Crime is an unfortunate reality, especially for small business owners, but that doesn’t mean you have to wait until it happens to you to take action. Experts like, like the Colorado burglary defense lawyers at Moorhead Law, note that there are plenty of preventive actions business owners can take to safeguard their property, and today, we’re going to investigate five of the most common and effective ones that you can undertake.
Watch Your Locks
The doorway is often one of the most tempting points of entry for would-be thieves. A lockpick, a crowbar, and a sturdy front kick are all they need to bust in a plain, unprotected door and gain access to your business possessions. Locks, as we all know, make getting in through the door more difficult, but you’ve got to make sure you’ve got the right ones to make any potential burglar’s attempts at entry as difficult as possible. Enter the deadbolt.
Reinforced deadbolts are designed to prevent doors from being kicked in or breached through force. This article from SFGate has the lowdown on how they work:
“A deadbolt works by turning a handle on the door that inserts a metal cylinder into the door jamb. That, combined with the regular door lock at the doorknob, gives a certain degree of protection from break-ins. However, there are certain procedures that you can do that will provide even more protection than what a regular deadbolt will do.”
So, by adding a deadbolt and performing a few tweaks, you can seriously boost your protection against burglars. It’s one of the most important steps that you can take.
Reinforce Your Windows
Of course, the doors aren’t the only point of entry a thief might look for, as your windows can also be a vulnerability if they aren’t secured. Locks for your windows are a sound investment , as is burglar-resistant glass that can be more difficult to shatter.
Keep Track Of Your Keys
Of course, all your hard work installing a proper deadbolt will be for nothing if you or an employee loses the keys and they wind up with a less-than-scrupulous individual. That’s why you should also be keeping careful track of every key to your business. Use sign-in and sign-out sheets for your keys, limit access, and make sure keys are always returned to their proper place before you call it a day so that they don’t fall into the wrong hands.
Hire Trustworthy Employees
While you can’t know with 100% certainty if an employee is loyal, there are ways that you can screen for the most trustworthy candidates to prevent an inside job from taking place. Ask thorough questions during the hiring process, and be sure to perform rigorous background checks. On the job, be sure to develop strong working relationships with your employees, and stress that yours is an environment where everyone should trust one another.
Try A Security System
Of course, you can’t have human eyes everywhere in your business at all times, but a good security system can provide that extra coverage you need to monitor what’s going on and deter thieves. You should opt for a system with live-feed cameras and motion sensors if possible, so you know exactly when something is happening and get it recorded.
