In August, while delivering papers in South Camden, N.J., a truck driver for Philadelphia Newspapers Inc. was robbed, beaten and left unconscious with severe head injuries. He has yet to regain consciousness. Less than a week later, another carrier picking up papers in a vacant lot was also robbed and beaten. He is recuperating at home.
Because of these attacks and a total of 55 robberies in the last year, PNI has hired an outside firm to evaluate its security measures and help create a safe environment for its drivers. It is also running daily ads with Teamsters Local 628, offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to apprehension of the attackers.
Says a spokesman for the outside firm, F&F Security, "We try to be an up front deterrent by being in problem areas, which we identify through contacts. Our message is: 'If you've got a holdup on your mind, don't do it to our clients."
Working with the firm, PNI has installed mandatory safety-awareness training for drivers and two-way radios linking drivers with the office. A Drivers' Safety Hotline allows drivers and other employees to discuss improving safety.
PNI is also sharing information with other companies in the area. "These are people that serve the same outlets we do," says Kendall Williams, president of the security union. "We come up with ideas and suggestions to look out for one another."
The new measures appear to be working--there haven't been any major attacks since August, says Charles Fancher, vice president of communications and public affairs at PNI.
Fancher says that other newspapers are welcome to call PNI at (215) 854-4805 to discuss security measures. But he warns, "There is no one-size-fits-all solution."
Rosland Briggs is a free-lance writer based in Philadelphia. Phone is (215) 561-0824.
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