Small Business Security

Employees and the potential for theft ...

Even your best employees, be they carefully recruited and reference checked, can steal from you, if you give them the opportunity.

It's not nice to contemplate but if you look on all your employees as being open to temptation and prepare your small business security systems so there is little temptation, you won?t go far wrong.

Here is what to do ...

• Control entry and exit from the workplace.
  All employees need to carry some form of identity with a photograph. Do not allow unidentified people to enter and all non-employees need to be signed in and recorded in a register.
• Keep an up to date register of all your assets,
  Be they power tools or office equipment. Note makes, model and serial numbers, as well as to whom they have been issued. Small business security begins with you knowing what you own.
• Lock up all items that are not in use.
  If you issue items to employees, be it a laptop or a power tool, get it signed for and provide the employee with a secure lock up place. This also applies to employee valuables as well as your own.
• Be particularly vigilant for any after hours theft, a favorite time for such theft.
• Ensure that your physical security is good
  With perimeter alarm systems on windows and doors. Unattended exits will be a great weakness in your small business security system.
• Walk around among your employees often, unexpectedly.
  If it is known that you or your senior staff members can appear at any time, this tends to be a great deterrent.
• Make a point of reporting any thefts or suspicious activity to the police.
  Again this always makes employees think twice.
• Lock up all your confidential and important documents.
  Although valuable items such as tools, laptops, stock and cell phones are favored by thieves, you should also protect your information. Don?t dispose of any paperwork that contains business information by throwing it in the trash can. Shred it first.
• Make sure that all your employees understand that the theft of company property will lead to instant dismissal and prosecution.
  Check with your lawyer on the ins and outs of what to do in these cases.

In general, when it comes to employee dishonesty prevention is always better than cure. So eliminate areas of temptation and keep your eyes open.

Dealing with Dishonest Customers and Shoplifting ....

In the retail industry, employee theft accounts for nearly 50% of so called ?shrinkage? and on average dishonest employees get away with $1000 per incident.

As they can steal from you daily, you will need to prevent such loss or you will quickly go out of business.

Customer shoplifting accounts for 30% of all shrinkage and an average of $130 is lost per shoplifter.

Again depending on your business, customer theft can warrant some good small business security systems, or it can be of little or no importance.

If you are in a business where you are dealing with large numbers of walk in and walk out customers, here is what you need to do ...

• Realize that shoplifters are shifty people on the whole, and like being left alone.
  Simply having an employ greet customers and offer to help will drive many shoplifters elsewhere. Not good for the elsewhere, but good for you.
• Install closed-circuit television cameras.
  These need to be visible to all customers. Why? If not visible, the shoplifter thinks that he/she is unobserved and will steal. You now have to make a detention at your exit with all the subsequent publicity and extra work involved with the police.
  • Believe me, prevention is a lot easier and less expensive.
  • Let everyone know that your premises are under 24 hour monitored CCTV and you will dramatically reduce the chances of shoplifting while improving your small business security.
• If warranted, use an electronic tag on all your goods.
  Electronic article surveillance (EAS) systems are plentiful and the use of them prevents shoplifting. This can be your best investment ever as they soon pay for themselves.

Finally if you are a retailer of any sort, you need to join any one of the many national theft databases, for example, Choice Point.

External Threats to Your Small Business Security ...

This is the bars and bolts section of business security. Where your focus on security either makes it easy for burglars or encourages them look elsewhere.

Cost here can be considerable, so you need to balance your potential loss against the cost of protection. Many of the measures that you have introduced to prevent employee theft will also deter theft from outside.

Business Security ... Know your neighbourhood

We would all like to be able to practice our business without being mugged, burgled or robbed.

Unfortunately such expectations are not only foolhardy, but are in fact asking for trouble. Remember that in any society there is crime and as our populations grow will only become more prevalent in the future.

To prevent becoming a victim therefore begin taking precautions, to prevent such attacks, from the very start of your business.

I would suggest that prevention is always the best method of preparing for possible crimes against our businesses and often cheaper than the cost of the crime itself.

Here are a few tips as to the best methods to help prevent crimes against yourself or your property.

These suggestions are made on the basis of personal experience and professional advice. If you are not sure what to do, call in a professional.

