In this guide
To choose a security company in Concepción, first ask for its National Police licence resolution, which Law 5424 requires (Hoy (opens in a new tab)). Then decide what you are protecting (a home, a shop with a till, an office or a ranch) and get at least two written quotes for the same scope, so you compare like with like rather than just the lowest price.
How to check a company is licensed
A specialised National Police department licenses private security firms and issues guards' ID cards (Hoy (opens in a new tab); ABC Color, 2023 (opens in a new tab)). The licence is granted by a Police Command resolution and requires, among other things, a registered company, premises, psychological and firearms tests for staff, life insurance for guards, and marked vehicles and uniforms (La Nación, 2023 (opens in a new tab)).
- Ask for the resolution and check it is in the name of the same company that will invoice you.
- Ask to see the ID cards of the guards and of the technicians who will install equipment.
- A guard you hire directly, without a licensed company, is not a security guard in the eyes of the Police (La Nación, 2023 (opens in a new tab)).
- In 2023 there were 135 licensed firms nationwide, after about 200 had been cancelled or suspended (La Nación, 2023 (opens in a new tab)). A uniform and a logo prove nothing.
What recent robberies in Concepción show
Two cases in the city show where businesses are exposed:
- A supermarket chain's offices, Itacurubí neighbourhood (March 2025): four or five armed men subdued staff and the owner and took the weekend takings, estimated at over G. 100 million. One wore a jacket with the company logo, which may have helped him get in (Última Hora, 2025 (opens in a new tab)).
- A grocery in Villa Armando (October 2025): two men on a motorbike came in at 14:20, held five women at gunpoint and took G. 15 to 20 million kept in the house. There was no CCTV, so investigators had to look for cameras in the area (Última Hora, 2025 (opens in a new tab)).
The takeaways:
- Access control: have the guard or doorman check identity even when someone wears company clothing.
- Cash: bank takings often instead of holding a whole weekend's worth in one place.
- Cameras: a camera on the entrance and the till helps police identify attackers. Make sure recordings are kept for several days and that you can download them.
- Timing: robberies are not only at night; the Villa Armando one was mid-afternoon.
Home, shop or ranch: what fits
- Home in town: monitored alarm for nights and trips away, sensors on doors and gate, lights front and back.
- Shop with a till: cameras on the entrance and till, a panic button linked to the monitoring centre and a routine for moving cash.
- Offices or warehouses: access control with a visitor log; a licensed guard if cash moves through.
- Ranch or farm: cattle theft is one of the biggest problems for producers in the department and hits Paso Horqueta hardest, according to the regional Rural Association (Última Hora, 2024 (opens in a new tab)). Ask whether the company covers rural areas, how long a patrol takes to reach your gate, and whether it offers rounds or cameras with phone alerts on pens and gates.
If you hire a fixed guard, ask how shifts are covered: 12-hour shifts are common in the sector (ABC Color, 2023 (opens in a new tab)), so a 24-hour post needs more than one person.
Cameras and alarms: what the law says
Article 33 of Law 5424/15 (opens in a new tab) says security systems are supplied exclusively by licensed security companies and licensed independent installers (DNCP (opens in a new tab)). With an unlicensed technician, police warn there is no guarantee the alarm will work during a break-in, and that person may keep access to your cameras (Hoy (opens in a new tab)).
- Get the camera passwords and change them once installation is done.
- Ask how many hours the system runs during a power cut.
What the contract should say
- The company's licence resolution.
- What is covered: areas, hours, number of guards or devices.
- What the monitoring centre does when the alarm goes off (call you, send a patrol or alert the Police) and how fast.
- A written equipment warranty, as article 11 of consumer law Law 1334 (opens in a new tab) requires.
- Term, how to cancel and who owns the equipment.
- Total price in guaraníes and an invoice for every payment (ABC Color (opens in a new tab)).
In a robbery or emergency, call 911 (ITU (opens in a new tab)); a private company does not replace the Police.
FAQ
How do I check a Concepción security company is licensed?
Ask for its National Police Command licence resolution and the ID cards of its guards and technicians. If it cannot show them, look elsewhere.
Do I need a 24-hour guard?
Not always. A monitored alarm and cameras are often enough for a home or small shop; a 24-hour post needs several guard shifts and costs more.
Can any technician install alarms and cameras?
No. Article 33 of Law 5424/15 reserves the supply of security systems to licensed companies and licensed independent installers.
What works for a ranch in Concepción department?
Ask whether the company covers rural areas, how long a patrol takes to arrive and whether it offers rounds or cameras with phone alerts on pens and gates. Cattle theft is one of the biggest problems for local producers.
