Burglaries
Businesses are four times as apt to be burglarized as homes, and small
businesses are
targets in over half of the commercial burglaries committed. Moreover, few burglars are
caught. Almost 80 percent of all burglaries go unsolved.
These statistics emphasize the fact that your business must be made as
burglar-resistant as possible. There are many measures you can take to
make it clear to
potential burglars that your business is no place to do
their business!
Consult your local crime prevention officer for information. Remember -
law enforcement
agencies would much rather work with you to prevent
crimes than to spend time apprehending
criminals.
Follow as many as possible of the preventive measures discussed on the following pages.
Preventive
Measures - The Exterior
Adequately light all exterior sides of your business (including alleyways)
and the
parking lot, using vandal-resistant fixtures. As most store
burglaries occur at night when
it's dark, lighting serves as one of the most important deterrents.
Install an alarm system and check it regularly for failure. Your crime
prevention
officer can assist you in making the right choice for a system.
Past conspicuously a
notice that shows you have an alarm.
Reinforce doors with long screws or bolts on heavy-duty strike plates,
pop out proof
hinges, or hole/nail combo at top and bottom. Replace all hollow-core doors.
Install deadbolt locks on all outside doors and double cylinder
deadbolts on interior
doors with glass panels. Check that the locks
are properly installed.
Issue as few keys as possible and change the locks if keys are lost or
most returned by
a former employee. Don't tag keys with the name of
your business. Keep a log of keys
issued.
Secure all roof openings, air ducts, skylights, air conditioning units,
hatchways,
doorway transoms, sidewalk and basement openings.
Don't provide concealment or climbing platforms for the burglar. Clear
and maintain all
debris, weeds and shrubbery away from windows and
doors. Lock up ladders and all tools
that could make a burglar's job
easier.
Protect windows and glass doors with transparent window security
film, security
glazing, or roll-down security panels; or install burglar-
resistant glass. Use bars or
grating on rear and side windows.
PLEASE NOTE: To comply with fire safety ordinances for door
and window
security, consult with your fire department.
Preventive
Measures - The Interior
Keep a minimum of cash on the premises. Leave cash registers empty
and open after
hours.
Move valuable merchandise and business equipment such as computers
away from the
windows or doors to prevent smash-and -grab thefts.
Make it difficult to steal merchandise. ie. bolt breaks down, alternate
the dire
direction of hangers on the rack, tie appliance cords together,
chain bicycles, lock small
valuables in cabinets and showcases.
Arrange window displays so that passersby and police can see into the
store.
Anchor your safe to the for in a well-lit, highly visible location. Keep
all valuable
documents and items, including company vehicle keys, in
safe.
Always leave an interior light that is visible from the street. IF for any
reason it is
off, the darkened store will arouse suspicion.
Finally, don't lock a burglar inside when you leave. Inspect all closets,
bathrooms and
other hiding places before closing. For personal safety,
try to have two people present at
both opening and closing.
If you suspect that your business has been burglarized, call the police immediately. Do
not try to enter the premises - the burglar may still be
inside. Don't disturb any
evidence. consult with your local crime
prevention officer to discuss how to best protect
your business from
another burglary.
Robberies
The majority of robberies involve either the threat or the use of a weapon, making this
crime against business the most dangerous to employees and customers. Furthermore,
according to the Small Business Administration, two-thirds of all money obtained by
robbery goes from small businesses.
It is therefore imperative that businesses take as many measures as
possible to prevent
robbery. Some of the following recommendations
may not be feasible in certain businesses.
But the more of them your
are able to follow, the greater security image you will present,
and the
less chance that your business will become a target for robbery.
Preventive
Measures - the premises
Install sufficient lighting to provide good visibility for the interior and
exterior of
your business and the parking lot. Well-lighted areas enable employees to keep an eye out
for suspicious-looking persons, and it
also increases the possibility - in the event of a
holdup- that someone
outside will be able to see the robbery occurring.
To further enhance two-way visibility at your cash register area, avoid
hanging signs
or posters on the front doors and windows.
Practice and advertise a cash control policy. Law enforcement experts
consider this
measure to be one of the strongest deterrents for
robberies. Keep the lowest possible
amount of cash on the premises
and adopt a policy to limit the amount of currency for
small purchases..
Let everyone know that you practice these cash- control measures.
Post a
sign, such as $50.00 "Maximum Cash in Register" near your
checkout stand.
Keep "bait money" in your till. Record the dates and serial numbers
of a few
bills and keep them separate, such as at the bottom of a till
section, as "bait
money" that can be traced by the police.
Place colored tape markers at the main entrance to help employees
gauge the height of a
robber as he leaves your business. Using different
colors, place the strips of tape at the
5', 5'6", and 6" heights.
