Lights and Cameras
As a business owner, you have the enormous responsibility to safeguard the security of your employees, customers or clients, inventory, office supplies, financial information, confidential files, and the physical structure of your establishment. Not surprisingly, those are the same concerns of all the business owners in your building or shopping area. So, with your shared concerns, why not share your commercial security efforts?
You are already employing security measures for your individual business, like inside surveillance cameras, an effective inside alarms, inside and outside lighting, secured safe and cash register systems, impact resistant display and window glass, security code system, and high-end locking systems. Just imagine how much more secure your location would be against break-ins, thefts, or property damage if there was a group of business owners committed to shared commercial security.
Aside from hiring private security patrols, are there ways that merchants and office service owners can join together to help each other deter burglaries and property damage whether the business is open or closed? The simple answer is yes. Once one business has experienced a robbery or structural damage, the adjoining businesses feel more vulnerable to the same type of invasion.
As a long established, family owned, Perth locksmith service, we spoke with our affiliate Locksmith Guild of Australia member companies and local security firms for suggestions on how we can help our commercial businesses become a safer and more secure community for both the owners, customers and clients. Here are the results of our combined knowledge about shared commercial security, some of which you may already use.
The main goal of shared commercial security is to protect all of the businesses from criminal activities. The majority of robberies and property damage occurs during the nighttime hours, typically from 9PM to 3AM. This means that the security procedures used while the stores are open will not protect the businesses when they are closed for the evening.
Good lighting that remains on when a shop is closed, both inside and outside, makes a burglar think twice before attempting to break-in to a store. Common areas with security lighting that are monitored by CCTV cameras are less likely to experience vandalism or thefts. Criminals prefer to act when they think no one is around or watching. If a business has a CCTV camera, it is beneficial for everyone in the shopping area to ensure that it is operating.
Another great deterrent to the use of lights equipped with motion detectors. An area may seem to be dark until someone comes close to the front windows or doors of businesses. The sudden burst of light will warn thieves away from the stores. The last thing a theft wants is to be seen.
Owners of businesses can watch out for each other with group cooperation and by forming an action committee. And, utilising these digital security measures will prove to be less expensive than the losses that could occur without them.
Security in common areas
Security in the common areas shared by commercial stores goes beyond the use of lighting, motion detectors, and cameras. Other ways that shops can protect themselves from criminals are with the front appearance of the stores. The use of shatter-resistant glass in the doors and windows prevent easy access into the businesses when they are closed. Keeping interior lights on provides a level of visibility that criminals shy away from. Another way to deter crime is to keep the height of window displays to less than 2 feet in height. This lets passersby and security patrols see any movement inside of a closed store. In addition to window displays, display racks inside a shop should be no higher than 5 feet as this makes it harder for thieves to find places to hide.
External fixtures and furniture
Some businesses use the exterior of their stores to attract business. This can be in the form of A-frame signs, benches, tables and chairs, seasonal floral arrangements, and colourful banners. All effective when the stores are open, but they also offer lots of hiding spaces at night. Businesses need to take these outside fixtures and furniture inside when the shops are closing. Employees can help by taking in signs or furniture left out by neighbouring shops. When common areas are left bare at night, there are no places for a vandal to hide when attempting to enter a closed store.
Fixtures that cannot be taken in, such as trees, large potted plants and trash receptacles, should be several feet away from the store doors and windows. Smaller trees are thinner and harder for someone to hide behind.
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Parking areas
Well-lit parking areas, with CCTV cameras, provide a level of security to shoppers, clients, and employees. Steel doors leading to the parking garages of a shopping centre or mall can be programmed to let people into the parking area after hours, but someone will need an electronic security badge, a card swipe, or a keypad system to re-enter into the shopping area where the stores are closed.
Back side of the business
Another common area that needs security consideration is the back, or alley side, of businesses. These areas are generally poorly lit, with large trash dumpsters right outside of the back doors. The first thing that will protect the area is to have bright lights. Another security measure is to have CCTV cameras. It will also help to have the dumpsters centrally located away from the back doors. The second area of security for the back of stores is the doorways. Criminals will often choose to enter a store through the back door because there are fewer security systems at this point. Ways to deter backdoor break-ins is to have high-end locking systems. These locking systems can be entrance keypads with a false entry alarm system attached, deadbolt locks, and pin-tumbler cylinder systems which require a thief to use force to gain entry. Most burglary insurance policies require evidence of a forced entry for the owner to collect on a burglar insurance claim. Hopefully, with the use of these security measures, businesses will not need to rely on burglary insurance to remain in business.
Bottom Line
Whether your shared commercial security requires the services of a private security service or a locksmith, the first step begins with you. Talk with your neighbouring business owners about the risk of property damage or criminal activities and how you can help each other. Entrepreneurs invest their time and hard earned money into making their businesses successful. And yet, all of the positive actions and profits can evaporate with one major crime or property damage. Why wait for one or more strangers to invade your business, steal your profits, and leave you vulnerable to further damage when a joint security action plan can deter any business busting violence?
When your business area can benefit from knowledgeable, professional, experienced, and licensed, commercial locksmith and digital services, Positive Security WA is here to fulfil your needs. We are a locally owned and family operated residential and commercial locksmith firm serving the greater Perth CBD and surrounding communities for decades. You can depend on us for quality service, installations, emergency call outs, scheduled digital equipment inspections and repairs, and system upgrades. Don’t wait for a criminal to select your business when you can be pro-active by contacting us today on 0410040689 to schedule a free consultation for your business and for your shared commercial security needs.