KEEPING YOUR BUSINESS SAFE

1. KEEPING YOUR BUSINESS SAFE Burglaries are a main source of losses for business owners. Regardless of location, your business may be vulnerable. Created by: Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office District III Detective Bureau

2. MAKE YOUR BUSINESS UNINVITING TO INTRUDERS Good interior and exterior lighting is one of the most important deterrents against crime. • Illuminate all doors, windows and even the roof. (all shadowed areas) • Lights should shine directly on to the openings. (interior lighting is just • as important) • Protect lighting from breakage, inspect regularly and replace damaged or burned out bulbs promptly. • Keep valuable merchandise illuminated, but away from display windows • where they can be a target for “smash and grabs”.

3. MAKE YOUR BUSINESS UNINVITING TO INTRUDERS VISIBILITY The name and address of your business should be clearly visible from the street. Use large, reflectorized numbers and letters. Make sure the front of your business is not covered with banners, signs or other advertisements that limit visibility in and out of the structure. Keep purses and personal valuables locked in desk or lockers. Stay alert! Know who is in your business and where they are. Watch for people who hang around without buying anything. Also, be aware of suspicious activity outside your place of business. Write down license numbers of suspicious vehicles if possible.

4. MAKE YOUR BUSINESS UNINVITING TO INTRUDERS IMPORTANT TIPS • Locate check-out counters near the front of the store, clearly visible from the outside so that employees can better watch activities and a burglars activities would be visible from the outside. Cash register should also be secured to the counter top. • Clearly mark public paths. Make private areas harder for non-employees to access. Use signs to direct patrons to parking and entrances.A friendly greeting and eye contact goes a long way to reducing crime and improving customer relations. • Use interior shelving and displays no higher than five feet, even lower in front of windows. • When closing business , empty your cash drawer and leave it open so a burglar won’t be tempted to see if there is something inside. • Mirrors can be used to improve visibility in blind corners, high counters,hallways, etc. This can deter shoplifting and burglary. • Consider posting a “cash control policy” at the front of the business (I.e., “clerk cannot open safe”). • Do not allow large amounts of cash to accumulate in cash registers during business hours. Make regular deposits into a “drop safe” or similar device. Drop all large bills right away. Use only one register at night leaving all others empty and open.

5. MAKE YOUR BUSINESS UNINVITING TO INTRUDERS • All exterior doors should be constructed of steel, aluminum alloy or solid-core hardwood. • Double doors should be secured with heavy-duty, multiple point, long flush bolts, the frame of the door must be as strong as the door. • All exterior door latches should be anti-shim, dead-locking type. • Outside hinges should have non-removable hinge pins. • Double cylinder locks are recommended where glass is within 40” of the locking mechanism. • A door chime, bell enunciator can be installed to alert you when someone enters or leaves. • Employees should be directed to use one main entrance. This minimizes employee theft, unauthorized entry during regular hours, and doors being left ajar. • Exterior swing doors should have a one-inch dead bolt with hardened steel or brass tapered-cylinder guard. • All glass should be burglar-resistant. (great for hurricane protection as well) Mylar laminating window film is a less expensive alternative. • To provide optimum window security install bars, grilles, grates or heavy-duty wire. Remember skylights, ventilation openings, air conditioning/heating ducts and crawl holes are an entry point for burglars. If these areas can not permanently secure, be sure they are protected by an alarm system. • The most common assaults on padlocks are made with bolt cutters, quality padlocks are essential. Remember the better quality of the locking mechanism the better your chances of keeping criminals out.

6. MAKE YOUR BUSINESS UNINVITING TO INTRUDERS EXTERIOR LANDSCAPING Overgrown shrubbery, vehicles and trash dumpsters near the building provide excellent cover for burglars as well as an excellent tool for climbing. Keeping trees and shrubs trimmed away from windows and doors can help minimize hiding places. • MAINTAIN PROPERTY • A run down business can attract criminals • Keep building and walks clean and repaired. • Prevent easy access to the roof from the ground by trimming trees adjacent to the building and removing objects or debris that can be stacked. • Secure roof access and fire escape ladders with locking covers.

