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Licensed & Trained Vacant Property & Patrol Security Officers · Serving All of California
Pronto Guards protects vacant and transitional property throughout California — mobile patrol and standing guards for empty buildings, properties between tenants, and sites awaiting development. We deter trespassing, squatting, vandalism, and theft with scheduled checks and a documented record of each visit, and provide fire watch when it's required. Book online with the price shown upfront.
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Vacant and transitional property carries a specific, often-underestimated risk: an empty building or lot is an invitation. Without a presence, vacant property attracts trespassing, squatting, vandalism, copper and fixture theft, illegal dumping, and the liability that comes with all of it. The work is maintaining a deterrent presence — through mobile patrol or standing guards — that keeps a property from becoming a target before problems take hold.
The two models are mobile patrol and standing guards. Mobile patrol — scheduled, varied-time drive-by or walk-through checks with documented rounds — is the cost-effective workhorse for property that does not need constant coverage. A standing guard provides continuous presence and access control for higher-risk or higher-value sites. Fire watch is available where a vacant building's impaired systems require monitoring.
The defining principle of vacant-property security is that prevention is far cheaper than remediation. Removing established squatters, repairing vandalism, or replacing stripped copper costs vastly more than the patrol that would have deterred it. A visible, documented presence keeps a property from crossing the line from empty to occupied or stripped — which is far easier than reversing it afterward.
Most security firms quote vacant-property work privately. We publish our pricing. Standing guards are priced per officer, per hour (four-hour minimum); mobile patrol is priced per scheduled check:
| Officer / coverage type | Rate (per hour) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile patrol | Per check | Scheduled, varied-time checks with documented rounds. The cost-effective standard for most vacant property. |
| Unarmed standing guard | $40–$60/hr | Continuous presence and access control for higher-risk or higher-value sites. |
| Armed standing guard | $55–$90/hr | High-risk sites or assessed elevated threat. Carries the BSIS firearms permit. |
Short-notice bookings (within 24 hours) carry a 10% surcharge, shown before you pay. Coverage is scoped to the property and risk — with transparent pricing throughout. Weigh it against remediation: removing squatters or replacing stripped copper costs far more than patrol.
Vacant-property coverage matches the model to the property's risk, value, and location. Here is how an operations team scopes it:
Location, value, condition, and how attractive the property is to trespassers all drive the plan. A vacant building in a higher-crime area with copper still installed needs more than a fenced lot in a quiet one. We match coverage to the actual exposure.
For most vacant property, scheduled mobile patrol with documented, varied-time rounds is the cost-effective deterrent. Higher-risk or higher-value sites — or those already experiencing problems — warrant a standing guard's continuous presence. The model follows the risk and budget.
Predictable checks are easy to work around. We vary patrol timing so the property cannot be read as unwatched between rounds — the unpredictability is part of the deterrent.
Vacant buildings with impaired or offline fire systems may require fire watch — continuous monitoring with documented rounds. We scope it to the requirement.
An unwatched building can be occupied by squatters, and removing established squatters is slow, costly, and legally fraught. A visible, documented presence deters occupation before it starts — vastly easier than reversing it.
Vacant buildings are stripped for copper, wiring, fixtures, and HVAC. Regular documented patrol and a deterrent presence keep the property from becoming a target.
Empty property attracts vandalism, graffiti, and illegal dumping that degrade value and create liability. A patrol presence and prompt documentation deter and catch it early.
An unsecured vacant property is a liability if someone is injured or it becomes a nuisance. Documented security coverage demonstrates active management and reduces that exposure.
Owners of vacant property weigh a few approaches. Here is an honest comparison of what each actually delivers:
| Option | What you get | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile patrol | Scheduled, varied-time checks with documented rounds — a real, deterrent human presence at low cost. | Most vacant buildings and lots that need a documented deterrent but not constant coverage. |
| Standing guard | Continuous on-site presence and access control. | High-risk or high-value vacant sites, or property already experiencing trespass or theft. |
| Alarm / camera only | Detection and a record after the fact, but no on-site presence to deter or respond in the moment. | A supplement to patrol — not a substitute, since it does not deter a determined trespasser or stop theft in progress. |
Vacant-property coverage is easy to under-buy until a problem appears. Here is what actually matters:
A legitimate provider holds a Private Patrol Operator license and deploys Guard-Card officers. Ask for the PPO number and verify it before anyone patrols your property.
The value of patrol is the documentation — logged, time-stamped checks that prove the work happened and record anything found. If a company cannot show how rounds are documented, you have no proof of coverage.
Predictable patrol is easy to work around. A good provider varies the timing of checks so the property cannot be read as unwatched between rounds.
A real provider carries liability insurance, commonly $1,000,000 per occurrence. Confirm it — vacant property already carries liability, and you do not want to add an uninsured contractor to it.
A good company recommends patrol or a standing guard based on your property's real exposure, and is honest about when patrol is enough. That judgment is a sign of operators, not salespeople.
Scheduled drive-by and walk-through checks at varied times, with documented rounds — a cost-effective way to keep a presence on a property that doesn't need a full-time guard.
A fixed officer presence for properties that need continuous coverage — access control and on-site deterrence around the clock or for set shifts.
Visible presence and documented checks to deter trespassing, squatting, and vandalism on vacant buildings and lots before problems take hold.
Fire watch for vacant buildings with impaired systems or required monitoring, with continuous coverage and documented patrol rounds.
Pick unarmed, armed, or off-duty officers and set how many you need.
Add your date, hours, and any extra days. Watch the per-guard, per-hour price update live.
Give us the venue or site address and what the job involves so officers arrive ready.
Pay securely online and get instant confirmation. We assign and brief your officers.
We run dedicated local teams across California. Book in the city where your event or job is:
Vacant property coverage is priced per officer, per hour for standing guards (4-hour minimum), while mobile patrol is priced by the scheduled check. Rates run from about $40 to $120 per guard per hour depending on guard type and shift length. You see your exact total when you book online.
Mobile patrol means scheduled drive-by or walk-through checks at varied times with documented rounds — cost-effective for property that doesn't need constant coverage. A standing guard is a fixed on-site presence for property that needs continuous protection. You choose based on the risk and budget.
Yes. A visible presence and documented checks deter trespassing, squatting, and vandalism before they take hold — which is far easier than removing squatters once they're established. Regular patrol is the common approach for vacant buildings and lots.
Yes. We provide fire watch for vacant buildings with impaired or offline fire systems, with continuous coverage and documented patrol rounds per the requirement.
Yes. Pronto Guards operates under a California BSIS Private Patrol Operator license. Every officer holds a current BSIS Guard Card.
Mobile patrol is priced per scheduled check — a fraction of standing-guard cost — while a standing guard runs roughly $40–$60 per hour for an unarmed officer. Coverage is scoped to the property and risk, with transparent pricing throughout.
Mobile patrol means scheduled, varied-time checks with documented rounds — cost-effective for property that does not need constant coverage. A standing guard is a continuous on-site presence for higher-risk or higher-value sites. Many owners use patrol and escalate to a standing guard if problems appear.
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