Business premises such as shops, offices and leisure destinations often contain high value equipment such as computers, or customer data records, making them attractive to opportunist criminals who may attempt a break in and commit theft. However, there are safety procedures business owners and security can put in place in order to reduce the likelihood of theft. This includes using manned guarding services, CCTV or undertaking security checks.

Below are a few examples of how you can help keep your premises safe.

What’s at risk on your premises?

Below are a few things you should monitor to reduce risk of theft:

• Consider how many access points you have – are they easy to access, who can access them and are they monitored regularly?
• Do you know what contents you keep on site? – Understanding what you keep on site will allow you to easily keep track of what is coming and going and if anything is missing.
• Do you keep track of who comes and goes? – Knowing who comes and goes and at what times will allow you to keep track of where tools and materials may have gone if you think any are missing.

Tips to keep your premises safe 

Finding various ways to keep your premises safe is extremely important, as having multiple measures in place will help reduce the threat of theft to your business.

We recommend:

• Complete a risk assessment – Find out which areas of your site are most at risk of theft and what parts have the easiest access. This allows you to implement security processes to keep your site and employees safe.
• Don’t leave any valuables in sight –  This may seem obvious but having high value items on show increases the appeal for thieves to steal as they can easily see items.
• Add lighting to access points – This allows you to keep track of anyone who comes and goes, and may prevent people from entering your site.

Here at MAN Commercial we have vast experience within the security industry and have been members of BSIA since 2005. 

We can help keep your business safe through a number of our services, such as providing:

CCTV 

We supply CCTV monitoring services and Operators. Using CCTV monitoring allows you to protect staff, customers and stock out of hours, from a distance. This allows you to keep tabs of what’s going on within your building and can help you react to any crimes you may be a victim of outside of business hours. 

Alarms can also be installed to keep you alert and deter criminals from your building.

To read more about our CCTV services click here.

Smart tagging

Smart tagging can be attached to a person, object, building or vehicle and can be tracked by bluetooth or GPS. This can be attached to high-value equipment so you can track them anything if it goes missing.

Manned guarding

We can help provide short notice or ongoing manned guarding services. Implementing manned guarding for your construction site reduces chances of theft as people are at your site all hours of the day. 

Find out more about our 24 hour manned services. .

4 simple steps you can take to protect your premises

Map out all the areas and times where crime is high 

Mapping out crime in your area can help you put a security plan together for your businesses. For example, recording where and when crimes have been happening in your area can help you identify a pattern of crime behaviour and the potential times security measures may be needed more.

Websites such as ‘in your area’ can show you the most common crimes in your area, by entering your postcode. This will help you implement appropriate measures to keep both your premises and employees safe.

Undertake a security check

Undertaking a security check is extremely important, as it allows you to assess areas where you need to improve your security measures. Below is a list of questions you should ask yourself when undertaking a security check.

• Are there any dark areas in or around your premises where customers or employees could be put in danger?
• Are all windows, doors and gates secure and able to be locked?
• Is your CCTV covering all areas or are there any blind spots?

Meet and greet customers and clients at the door

Using security or staff members to man your door can be a great way to deter people from committing crimes. Implementing a meet and greet system can be highly effective as staff members simply saying hello can put people off committing crimes, as they feel as though they are being watched.

Find out more about our 24 hour manned services. .

H3: Protect your valuable items and assets

Protecting your valuables and assets is extremely important, as these are one of the main reasons why people commit crimes. Below is a list of things you should do to protect your valuables:

• Don’t leave laptops and computers on show
• Don’t leave high value items in displays, especially out of business hours
• Don’t keep cash on the premises 
• Do put signs up around your building telling staff not to leave cash on the premises

How can MAN Commercial help you protect your business?

Prevention is always better than a cure to a crime. Here at MAN Commercial we offer a range of services, such as event security and key holding that can help you keep employees and customers safe.

Get in touch with MAN Commercial today to see how we can help you protect your business.