do the installation.
In July,Brennerdiscovered fraudulent charges on his credit cardtotallingabout $2,000 from purchases made by someone in British Columbia. He hadn't lost his wallet or credit card and had no idea how his card was compromised.
"It puzzled me," he said.
After his credit card company dismissed the charges,Brenner thought his problem was over, until he got a text message from a stranger.
"I was contacted by an acquaintance of the individual who installed my alarm, and she indicated she had seen copies of my credit card and my driver's licence and she actually sent me pictures."
In those photos, Brenner's wallet is open and his credit card and ID are pulled out so the numbers are visible. The stranger also sent him a photo of the man she claimed was responsible the same man who had installed Brenner's security alarm months earlier.
"Since I only met the person when he came to my house, we deduced that he had taken pictures somehow opened my wallet while he was in here and took pictures of my ID, my signature and my credit cards and their numbers," Brenner said.
Robert Michael McKay, 39, is now being investigated by RCMP in B.C. That's where Brenner's credit card was used for the fraudulent charges.
Go Public contacted the security companyMcKaywas working for when he installedBrenner'salarm. LiorLeibovichis one of the owners of Calgary-based Safety Alarm. He saidMcKayonly worked for his company for a few months as a contractor, not an employee.
When Safety Alarm hiredMcKay,Leibovichsaid, it checked his work history,and McKay hadgood references. ButLeibovichsaid the companydidn'tdoa criminal background check because it's not required in the areasMcKaywas working in.
"Mr.McKaycame with recommendations, with experience working for different security companies. He had three years of experience at different security companies before he come to work with us. He's not someone I picked up from the street or had no experience. he worked in the security business for many years," Leibovichtold Go Public.
Long list of convictions
Long before McKay worked as an alarm installer, he was breaking the law.
Go Public dug into McKay's background and found a long list of criminal convictions dating back to 1996, including fortheft, forgingdocuments and what's called "personation with intent," which span three provinces B.C., Alberta and Ontario.
In November,McKaywas charged by Calgary policefor unrelated crimes including breaking and entering, theft over $5,000 and "unlawfully possessing an identity document."
No checks required in many provinces
The Canadian Security Associationrepresents workers and companies in the electronic security service,including alarm installers.
"I think there is a huge misconception among the public," said association president Richard McMullen.
"The perception is anyone engaged in home security or commercial security would have a criminal records check and would be vetted."
Clearly, that's not the case. McMullen saidthe rules differ from province to province and oftencity to city. In some jurisdictionslocal police departments set the rules.
More victims suspected
The owner of Safety AlarmsaidMcKay was firedin April, just days after he installedBrenner'salarm.
In June the company also filed a police report, whichsaid McKay was fired for"liability reasons, poor quality of work and missing equipment provided by the company."
The police reportalso refers to another customer who claims McKay contacted him in June, after he was fired, saying he still worked for Safety Alarm, asking for the client's credit card information. That customer alleges he later found several fraudulent charges on his credit card.
Leibovich, the company's owner,said McKay didn't have access to alarm PIN codes, just credit card information. He said that since the McKay incident, he's started to do criminal checks on all employees.
Brenner doesn't blame Safety Alarm for McKay's actions, but said thatwhen the company found out about the criminal allegations againstitsformer contractoritshould have contacted all the customers whose houses he entered.
"It's amazing that this could be allowed to happen and no one takes responsibility for it," Brenner said.
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