Walls, fences, and shrubbery can have a place in crime prevention, but building a fortress may not be your best protection against crime. Secluded areas, invisible to passers-by, are a burglar’s delight. He can take his time with little fear of being seen. The key is to keep trespassers out while keeping your property visible.

· DO use chain-link or picket fences.
· DO keep hedges at waist-height, no higher.
· DO use prickly/thorny bushes to discourage trespassers.
· DO trim low branches away from the building and lights.

· DON’T use “stockade” fencing.
· DON’T landscape with tall, dense shrubs.
· DON’T leave ladders or climbing devices around the property.
· DON’T leave loose tools or cinder-blocks/landscaping stones around.

Consider joining forces with neighboring businesses to hire a uniformed guard. If that is too costly consider watchdogs. Barking dogs are an effective deterrent.

SECOND LINE OF DEFENSE – BUILDING PERIMETER

FROM THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
Burglars try the easiest entries first – doors and windows. Many are accidentally left unsecured. Others are pried easily. If yours are strong enough to resist for a few minutes, there is a good chance the criminal will move on.

DOORS
Doors should be constructed of metal or solid-core wood. Commercial properties should have steel doors with steel jambs.

LOCKS
The best locks have one common feature – a deadbolt. This is a steel bar extending 1- to 1½-inches into the door-jamb (”throw”). The dead-bolt’s strength depends on a properly installed strike plate to re-enforce the jamb. It should be heavy-gage steel, installed with pre-drilled 3-inch screws. Pre-drilling holes, angled inward, provides a good grip without straining the wood. Using Three-inch screws multiplies the resistance by gripping the studs supporting the door-jamb.
A double cylinder deadbolt (key on both sides) prevents a burglar from simply breaking a window in-or-near the door, reaching in and unlocking the bolt from inside. It also prevents them from using the door as an exit if they entered somewhere else. Ensure that the lock-cylinder has a steel guard that is tapered and rotates preventing defeat by a wrench.

WINDOWS
Windows on commercial properties may be protected with metal bars, grillwork, or grates. Plexiglas can be mounted inside the glass, or outside the glass with carriage-bolts or uncommon fasteners. Edges should extend 1½ inches beyond the opening with fasteners into a solid surface, spaced 3 inches apart.

ALARMS
Consider these factors:
· Cost versus Need
· Value of your merchandise
· Burglary risk in your area
· Get several estimates
Alarm Types
· Localized – Alarm sensors activate a siren on- or in the building itself to alert passers-by and neighboring businesses/residents, and to cause thieves to stop and flee.
· Centrally Monitored – Sensors may or may-not activate sirens, but do notify a central monitoring company, who then notifies police.

Coverage
Different sensors are available to cover different needs:
· Exterior spaces (ex. lumber yards, vehicle storage, etc.)
· Entry-points (doors, windows, sky-lights, vents, garage-doors)
· Sound (actual microphones, sounds monitored at company)
· Glass-break (sound-sensor for frequency of broken glass)
· Interior motion (hallways, offices etc.)
· Specific areas (safes, sensitive equipment)
· Fire/Smoke
· Chemical leak
· Many others – consult service technicians

FEATURES to REQUEST
· Battery Backup to cover line tampering or power outage
· Cellular Backup to protect if phone lines are cut
· Read-out to check function, track who coded-in, location of activation

If you do install an alarm, place labels on the property perimeter and at all windows and doors. This in itself may deter criminals (however, signage without an alarm is useless, criminals often test the system first for police response).

THIRD LINE OF DEFENSE - INTERIOR

INTERIOR DETERRENTS
Burglars don’t want to be seen while inside. Your best protection is high visibility:
· Keep interior lights on – seen from outside by citizens and police
· Video surveillance - taped
· Wide-open spaces
· Low counters
· Uncluttered display windows
· Registers at the front, drawers left open, EMPTY
· Signage stating “No Cash Left on Premises” , “Register is Empty”, etc.
· Locks on interior doors, keyed deadbolts on exterior doors hamper escape
· Inventory and mark all serial numbered office equipment and tools (use business name or phone, owner’s driver’s license number)
· Keep detailed inventory of merchandise

SAFES
· A safe visible from outside means a burglar risks being seen trying to crack it. Bolt or cement safes to the floor
· Alarm safe or the room if possible
· Round doors and combination locks provide the most resistance

KEY CONTROL
· Restrict keys to only your most trusted employees, or those with absolute need.
· Have keys engraved “DO NOT DUPLICATE”- most lock-smiths respect this instruction
· Maintain a key-log listing issue/return
· Label keys with codes instead of “back-door”, “office” etc.

PROCEDURES
Locks and alarms cannot prevent burglary unless they are used! All-to-often, investigation of a burglary determines that the point of entry was a window or door that was inadvertently left unlocked. Sometimes this is an isolated accident, sometimes mechanical defect, often it is a habitually unsecured opening. Some criminals have nothing better to do than to walk down the street and pull door-handles. Don’t let them find yours open:
· Establish a routine for closing: check each door and window, briefly inspect the exterior, then set the alarm.
· Upon returning to open, again inspect the exterior for signs of intrusion before entering the building.

