It’s a scary thought, but business burglaries are on the rise. Every year, businesses lose millions of dollars in stolen property and damage. But there are things you can do to secure your business and prevent burglaries from happening in the first place.
Businesses in Canada lose a lot of money every year to burglary and shoplifting. This costs businesses a lot of money, with small businesses and retail establishments being more vulnerable to these crimes. However, no business is immune to these risks. Based on a report from the Retail Council of Canada, retailers lose up to $3 billion a year or $8 million a day as a result of burglary and shoplifting.
The best way to combat burglaries is by taking preventative measures. In this article, we'll share the most effective ones for businesses.
Here are five easy ways to secure your business and prevent burglaries from happening:
Install a security system with alarms and cameras.
Installing a security system with alarms and cameras is one of the best ways to secure your business and prevent burglaries from happening. Security systems provide a visible deterrent to criminals, as well as 24/7 monitoring to help catch criminals in the act.
Alarms can also help to reduce the amount of time a criminal has to steal items from your business, and can summon the police quickly if there is an incident. Cameras can also help identify criminals after a burglary has taken place. Overall, security systems with alarms and cameras provide businesses with peace of mind that their property is safe and secure.
Keep all doors and windows locked at all times and maintain lights around your business
Keeping all doors and windows locked at all times is another easy way to secure your business and prevent burglaries from happening. This measure may seem like common sense, but it's often overlooked. By keeping your doors and windows locked, you make it more difficult for criminals to gain access to your property.
Locking your doors and windows also helps to deter criminals from targeting your business in the first place. They know that it will be more difficult to steal from your business if the doors and windows are locked, so they are likely to move on to another target.
A well-lit area around your business can also help to deter criminals from targeting your property. Criminals prefer to operate in dark areas where they are less likely to be seen. By keeping a well-lit area around your business, you make it difficult for criminals to operate undetected.
Install Full-length Latch Guards
Installing full-length latch guards on your business doors is another easy way to secure your property and prevent burglaries from happening. Latch guards are metal plates that attach to the door jamb and secure the door latch in place. This makes it more difficult for criminals to pry open the door and gain access to your property.
Unsecured doors that lack properly installed security measures, such as latch guards, are often broken into. This leaves the door not only damaged but also in need of door replacement, a costly and timely endeavour for business owners.
Without a protective door, sturdy ones may be simply prised open with a crowbar or similar device. Doors with small latch guards can also be easily broken into, despite their modest design. Not only do our latch guards come with thru-bolts and tamper-resistant screws, but we can also powder coat them to make them look even better.
Latch guards also help to keep the door closed, which prevents criminals from forcing their way into your business. By installing latch guards on your business doors, you can rest assured that your property is safe and secure as it is probably one of the most important things you can do to prevent burglaries and an easy and effective way to secure your doors from being forced open.
Invest in quality locks and use them correctly
Investing in quality locks is another easy way to prevent burglaries from happening. Quality locks are more difficult for criminals to pick, and they provide a much higher level of security for your property.
When choosing locks for your business, be sure to select locks that are appropriate for the type of door you have. For example, deadbolt locks are a good choice for exterior doors, while knob locks are better suited for interior doors.
It's also important to use your locks correctly. Be sure to lock all doors and windows when you leave your business, even if it's just for a short period of time.
Replace existing pivots and hinges with continuous hinges
When it comes to securing your doors, one of the most important measures you can take is to replace your existing pivots and hinges with continuous hinges. Continuous hinges are more secure than traditional pivot and hinge systems, as they are less likely to be forced open.
Continuous hinges also provide a greater level of security against kick-ins, as they are much more difficult to break than traditional pivot and hinge systems.
If you are looking for a way to secure your doors and prevent burglaries from happening, replacing your existing pivots and hinges with continuous hinges is a good option.
A continuous hinge is much more efficient at keeping you safe and secure. They also make your doors more durable and resist their strength for a longer time.