Armourguard employee named security guard of the year

Armourguard employee named security guard of the year

An Armourguard security officer has been named Security Guard of the Year after helping Police make 14 arrests for burglaries in the Lower Hutt industrial area over the past nine months.

Martin Wickham was presented with the Award in Auckland (Friday 26 June) after being nominated for his on-the-job intuition and ability to help the Police in staying one step ahead of burglars. 

Armourguard General Manager, Ian Anderson, said over the 18 years that Martin has worked in the security industry, he had developed a strong ability to notice suspicious behaviour and take action.

“Over the years, he has built a really good rapport with local Police,” Mr Anderson said.

“On one occasion, Martin was completing his regular patrol checks when he noticed two people acting suspiciously.  While calling the Police he noticed an empty vehicle that he suspected belonged to the pair.

“Martin prevented the pair from leaving the area before the Police could arrive by using his vehicle to block their escape.  The offenders were subsequently arrested and charged with a number of offenses.”

Martin said the key to his success comes down to a desire to help others, the confidence and trust he has in his patrol team, coupled with “a bit of luck”.

“A lot of the time it’s just being in the right place at the right time and simply trusting my instinct.

“We have a common saying amongst the team at Armourguard which is: ‘You bleed, I bleed’.

“Basically it means that we’re there regardless of the situation for our fellow patrol mates.  I know that if I needed help from my team they’d immediately drop whatever they were doing to be at my side.  The trust I have in them gives me the extra confidence I need to do the job well.”

The veteran security guard said the “buzz” he gets from helping Police to make arrests and keeping the Lower Hutt area safe is what motivates him to patrol Lower Hutt’s industrial area.

“It’s a great feeling to go home at the end of a hard day knowing that you’ve really made a difference and helped take another criminal off the streets.”