HIRING – EMPLOYEE SCREENING
Many business burglaries are traced back to employee involvement:
· Carefully screen employment applications – ask questions, check references

IF YOU SUSPECT A BURGLARY
The burglar may still be inside, you may be in danger!
· Don’t go in, or if inside, go back out and lock the door.
· Call police (911)
· Don’t open for business, employees and customers can alter evidence.

Armed Robbery Prevention Information

Armed Robbery
One of the greatest fears of both the employer and employee of any business is being the victim of an armed robbery. Needless to say, there is nothing pleasant about having one’s life threatened by a stranger with a weapon. Certainly these situations are to be avoided if at all possible. How can you stop an armed robbery? It is most difficult, dangerous, and inadvisable after it is in progress. The key is to know as much as possible about the armed robber and how he operates and therefore prevent the crime. Here are a few things to help you in that effort.

Who is the Robber?
1. An armed robber is usually a male in his late teens or twenties. There are exceptions-little old ladies have robbed banks.
2. He is not usually from your neighborhood.
3. He has probably watched your business and knows your routines.
4. He has probably “graduated” from lesser crimes.
5. He may have inside information about your operation from a former (or current) employee.
6. He considers himself among the elite of the criminal world.

How does the armed robber operate?
1. He looks for a place likely to have significant cash on hand.
2. He looks for places with obstructed views. It hides his approach and prevents anyone outside from observing the robbery.
3. He looks for places with easy escape routes.
4. He tries to get in and out quickly (20 seconds to 1 minute).
5. He intimidates the victim by being loud and profane.
6. He usually grabs only the bills from the register.
7. He leaves by the same route he entered.

Things to look for
1. Someone hanging around the area for inappropriate lengths of time.
2. Someone who enters the business but doesn’t buy.
3. Someone who asks questions about the security system.
4. Someone with flimsy answers when questioned. (He wants a drink of water or looking for Joe who doesn’t work there)
5. Cars cruising the area repeatedly.
6. Parked cars with engines running and/or driver waiting.

Things to do if you are robbed
1. Don’t resist unless your life is at stake!
2. Try to remain calm.
3. Don’t take risks.
4. Alert the robber to anything that might alarm him (a bell rings when the cash register is opened)
5. Note as many things as possible about the robber.
6. Keep your movements slow and deliberate.
7. Let the robber know what moves you are going to make.
8. Don’t reach for the phone.
9. Note anything that the robber touches.

After the robber leaves
1. Call the Police.
2. Stay on the line with the dispatcher until an officer arrives.
3. Give a description of the robber to the dispatcher. Note unusual things such as if the robber had on two shirts.
4. Give the dispatcher the method and direction of flight. (North on Meeting Street rather than up Meeting Street.)
5. Have all victims make written notes. Do not discuss the robbery amongst yourselves until this is done. People remember different points.
6. Don’t touch or disturb anything the robber has touched or handled.

A Good Description
When describing a suspect, pay close attention to the following details:
General Description
• Sex and race
• Estimate age, height, and weight
• Build (fat; husky; medium; slim)
• Hair (color; texture; style; length)
• Eyes (color; shape; are the eyelashes and eyebrows heavy or light)
• Complexion (color; pores; pockmarks; acne; bumps)
• Facial Hair (clean-shaven; beard; mustache; goatee)
• Peculiarities (large or small nose; large or small ears; marks, scars, deformities, voice, speech, how they walk or talk, etc.
Clothing Description
• Hat (color; style - e.g., cap, fedora, hood; any printing on the hat)
• Coats (color; style; length; any printing on the coat or jacket)
• Shirt/Blouse (color; design; sleeves; collar; any printing on it)
• Pants: (color; style; length)
• Socks: (color; pattern; length)
• Shoes: (color; style)
• Accessories: (sweater; scarf; gloves; tie)
• Jewelry: (watch; rings; bracelet, earrings)
• General Appearance: (neat; sloppy; clean or dirty)
Oddities: (clothing too large or too small; patches)

The Getaway Car
When calling the police it is very important to give the operator an accurate description of the suspect along with any vehicle used.
Try to note the following information about a suspicious vehicle:
• Make and Model
• Body style
• Color
• Number of Doors
• License Plate Number
• Any damage or anything unusual about the vehicle
• Where the vehicle is located or direction it was headed.

A Little Prevention
1. Keep Views unobstructed.
2. Limit cash on hand.
3. Keep area well lighted.
4. Don’t be predictable on bank runs.

Extra Precautionary Measures
Persons making bank deposits should:
1. Take a second employee.
2. Vary the time and route. Don’t set a pattern.
3. Never approach a depository when there is someone there. If you see someone suspicious call police.
4. Alarm switches should be placed in more than one location, including coolers.
***A hidden phone in the cooler would be helpful as robbers often place employees there.

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