Keeping Burglars Out of Your Premises
Burglary is simply any unlawful entry for the purposes of committing a felony or theft. Few burglars are ever apprehended, and security industry experts estimate that around 80% of all burglaries go unsolved.
The incidence of business burglaries is increasing worldwide with up to 2% of businesses in metropolitan areas falling victim to break-ins of some sort each year.
Because business premises are likely to be unoccupied outside of their normal trading hours they can be easy targets for burglars unless adequate security measures are in place. There are four basic burglary deterrents: locks, an alarm system, lighting and a safe. They can't provide a guarantee that burglars won't attempt to ply their skills on your premises, but they will make it a less attractive option and encourage them to look elsewhere.
Locks
Locks on all doors and windows are a strong deterrent to burglars because they require force to overcome. If you check your burglary insurance policy you'll probably find that evidence of a forced entry will be necessary to make a successful claim. Force takes up time and causes noise, both of which burglars would prefer to avoid.
Professional burglars know all about locks, and many can defeat a typical pin tumbler cylinder lock with fewer than five pins. For this reason security experts recommend a lock with six or seven pins, or a high security lock with a non-pin tumbler.
Dead bolts, another requirement that's frequently on insurance policies, have a bolt that's inserted into place when the key is turned, so the lock requires a key to open it. They defeat one of the burglar's favorite methods of entry - breaking a pane of glass to reach through the door and turn the handle.
Keep close control over the keys that open the doors and windows to the business. Avoid making duplicates, and if a key is lost replace the lock. Never leave keys where they can be picked up by unauthorized persons.
Alarm systems
A silent alarm that alerts a security firm or the police is probably the best form of alarm to use. Noisy alarms will often scare the inexperienced burglar away, but the professionals can often find a tripped alarm and disarm it. Without identifying the type or make of alarm in use, place prominent notices that there are alarms protecting your premises.
Use a range of detectors inside the premises to detect motion as well as sound or vibrations. Be careful to locate your alarm's control panel where it can't be seen from the outside. Otherwise they'll have a good idea of the make and type of alarm, and may even be able to see whether it's been set or if the system is turned off.
Lighting
Darkness is the burglar's best friend, and most break-ins happen at night. Floodlighting the exterior of the premises removes much of the burglar's protection, and bright indoor lighting is another excellent preventative measure. Burglars know that the first thing police will do if they're called to a suspected break-in before entering the premises is to look through all the windows to see if there's anyone inside. Having lights that clearly illuminate all areas, including office areas, is a good deterrent as well as an aid to law enforcement authorities.
Safes
Because it's difficult to remove and to break into, a safe is another way to protect your premises. If burglars can see it from the outside they'll be less likely to bother breaking in, and the bigger it is, the better. Size and weight alone aren't enough to prevent thieves from stealing a safe and its contents. To be fully effective the safe should be fixed to the structure of the building. Insurance companies will often reduce premiums for businesses that keep valuables in a strong safe - discuss this with your insurer before deciding on a safe to purchase. And remember to change the combination anytime an employee leaves the business.
There are many other steps you can take to reduce the attractiveness of your business to burglars and to secure your premises such as checking the security of skylights and other points of possible access and removing cash from any cash drawers and leaving them clearly open at night. And don't leave anything valuable on the premises that might make it worth a burglar's while to break in despite all your defenses. |
