How to reduce the risk of theft at your business premises
Did you know there were over 3 million incidents of theft estimated in England and Wales for the year ending June 2021? With financial pressures being felt by businesses and, in turn, consumers, the drive for criminals to break into and enter your commercial building will be greater than ever before.
It is sound business practice to review and assess your risk of theft as your business changes and vulnerabilities are exposed. Reducing the attractiveness of your premises to thieves not only helps to prevent theft but can minimise the risk of associated losses, such as property damage resulting from theft attempts.
When thinking about theft, we often talk about ‘layering’ with regard to buildings.
The first layer of a building
This is the outer fence or wall, and the gates. This is where your first line of defence needs to be considered for its integrity. CCTV, intruder alarms and warning signage offer a sound level of protection when coupled with a solid physical structure.
The middle layer of a building
The middle layer is the outer wall of your premises, doors, windows and shutters. As well as robust locks on openings, care also needs to be taken to train staff with a rigid ‘locking up’ procedure in place so careless mistakes do not happen. Plus, housekeeping needs to be trained not to leave stock or valuable equipment where it is accessible or in view.
The inner layer of a building
The inner layers would be internal walls, safes, cabinets, locked inner rooms, etc. Once a thief is inside your business premises, how easy is it to access important documents, products and equipment? Safes, locks and hidden places within your building can safeguard your business.
Ensuring that each of those layers is as robust as it can be, while still ensuring your business can function, will minimise the risk of physical access to your building/stock. Management controls, such as controlling keys and codes, monitoring maintenance, and undertaking appropriate checks on employees, will all reduce the risk of theft on your business premises.
For more information on how to reduce theft at your business premises, please contact the Sutcliffe & Co Team on 01905 21681 or email Enquiries@sutcliffeinsurance.co.uk.
