You take painstaking measures to keep your home and car secure; your business should be no different. Businesses, particularly small ones, are vulnerable to theft from both external and internal sources. Though a good insurance policy can foot the bill if a break-in occurs, the best thing you can do is prevent theft from occurring in the first place. How? The following explains relatively simple measures you can take to boost the security of your business.
· Locks: Most theft occurs when doors and/or windows are left unlocked. Don’t make it that easy for burglars. Ensure that all doors that lead outside are locked and dead bolted when the business is closed. If any business-owned structures, such as a shed or fence, are locked with a padlock, hide the serial numbers to halt a criminal’s ability to make new keys.
· Electronic ID cards: Many businesses find electronic ID cards to be a very effective method of securing the premises. Employees are given keycards, with which they can unlock the door; all other people must be let in. This is ideal for offices or any other businesses that don’t have customers walking in and out throughout the day. Prohibit employees from leaving keycards lying around in plain sight and re-code keys if you suspect the system has been tampered with.
· Windows: Glass break sensor alarms can be purchased and paired with burglar-resistant window treatments for extra security, particularly for businesses with glass storefronts. An alarm will sound if the glass is broken, scaring off many thieves.
· Security alarm: Installing a security alarm provides your business with the security of a company’s around-the-clock monitoring services. If the alarm is tripped, the company will alert the proper authorities. Be sure to set the alarm when the business is closed. Advertising your security system with a company window sticker or yard sign may be enough to deter theft in itself.
· Security cameras: A constant video feed from strategically placed cameras (both indoors and outdoors) can help you monitor the happenings in and around your place of business. Many of these systems even allow you to watch the footage remotely over the Internet. You can keep an eye on both customers and employees from a distance to ensure that no foul play is afoot.
· Lighting: Criminals prefer to work in the cloak of darkness, so outdoor perimeter lighting may deter them from approaching your business. Install vandal-proof covers over any controls or power sources to prevent anyone from cutting the power to the lights.
· Safe: A sturdy, fireproof safe is the most secure place to store money on business property. Anchor the safe to the floor and change the combination whenever a person’s employment is terminated.
· Background check: Though you may not want to admit it, your employees are capable (and sometimes willing) to steal from your business. When hiring new personnel, conduct a thorough interview and background check, making use of references, to ensure that you hire a reliable staff.
Security may be a sizeable initial investment, but it has the potential of saving your business thousands of dollars in the long run. Consult a security professional for assistance and advice.
For more information about Tampa business insurance, give Northside Insurance Agency a call at 813-960-5225.