7. MAKE YOUR BUSINESS UNINVITING TO INTRUDERS ALARM and VIDEO MONITORING SYSTEMS • Criminals are less likely to select a business with these types of systems. There are many types of alarms and video monitoring systems however NONE work if they are not activated or maintained. The following are some helpful tips: • Have a fail safe battery backup. • Cameras need to be well placed and well maintained. • Lighting should be considered when placing cameras. • Tapes need to be changed regularly to maintain clarity. • Prominently advertise that you have a system with decals and signs. • A good quality camera. (if the picture is not clear the camera does no good) • Employees need to be trained on and made aware of the importance of the system. • Alarm codes and other passwords need to be changed when an employee leaves. • Remember if the system is not turned on or in proper working condition, • YOU DON’T HAVE A SYSTEM!

8. MAKE YOUR BUSINESS UNINVITING TO INTRUDERS IMPORTANT TIPS • Cash - Do not keep large amounts of cash inside the business. Cash and other valuables should be stored in a safe that is secure to the structure. Vary times and routes of travel to the bank for deposits and don’t advertise what’s in the bag. • Height marker strips - small plastic strips can be mounted on the door frames of all exits. They help employees and cameras determine the height of a criminal when he/she leaves the building. • Key Control – Limit access to sensitive areas. Place keys in the care of your most trusted employees. Engrave “do not duplicate” on all keys, and keep an accurate log of who the keys are issued to. If an employee quits or is terminated, it is imperative that the locks be re-keyed. • Opening and or Closing – If possible use two or more employees during this time. Whenever possible a visual perimeter check should be completed as you arrive and leave.(driving around the building), and a physical check of all openings to make sure they are properly secured along with a check of the security system.Be cautious when cleaning the parking lot or taking out the trash at night. Have someone keep you in eye contact while you are while you are involved in work details. • Operation Identification – All property inside your business including office machinery and personal belongings, should be inventoried and identified. All serial and model numbers stored in a safe place off business site. • Tools and equipment - In addition to their potential theft, unsecured they can be utilized by a thief to knock down doors, open a safe or gain entry to your security room or cabinets.

9. Anchor safes in concrete, and make sure they have combination locks. Select a safe based on the values to be protected. A higher level of protection should be chosen for high value merchandise or large amounts of money. By anchoring a safe in a well-lit area, there’s a better chance burglars would be noticed if they tried to open or remove the safe. When empty leave open.

10. You may post “no trespassing or Loitering” signs to discourage transients, loiterers and potential criminals from hanging around your business. Burglars choose targets that are easily accessible – Reduce vulnerability by hardening the target. Protect your business by making it uninviting and harder to gain entry and remember every opening in your building is a potential point of illegal entry

11. MAKE YOUR BUSINESS UNINVITING TO INTRUDERS Businesses in the same area can form a Business Crime Watch Work as a team to prevent and reduce crime. Periodic meetings can be held to address common issues, criminal activity, learn about different crime prevention topics and techniques, improve business communication, etc. Contact Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Community Policing Unit at (561) 688-3000, if you are interested in starting a business crime watch in your area. BUSINESS CRIME WATCH

12. If a burglary does occur, do not enter the building! Remember a burglar may still be inside. • Call the police department from a safe location and wait for officers to arrive to check the business. • Do not open your business. Employees and customers can destroy valuable evidence. • Call Police immediately! • The chances of apprehending the subject are greatly increased if the scene is left completely intact . Microscopic evidence may be vital and should be protected. • REMEMBER EVERY BUSINESS OWNER, MANAGER AND EMPLOYEE PLAYS A IMPORTANT ROLE IN MAKING BUSINESSES SAFE.