While cyberattacks are on the rise, traditional crimes against businesses – such as physical theft – are still a major threat. 8% of business premises in the UK are targeted by burglars every year. Many burglars are picky when it comes to their targets, preferring to focus on premises that are likely to have valuables on site and that have clear vulnerabilities. Is your business an easy target? Below are some considerations to help you determine how likely you are to be targeted, and some preventative measures you can take to ward off burglars.
Consider who carries a key
Handing out keys freely to lots of different people increases the risk of someone unauthorised being able to break into your premises. A key can easily be handed to someone else or copied, so you should try to only provide keys to your most trusted employees or associates. If you need to provide access to cleaners, consider scheduling cleaning while someone is in the office. You could also consider alternative access control methods such as keycards – these can be remotely tracked and in some cases activated/deactivated, plus they are harder to make copies of.
Inspect the condition of windows and doors
Many burglars gain access to buildings via a damaged window or door. If any entrances to your premises are visibly damaged, get them repaired as soon as possible so that you’re not advertising your premises to burglars. This includes broken windows, rusty hinges or visibly damaged window/door frames. Old locks should also be replaced, as they are likely to be easier to pick.
Carry out a physical penetration test
Physical penetration testing involves hiring a security expert to try to simulate a burglary to see how vulnerable your premises truly are. Every commercial building and its grounds are different – there could be unique vulnerabilities that you hadn’t even considered. These vulnerabilities can then be fixed to make sure no real burglar can exploit them.
Think about your visitor policy
Are visitors allowed to walk freely in and out of your premises? Do you ever leave visitors unattended? Do you restrict them from accessing certain areas? Rethinking your visitor policy if you currently have any visitor rules. While it’s important that visitors feel welcome, you need to make sure that you’re not inviting burglars into your premises. Consider limiting access to restricted areas using locked doors or by requiring visitors to check in. Try to make sure that each visitor is accompanied by a trusted staff member – especially in areas where they may have access to sensitive information.
Don’t overlook lighting
Many burglars target premises after dark when they are less likely to be spotted. If your premises doesn’t have any exterior lighting, it could be much easier for a burglar to break in without being detected by a neighbor or passer by. Installing lighting around the outside of your premises can help to deter burglars by making your premises a more difficult target. Motion-sensing lighting is a good choice, because it will save you money spent on energy compared to permanent lighting.