What is a “Smash and Grab Robbery” and How Can You Protect Your Property?

You may have heard of the term “smash and grab robbery” before but you might not know exactly what it means. A smash and grab robbery is essentially what it sounds like. A criminal (or group of criminals) will smash through your window or door and grab whatever valuables are available. These are generally very fast crimes. Smash and grab robbers don’t usually care about alarm systems or surveillance cameras. Instead, their goal is to get in and out of a property quickly with as much valuable merchandise as possible. Many times, a smash and grab robbery lasts only a few seconds, but it can be incredibly costly for a business.

Not only does a smash and grab robbery lead to a loss of inventory, but it also requires you to spend time and money repairing the damage caused by the criminals. This could even require closing your business for a few days while repairs are being made. Obviously, having to stay closed for a while can cost your business dearly.

Even if you already know what a smash and grab robbery is, are you prepared? Smash and grab robberies are common at retail stores, offices and many other locations. How can you protect yourself from a smash and grab robbery? There are several ways.

Keep Valuable Merchandise Out of Sight

One main way is to keep valuables out of sight while your business is closed. Placing expensive jewelry or high-end electronics in your store’s window during the day might draw in customers, but those same items attract thieves when you’re closed at night. Remember, the goal of a smash and grab robbery is to get as many valuable items as possible in the shortest amount of time. Placing valuables in plain sight and near windows makes this easier for the criminal. Remember to store your valuables in safe locations when your business is closed. Yes, it may take longer to close down and set up your store when you have to move your merchandise to and from your window every day, but it will save you the time, hassle and inconvenience of dealing with a robbery later on.

You may also want to consider storing valuables in secure cabinets or behind gates in a stock room during the night. This not only keeps them out of sight, but it also protects them if a criminal still decides to break in.

Use Physical Security Gates

Another way to secure yourself is to install physical security gates on your property. Having security gates installed on your windows and doors will make it significantly more difficult for criminals to force their way into your store or office. Since most smash and grab robbers want to get in and out quickly, slowing them down with security gates is a good idea. They likely won’t want to spend the time trying to break through your gates and will instead leave the scene empty handed.

Security gates also serve as a deterrent for this same reason. Most criminals are looking for easy targets. If they see a location that is armed with security gates, they likely won’t even consider this property and will move on, leaving your business unharmed.

Consider these tips on layering security, download our 10 Critical Points to Securing your Shop, your Employees, and your Goods eGuide.
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