Securitas AB was founded in 1934 in
Helsingborg,
Sweden, as AB Hälsingborgs Nattvakt, when Erik Philip-Sörensen bought a small guarding company. In 1935, the name was changed to Förenade Svenska Vakt AB. The company expanded through acquisitions of several small security companies, initially in southern Sweden. In 1949, AB Securitas Alarm was founded as the company's security technology subsidiary, and during the following decade, the company started expanding internationally. In 1972, the group was
rebranded as
Securitas, the
Roman goddess of security and stability, with a
logotype consisting of three red dots and the word "Securitas". The dots are described as representing the group's core
values of "Integrity, Vigilance, and Helpfulness." In 1976, Erik Philip-Sörensen sold the Securitas group to his sons Jörgen Philip-Sörensen and Sven Philip-Sörensen, In 1983, Securitas was sold to the
holding company Skrinet, and in 1985, it was acquired by
Investment AB Latour, controlled by
Gustaf Douglas. Under the new ownership, the group focused on security, and in 1989, an international expansion began with acquisitions in
Norway,
Denmark, and
Portugal and the establishment of
Hungary. In 1991, Securitas was
listed on the
Stockholm Stock Exchange. In 1994, the group distributed
ASSA AB (acquired in 1988) to its shareholders. Throughout the 1990s, foreign acquisitions were made in eleven
European countries and in the
United States. and in August 2000,
Burns Security and several regional security companies in the
United States. These acquisitions made Securitas one of the largest
security companies in the world. In 2001, a new organization took effect, with five business areas according to the types of services offered, and
Loomis Fargo & Company was acquired. In 2003, the group's security services in the
United States were integrated under the Securitas brand, and the group's cash handling services were completely divisionalized, with joint management for United States and European operations. In 2006, the divisions
Securitas Systems (alarm, monitoring, and access control systems) and
Securitas Direct (solutions for homes and small businesses) were distributed to the group's shareholders and
listed at the
Stockholm Stock Exchange. In the same year, the divisions Mobile (small and medium-sized customers) and Alert Services (electronic surveillance of homes and businesses) were created (as of 2007, constituting the business segment Mobile and Monitoring). Securitas Direct was later renamed to
Verisure in all countries except Spain and Portugal. In November 2007, the
United Kingdom cash handling services of the division Loomis were sold to Vaultex Ltd., owned by
HSBC and
Barclays. In 2008, the division
Loomis (cash handling) was distributed to the group's shareholders and
listed at
Nasdaq OMX Stockholm. In September 2010, Securitas acquired the security-services operations of Reliance Security Group in the
United Kingdom. In November 2011, Securitas acquired Chubb Security Personnel in the United Kingdom. As of 2012, Securitas was present in 53 countries and territories. In 2013, Securitas acquired Pinkerton Government Services, which provides cleared security services to governmental agencies and programs that require a
Department of Defense or
Department of Energy security clearance. This government services division of Securitas became known as Securitas Critical Infrastructure Services. This division operates both in the United States and worldwide when cleared services are needed overseas. In October 2015, Securitas acquired Diebold Incorporated's (NYSE-DBD) Electronic Security business in North America. Diebold's North American Electronic Security business, based in Green, Ohio, United States, is the third largest commercial electronic security provider in North America. Diebold's North American Electronic Security business has approximately 1,100 employees. The operation includes more than 55,000 monitored customer locations and 200,000 sites serviced. In March 2022, Securitas partnered with
Citizen to trial a version of Citizen's on-demand private security service in Chicago. On July 22, 2022, Securitas purchased
Stanley Security Solutions, which included Stanley Healthcare, from the American company
Stanley Black & Decker. The brands were renamed Securitas Technology and Securitas Healthcare, respectively. The initial agreement was signed on December 8, 2021
Controversies Murder of Cassie Heppner In February 2020, American Securitas officer Robert Pavao murdered
Timberland employee Cassie Heppner at Timberland's corporate headquarters in
Stratham, New Hampshire, where Pavao was contracted to. Pavao was found guilty of second degree homicide and sentenced to 55 years in prison for the crime.
Suspension for Harvard union protest In January 2022, an American Securitas officer contracted to
Harvard University in
Cambridge, Massachusetts, Walter J. Terzano, was suspended for protesting during a contentious union contract negotiation between Securitas and the
Service Employees International Union. Terzano created protest signs and attempted to get other Securitas officers to protest outside the home of University President
Lawrence Bacow. A complaint was made to Securitas by Harvard's director of facilities and maintenance, leading to the suspension. The
National Labor Relations Board ruled that Securitas had unlawfully retaliated against Terzano.
Sex scandal In 2010, the chief executive of Securitas Sweden was arrested for buying sexual services from a prostitute in Stockholm. He was convicted in 2012. The company said it would put an end to the misogynistic and sexist culture that prevailed in the company. In 2022, A Swedish TV documentary exposed two employees at Securitas Sweden who paid for sex during work trips and were suspected of having bribed employees of the city of Malmö. The company fired them. == Operations ==