Preventing Smash and Grab Robberies, Vandalism and More
The summer is finally here and, while that means more daylight, warmer weather and maybe even a vacation, it also means that certain crimes tend to become a bit more likely.
Shoplifting
During the summer, many retail stores (as well as other businesses) have fewer employees on hand. This could be because sales are slower during the summer or simply because more employees are on vacation. However, fewer staff members typically means an increase in crime, particularly shoplifting. Shoplifters take advantage of understaffed stores to steal items without being watched.
In addition, more young people are out of school during the summer months. There are a number of reasons why this is relevant. One is that this influx of people makes stores more crowded. With more customers (but fewer staff members) it becomes easier for criminals to shoplift items without being noticed.
Vandalism
Another reason why school being out for the summer matters is because this results in more young people having more time on their hands. Unfortunately, this can lead to some turning to vandalism and property damage in order to entertain themselves. Incidents of broken windows, damaged signage and graffiti tend to increase during the summer for this reason.
Smash and Grab Robberies
Another crime that tends to increase during the summer is smash and grab robberies. One of the main reasons for this is that many businesses work on “summer hours” during this time of year. Depending on the business and type of organization, this could mean shutting down the company earlier in the day on certain days or remaining closed more often.
The more often a business is closed, the greater the risk of a smash and grab robbery. Criminals want to strike when there is no one around your store or office.
Protecting your Property
There are a number of ways to protect your company and your assets from the crimes listed above. When it comes to shoplifting, it’s important to mention the increased risk to your staff members and to remind them how important it is to always be on the look out for anyone acting suspicious.
Another key way to reduce shoplifting is to store commonly shoplifted items inside locked cabinets or behind gates. Small yet valuable items are often targeted by shoplifters as they are easy to stash in a pocket or a bag, but can still be resold for a profit later on. By locking these items behind physical security tools, you prevent them from being accessed without employee assistance.
Physical security can also prevent vandalism and smash and grab robberies. By installing security gates on doors and windows, you make it significantly more difficult to break through the glass. This prevents “crimes of opportunity” as criminals will need to do a lot more planning and carry many more tools in order to commit a crime. Many criminals will see the increased difficulty and greater risk of getting caught as deterrents and will move on to another location.
Want some more helpful tips to improving the security of your business? Download our helpful guide to Improving Your Security Mindset.
