The year was 1975. Randi Elrad was a special education teacher. John Pastore was a University of Florida undergrad on a path toward medical school. They were young and in love in beautiful Gainesville, Florida. Who would have imagined then that the two would go on to build one of the largest security companies in the United States?
Back then, Randi and John had just two problems: 1) barely two cents to rub together, as is the case with many young couples; 2) John’s long nights of research often left Randi home alone. While Gainesville was a relatively safe city, they understood the need for home security to provide peace of mind.
Through mail order, they purchased a glass-break detector connected to a siren and installed it in their home. Before long, they recognized many other families could also benefit from this kind of home security, so they started selling the device locally.
From these humble beginnings, a successful business grew. Randi and John now operate one of America’s biggest and best security companies – Crime Prevention Security Systems, serving more than 12,000 customers across North Central Florida, throughout the Orlando area and along the state’s east coast.
This 40-year-old company employs more than 100 people to sell, install, service and monitor custom home security systems, business security systems and home automation systems, as well as home entertainment solutions through its sister company, Custom Home Entertainment.
A Community Commitment
Randi and John’s dedication to the community extends well beyond their passion for home security. Both are recognized civic leaders who volunteer their time for important causes and encourage their employees to do the same. Individually, and as a company, they have been recognized by organizations including Rotary, the Chamber of Commerce, the Builder’s Association, and The Boys & Girls Club, among others.
Family First
For Randi and John, Crime Prevention Security Systems is truly all about family. Their daughters, Jessica McKinney and Jorgia McAfee, as well as their son-in-law, Bobby McAfee, hold leadership roles in the company and plan to continue the Crime Prevention legacy for years to come. Just as important as their own family, however, are the thousands of families they protect in Gainesville, Orlando and beyond.
“We treat our customers like we would like to be treated and provide them with peace of mind,” says Randi.
Though much has changed in the world since 1975, Crime Prevention remains committed to serving customers with fairness, quality and respect, and ensuring families in our communities are as safe as they can possibly be.
At Crime Prevention Security Systems, we’ve been neighbors serving neighbors for 40 years. If your family or business has security needs, please contact us today.
