Avoid becoming a business burglary victim

SAPS Newcastle has provided tips on how to avoid becoming a business burglary victim. The advice was supplied by Lizzy Arumugam from the Corporate Communications office.

• Keep lines of observation in the business open (i.e. ensure you can see all areas)
• Install surveillance cameras strategically and implement some form of entrance and exit control
• Make sure people can be easily identified
• Keep the premises well-illuminated, on the inside and outside
• Take special precaution at opening and closing times, and do not leave only a single person responsible for opening and locking up
• Take special precautions with the handling and transporting of cash
• Thoroughly screen employees and involve them in the security planning and execution, but also bear in mind the danger of leaked information and stick to a need-to-know system
• Devise a security plan, including ways to raise the alarm and what to do if suspicious individuals approach or enter the premises
• Consolidate efforts to enhance security by involving neighbouring businesses in mutual assistance
• Consult experts and install or erect as many security features as possible to deter criminals

How to protect your cash:

It is a fact that most armed robberies in shops and stores take place with information provided by employees or contractors in that store. Very few organised armed robbers will risk being apprehended if they are not well informed and know exactly when the cash is available, and where this cash is.”

Their advice in terms of alarm systems is as follows:

• Ensure you have a good alarm system that is well maintained
• Ensure the alarm is connected to an armed response company
• Ensure you have static panic buttons placed in strategic areas of your store e.g. the cash office or the strong room
• Ensure you have enough portable panic buttons, and have them worn by members of management at all times
• Ensure the panic buttons are tested weekly

Staying safe when opening or closing for the day:

• Never open or close your store at the exact time every day
• Try not to follow the same route to your store every day
• Never open the store on your own – have someone accompany you
• Ensure that someone armed with a panic button monitors the opening and closing procedure away from the store
• Ensure you have adequate lighting at your entry point

How to stay ‘safe’:

• Ensure you have adequately fortified drop safe
• Ensure that the keys to the drop safe are not kept together or on the premises at the same time, except when cash collections are taking place
• Ensure that cash is continuously picked up at the tills throughout the day
• The cash office must continuously count and drop the cash into the drop safe
• Cash-ups must be staggered and not done in one go
• Never do full cash-up at the end of the trading day.

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