Crimes Against Small Businesses

• May 31, 2017
• by Carlos Lopez

Many Chicago small business owners believe that security is not a top concern since they are the little guys in stores and offices across the metro Chicago area. Many are wrong, as small retailers lose $25,000 to $33,000 every minute to shoplifters. But, shoplifting is not the only type of illegal activity that threatens a small business owner.

Crimes Against Small Business

Threats to your business’s security come from external as well as internal sources. Following are the highlights of why your business needs to plan and act to improve security.

Employee Theft

Sixty-four percent of small businesses are victims of employee theft. A survey by Kessler International in the spring of 2013 revealed that 95% of employees confirmed they steal from their employers in an anonymous survey. Some of the theft is stealing time – this is when an employee is on the clock but shirking work by disappearing for a time, taking too many breaks or falsifying time records. Though the number of dollars involved in time theft may be small, over the course of a year it becomes significant. 

Some of the losses incurred by the lack of a small business security system stem from stolen office supplies, but, a study in 2014 presented to the Annual Academy of Criminal Justices Science Meeting showed that most losses due to employees is theft of cash.

Burglary

Did you know that businesses are 4 times more likely to be a victim of a burglary than a residence? It’s true, and if you think about it, this makes sense. Businesses have valuable merchandise, computers and other office equipment, data, and more that can easily be sold.

Protecting Your Small Business

While a monitored security system goes a long way to secure your small business, there are other low-cost things you can buy that helps improve security.

Better Door Locks

If your door is the thing that secures your business from unwanted entry, make sure you have a lock that is not pickable. Options offered by lock manufacturers include unique key designs that thwart lock picks. Once a lock pick can’t open your door lock, unauthorized entry is stopped. 

Better Exterior Lighting/Interior Lighting

When a building is well-lit at dark through daylight it deters burglars from your business. It also helps to keep some interior lights on as well.

Add Security Cameras

Video has proven its worth as a deterrent to shoplifting, employee theft, and burglary. Using video cameras in your office or retail shop is an affordable way to gain more security. Whether the video system is monitored professionally or by you on an app, the mere presence of video cameras helps to limit crimes against your business by professional thieves, casual shoplifters, and employees.

Buy a Bolted Down Safe

If you have clients for whom you prepare and store confidential documents consider buying a safe that bolts to the floor. Make sure it is also fireproof. Your clients will appreciate the extra effort you make to guard their privacy. It is a clever idea to have the safe hidden as well as bolted to the floor.

Cybersecurity Matters

Speaking of privacy, data stored on computers is subject to theft too. So, be sure your software is patched as soon as a security patch is available, educate employees about opening emails from unknown sources, and backup your system daily. These are free ways to keep your business data, client financial data and personal identification information, your own client lists, and bookkeeping information for your own business secure. 

These are just a few of the reasons you want to keep your company at the highest security level possible. At Security Doctors, we’re experts when it comes to Chicago business security. Don’t wait until something bad happens to think about investing in business security systems that could have prevented the problem. Call us at 847-386-8838 or use our online contact form to set up your free consultation, and we will gladly work with you to customize a small business security system that suits your company’s needs.

 

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