Criminal Damage/Graffiti
Clean up and repair immediately. Existing damage tends to attract further damage whereas clean premises tend not to attract damage.
Fraud
Be aware of fraud. Have strict controls in place for dealing with payment by cheques and credit cards. Be suspicious of offers of cheap goods or services.
Lock Up when you leave
When you leave your premises make sure that all windows and doors are shut and locked. Limit the people who close your premises to those who have demonstrated their reliability. Sounds easy but burglars prefer entering via an open window than entering via a broken window.
Lone Worker
Fit mirrors or CCTV in your premises. If you are alone how are you going to keep track of several customers in different parts of your premises? Will your till be emptied or goods stolen while your attention is on one customer?
Money – Cash is the burglar's favourite item.
- Don't keep large amounts of cash on the premises and don't leave money on the premises overnight.
- Train staff to check every bank note for forgery by feel, appearance and foil line.
- Transfer bank notes from your till to the safe at regular intervals during the day.
- Make sure that you vary your route and times that you carry cash to the bank. You are at your most vulnerable when walking through the streets with large amounts of cash. Get someone to accompany you if possible. Be aware and check for people following you. Avoid isolated or potentially dangerous spots from your route.
Recruits
Make sure that you check the references of new employees. Have a more experienced member of staff working with them until you are certain of their reliability. Include security procedures and methods of handling difficult customers in any staff training.
Security
Make a regular assessment of your security hardware.
- If you have an alarm does it cover all of your premises? Is it reliable?
- Is your stock room secure? Can it be freely accessed from the shop at a time when you are distracted? Do you have valuable items which may need to be in a locked area within the storeroom?
- Are your doors and windows secure? Great locks on a flimsy door frame are no use!
- CCTV is now comparatively cheap and it can be very effective if it is correctly placed.
- Lighting is a big deterrent to criminals who do NOT want to be seen. Are your light effective? Are there dark corners?
- Exterior equipment can be of help to a burglar. Dustbins make great ladders to reach a window or get over a fence.
Stock
Have robust stock controls in place. Nationally insider theft is as big a problem as shoplifting. Why should it be different in your premises?
Victim of Crime
It is important to report crimes to the Police. If the Police don't know that crime is occurring they can't take action to prevent it.
If your firm has become a victim of crime then report the crime to the police by
Telephone - 01621 491212
Letter – Officer in Charge, Police Station, West Square, Maldon, Essex, CM9 7PA
Online - http://www.online.police.uk/english/default.asp
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