Unarmed Security Guards in Houston

Where Unarmed Guards Work Best

Most security assignments don't require firearms. An unarmed officer in a professional uniform handles 80% of commercial security needs — at a lower cost and lower liability than armed personnel.

• → Office lobbies and corporate buildings. Visitor check-in, badge verification, package screening. The guard is the first face visitors see — professionalism matters more than firepower.
• → Retail stores and shopping centers. Visible deterrence reduces shoplifting by 40–60%. Guards monitor entrances, walk the floor and respond to incidents. Loss prevention without escalation risk.
• → Parking lots and garages. Vehicle patrol and foot patrol deter break-ins, vandalism and after-hours trespassing. Especially effective for apartment complexes and office parks.
• → Residential communities and HOAs. Gate access control, community patrols, resident assistance. The guard knows who belongs and who doesn't.
• → Healthcare facilities. Patient and visitor management, de-escalation, emergency response coordination. Hospitals and clinics need calm authority, not weapons.

Unarmed Guard Pricing

Unarmed vs. Armed — Which Do You Need?

The short answer: if nobody's life is at stake and the property value doesn't justify firearms, go unarmed. You'll save $5–15/hr and reduce your liability exposure.

Armed guards make sense for construction sites with heavy equipment, financial institutions, high-crime locations with a history of violence and executive protection. Everything else — offices, retail, residential, parking lots — unarmed is the standard. Read our full armed guard page for details.

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