Business crime rises in 2018
As a first line of defence, it is essential that perimeter security is in good condition and checked regularly.
In November 2018, Bryte Insurance, a business risk specialist, released its Q2 2018 Crime Tracker.
The tracker measures the annual change, on a quarterly basis, in crime-related claims due to hijacking, robbery, theft and malicious damage to property committed against South African businesses.
The Crime Tracker indicated an increase of 13.51 per cent in the total incidents of crime perpetrated against businesses in Q2 2018 compared with the same period in 2017, where it reflected a deceleration to 7.73 per cent.
The dire socio-economic challenges and high unemployment rate facing the country have been highlighted as a major cause of the increase.
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Wahl Bartmann, CEO of Fidelity ADT, said while the increase is alarming, there are measures businesses can take to reduce the chances of a security breach at their premises.
“A new year is a good time for business owners to reassess their security needs and the systems they have in place,” said Bartmann.
“Wear and tear on security systems is a reality, and maintenance, upgrades and replacements are a necessity.”
Bryte advised business owners to conduct regular security upgrades and to assess their risk exposure frequently to ensure that they have sufficient insurance cover in the event that they fall victim to criminals.
“Waiting until the system becomes faulty is not ideal,” said Bartmann.
“Unfortunately, we do encounter incidents at small businesses where a break-in has occurred and only then do business owners realise that their security system was not operating correctly.
“With regular maintenance and testing, this can be avoided.”
Bartmann explained that there are several options for perimeter security, such as access control, gates, electric fencing and beams.
CCTV systems are no longer as expensive as they used to be, and even small-business owners can now consider them as options.
Burglar bars, security gates and an alarm systems linked to a reaction service are all vital components of the solution.
“Fires are a very real threat and should also be taken seriously,” the CEO explained.
“Having a fire escape plan, extinguishers and smoke detectors at the property are must-haves.
“It is always best to get a professional in to assess your security solutions and associated risk.
“These experts will be able to identify any vulnerable areas and offer the best solutions.”
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