Protecting your Shopping Mall Retail Store
If you have a retail store in a shopping mall, you likely understand that there are possible security threats to your business. A shopping center is a public place where hundreds and even thousands of people pass through each day. This presents a unique situation for security professionals.
As a retail store owner, you know the importance of balancing safety and security with the image of your store. Many people are worried about making their location look unappealing or “like a fortress” when they think about security solutions. This is a valid point. Which product is right for you?.Too much security can actually deter potential customers from your store. The goal is to use security wisely and appropriately to deter criminals while still remaining welcoming to visitors.
One way to do this is by installing security gates.
Security Gates for Shopping Mall Retail Stores
Security gates can be installed on your property so that, while your business is closed, they create a physical barrier between criminals and your merchandise. This is important since, in many situations, shopping malls are open to the public at times when all stores may not be open. For example, a shopping center could be open at 7 am if there is a coffee shop in the mall, but your retail store may not open until 9 am. In the same sense, your store may close at 9 pm, but the mall could be open until midnight to accommodate restaurants, bars and movie theaters.
For these reasons, it’s important that you have physical security installed on your property. Without it, criminals could easily break windows or doors and enter your store in seconds. Most smash and grab robberies only take a few minutes and sometimes even less. This does not give security guards or police time to respond to emergency alerts such as alarm systems. The thieves will be in and out of your property before anyone arrives, taking valuable merchandise with them. Plus, you will then need to spend time and money repairing the damage to your store. This could even cause you to have to shut down for a few days while repairs are done, which will cost you money in lost sales.
By installing security gates, you put a barrier between your property and the potential criminal. However, security gates can easily roll or slide out of sight during business hours. This means that your store will continue to look appealing to the general public while you are open, while still deterring criminals when your location is closed.
As opposed to alarm systems or video surveillance cameras, physical security prevents crime before it occurs. An alarm may alert people of a crime but, as mentioned, criminals are usually long gone before help arrives. Surveillance cameras can capture footage of crimes in progress, but this information is mostly only useful after the fact. Plus, criminals can conceal their identities by wearing scarves, hoods or masks during their crimes. This greatly decreases the likelihood of the security footage being useful.
However, security gates prevent access. This can be incredibly valuable to mobile phone stores, clothing stores, electronics stores, jewelry stores and many other retail properties that are frequently targeted by criminals.
If you need help selecting a gate, please feel free to contact a member of our team. We’ll be more than happy to help you out in any way we can.
DOWNLOAD our 10 Critical points for securing your shop.
