Burglary is the unlawful entry of a structure to commit theft or some other crime, usually with the intent to steal. Burglars typically do not live at the site but spend much of their time researching the site prior to the burglary and returning to the site to complete it.
Businesses are both physical and virtual in nature. Today, you can start a business from home and earn as much as a large company. There are many benefits to having a home-based business, but you also come with a myriad of security issues.
Small businesses are easy targets for burglars. Your business may be small, but it can still mean a lot to you. So, how do you prevent burglars from robbing you of everything you’ve worked for?
Instill theft prevention systems
Theft is one of the most common crimes in the world. And it is also one of the most difficult crimes to prevent. However, there are several measures you can take to prevent theft. If you own a home business, you need to make sure that your business stays safe and secure. You can take several steps to ensure this.
- Install an alarm system.
- Seal all windows, doors, and other openings in and around your building.
- Install a security system.
- Install metal grates on windows.
- Use a metal door instead of a wooden door.
- Install motion-sensing lights.
- Put lights on the outside of your building.
The first thing you need to do is to instill theft prevention systems. Burglars would only think twice about breaking into your home if you have security systems with cameras, motion detectors and alarm sirens.
Keep your keys secure and limit sharing
If you are a business owner, you may have to share your keys and passcodes with employees, suppliers, and clients. However, this leaves you vulnerable to burglaries and thefts. You may want to consider a security system that allows a trusted person to come in and out of your premise but would alert you if someone else enters.
Secure your windows and doors
Burglars are smart. They’ll lure you out of your house with a fake phone call or knock on the door and say they’re from the cable company or the police. They’ll even look for an open window and climb through it.
If you run a home business, you may be tempted to leave your doors and windows unlocked during the day when you’re at work. This can give the impression that you’re not home and can encourage burglars to break in.
While it may be tempting to leave your doors unlocked while you’re at work, it’s much better to leave them locked. Keeping your doors locked at all times and your windows secure with a windows security film makes it much harder for burglars to break in. If you have a burglar alarm, always make sure you set it every time you leave your house.
Install alarm systems and cameras
There are many different types of burglar alarms to choose from. The best is the one that you can actually afford and that will work the best for the size and type of your home business.
Burglars generally won’t give you much time to react, so your burglar alarm system should be monitored. That way, the police will be alerted, even if you can’t make it to the phone to call them.
Since you’re working from home, it’s more likely for criminals to target you, and you need to take precautions to avoid burglars. You should start with installing an alarm system (if you don’t already have one) and cameras.
It would help if you also considered getting a guard dog or a human to watch over your place. All this will make it much harder for burglars to break into your home office.
Know your employees
When you’re first starting out, your home business can be a tempting target for burglars. After all, who would suspect that a small business is run out of your home? Protect your business and yourself by knowing who you hire and training them to be respectful of your home and belongings.
Many business owners do not know what their employees do when they go home, so they cannot be sure that they are on the right track. This is because they have not been properly trained to identify potential risks.
They might have been assigned a task that they are not qualified to carry out, or they might be misinformed about the dangers of corporate espionage. In either case, the business is at risk of being burglarized.
Hire a security guard
One obvious way to protect your home business from burglaries is to hire a security guard. It’s not just a more well-known way to protect your business, but it’s something that actually works. The main benefit of hiring a security guard is that you will get someone trained and experienced to watch your business and let you know if anything suspicious is happening.
You get someone who will actively deter burglars and help keep your business safe. A security guard is an ever-present obstacle to any potential burglar. Most security guards are trained to monitor the entire property and the people who come and go. They also have the authority to detain any person they see as suspicious.
Get small business insurance
If you’ve just started your own business, you might not be too quick to think about the potential risks that could affect your business. You might not be too worried about burglaries or fires, but you’d be surprised how many business owners are affected by such events.
Many small businesses never recover from a burglary, so it’s essential to invest in small insurance and other types of insurance to protect your business.