Whether you've been a victim of business crime or not, it's
never too late to implement measures to better protect your
business. Here at Premierline Direct we offer some guidance on how
to reduce the risks of business crime:
Carry out a risk assessment
You should look at the exterior of your business premises and analyse where it might be at risk of
crime. A good place to start is by looking at the physical
aspects of the building, which act as the first line of defence
against an incident.
Install security measures
You can deter thieves by having obvious security measures in
place such as alarms and locks on doors and windows, CCTV focused
on entrances and exits, and sensor lights.
With an alarm, it's worth thinking about installing one that is
linked to a central monitoring station, which will give you peace
of mind knowing that a key holder will be alerted should the alarm
be triggered.
When reviewing your security measures you should also refer to
the "minimum level of security" section of your insurance policy.
This lays out guidelines on the types of locks required
and suitable alarm systems. It's important that you ensure these
'minimum requirements' are met as it could impact on your claim if
the worst happens.
Assess your internal security
Opportunities for crime include cash tills, visible stock and
contents left on display after closing, and items which aren't
security tagged. It's a good idea to remove valuables from sight at
night and securely lock away electronic equipment. Cash should also
be regularly removed from the premises during the day, or if
required, a cash carrying company can do this for you which is
often a much safer method particularly if large amounts of cash
will be in transit.
Make sure intruder alarms and sprinkler systems are in full
working order, particularly if you are planning to be closed over
any longer periods of time.
Make sure you're covered
Insurance can compensate for the financial loss if you are a
target of crime, but it is essential you ensure that you are
adequately covered in the first place. This means being realistic
about the level of cover your business requires for areas such as
the value of contents and stock. It's a good idea to take your
renewal as an opportunity to review whether your insurance needs
have changed over the last twelve months.
