How to Protect Your Business from Burglaries
Business Security: What Every Entrepreneur Should Know
Burglaries cause significant financial and operational damage to businesses of all sizes. Beyond the direct cost of stolen goods or equipment, break-ins disrupt operations, damage property, affect staff morale, and can shake customer confidence.
The encouraging news is that the majority of business break-ins are opportunistic - and the right combination of security measures can deter most would-be intruders before they even attempt entry.
1. Invest in High-Quality Door Locks
Your front and back doors are the primary entry points for burglars. Exterior doors for commercial premises should be solid-core or steel, and fitted with high-quality, multi-point locking systems.
Modern commercial locks offer considerable advantages over traditional mechanisms. Electronic locks with access control features allow you to:
- Set individual access codes for staff members
- Restrict access to specific times of day
- Use fingerprint or card readers instead of keys (eliminating the risk of key copying)
- Monitor and log entry and exit
For lock installation, upgrades, or advice on the right products for your premises, see our commercial locksmith services.
2. Install Security Cameras
CCTV serves two purposes: it deters criminals who don’t want to be identified, and it provides evidence if a break-in does occur. Footage can be invaluable for insurance claims and police investigations.
Place cameras at all entry and exit points, as well as areas where high-value assets are stored. Make cameras visible - a clearly displayed camera is a more effective deterrent than a hidden one.
Modern IP cameras can be monitored remotely via smartphone, allowing you to check in on your premises at any time.
3. Fit an Alarm System
A well-designed alarm system provides another layer of deterrence and alerts you - and potentially the police or a monitoring service - immediately if an intrusion occurs.
When choosing an alarm system, consider:
- Grade rating - Commercial premises should use Grade 2 or Grade 3 systems for adequate protection
- Monitored vs. unmonitored - Monitored alarms contact a security company who can verify and respond to alerts
- Intruder detection type - PIR (passive infrared), door and window sensors, glass break detectors
4. Motion-Activated Lighting
Criminals prefer darkness. Motion-activated lights outside your premises remove this advantage and make any suspicious activity visible to passers-by or neighbouring businesses.
Choose durable, weather-resistant fittings and consider placing them in protective cages where they might be reached and tampered with. Maintain them regularly - a non-functioning security light provides no deterrent at all.
5. Secure Valuables in Safes
Cash, important documents, data storage devices, and high-value portable items should be stored in a quality safe when not in use. A properly anchored commercial safe represents a major obstacle to a burglar working against the clock.
Ensure your safe is rated appropriately for its contents - your insurance policy will often specify a minimum safe rating for certain values.
6. Engage With Your Local Business Community
Neighbourhood and business watch schemes create an environment where suspicious activity is noticed and reported. Businesses on the same street looking out for each other are a powerful deterrent to criminals targeting the area.
Register with your local police’s business watch programme if one exists, and maintain contact details for neighbouring businesses.
7. Get a Professional Security Assessment
Every business premises is different. A professional locksmith or security consultant can walk through your property and identify weaknesses that you may not have noticed - poorly secured rear doors, windows that can be easily forced, or access points that are not covered by your existing systems.
City Locksmith offers security assessments for London businesses as part of our commercial locksmith service.
Protect Your Business Premises Today
Don’t wait until after a break-in to take security seriously. The cost of prevention is a fraction of the cost of a burglary - financial and otherwise.