Kim Kardashian was robbed at gunpoint in Paris just recently. The thief reportedly took $10 million in jewelry. That’s an enormous loss and it begs the question — are you next? Is your business secure? We don’t give much thought to commercial robbery or burglary, though it happens all the time. Unfortunately, the majority of victims simply are not prepared. Think about it for a moment — if your business was robbed or burglarized, what would you do? How would you operate and meet your customers’ needs?
Business Robbery Statistics
As business owners, we don’t like to think about embezzlement. But the fact of the matter is, it is a stark reality and you must know effective ways to deal with employee theft. But stealing isn’t always an “inside job,” and daily news headlines prove this to be true. Every 10 seconds in the United States, a business is robbed or burglarized. These illegal incidents add-up to an unbelievable $4 million per day or an eye-popping $1.4 billion every year.
If you own a business, particularly one that deals in cash, there is a good chance that one day it may be robbed. If you are lucky, the robbery will occur after the business is closed and all of your employees have gone home. If not, you, your employees and possibly your customers could be faced with a very dangerous situation. –About.com
Sadly, just 1 out of 6 of these particular crimes result in an arrest, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. What’s more, business theft has nearly doubled over the last decade across the country. And, unlike other types of robbery and burglary, businesses are usually hit two or more times. That’s a lot of risk and every entrepreneur with tangible assets should be prepared for just such a tragedy.
Business Robbery Prevention Tips
While there are many reasons businesses stay cash poor, burglary and robbery don’t typically make the list. However, if your business was suddenly put in the unenviable position of being robbed or burglarized, you’d surely wish you were more proactive. Don’t make the mistake of not being prepared. At the very least, taking proactive steps will give you peace-of-mind. Here are some helpful business robbery prevention tips you can use:
Install a security system. No matter what type of business you’re in, a security system is a necessity. Alarms are fine but alarms with cameras are better. After all, cameras may record other events and having such footage can prove quite helpful. Learn how to operate the system and give operation instructions to trusted employees.
Always lock your vehicles. Whether you own an electrician’s service, a plumbing company, a real estate brokerage, or any other industry which carries tools, cash, and/or checks, it’s always a good idea to lock your private and company vehicles. Even if you don’t carry cash or tools and equipment, stolen electronics and other stolen items don’t create pleasant situations.
Establish opening and closing procedures. It doesn’t matter if you work in a professional office, on construction sites, or anywhere else, you need to establish opening and closing procedures to help prevent robbery and burglary. If you don’t know what to do, just contact your local law enforcement agency.
Keep your business premises well-lit at night. Here again, it really doesn’t matter what type of business you run, because every place is a potential target. If necessary, install more lighting to keep your place of business well-lit during the evening and overnight hours.
Vary your deposit routine and use a cash control system. It’s easy to fall into a normal deposit routine but this creates a recognizable pattern. Vary your deposit days and times as another preventative measure. Additionally, use a cash control system to minimize losses in the event of a robbery or burglary.
Has your business been robbed or burglarized? What lessons did you learn? What advice would you give other business owners? Please comment below and share your experiences and thoughts!
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John Waters 