AlliedBarton buys Fla.-based firm

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa.--Guard firm AlliedBarton Security Services expanded its presence in the residential market with its Feb. 1 acquisition of The Fox Group International, of West Palm Beach, Fla. The Fox Group immediately assumed the AlliedBarton name and Timothy Fox, former chief executive officer of The Fox Group, has joined AlliedBarton as vice president of residential services. The Fox Group's nearly 200 employees have joined AlliedBarton as well. The Fox Group's properties included gated communities in Palm Beach, Broward and Martin County, Fox said. Alan Stein, vice president of marketing for AlliedBarton, said Fox has a reputation for well trained, service-oriented guards. Bringing Fox onboard will strengthen AlliedBarton's leadership team for residential services. "First we're going to concentrate on Florida," he said, "since the state has a large market of gated homes." Then, Fox will be going "state by state," working to improve other gated community programs. Fox said his goal is "growing the business to do what I can to enhance training programs [for gated communities] and meet the specific needs of [each] community." AlliedBarton has a presence in 46 states. In communities that have in-home security systems, Fox guards often work with the companies, sometimes acting as primary responders when an alarm goes off. "They do the perimeter check and the police don't come until we say they're needed."