Business Crime Prevention Tip


Effective business protection involves more than responding to incidents after they occur; it requires the implementation of proactive strategies aimed at preventing criminal activity and securing critical assets, data, and personnel. By adopting comprehensive crime prevention measures, business owners can significantly reduce potential risks while promoting a safe and trustworthy environment for both employees and customers.

Employee Safety

  • Provide adequate and ongoing safety training to employees.
  • Make sure all machinery is well maintained and has adequate protective guards.
  • Provide employees with the required safety gear.
  • Always maintain a clear path and quick access to the emergency exits.
  • Designate a secured area with lockers for employees to store personal belongings.
  • Schedule more than one employee for late night closing shifts.
  • Always lock your vehicles and remove all valuables.
  • Make sure private areas are hard to access for non-employees.

Exterior Perimeter

  • All entrances should be well lit.
  • Install anti-tampering cages over outdoor light fixtures to protect the light bulb.
  • Replace burned-out or broken lights immediately.
  • Outdoor light fixtures should be clean and utilize the proper light type, i.e., high pressure sodium bulbs, etc., to maximize lighting effectiveness.
  • For employee safety, ensure proper lighting coverage of all vehicles in your parking lot.
  • Install bollards close together to prevent vehicles from driving through.
  • Maintain clear visibility from the store to the street, sidewalk, parking areas, loading areas and passing traffic.
  • Keep landscaping away from windows and doors. Don’t provide concealment or climbing platforms for a burglar.
  • Display your address clearly on both the front and rear of your building.
  • If possible, fence the entire perimeter of your property with high quality fence that cannot be cut or damaged easily.
  • Gates should have a pre-determined opening and locking schedule with one person responsible for ensuring the gate is properly locked.
  • If there are security guards, ensure they patrol on a random circuit and that they check all exterior doors and windows on a regular basis.

Points of Entry

  • Install an anti-pry metal plate on all exterior doors. Anti-pry plates are bolted to the door and cover the gap between the door & door frame so the lock and frame areas cannot be split apart to gain entry.
  • Install a door collar (a U-shaped metal sleeve that fits under the door handle and the deadbolt) for additional support.
  • Glass doors and windows should be reinforced with security film.
  • Ensure all exterior doors, windows and gates are locked at the end of the day.
  • Protect vulnerable entries, such as glass doors or bay doors, by install bollards (rigid posts) in front of it.
  • "Barn door braces” can be installed to reinforce bay doors.
  • Use good quality padlock on the interior of the bay door.
  • Install window bars or roll down shutters on glass doors or windows to reinforce them.
  • Windows should be free of clutter, frosting or advertising to allow visibility in and out of the business.

Shoplifting Prevention

  • If you have CCTV, check that it is in good working order and the correct date and time are recorded.
  • Train employees to keep an eye on anyone who is loitering, ask if they need assistance.
  • Ensure store and display shelves are neat and organized to allow clear lines of sight across the store.
  • Have the checkout counter near the front of the store.
  • Install surveillance cameras and make sure date and time stamps are accurate.
    Clearly mark public area and staff only areas.
  • Prevent grab-and-runs by keeping merchandise away from exits.
  • Keep expensive items in locked cases.
  • Make sure to have an adequate level of staffing at all times to ensure there are enough staff to provide customer service as well as watch the floor.
  • Share shoplifting prevention tips with employees to ensure they know how to prevent a potential crime.
  • Utilize mirrors in the corners of the ceiling to prevent theft.
  • Put up theft prevention signs that advertise security methods, fines imposed and maximum criminal shoplifting charge.
  • Call the police for every attempted theft no matter how little the values may be will help your business stay safe from the antics of petty criminals.
  • Develop a strict refund/exchange policy to discourage fraudulent returns and avoid letting professional shoplifter to take advantage of you.
  • Install an entrance/exit alert sensor. This is extremely useful for low-volume businesses so that you will be notified whenever someone comes in or leaves your store.
  • Monitor dressing rooms and restrooms. Staff an employee near the fitting room to monitor and track items entering and exiting. Do not allow un-paid items to be taken into the restrooms.

 

Back