CRIME PREVENTION TIPS FOR BUSINESSES

Sergeant Symonette provided tips on how to treat counterfeit money as well as how to identify valid credit cards by examining symbols on the card itself. He stressed that while it is important to have cameras installed at business places, it is equally important to ensure that they are indeed working. Also highlighted was the importance of writing down every detail that can be remembered after a crime has taken place, and documenting this in a formal report/statement, since information and details can quickly and easily be forgotten after a crime has occurred. Robbery is a crime against a person or persons that is a very frightening experience. It can result in injury, damage to your business, major loss or even death to the victim. It is important to remember in protecting your business from robbery, to take preventive measures and make them obvious, e.g. burglar bars, and security gates. Cameras inside or outside your establishment should not always be obvious. Here are some Ways to Discourage Robbery. • Lock Unused Doors • Avoid working long periods alone, if you must, turn on a hidden radio or TV so robbers will think there's someone with you. • Develop a system among stores in your immediate area, and agree to keep an eye on each other's buildings and watch out for any suspicious activities. • Create a signaling system to alert nearby businesses or neighbors to call the police, if you are being robbed. • Vary the schedule and route for your bank deposits each day, try to keep only float in cash register, so if you are robbed you'll reduce your loss. • Try to make cashing out counter area visible to passers-by, so that the customer of robber is visible to the street. • Avoid placing signs or displays which block visibility to the street. • Record the serial numbers of the bottom bin of the cash drawer and instructor employees not to use these bills for change. • If you run a business that may be exceptionally high rick to robberies, you may want to invest in a bulletproof cashier screen. • Display signs at entrance and exits that indicate that safes require secondary keys not in possession of employees. • Advise of your security alarm system, with signs in visible areas. • Place colored tape markers at exits at height of 5 to 6 feet to estimate suspects heights as they leave. What To Do If a Robbery Happens • If someone points a gun at you and demands your money, what do you do? • Give it to them; NEVER REFUSE A ROBBER! • If you have a silent alarm and can reach it unnoticed, use it. Otherwise, wait until the robber leaves. • If possible, signal other employees, have a pre-arranged signal for suspected emergencies, again if the robber will notice this, wait.