Pattaya Today had the pleasure of interviewing Andre J. A. Machielsen, the owner and MD of Master Safety Enterprises (MSE), to discover exactly what services his company provides for the community. First, however, a short account of his history. Andre, who is Dutch, originally from Amsterdam, must rank amongst the longest staying resident foreigners in Pattaya, as well as actually being a Thai citizen, speaking Thai fluently and having been happily married to a Thai wife for 23 years; all four accomplishments of which he’s very proud. He’s been in the city for 35 years, since it was a fishing village with little more to recommend it than Walking Street and when Sukhumvit Road was half the width of Pattaya South Road. His security company, MSE, is the oldest of its type in Pattaya, established for 23 years, with the most comprehensive, state-of-the-art equipment available. Before he was a security consultant, however, Andre was a sport diver instructor, his first career move in Pattaya, he then moved on to become a deep sea diver, working in Sarawak and Labuan. He graduated from this to become a safety officer, whose main role was preventative and precautionary logistics, which represented a highly suitable basis for when he became a security consultant that was further helped by his earlier background in photography, CCTV and electronics.

Andre has accumulated a vast amount of experience during the time he has been in Pattaya and most importantly knows the mind of the Thai criminal intimately. He says the most common sort of thief is an opportunist, very often a low-paid construction site worker who approaches his intended target in flip-flops, armed with a screwdriver. Once having broken into the premises, he will leave his flip-flops outside and especially if he has to make a quick exit, will leave them where he dropped them. He is, however, inordinately dangerous, becoming totally desperate if trapped, which is why he must always be left with an avenue of escape. He will not hesitate to use his screwdriver as a knife-substitute, so should never be confronted. At the end of the day, your personal safety and that of your family is considerably more important than tangible possessions; they can be replaced, the lives of your loved ones or yourself cannot. In today’s economic climate, the burglar is becoming increasingly desperate, especially drug-users, who may be hyped-up during the crime attempt and therefore infinitely more prone to resort to violence, even in cases of petty theft.

However, even of you don’t have the added danger of surprising a thief in the act because you came back home too late to prevent it, the emotional shock of having had your home or business premises broken into can stay with you and your family, or your staff for an inordinate amount of time, even if you aren’t aware of it, in which case it will slowly but surely fester in your subconscious, producing untold psychological damage. There is really only one way to avoid this trauma, be prepared.

Home security doesn’t have to be outrageously expensive, but at the same time, don’t be tempted to sell yourself short by buying inadequate protection which, when faced with an emergency such as a break in, frequently proves to be completely useless and essentially no protection, whatsoever. Consider it as a long-term investment and never ask yourself if you can afford protection, ask yourself if you can afford not to have it.

MSE prides itself on the quality of service and equipment it provides. It has long track-record of happy and satisfied residential and commercial clients. MSE guarantees to only design and install equipment which is approved by certifying agencies according to the international standards regulating the security industry. And as Andre emphasizes “many people rely on the dependability
of our security systems. Whether you are present or away, you are assured that your family, home or business is secure.”

Some of the products supplied by MSE are as follows:

• residential and industrial security systems

• 24-hour alarm central monitoring station

• intruder alarms, wired, wireless, ISP systems

• closed circuit TV, including GPS (internet viewing)

• access control, card & biometric technology

• gate automation, sliding & swing

• secure u-PVC doors and windows, including double glazing

• fibre-optic cabling and micro wave links.

• GPS tracking systems for cars and people.

• high voltage security fencing

• insurance consultancy.

Andre emphasizes that he specialises in peripheral security rather than that only installed inside the building, making the point that the outside of the house should be the first line of defence, because if all the security systems, like motion sensors, are within the premises, the burglar is already inside and hence your defences have been breached. For Andre an external network of infra-red beams is far more effective, or, even better, high voltage security fencing. This works on the pulse principle so if a would-be intruder touches it, he gets a momentary but extremely effective shock which ensures he never returns to experience it a second time.

Andre encourages inquiries and stresses that surveys and quotations are free, both of charge and obligation. Before we go, we should also tell you that, apart from his security consultancy, Andre is also part of a well known magic act, with the persona of Captain Treetops, in partnership with Dr. Penguin.

Master Safety Enterprises Ltd.

124/55 M10 South Pattaya Rd. (next to the Shell petrol station), Pattaya City, Free survey/advice tel – 038-426 423, Tel. 038-489-102/3, E-mail master@loxinfo.co.th, Website: www.thaisecurity.com