How I Rob Banks

Chapter 62Personal Escort

People are helpful and nice, in general—look at the people around you, those you work with. I would confidently say that 80 to 90% of the people around you are nice, or maybe even more than that. The trouble is, nice and helpful folk can be a security nightmare if they are not trained in security issues and how people may take advantage of their kindness.

I once broke into an office for a client who tasked me with gaining access to particular rooms within the building. As always, there was a catch that made this harder than it should be. If it were easy, they wouldn't have hired me, right? And besides, it would make a boring anecdote for you.

The site had two buildings maybe 25 feet apart. Between the two buildings ran four corridors: two on the ground floor and two on the third (top) floor. These corridors were heavily secured. You had to go in via the lower-security side and pass the security systems in the corridor before you could access the secure building.

Pretty nice layout, and it worked somewhat well most of the time.

I made my way into the less-secure building and quickly found that I would be hard-pressed to get access through the corridor. I had to come up with another plan.

I located the executive area and came across a personal assistant (PA). They often have their own desk outside the executive area and are formidable forces of intelligence who are savvy to most attacks.

I was much younger than I am now and could easily pass as a newcomer ...