Protecting a Company That’s Open 24/7
In some ways, protecting a business that is open 24/7 (such as a gas station, convenience store, grocery store, drug store, etc.) is easier than securing one that is closed for part of the day or night. There is always someone on hand to watch over the property and you don’t have to worry about your location being completely empty or deserted (and therefore a target for criminals).
However, businesses that are open 24/7 have their own set of security risks. One is that these businesses are open during the middle of the night. If you operate a business that is open 24 hours a day, your business could be at a greater crime risk at night.
At night, it’s darker and there are fewer people on the streets. Criminals often choose this time to strike because they believe that their chances of getting caught are lower than during the day when the streets are bright and busy.
In addition, even businesses that are open 24/7 have slow periods. In most cases, these slow periods are during the night. This means that the business may have reduced staff at night. In some cases, there may only be one person working an overnight shift. Criminals will take advantage of this situation to strike when they know there are fewer people and staff in the store.
How Physical Security Keeps Businesses Safe
When you think of physical security, you likely think of how security gates protect against smash and grab robberies. This is true. If a business has doors or windows that are accessible by the public, these doors and windows can be targets for criminals. By installing physical security gates, you drastically reduce the likelihood of a smash and grab robbery.
However, physical security gates are also effective when installed inside a business. For instance, they can be used to prevent shoplifting. Small yet valuable items that are frequent targets for shoplifters (such as razor blades, electronics, medication, alcohol, and other such items) can be locked behind security gates inside the store. This means that customers will need to ask staff to access these items and they will not be able to slip them into their pocket or bag without anyone noticing.
In addition, security gates can be used for access control. Mobile security gates can be used to prevent people from accessing certain areas of your store or even certain aisles. This can be very valuable for protecting a business that is open 24/7.
For example, a gas station may have a coffee shop located inside the station’s store. This coffee shop may only be open during certain hours. When it is closed, but the rest of the store is still open, you can use security gates to protect the closed coffee shop.
In addition, some areas of your property may be required to be off limits during certain times for legal reasons. In stores that sell certain medication, a pharmacist may be required to be on hand for these products to be sold legally. If your business is open 24/7, but a pharmacist isn’t available 24/7, you can use security gates to restrict access to aisles or areas of the store that sell these items. This is also true for a business that sells alcohol. Depending on your location, there might be restrictions for when you are legally able to sell alcohol. Security gates can restrict access during hours when alcohol sales are not allowed.
Security gates are a versatile way to keep businesses safe and secure. They provide critical protection for properties that are open 24/7.