Install an alarm system. The most important factor in alarm selection is
the safety
with which it can be activated without arousing the robber's
suspicions. A "bill
trap" or "money clip" alarm is silently activated and
considered to be one
of the safest types of alarms during robberies.
Consult your police department's crime
prevention officer for
information.
Make sure that side or back doors are kept locked at all times to
prevent a potential
robber from entering undetected.
Install an enunciator on all unlocked doors.
Vary your banking routine. Deposit money as often as practical, but
never less than
daily. Carry the cash in different containers and avoid
using a money bag. Bank at various
times of the day, so a routine cannot
be determined by anyone causing your business.
Preventive
Measures - Employees
If possible have two persons on hand at both opening and closing, the
times that are
most vulnerable to robberies. before opening have on
employee check the business before
others enter. At closing, checking
all rooms for persons before locking up.
Have employees use the main entrance to avoid the chance that a back
door will be left
unlocked accidentally.
Post your law enforcement agency's emergency telephone number on
or near all of the
phones in your business. Keep suspect identification
forms obtained from your law
enforcement agency on hand for all
employees.
Train employees to be aware of unusual behavior. Inside the business,
this may include
"customers" who seem to be loitering or glancing
around the store while
appearing to shop or browse through a magazine. Employees should also be concerned with
customers wearing
inappropriate clothing, such as someone wearing an overcoat in
hot
weather. Outside, be aware of individuals in parked cars and
telephone booths, two
favorite observation post for casing a
business. Call law enforcement and ask for a patrol
check.
Have employees greet customers as they enter the store and ask if
they need help.
Robbers don't like to be noticed or to have personal
interaction.
Finally, after these preventive measures have been taken, walk and talk
through the
steps of a robbery and the follow-up with your employees.
Review these steps periodically.
In the Event of a
Robbery
Despite taking preventive measures, there is still always a chance that
a robbery may
occur. In that event, it is crucial to know how to handle
the situation to protect the
safety of employees and customers.
The average robbery takes less than two minutes. Once a robbery
begins, your main
objective is to end it as quickly and safely as possible.
NEVER RESIST A ROBBER! You are dealing with a highly-volatile
individual and the stakes
are not worth serious injury or death.
Be as cooperative and efficient as possible. Remember, the longer the
robbery takes,
the more nervous the robber becomes.
Follow his instructions exactly. If he asks for tens s and twenties, for
example, give
him those only.
Inform the robber of any unexpected moves or possible surprises. If he
wants the money
in a bag and you have to reach below to get one, tell
him what you are going to do. If
someone is in the back room or is
expected in the store, let him know.
Do not try to use an alarm, especially of the hand- or foot - activated
type, unless
you can do so without any obvious movement which might
cause the robber to react in panic.
A silent "bill trip "alarm can be used.
(Please see under Preventive Measures.)
If possible, try to take note of the robber's appearance and his height
from the height
marker gauge as he exits the store.
Don't chase or follow the robber. To chase a robber is to invite violence
and the
police could also mistake you for one of the criminals.
Following The Robbery
Once the robber has left the business, try to observe through the window:
- type of getaway vehicle
- license plate number
- any accomplice
- direction of escape
Call law enforcement immediately, using the emergency number posted
by the telephone.
Do this even if you already have activated an alarm.
State your name, address, telephone
number and what happened. Stay
on the line until they tell you to hang up.
Discontinue business and close the sore if at all possible.
Ask any witnesses to stay until police arrive. While they wait, encourage
them to write
down what they remember. IF they can't stay, get their names
and addresses so police can
reach them later.
Fill in your suspect identification form while you are waiting for the police.
Write
down exactly what the robber said and any details you can call
about the robber's
appearance, speech and mannerisms.
Do not discuss details of the robbery or compare notes with anyone else including
fellow employees or witnesses. It's easy to become confused.
Protect the crime scene including fingerprints or any evidence such as a
demand note.
Use a box, bag or anything else handy to cover or block off
any merchandise, counter area
or door handle which the robber may have touched. Avoid handling these items yourself.
Give the recorded serial numbers of your bait money to the police.
Let the police answer any inquiries from the news media. Do not disclose the amount of
money taken with anyone except law enforcement.
Preventive
Measures - Employees
Have employees greet all customers as they enter the store and ask if
they need help.
One phrase every shoplifter hates to hear is " can I help
you?" Acknowledge
waiting customers with a polite remark sushi as
"I'll be with you in a minute."
Your customers will appreciate the
attention and any shoplifters won't.
Train employees to spot potential shoplifters.
Be aware of customers who:
- enter the store in a group ( particularly youths), then break up and
go in different
directions.
- attempt to monopolize a salesperson’s time or distract them. The
shopper may be
covering for an accomplice stealing elsewhere in
the store.
