History

In 1999, Securitas developed a platform in North America with Pinkerton’s, Inc., the company’s largest acquisition to date. During the next year, Securitas purchased several more U.S. security companies, and acquired Burns International in August 2000. In July 2003, the combined American acquisitions became Securitas Security Services USA, Inc., a leading security company that works with more than 80 percent of the Fortune 1000 companies and has annual revenues in excess of $2.5 billion. Today, Securitas has operations in over 30 countries worldwide.

Pinkerton and Burns - Securitas Companies

Like Securitas Group, Pinkerton had a rich history dating back to 1850 in Chicago, when Allan Pinkerton, the “original private eye,” founded Pinkerton’s National Detective Agency. Pinkerton was employed to protect railroad property and first gained fame for exposing the activities of a band of counterfeiters. In 1861, he achieved national recognition when he uncovered and foiled a plot to assassinate Abraham Lincoln. Soon after the outbreak of the Civil War, Pinkerton helped organize a federal secret service, of which he became chief. His pursuits of notorious outlaws such as Jesse James, the Reno brothers, and the Wild Bunch (a group of bandits led by Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid) brought extraordinary visibility to his agency. During the 1980’s, American Brands acquired Pinkerton. Later, California Plant Protection acquired Pinkerton from American Brands and the two companies combined to became one of the leading security companies in the country. Securitas acquired Pinkerton in 1999.

In 2000, Securitas Group acquired another legendary, American private security firm, Burns International. Founded in 1909, the William J. Burns Detective Agency was also headquartered in Chicago. Burns was a man of integrity who had served as a national crime watchdog. During his career, he was known as “the greatest detective the U.S. had ever produced.” In 1921, he was appointed director of the newly formed Bureau of Investigation that later became the FBI. Burns’ drive, determination and commitment to service helped his company grow from a small detective agency to the second largest security provider in the U.S.

That same year, Securitas Group made a number of other U.S. acquisitions. First Security, American Protective Services, Doyle Protective Service, Smith Security, and APG Security were all purchased, giving the company a strong American foundation. The acquisitions also positioned Securitas Group as the market leader in the United States with nearly a 20 percent share of the guarding business.

In July 2003, all of the U.S. operations of Securitas Group united under the single name of Securitas Security Services USA, Inc.