Security Best Practices: How You Can Protect Your Business
As a business owner, understanding how to protect your business can help you safeguard it against criminal activity. An examination of crime statistics from 2021 to 2022, as presented in The Crime In Washington 2022 Annual Report, reveals a noteworthy surge in property-related offenses. Robberies surged by 44.5%, burglaries increased by 8.7%, property destruction saw a worrisome rise of 10.3%, and destruction of property increased by 10.3%. In this blog post, we will discuss some basic principles that can help keep your business safe.
A fundamental idea to grasp when discussing crime is opportunity. If a property provides opportunity for a crime to take place, that property will have a much higher chance of being a target for criminal activity. Finding ways to reduce opportunity is an effective strategy to safeguard your business. Some simple examples of how you can lower opportunity for criminal activity include: properly securing doors and windows, keeping valuable assets out of sight, providing proper lighting around your property, and providing property maintenance by removing trash and graffiti.
Another important aspect to consider is awareness. By being aware, you can potentially stop a crime before it even happens or gets out of hand. Suspicious activity may vary from business to business, but there are some general activities that should be noted. Some suspicious activities that should be noted include: pedestrians who walk around your business multiple times with no apparent reason, unattended bags or backpacks on your property, unauthorized entry into sensitive areas, unusual behavior including concealing the face, being aggressive, or acting irrationally, and photographing of sensitive areas. Learning to recognize suspicious activity as soon as possible and being ready to carry out emergency procedures will keep you, your employees, and your business safe.
Understanding opportunity and awareness is important, but all businesses must also have an emergency plan. An emergency plan will enable you and your personnel to safely and calmly get to safety while also protecting your assets. While building your emergency plan, think about potential threats your business might face. Do you deal with expensive assets? Does your business store dangerous chemicals or materials? Is your business located in a heavily populated area? Each business has its own unique factors to consider. Finding where your business might be most vulnerable is an important step in protecting your business.
In today's world, recognizing and responding to suspicious activity is a necessity for any business owner. Whether you are worried about suspicious behavior or other potential emergencies, Master Security Patrol is here to assist. Our highly-trained security professionals are well-equipped to handle emergency response and maintain a vigilant stance against criminal activity. By securing your business, you are not only safeguarding your interests but also playing an active role in making Tacoma's community one step closer to becoming a safer city. For expert guidance and comprehensive security solutions, feel free to reach out to us today.
