Don’t Make Your Retail Store a Target
If you own a retail store, office, or other commercial property, you’ve likely spent quite a lot of time getting customers to notice your store. After all, the retail market is a competitive one and it’s important to do whatever you can to make potential customers take notice and stop by your location.
However, while you’re trying to attract customers, you should also be doing whatever you can to deter criminals.
Many crimes are crimes of opportunity. This is especially true for smash and grab robberies, where criminals break into a location by forcing their way through doors or windows. In these crimes, criminals see a property that is vulnerable and know that, even if the property has an alarm system that immediately contacts the police, it will take time for the authorities to arrive. They know that they can get in and out of a location quickly before anyone can stop them.
One of the primary parts of a smash and grab robbery is that criminals want a vulnerable property. The goal of these crimes is to act with speed and to leave the scene before the police arrive. Therefore, criminals don’t want to spend time dealing with complicated security systems or properties that are difficult to access.
In order to get criminals to ignore your property, you need to make it one of these difficult locations.
Use Lighting
It might sound a little confusing to use lighting to get criminals to not notice your property, but it’s true. Criminals don’t want to be caught in the act and, thus, they specifically look for locations that are dark. This is because the darkness makes it easier for them to work without being noticed.
Having a well-lit property simultaneously makes it easier for customers to notice it while also deterring criminals.
Remove Valuables from Windows
In order to attract customers to your business, you might place desirable items in your store windows. This can help you show off your latest merchandise, demonstrate your vast product line, or draw customers in with tempting designs and valuable objects.
However, this same strategy works to attract criminals, especially when your store is closed for business.
To solution to this issue is to move products and valuables out of store windows outside of business hours. It also helps to move items that are located inside your store away from windows and out of sight. If criminals can see computers, other electronics, or valuable merchandise inside your location just by walking by, they will be more likely to attempt a crime.
While moving items around each day can seem annoying, it will certainly protect your property and keep you from having to deal with the hassle and expense of a smash and grab robbery.
Use Physical Security
Physical security tools such as bars and gates cause criminals to move on and choose another location. These tools put a physical barrier between your location and the outside world, making it significantly more difficult to gain access to your building.
Plus, modern security gates can very easily be rolled away or folded up during business hours, so that they do not detract from the overall look of your location while you are open.
Want some more helpful tips to improving the security of your business? Download our helpful guide to Improving Your Security Mindset.