• The first thing to do is to identify the type of crime that is likely to affect the business and then decide on the likelihood of such a crime happening. Your local police station or business association will help here.
• Now that you know what crimes are likely for your area, you need to get to know your neighborhood. Take a walk, keep your eyes open. Are there nearby places that attract crowds e.g. shopping malls, taxi ranks, liquor stores, railway stations etc? These areas make it easier for a criminal to disappear. Are you aware of nearby undeveloped or vacant properties? Both make convenient hiding places or escape routes for criminals.
• Do your neighbors have heightened security and why? Ask them. Speaking to your neighbors about security is often better than talking to the police and a lot more relevant.

Find out as much as you can about the likely crimes in your neighborhood, and your surrounding areas, find out your neighbors ideas of security. You will then have begun to understand your potential security needs.

You basically have two security options ...

• The DIY option is where you walk around your premises
  Check vulnerabilities and decide how someone might enter illegally. Not difficult, provided you use your common sense. You can then make a decision on how to prevent illegal entry. Remember that all windows, doors and roofs at the back are favored entry points.
• Or you hire a security company to do it for you.
  If you have hired a professional, you should in fact get the best advice, this cannot be guaranteed however. Make sure you choose a well known and recommended security company.

Having decided where you need your small business security, you will find a huge choice of business security equipment available.

Look at these areas to help you decide ...

• Perimeter Security
  This is your first line of defense, so a good security fence or wall around your shop, factory or office is advisable. These can be topped with infra-red detectors.
• Alarm Systems
  Alarms and lights can and should be fitted to gates and doors. Be careful to conceal any wiring so it is not easily found and cut. There are a large number of alarms available, including infra-red, passive infra-red, audio and seismic detectors, so fit what is best for your situation. An effective alarm system is an essential part of good small business security.
• External Lighting
  Without a doubt security lightening is a major deterrent against burglary. Have general security lights that remain on all night as well as extra lighting that only comes on when the alarm system is activated. If you are in an area of possible power failure, install an emergency generator.
• CCTV Surveillance
  Can be used to cover all areas of the property, both inside and outside of the boundary fences or walls.
• The Building
  Keeping unauthorized people out of your property is best, but if someone does manage to get in and your building is exposed you now have to keep them out of the building. There are only so many ways to enter a building, be it a factory or a retail store. These need to be secured if you want to prevent unauthorized entrance and increase your small business security. So you need to take a look at ...
  • Doors
    All outside doors needed to be reinforced and fitted with good locks. Master Keying all your locks with a key that cannot be duplicated, saves you going through a bunch of keys looking for the right one.
  • Windows
    The burglars favorite way in, so be extra careful here as 75% of all burglar entries are through windows. Install metal frames and windows, with panes too small for easy entrance. Windows that are easily accessible from outside should have locks fitted.
  • Bars.
    Fitted bars that are well made and installed correctly will deter all burglars. Make sure that they are anchored firmly and cannot be bent aside. Remember that bars can keep people out but also keep you in. Make provision for escape in case of fire via clearly labeled emergency exits.
  • Roofs
    Depending on the type of construction of your building, it can be very easy or virtually impossible to enter the building via your roof. If necessary, don?t forget to alarm your roof.
• Access control
  Be aware at all times of who is entering your business. Depending on your type of business, access control can be stringent, with registers and identification cards or simply some form of CCTV monitoring.

Cash Threats to Your Small Business Security ...

The above covers the small business security areas in and around your place of business. All of them, when secured, will help protect you, your employees, your business premises and your inventory or stock.

The other major area of concern is your cash. If your business has large cash takings then you can be sure someone will try and steal it from you.

You and Your Business Cash ...

• Keep all cash on site to a minimum. Clear out cash tills regularly. Be aware of who is watching you when you do this.
• Count cash in a locked office out of sight. Lock it away in a safe.
• Train your staff to be able to detect forged notes. Supply each cash point with a forged note detector.
• Do your banking as often as possible and if the amounts are very large, get a security service to do the cash transfer to your bank.
• If you do your own banking vary your times and routes. Make your bank the first stop before all other calls and be extra vigilant while entering or exiting your vehicle.
• Never carry all your business cash in a briefcase or bag and never leave money in your vehicle while you do other things.