Thieves and robbers target small businesses that are more likely to be vulnerable than bigger stores. With that in mind, small business owners should never be complacent because apart from financial losses and possible property damage, everyone’s safety on the premises is also put at risk.
Taking proactive measures in preventing theft and robbery is necessary for every business, regardless of size. But if you own a small business that criminals can perceive as vulnerable, your guard must be up way higher at all times.
Here are the best ways to prevent theft and robbery from happening to your small business:
Put up fences
Aluminum fence panels serve as a physical barrier against criminals who attempt to breach your premises while you’re closed. Although they might not stop a dedicated burglar, having a physical barrier around your property will be a good deterrent for most criminals. Why? Because if they get caught or accidentally trip an alarm, a fence will make their escape more difficult.
Install security cameras
Security camera technology has developed exponentially in the past decade. Today, cameras have better video quality, are more mobile, and store more data than their older counterparts. So much so that in the event of a theft or robbery, the chances of identifying and catching the culprit is much higher than when old cameras with grainy camera feeds were used.
But for most businesses, security cameras act mainly as a deterrent. When criminals know that they are being watched, they are less confident to steal or commit a robbery because they know there is a good chance that they will get caught.
Keep your side and back entrances locked
Always ensure that the side and back entrances of your business are locked at all times. Instruct your employees to do the same as well. And if possible, install doors that lock automatically when they close. Leaving a door unlocked just one time can already put your business at serious risk, more so if it’s left open overnight.
Set up alarms
Security alarms are critical in stopping a crime in progress, reducing the number of goods stolen and the amount of damage done on your property. If you don’t have any yet, install alarms at your place of business and ensure that they are in proper working order. Apart from security alarms, it’s also a good idea to set up a silent alarm in case of a robbery during the daytime.
Display warning signs
Warning signs that state the presence of security measures at your business are often enough to make potential criminals walk away. For example, display signs that say ‘This establishment is CCTV protected’ or ’24-hour security alarm’ in highly visible places both inside and outside of your establishment.
Don’t let anyone be alone
Never let yourself or an employee be alone in the store before and after it closes. If there is only one person in the establishment, criminals can easily force them to hand over the cash in the register or open the safe. So as much as possible, have more than one person to open and close the store.
It’s also a good safety measure to have employees leave the premises at the same time to ensure everyone has departed safely. If a person lags, a lurking criminal can force them to go back and open the doors for them.
Educate staff
Discuss a robbery plan with your employees so that they know what to do if your store ever encounters one. In this way, they can respond actively to the situation instead of freezing up, which tends to happen in most hold-up robberies.
In any case, the best way to handle a robbery is to stay calm and follow the robber’s instructions, all while avoiding sudden movements or trying to dissuade the robber.
Have good lighting
A well-lit store is not a good prospect for most criminals since they will easily be seen. Hence, ensure that your store’s interior, front entrances, and back entrances are well-lit. The area where your employees or customers park should also be properly illuminated since parking lots are the third most common place for crimes, such as robbery, theft, vandalism, and assault.
Robbery and theft are two of the worst things that can happen to a business, especially small ones who have a tight cash flow as it is. Fortunately, there is a multitude of ways with which businesses can protect themselves against crime, starting with the ones mentioned above.
What other ways can small businesses prevent robbery and theft on their premises? Share your pieces of advice in the comments below!