In this guide
To hire a security company in Santa Rita, start by asking for its licence resolution from the National Police: without it, no contract is worth signing. Then decide what you need to protect (a house, a shop on Route PY06, a warehouse or a farm) and get written quotes with the same scope from two or three companies.
How do I know a company is licensed?
In Paraguay private security is supervised by the National Police through its department for private security companies (ABC Color (opens in a new tab)). Each company needs a resolution from Police headquarters to operate. Requirements the Police listed to La Nación (opens in a new tab) include being a registered company, psychological and weapons-handling tests for staff, its own premises, life insurance for guards, patrol vehicles and an identifiable uniform.
In practice:
- Ask for the resolution number and date, and the company's tax ID (RUC).
- Ask whether the licence covers what you need: guards, electronic security or both.
- Be wary of a freelance "guard": according to the Police, someone who does not belong to a licensed company is not a security guard.
Who can install cameras and alarms?
Article 33 of Law 5424/15 says security systems "shall be supplied exclusively by security companies and independent installers (where permitted), licensed and recognised as such in the specialty" (quoted in a public procurement file (opens in a new tab)). If you sign up for monitoring, ask who the licensed provider is, not just who runs the cables.
What to protect first in Santa Rita
Santa Rita sits on Route PY06, about 70 km from Ciudad del Este and 340 km from Asunción, and close to half its residents are Brazilian (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)). Many local firms work in Portuguese; ask for the contract in a language you understand.
- Cars in the yard or on the street. In June 2026 two cars were stolen in one night, one from a yard in the Esquina Gaucha neighbourhood and one parked outside a home in Dewes; a CCTV camera recorded one theft and the owner handed the footage to the Police (Última Hora (opens in a new tab)). If your car stays outside, have a camera cover the gate and parking spot, with good night lighting.
- Shops on the highway. In June 2026 an armed group attacked three bank branches and an exchange office in the centre, on Route PY06 (Última Hora (opens in a new tab)). A camera will not stop that kind of attack; what you can ask for is monitoring with instant alerts, a panic button and a clear protocol for your staff.
- Warehouses, silos or farms. They are far from the centre and the police station. Ask how response works in rural areas and whether the internet or mobile signal is strong enough for monitoring.
Guard, monitoring or cameras?
- House in town: monitored alarm plus cameras on entrances and parking.
- Shop: monitoring with response, cameras that also record to the cloud and, if closing time justifies it, a guard.
- Warehouse, depot or farm: guards or patrols, with the contract stating how many people, which shifts and who covers absences.
What the quote should say
Ask every company to quote the same list: number and position of cameras and sensors, equipment price separate from the monthly fee, and what monitoring includes. Before signing, clarify:
- What the control room does when the alarm goes off: calls you, sends a unit or alerts the Police, and how fast.
- Whether footage is stored only on a device in the house or also in the cloud.
- What happens during a power or internet cut: backup battery and phone alerts.
- Whether you own the equipment or it is on loan, the minimum term and the cancellation cost.
And the Police?
Private security does not replace the Police. Santa Rita's local unit is Comisaría 18ª (Última Hora (opens in a new tab)); in an emergency call 911. The line gets thousands of calls a day, many of them pranks (Última Hora (opens in a new tab)), so speak clearly and give the exact address. If you have cameras, keep the footage and hand it over when you report.
Next step: walk your house or shop with a notepad, list every entry point (gate, doors, windows, back, parking) and send that list to two companies, asking for their licence resolution and a written quote.
FAQ
Who licenses security companies in Paraguay?
The National Police, through its department that supervises private security companies. Each company needs a resolution from Police headquarters to operate.
Can I hire a private guard on my own in Santa Rita?
According to the Police, a guard must work for a licensed security company; someone working independently is not considered a security guard.
Can any technician install cameras and an alarm?
Law 5424/15 reserves the supply of security systems to licensed security companies and independent installers where permitted. Ask to see the licence.
Do cameras help if my car is stolen?
They can: in a 2026 car theft in Santa Rita, CCTV footage was handed to the Police. The camera needs to cover the parking spot and have good night lighting.
