Theft is incredibly costly for businesses. If you are the victim of a burglary, or somebody inside the business is stealing from you, you face lost revenue, a dip in morale, and increased insurance premiums as a result. Unfortunately, you can never be completely safe from crime, so it’s vital that you have the right insurance in place to protect yourself.
However, there are also ways that you can reduce the chances of theft and protect your business. Here are some of the best ways for businesses to deter thieves.
Invest in Security Technology
Investing money in the right technology will help you secure the building and deter criminals. When miscreants see that you have CCTV and an alarm system installed, for example, they will think twice about trying to break in. A security system also alerts you, and helps you catch the perpetrators if a burglary does take place.
You should invest in the mosquito device too – this system emits a high frequency noise that can only be heard by younger people. It’s the perfect way to prevent teens from loitering outside your building and breaking in or vandalizing your premises. These deterrents are all incredibly effective at stopping would-be thieves from targeting your office.
Improve Your Entry Systems
Thieves don’t necessarily need to break in at night to steal from your business. If you don’t have a good entry system, anyone can easily walk in during the day, unnoticed, especially in a busy office. If you’re using old fashioned keys, they can easily be lost or stolen too.
You’re safer with a keycard system or, even better, a fingerprint scanner. That way, you know exactly who is coming in and out of the building at all times. Not only does this stop outsiders from walking into the building, but it also keeps track of your employees. In cases of internal theft, it will be easier to determine the culprit because you’ll know exactly who was inside the building at the time of the crime.
Conduct Regular Audits
Nobody likes to think that their employees are stealing from them, but the truth is it does happen. Usually, it slips by unnoticed for a long time because thieves inside the business, know how the systems work, and they steal small amounts over a long period. This often means that companies lose thousands and thousands of dollars before they spot anything.
Conducting regular financial audits can help you avoid this. Any irregularities will be picked up right away and you can begin investigating. Sometimes, it will just be a mistake and there’ll be nothing to be worried about. But it could be a case of employee theft, and you can stop it straight away and deal with the offending employee appropriately.
Business owners always need to be aware of the potential for theft, both internally and externally. By taking these simple steps, you can secure your business and lessen your chances of becoming a victim of crime.
