Burglar-Proofing Your Business: Nine Tips for Business Security

Many business owners take basic steps to protect their business from break-ins-but most don't think a burglary is really likely until it happens to them. Don't wait for a break-in to put a solid business security plan in place. Here are a few tips on how you can protect your business, your employees, and your livelihood from robbery.



For retail: Make sure you know when someone enters the store. Many retail businesses install a chime over the door so that employees know whenever someone enters or leaves. This allows for better customer service-if your employees know when a customer is coming in, they're more prepared to help. It also ensures that nobody can sneak up on you or your employees.



For office space: Install a swipe-card system. If you don't have a way to ensure only employees enter your office space, anyone could come right in. Office intrusions are more common than most people realize-and an intruder could get a look at sensitive documents or steal expensive equipment before anyone realizes what's happening. Your employees shouldn't have to be on the lookout for intruders-it could possibly put them in danger. Take the pressure off yourself and them by locking all your doors and giving card keys to your employees.



Light your car park. Does your business have a big car park or garage? Do any of your employees leave after dark? If so, it's crucial to ensure that your parking area is brightly lit and that employees can walk safely to their cars. Crimes are common in dark car parks and garages, particularly late at night. Many concerned employers encourage their workers to ask security for a walk to their car. If you employ security personnel, make sure your employees know that they're ready and available to accompany them across the car park or through a garage.



Use a safe. No security system is foolproof. If an intruder does get past your security measures, make sure your important documents or most valuable items aren't easily accessible. Keep them in a strong, high-quality safe, either bolted to the floor or installed in a wall or floor so that burglars can't remove the safe from the premises. Many businesses choose a fire safe to protect their most crucial documents, so that they're protected from fire as well as intruders. If employees handle large cash deposits, install a drop safe.



Watch your employees. Many crimes against businesses are perpetrated from within. As an employer, you want to trust your employees-but as a realistic business owner, you must take some precautions. Install cameras to keep an eye not just on your customers, but also on your employees-there should be a camera at the cash drawer as well as on the sales floor. Keep your most important documents in a safe, and keep the combination to yourself. In addition, make sure employees are aware of proper cash-handling procedures and have a firm policy regarding petty cash.



Keep your business well lit. There should always be perimeter lights around your business-whether a motion-sensor light at the doors and windows of your city storefront, or security lights all around your building. Burglars choose the easiest and safest buildings to break into-and can be easily scared away in most cases. Constant lighting isn't always as effective as motion-sensor lighting, which gives the impression that someone has spotted the burglar and turned on the light.



Install an alarm system. If someone breaks a window in your store, an alarm should go off immediately-both producing a loud noise and automatically alerting the authorities. Loud noises scare off most burglars, particularly in more populated areas.



Use break-resistant glass. Not all windows are created equally. Don't make it easy for burglars to break your window or glass storefront and enter your shop or office building. Unbreakable polycarbonate can be a great way to keep would-be robbers out, especially if you have high-value items set up in window displays.



Don't leave expensive items in window displays overnight. There's a reason most jewelry stores take pricey jewels out of their windows when they close the store. Even if you use break-resistant glass, it's best not to tempt burglars by leaving your best goods up front when you close. Keep your more expensive items towards the back of the store, and remove expensive displays from windows when possible as part of your lock-up procedure.



No owner thinks a burglary will happen to their business. But no matter what business you're in, it's important to take precautions. Criminals usually look for the easiest target-not always the biggest payout. You may not think your business contains anything worth stealing, but don't take the chance that burglars share your opinion. Keep your business from being an easy target, and take some steps to protect it. It's always worth it.



About the author



A Neary is director at The Safe Shop online retailer of safes and fire protection security devices for home and business. Visit http://www.thesafeshop.co.uk/ for a range of quality security and fire safes.