Businesses should be taking better safety measures
Ebuyer, the UK’s largest independent tech retailer, recently released figures that show UK business theft has increased from £43,342,507 to £45,425,928 since 2015. This comes with a 9% overall increase in reported thefts affecting businesses across the UK. Ebuyer, using Freedom of Information requests to Police forces around the country, found out of 23 that responded to the data request, 83% had seen a visible rise in theft on business premises.
Lee Weymouth, Commercial Director at Ebuyer, said:
“The significant increase in the number of business thefts indicates that the risk to business security is higher and more unpredictable than ever.”
The risk of external theft comes from someone outside your business. If you’re in the retail sector this could be shoplifting, or if you own a warehouse with expensive equipment this may mean a break-in.
- Properly trained, attentive employees who can provide good customer service and identify potential threats, are an effective deterrent to shoplifters.
- Maintaining a system to track inventory or equipment, like tagging or keeping a record of serial numbers, is important so that any discrepancies they can be investigated.
- Shred sensitive documentation and password protect important computer files to prevent information theft.
- The introduction of CCTV monitoring will help keep track of potential thefts at your business.
- Integrate CCTV with other security solutions such as, security alarms, security doors, shutters, perimeter security or a manned security presence to control access to the property.
Although most business owners hope they’ve employed good and honest staff, internal theft is always a danger and precautions should be taken to prevent it.
- Always check references when hiring a new employee to ensure they’re well vetted.
- Contract your procedures, such as bookkeeping, to a trusted business if you are concerned about the risk of giving the task to an internal employee.
- Separate employee tasks that could cause risk, for example, if you keep money on your premises, don’t give the same person the responsibility of reconciling receipts.
- It can be easy to get emotional about an employee who has wronged you, so it’s important to maintain a clear policy for internal theft and deal with issues logically through that procedure.
What ARK can offer
APG has several divisions that offer easily integrated security solutions to help reduce and prevent the risk of theft, both internally and externally.
Alarms are an effective measure to help deter criminals on business properties. Our division, ARK (Alarm Response and Keyholding) specialise in alarm response to ensure the safety of your staff and yourself. By using ARK, if the alarm at your business is activated a highly trained officer will arrive to secure your building and take the appropriate action if a theft has occurred or a criminal is present.
ARK can also provide security guards are also available temporarily or on a permanent basis which can act as a physical and visual deterrent to criminals thinking about committing theft and dissuade employees from doing the same.
Additionally, they also offer an Open and Lock service in which they take on the responsibility for alarming and securing your premises at the end of the working day and ensuring that it’s safe to enter at the beginning of the next working day. This takes away the vulnerability of having a staff member close the premises at night and will give you peace of mind that ARK’s officers are available should any issues arise.
To read more on ARK, click here.
What VRC can offer
VCR (Video Receiving Centre Monitoring Solutions), ARK’s sister company and one of APG’s divisions, is an industry leading alarm receiving centre, providing an CAT2 NSI Gold BS8418 surveillance service. Introducing CCTV to your business as the sole safety solution will create a notable decrease in the amount of attempted or committed thefts on your property. However, combined with other solutions such as Open and Lock and alarms it will be even more effective and aid to prevent any crime taking place on your premises all together.
More details on VRC can be found here.
What BGB can offer
We can also offer perimeter security systems, from our BGB (Boundary Gate and Barrier) division. Roller shutters are one method to help prevent business theft. They are incredibly effective for theft, usually an opportunistic crime, as it will significantly increase the time it takes for a criminal to enter the property. They are also useful for businesses that require privacy or are on busy street that is subject to a lot of foot traffic.
BGB also offers a selection of gates, that are suited to a wide variety of properties and are useful to introduce access control to your business, allowing you to prevent unauthorised people from entering the premises.
They also offer several traffic control measures including vehicle barriers and road blockers which will help minimise the risk of car theft on your business premises and reduce the chance of a criminal using a vehicle attack to enter your property.
More information on BGB can be found here.
About ARK
Alarm Response and Keyholding is part of the Asset Protection Group and we specialise in providing professional keyholding and alarm response services across the UK. Securing your home or business to ensure the safety of your family and staff. We have been providing keyholding and guarding services since 1982. Because we take the responsibility for responding to out of hours of alarm activations. As well as securing sites on behalf of owners with fully licensed SIA security officers.
About VRC
VRC offers bespoke monitoring solutions because we want to protect people, property and peace of mind across the UK and Ireland. As a result of our state of the art, Remote Video Response Centre (RVRC) in Yate. VRC’s highly experienced team work night and day to ensure your people and property are protected. Our facility is an NSI Gold, Category II RVRC offering a range of services.
About BGB
Established in 2007 Boundary Gate and Barrier Contracts dedicated team of skilled and experienced individuals have quickly established an impressive national customer base and an enviable reputation for knowledge and expertise in the application of Perimeter Security systems. Our mission is to provide you with a reliable, honest, cost-effective service and we are dedicated to giving you, our customers, the highest level of service and support at all times. Boundary Gate and Barrier Contracts is part of APG.
About APG
The Asset Protection Group comprises a group of Fire & Security companies with shared ownership and one common goal, protecting your most important assets. As a collective group, we look to offer protection to your assets to assist you with your ongoing success within your own business.