Commercial Burglary Prevention Thomas Protective Service, Inc.

Transcription

1 Cmmercial Burglary Preventin Thmas Prtective Service, Inc. ThmasPrtective.cm Natinwide

2 A cmmercial burglary is cmmitted when there is unlawful entry f a cmmercial structure with the intent t cmmit a crime, usually a theft. It is a nn-cnfrntatinal crime that ccurs when the business is clsed and unccupied. Financial lsses due t these crimes can result in layffs r cutbacks and may als leave staff feeling vilated and vulnerable. There is n ne typical burglar, but many share cmmn traits. Burglars may perate alne, in pairs r as part f an rganized grup r gang. Mst burglars are mtivated by ecnmic gain and are pprtunistic. They tend t target prperty that is prtable, valuable, and can easily be cnverted t cash and/r readily exchanged fr drugs. There are prfessinal burglars wh steal merchandise and fence the items by having anther party sell it nline r n the street. In sme cases, burglars cmmit return fraud by taking the stlen items t a retail establishment and asking fr a refund. In a majrity f cases, burglars frcibly enter thrugh drs, windws, skylights, r ther penings by prying them pen, smashing glass windws and drs, frcing the lcks pen, r kicking drs in. Althugh less cmmn, ram raids may ccur (methd f entry where a car r ther bjects are rammed int the building in rder t quickly enter and steal items. Since a significant amunt f retail crime is attributable t emplyee theft, burglaries may invlve current r ex-emplyees participatin r cllusin with ffenders Cmmercial Burglary Preventin

3 Why My Prperty? Althugh burglaries may seem randm in ccurrence, they actually invlve a selectin prcess. Burglars generally pick businesses based n a number f key factrs: Gds Sld Businesses that sell items which can be easily transprted and sld either n the internet r flea markets r traded fr drugs are mre frequently victims f burglaries. Similar t shplifters, burglars tend t chse retail establishments based n the desirability f merchandise. They tend t chse expensive and prtable items. Occupancy Mst cmmercial burglaries happen when businesses are clsed and there is little street activity. Usually, this ccurs after dark and n weekends and hlidays. Visibility r Surveillability A burglar s risk f being seen entering r leaving a prperty influences target selectin, making the fllwing businesses mre vulnerable t burglary: Businesses with cver. Fr prspective burglars, cver includes features that bscure views, especially f drs and windws including trees, dense shrubs, walls, fences and architectural / structural features. Businesses that are secluded. Businesses that are islated are mre attractive t burglars. Businesses and warehuses lcated in industrial parks are mre vulnerable t burglaries because these areas tend t be deslate after clse f business. Businesses with pr lighting. Pr lighting, especially arund entry pints, reduces a burglar s visibility t neighbrs r bystanders. Windw Advertisements have eliminated almst all natural surveillance frm the utside f this business, making it mre vulnerable t crime Cmmercial Burglary Preventin

4 Accessibility Businesses accessible by alleys prvide bth access and escape fr burglars, and limited visibility t neighbrs. Businesses near majr thrughfares, such as freeways, are mre vulnerable t burglary. Vulnerability r Lack f Security Hw vulnerable r secure a business is determines hw likely a burglar is t target it. Thse particularly at risk include: Businesses with weakened entry pints. Pr building materials can make a business mre vulnerable t burglary. Older structures may have rusting, easily cmprmised lcks r wrn and decaying windw and dr frames; newer structures may be built with cheap materials. Businesses whse staff are careless abut security in general. Burglarized buildings ften have unlcked r pen windws r drs. Seasnal variatins may determine burglars access methds. Summer mnths allw entry thrugh pen windws r drs, while winter mnths bring an increase in frced entry. Business with few r n security devices r measures. Studies indicate that criminals prefer t avid businesses with alarms installed and/r thse wh emply n-site security persnnel. Open drs prvide easy unauthrized access fr anyne wanting t take valuable prperty Cmmercial Burglary Preventin

5 Steps t Cmmercial Burglary Preventin Cmmercial crime preventin is a must. Security measures like updated lcks, lighting, and alarms can make any establishment a less attractive target fr criminals. Here s what yu can d: Lights Prper lighting eliminates shadws, which burglars use fr cver. Light up all pints f entry, including thse n the rf. Leave lights n inside just as yu wuld d at hme. Install lighting at the frnt and back in additin t any side drs f yur business. Drs As with windws, check fr signs f any structural weaknesses. Use heavy and slid cnstructins, and material that is drill-resistant. Yu can als reinfrce the backs f drs with crssbars. Be sure the drframes cannt easily be jimmied. Lcks Secure drs, windws, skylights and ther penings with the best pssible lcks. N lck is burglar prf, but the lnger and harder a burglar finds it t break in, the mre likely they simply give up r are caught. Use deadblts and be sure t change the lcks every time an emplyee with access t them leaves. Windws Check windw frames t see if they are lse r rtting, and ensure that the windws ffer visibility. Arrange merchandise s that a passerby can see int the stre. The stre emplyee needs t be able t ntice dangers utside and let witnesses see truble inside. S keep windws clear f bstructins, frm stacked bxes n the flr t high shrubs beside the walkways. Cvering windws with bars r grills fr added prtectin may be necessary. Install burglar-resistant glass r use wire mesh r irn bars ver all glass Cmmercial Burglary Preventin

6 Safes Reduce hw much cash yu have n hand after hurs. If yu have cash r ther valuables, keep them in a safe anchred t the flr and that is in an illuminated lcatin visible frm the utside. Change the cmbinatin if staff, wh are familiar with it, are terminated r separate frm emplyment. Install and use a drp safe. Limit hw much cash is in the register and pst signs saying that a drp safe is used and registers have nly limited cash. Rf Check ventilatin system t ensure it cannt be used t gain entry. Fences Make sure that fences are high and sturdy enugh s they are nt t easy t breach. Fr sme wrkplaces, barbed wire n tp f the fence may be apprpriate Cmmercial Burglary Preventin