Warehouse security guide
Armed or unarmed guards for a warehouse?
What each one is licensed to do, when armed coverage makes sense, and why most warehouses start unarmed.
Armed sounds safer, and sometimes it is. But most of what keeps freight where it belongs is checks and records, not force: the right truck, the right load, the right driver, on record.
Here's what each option means for your site, so you pay for the coverage you actually need.
Side by side.
| What it covers | Unarmed | Armed | Mix by hour or area |
|---|---|---|---|
| California guard card | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Separate state firearms permit | No | Yes | For armed posts |
| Checks trucks against your records | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Signs visitors in and out | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Patrols the yard and docks | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Written report the same shift | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Facing an armed threat | Observes, reports, calls police | Can defend people on site | Covered in the riskiest hours |
| Monthly cost | Lower | Higher | In between |
What an unarmed officer does at a warehouse.
- Checks at the gate. Every truck logged and checked against the records you give us. Matches go in. The rest get pulled over.
- Visitors on record. Everyone signed in and out, so you know who is on site.
- Rounds on a set route. Yard, fence line, trailer rows and docks, with the time of every round on record.
- Eyes on the details. Doors left open, seals that don't match, a trailer where it shouldn't be.
- A report the same shift. Written and locked, ready for your insurer or your customer.
- A call when it matters. Police first when there's a threat, then you.
When armed coverage makes sense.
- High-value freight. Loads that are worth a lot and easy to resell, sitting in the yard or the building overnight.
- A history of threats. Armed theft, threats against staff or violence at or near the site.
- Someone requires it. An insurer or a customer contract that calls for armed officers.
- An isolated site at night. A quiet location where help takes a while to arrive.
- Cash or controlled goods. Anything on site that raises the stakes of a break-in.
What armed coverage changes.
It costs more. Armed officers carry extra licensing and training, and that shows up in the rate.
It raises the stakes. A weapon on site changes every confrontation. Good armed officers still lead with talking, reporting and calling police.
It needs the right paperwork. Check that every armed officer holds a current guard card and a current state firearms permit. Your insurer may ask for both.
Unarmed, armed, or both?
Unarmed is usually right if
- Your freight is everyday goods.
- The site has had theft, but no threats or violence.
- Nobody requires armed coverage.
- Trucks and visitors mostly come during business hours.
Put the money into good checks at the gate and a clear record.
Add armed coverage if
- High-value freight sits on site overnight.
- There's been armed theft, threats or violence.
- Your insurer or a customer requires it.
- The site is isolated or quiet at night.
You don't have to arm the whole site. Cover the hours or areas where the risk is.
Armed or unarmed for your site?
Five questions. Answer each one.
01 Is your freight high value or easy to resell?
02 Has your site had armed theft, threats or violence?
03 Does your insurer or a customer contract require armed coverage?
04 Is the site isolated or quiet at night?
05 Do you keep cash or controlled goods on site?
Answer the five questions.
The cost question.
Armed officers cost more per hour than unarmed officers. That's the licensing, the training and the insurance.
The useful question is where the extra cost buys you something. For most warehouses that's a few hours or one area, not the whole site. Your Blind Spot Hunt maps it out.
Armed or unarmed, every handoff on record.
Whichever you choose, every truck, visitor and patrol at your site goes on record with Galaxy, and you watch it live from your phone or laptop.
- 7:00 AM Night summary In your inbox
- 11:05 PM Truck out Matches the approved trailer On its way
- 10:40 PM Visitor Signed out
- 10:12 PM Truck in Doesn't match your records Pulled over
- 9:58 PM Visitor Signed in
- 9:41 PM Truck in Matches your records Let in
Trucks logged in
Checked against the records you give us. Matches go in. The rest get pulled over.
Visitors signed in and out
You know who is on site, and when they left.
Live, any time
Watch it as it happens, from your phone or laptop.
A morning summary
The night, in your inbox before your first meeting.
Incidents on record
Written up and locked, ready for your insurer.
The owner on the line
A direct line to the owner. Not a call center.
Questions managers ask.
Are armed guards more effective than unarmed guards at a warehouse?
Not on their own. Most warehouse losses come from fake pickups, open doors and gaps at night, and checks and records stop those. Armed officers make sense where there's a real threat of violence or armed theft.
What license does an armed security guard need in California?
A guard card from the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS), plus a separate firearms permit from the same bureau. You can check both on the state's free license search at search.dca.ca.gov.
Do armed guards cost more?
Yes. The extra licensing, training and insurance show up in the hourly rate. Many sites keep the cost down by using armed officers only for the riskiest hours or areas.
Can we start unarmed and add armed coverage later?
Yes. The post orders get updated, the armed posts get staffed, and your coverage follows your risk.
Does Galaxy provide both armed and unarmed officers?
Yes. Galaxy provides armed and unarmed security officers for warehouses, distribution centers, 3PLs and cross-docks across Los Angeles and Orange County.
What is a Blind Spot Hunt?
A free walk of your gate, yard and docks with Galaxy. You keep a written Blind Spot Report: every blind spot, the top three fixes and draft post orders, even if you never hire us.
Show us your operation.
We'll walk it with you, hunt down every blind spot and show you what you'd see live.
- Every blind spot, handoff by handoff
- Ready to hand to your boss, a customer or your insurer
- Yours to keep, even if you never hire us
- Prefer to pick a time?Book on our calendar
- Rather talk now?Call (888) 304-2529
Galaxy takes on a limited number of new clients at a time. Each site needs vetting and site-specific training.
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Not ready to talk? Score your site first.
Ten questions, two minutes. See where your gate, yard, docks, seals and nights stand, handoff by handoff. No call needed.
Take the Gate Scorecard- GateOn record
- YardPartly
- DockPartly
- SealSlipping
- After hoursPartly