The Federal Bureau of Investigation released statistics last week that showed a minor increase in the number of reported bank robberies for the fourth quarter of 2007. The FBI’s figures show that there were 1,561 robberies of financial institutions between October and December of last year—31 more robberies than occurred in the previous quarter. The overall trend in robberies in general was down, however, according to the FBI’s 2007 Preliminary Annual Uniform Crime Report.
Whether you work in a financial institution or some neighborhood business, and whether crime rates are up or down, it’s in everyone’s interest to protect their business from crime. Here are a few steps you can take.
- Greet people who enter your business—personal contact can deter crimes.
- Target hardening—make sure that security measures, such as lights, alarms, and security personnel, are not only in place but are clearly visible and activated.
- Light it up—keep all areas used by patrons well-lighted to deter criminal activity. Make sure that the main activities within your business can be clearly viewed from the street. Check the parking lot for good lighting and unobstructed views.
- If your business has a safe, be sure it is fireproof and securely anchored. Remember to change the combination when an employee who had access to it is no longer employed by your business.
- Share crime prevention tips with patrons by posting them in your store.
- Use the three concepts of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) to deter criminals’ interest. These are natural surveillance, natural access control, and territorial reinforcement. Keep bushes and shrubs trimmed so that you can see trouble before it walks in the door. Deter vandalism and show pride in your community with "thorny" plants and vines.
- Get involved with Business Watch and encourage other local businesses to do the same.
- Know what to do in case of an emergency. Fire exits and evacuation routes should be clearly marked. Fire extinguishers and medical kits should be well-stocked and checked regularly. Plan drills so that all employees know what to do in case of an emergency. Have different emergency plans in place for different types of emergencies.
- Learn how to be a good witness. Take note of gender, ethnicity, age, height, weight, hair color and length, and description of clothes and shoes.
- If you are ever the victim of a robbery, comply. Give up your money or your merchandise—don’t give up your life.
For more information on creating a safer workplace, check out NCPC’s A Safe Workplace Is Everybody’s Business.
Comments