- linger in none area, loiter near stockrooms or other restricted
areas or who wander
aimlessly through the store.
- handle a lot of merchandise, but take an unusually long time to
make a decision.
When ringing up merchandise at the cash register, have employees:
- check the lower racks of shopping cars.
- watch for switched price tags.
- inspect containers which could conceal stolen items.
- tape or staple the sales receipt to the bag.
- Show a customer only one valuable item at a time.
- Ensure that there are an adequate number of employees working
during peak business
hours.
Periodically review these preventive measures with employees.
Apprehending a
Shoplifter
As a business owner, it is important to be knowledgeable of the
shoplifting laws in
Washington State. They can be obtained by
contacting your local law enforcement agency or
the Washington
State Crime Prevention Association.
Washington State law allows you to detain a suspect at any time after
you have
witnessed concealment of your merchandise. However,
customers may not be
"frisked," have their packages randomly
inspected or be searched unless the
suspect has been placed under
arrest.
If you suspect a shoplifter, it is generally advisable to let him/her pass
the last
possible point of payment before apprehending. The suspect
does not have to leave the
store before you detain him/her.
Initial contact with the suspect should be verbal, not physical, and a
non- accusatory
approach is preferable. Identify yourself and inquire
about the merchandise "Excuse
me." I am the manager of the store. I
believe you have some merchandise which you
have forgotten to pay
for. Would you please come to my office so that we can straighten
out this matter?"
Call the police immediately.
While detaining the suspect, makes sure that there is an employee
present who is the
same sex as the suspect. Female suspects should
never be detained in private solely by a
male.
Internal Theft
Internal theft costs businesses an estimate $27.2 billion in 1991. Thirty
percent of
all small business failures are due to internal theft.
The variety of ways in which an employee can steal from a company is
limited only by
the imagination. Some of the more common methods
include pilferage of merchandise,
supplies or cash, non-registered sales,
lapping, check-kiting, payroll fraud, expense
account fraud, creation of
phony suppliers and various forms of business sabotage.
There are some very effective measures you can take to prevent internal
theft, but the
most important step is for you - the employer - to set a
good example. Don't go out to
lunch, taking twenty dollars from the till
on the way. Don't borrow tools from work to use
at home. Inspire
honesty with your employees by following your own company's policy
Preventive
Measures - Employee Hiring
- Thoroughly investigate the background of prospective employees.
- Check personal and
credit references.
- Diplomatically inform new employees of your company's internal
theft policy, what
constitutes "internal theft" and provide this
- information to each new employee
in writing.
- Number and log all keys before issuing them to new employees.
- Ensure that employees who are hired to handle accounting and
funds are adequately
bonded.
- If possible, never allow only one employee sole responsibility for
the company's
accounting.
Preventive
Measures - Employee Relations
- Encourage a spirit of teamwork. Provide a consistent example of
honesty, fairness, and
accountability. Promptly address any
employee concerns or problems.
- If an employee seems upset., take the time to ask why.
- Remove temptation and opportunity:
- Don't leave the keys in company vehicles.
- Organize merchandise in a neat and orderly fashion so that it will
be easy to identify
if an item is missing.
- Don't leave cash or company checks laying around.
- Clearly label equipment, tools and supplies with the company's
name.
- Don't leave a supply of signed blank checks when you go on
vacation.
- Spot-check accounting records. Personally approve credit
memos, bad-debt write-off,
unusual discounts, and other
documentation for sales returns and allowances.
- Conduct "exit interviews" with employees who are leaving.
Significant
information may be revealed regarding various kinds
of internal theft at the point when an
employee is leaving the
company.
Vandalism
Vandalism, including arson, graffiti, and other forms of property damage
and
defacement, are not only crimes against individual merchants, but
also crime s against the
neighborhood.
Vandalism that goes unrepaired detracts from the appearance of the neighborhood, not
just the building vandalized. It also sends a message
that this kind of behavior, and
perhaps other criminal behavior, is
tolerated.
Community efforts are often an effective way to deal with vandalism.
Your local Chamber
of Commerce or Merchants' Association are
excellent focal pints for developing an
anti-vandalism strategy for the
community. Send the message that vandalism and graffiti
are not
normal in your community and will not be tolerated.
Together we do make a difference!
Preventive
Measures - the premises
- Paint over or remove graffiti immediately. The Moore typical
graffiti becomes in an
area, the more will be written there.
- Repair vandalism damage immediately.
- Make sure that property owners of vacant buildings keep them
in good repair and properly
secured.
- Keep the neighborhood clean.
- Discourage loitering in service areas or on streets.
- Make sure every business has a visible sign on or in its location.
- Develop a Neighborhood Business Watch system.
- Report vandalism activity to the police.
- Do not ignore it when your business is not directly involved.
Sooner or later it will
be.
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