Security during termite tenting in San Diego
A fumigation tent tells everyone on the street that nobody will be home for two or three nights. We post a licensed officer outside the tent, or run patrol checks, until the fumigator clears the house and you are back inside.
- Overnight or 24-hour coverage
- Officers never enter the tent
- Scheduled around your fumigation dates
How much does security for termite tenting cost in San Diego?
Most San Diego homeowners book an unarmed officer overnight for the two or three nights a house is tented for termites. MT Security charges $18 to $35 per hour with a four-hour minimum, so two 12-hour overnight shifts typically run about $650 to $1,050. Round-the-clock coverage and patrol checks are quoted on request. Call (619) 765-2222.
Why a tented house needs someone watching it.
Fumigation for drywood termites is routine in San Diego County. So is the problem that comes with it: an empty house, full of belongings, wrapped in a tent that announces how long it will stay empty.
An advertised empty house
The tent goes up, the family leaves, and the TVs, jewelry and electronics often stay behind.
A uniformed officer and a vehicle parked in plain view all night. Most would-be burglars simply move on.
Cut tarps and pried doors
Thieves slit tent seams or lift the tarp to reach a back door or window, out of sight of the street.
Scheduled walks around the full tent line. Seams, sand snakes, doors and windows checked and photographed each round.
Someone gets hurt
Fumigant gas is deadly. A curious kid, a trespasser or a thief who goes inside can die on your property.
Officers keep everyone back from the tent and call 911 and the fumigator's emergency line immediately. They never lift a tarp or go inside.
Aeration day
When the tarps come off, the house airs out with doors or windows open and it is still not safe for you to go back in.
Coverage continues through aeration until the fumigator tests the air and posts the re-entry notice.
Cars, packages and the yard
Vehicles in the driveway, deliveries on the step and tools in the yard are easy pickings.
The officer watches the whole lot, not just the tent, and logs anything delivered or disturbed in the morning report.
Who calls us for fumigation security.
What you get.
Coverage built around the fumigation schedule
Send us the tent date, the aeration window and the fumigator's contact. The officer arrives when you leave and stays until clearance.
Licensed, uniformed officers
Every officer holds a California guard card. The company is licensed as Private Patrol Operator PPO 14929 and carries liability insurance.
A written report every morning
Arrival and departure times, each perimeter check, anything unusual and dated photos, sent to you by text or email.
Coordination with your fumigator
We keep the fumigation company's emergency number on the post and call them first about any tent problem.
Posted officer or patrol checks
A posted officer all night is the strongest option. Several drive-by patrol checks a night cost less and suit lower-risk streets.
One phone number, any hour
Questions while you are away go to Michael or a supervisor at (619) 765-2222, day or night.
Pricing
| Service | Rate | What that covers |
|---|---|---|
| Unarmed officer | $18 to $35 | Per hour. Four-hour minimum. |
| Two overnight shifts | $650 to $1,050 | Two 12-hour nights. Typical single-family tenting. |
| 24-hour coverage, three days | $1,900 to $2,800 | Larger homes, condo and apartment buildings. |
| Patrol checks | Quoted | Several drive-by checks a night instead of a posted officer. |
Holiday and same-day bookings sit at the higher end. Book as soon as your fumigation date is set.
From fumigation date to move-back-in.
Send us the dates
Address, tent date, expected clearance and the fumigation company's name. Call or use the form below.
Get a fixed price in writing
Usually within two hours. Posted officer, patrol checks, or a mix of both.
The officer arrives when you leave
Positioned in view of the street with a vehicle, walking the tent line on a schedule.
Coverage through aeration
We stay until the fumigator posts the re-entry notice, not just until the tarps come off.
A report each morning
Times, checks, photos and anything that happened, so you are not left wondering.
Common questions
Do burglars really target houses that are tented for termites?
Yes. A fumigation tent tells the whole street that nobody will be home for two or three days, and Southern California has a long history of burglaries at tented homes, including thieves who cut through the tarps. The fumigator installs secondary locks on the doors, but a lock does not stop someone who has hours alone with no one watching.
Will your officer go inside the tent or the house?
No, never. Fumigant gas can kill, and only the licensed fumigation crew may enter before the house is cleared. Our officers stay outside the tent, keep people away from it, and call 911 and the fumigation company if anything looks wrong.
How long is a house tented for termites in San Diego?
Usually two to three days from the time the tent goes up to the time you can move back in, including the aeration period. Your fumigation company sets the exact schedule. Book security for the whole time you are out, not just the nights the tarps are on.
Aren't the warning signs and the gas enough to keep people out?
They stop some people, not all. Someone determined to get in may ignore the signs, and a person who goes inside can be seriously hurt or killed on your property. A visible officer keeps people from trying in the first place.
Can you cover a condo building or apartment complex being fumigated?
Yes. When a whole building is tented every unit is empty at once. We post one or more officers or run patrol checks around the full perimeter, and we can report to the HOA board or property manager each morning.
I run a pest control company. Can I refer my customers to you?
Yes. Many fumigators like to offer their customers a security option. Send them our number or have them use the quote form, and we coordinate directly with your crew on tent and clearance times.
What should I take with me before the tent goes up?
Take jewelry, cash, firearms, important documents, laptops and anything you cannot replace. Your fumigator will also give you a list of food, medicine and other items to remove or bag. Security lowers the risk of a break-in. It does not replace taking valuables with you.
Get your quote in writing
No sales call, no pressure. Tell us the property, the hours and the problem. We answer with a fixed price and a start date.
- Written quote, usually within two hours
- Most posts start in 24 to 48 hours. Same-day when it is urgent.
- Month-to-month available. No long lock-in to get started.
- The price we quote is the price you pay
Prefer to talk? (619) 765-2222, any hour.