Assistance
Protect Your Profits: Security Tips for Small Business

Employees and Crime

• Employees can help you to be profitable or hurt you through waste, inattention to customers, or stealing. You must set the example for honesty and develop clear policies regarding security and theft.
• Develop and advise all employees of inventory control procedures. All merchandise entering and exiting your premises should be accounted for;
• Screen employees carefully before hiring them. Check their backgrounds to be sure they have not been fired for behavior you find is dangerous or unacceptable;
• Train employees in proper cash handling and security measures. Set policy regarding cash on hand and stick by it;
• Research shows that employees steal from businesses that are impersonal to them and lack clear policies. Show employees you care about them and their property;
• Provide a clean and orderly work environment with secure places for their personal belongings;
• Offer them personal child protection and home crime prevention information obtained from local law enforcement agencies and national organizations;
• Support their involvement in community organizations formed to prevent crime and help crime victims.

Robber Prevention

Business are robbed ten times more often than individuals, but common sense can reduce the chance of becoming a victim as well as the amount of money lost if you’re robbed. Take this quiz to assess your vulnerability to robbery.

Cash: Do You

• Keep only small amounts on hand and advertise this fact? Yes (  ) No (  )
• Make frequent bank deposits? Yes (  ) No (  )
• Have a drop sage or time delay safe? Yes (  ) No (  )
• Vary your deposit time and route? Yes (  ) No (  )
• Count cash only in a private area? Yes (  ) No (  )

Lights, Locks, Alarms: Do You

• Have exterior and interior lighting that allows visibility into the store from the street? Yes (  ) No (  )
• Have an emergency alarm system that works? Yes (  ) No (  )
• Have a buddy system signal with a neighboring store in case suspicious persons enter? Yes (  ) No (  )
• Keep seldom used doors and windows locked at all times? Yes ( ) No (  )
• Use mirrors, cameras, or one way glass to observe all areas of the store? Yes (  ) No (  )

Employees: Is There

• More than one person to open and close? Yes (  ) No (  )
• Careful screening before hiring? Yes (  ) No (  )
• Care taken to have employees notify police about loiterers who may be “casing” the store? Yes (  ) No (  )
• Training on how to handle a robbery situation and effectively report it to the police? Yes (  ) No (  ) 

Have You

• Arranges your stock to allow clear visibility in the store? Yes (  ) No (  )
• Set up a signal for the police patrol officer in case of problems? Yes (  ) No (  )
• Arranged for a risk analysis security survey with the local police or sheriff’s department? Yes (  ) No (  )

When you answered “NO”, take corrective action now!

If Confronted By A Robber

• Stay as calm as possible. Try not to panic or show any signs of anger or confusion;
• Consider your well-being and that of your employees as the highest priority. Don’t escalate the incident into a violent confrontation in which someone may be injured or killed;
• Make a conscious effort to get an accurate description of the robber(s): age, race, complexion, body build, height, weight, type and color of clothing;
• After the robber leaves, call police immediately.