Each year, crime costs businesses billions of pounds. Vandalism, shoplifting, burglary, and employee theft are all just a portion of the damages that businesses suffer. Since it cannot be guaranteed that the business will never suffer from some sort of criminal loss, having some additional security features in place will help to protect and minimise the risk of loss or damage. For example, investing in a high security locks system will help secure access to the business and have better monitoring of the whereabouts of your stuff.
Security tips for buildings and property
- Install good lighting around the building and in the parking lot. Eliminating hiding spots is a great way to prevent anyone from sneaking around the area.
- Interior lights on a timer can keep criminals guessing as to whether or not there is anyone in the building, which will likely work as a deterrent.
- Keep window shades down, eliminating the amount of valuable items visible from the outside, and keep these valuable items such as purses and backpacks away. Also, don’t leave them unattended (opt to keep them in the trunk of your vehicle if they are not needed during the workday).
- Lights that are motion-activated near the entry of the business will deter thieves and provide a better lighting for employees coming or doing when the sun is down.
- A closed-circuit camera will monitor all people entering and exiting the building, along with the time and date of the occurrence.
- Keep in mind that community efforts are also a great way to take charge of business security; a few businesses can come together and form a neighbourhood watch group to alert each other about any criminal or suspicious activity.
Proper management
- Keep money counting out of the presence of anyone that isn’t part of the company, even a spouse or relative of an employee. They have no business around the funds.
- Make deposits during business hours and make them often. This limits the amount of cash on hand at any given moment. Two people should sign checks as well.
- Have more than one person supervise the payroll process.
- A keyless entry system can limit the amount of individuals that can enter the facility, especially if the turnover rate is high.
- Encourage employees to speak up if they have seen some suspicious activity.
- Implement a system for locking doors and turning security systems on at the end of the day.
- Keep a record of all highly valuable office equipment including serial numbers.
- All new employees should have background checks performed.
- If something were to happen, be sure that there is an area in the office where customers and employees can take refuge or escape from a dangerous situation.
- Write a security policy and enter it into the employee handbook. This should include: areas with limited access, visitor restrictions, a policy for removal of company property, and a plan with steps to take in the event that a violent or threatening incident occurs.
No matter how small the measures you decide to take to secure your business are, they will definitely prove to pay off in the long run. Don’t compromise on security and consult specialists if necessary. Keep in mind that some security services provide free consultations for businesses, so use this opportunity to make your business a safer place to be in, both for yourself and for your employees.
