In only its second month in business, Sirius Security Services is already expanding.

Sirius owner/operator Sonny Gray said recently he's starting to see a demand for the company's mobile patrol unit to operate through the day, along with the 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. schedule it currently has.

While the night staff normally patrol Whitehorse keeping an eye out for vandalism, graffiti and the like, day patrollers will act more as a sort of mystery-shopper on-hand to keep an eye out for shoplifters for Sirius' commercial customers.

Over the past few months, businesses and the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce have voiced concerns about what appear to be rising rates of vandalism and graffiti in the city.

The chamber has hosted two presentations over the past two months on justice issues.

Gray noted in an interview many of the customers he's dealt with have had enough of the graffiti on buildings and want to see a change. That's where businesses like Sirius come in.

While private security firms don't have the authority to make formal arrests, Gray said his staff on night patrol are given camcorders to record video evidence when they see something.

They also call the RCMP when they spot something suspicious and use the powers of a citizen's arrest to detain a suspect until police arrive.

Gray is hopeful he can develop a good relationship with the public service where Sirius would work closely with the RCMP and city bylaw department, he said.

He noted that last week on a night patrol, a Sirius guard spotted a woman wanted by police. After contacting the RCMP, police arrived at the scene and arrested her, he said.

The mobile unit has been taking Crime Stoppers bulletins with them on routes in case they spot anyone from them. The latest bulletins are published most Fridays in the Star. (None were available for today's edition.)

'We're trying to build a strong rapport,' he said, adding eventually he'd like to see Sirius subcontracted to keep an eye on certain areas of town where the police can't always be.

That, he said, would enable RCMP to deal with some of the bigger issues, while still having someone keeping an eye on parts of the community and calling police when needed.

Sirius staffers were on hand at graduation events last month along with Canada Day celebrations and the patrols.

'All these guys were very satisfied,' Gray said, noting most said they'd likely be contacting him next year to provide service at the same events.

The numerous special events held each year in the territory such as graduation and Canada Day allow Gray the opportunity to look at his calendar and plan ahead for times when he may need part-time staff in addition to other regular contracts he has.

Just what the major security concerns are seem to depend on the customer. At construction sites, for example, theft and fire are the biggest issues, while a downtown business may have bigger concerns about graffiti at night and theft during the day, he said.

Gray also envisions Sirius working in apartment buildings around town. Some experience problems with graffiti, people sleeping in the halls, or domestic disputes that his guards can deal with or call RCMP about, he noted.

While business has been good in the first month in Whitehorse, things also seem to be positive in other areas.

'Surprisingly, we're expanding in a totally different direction,' he said, noting calls have been coming in for mining jobs where security guards are needed.

That's meant 'hiring like crazy' for jobs in Whitehorse and in the mining industry.

Finding people to work the mining jobs can be difficult, he admitted, noting the jobs usually involve a few weeks in camp at a time.

Gray has nine people on staff with more to be hired, he said.