It’s that time of year again when everyone winds down and gets ready for their holiday break over Christmas and New Year. For many small and medium-sized businesses, this means shutting up shop for several days or even weeks.
However, while employees enjoy well-earned downtime, an unattended business can become a target for opportunistic criminals who take advantage of the holiday season to disrupt unsuspecting businesses.
Taking a few steps to secure the premises ahead of this period is essential to providing peace of mind and preventing unfortunate disruptions when it’s time to reopen.
One of the most effective ways to protect businesses during the shutdown is through 24/7 monitoring. Statistics show more than 70% of burglaries happen at night, making after-hours protection especially critical.(1)
If an alarm is triggered, monitoring professionals will promptly notify you, enabling you to review your camera recordings and assess the situation. This could range from a minor issue, such as a false alarm caused by weather conditions, pests, or shifting shadows, to a serious threat, such as an attempted break-in.
In any scenario where movement is detected near a side entrance or around the property, the monitoring team can notify you directly and, with your authorisation, contact licensed security personnel or local authorities to address the situation.
Visible security cameras serve as a strong deterrent to potential intruders and provide invaluable evidence if an incident occurs. Many businesses with visible cameras report a reduction in break-ins and vandalism, as criminals are less likely to target locations where their actions could be recorded.
When intruders see cameras, they understand the risk of being caught is significantly higher. At best, this encourages them to move on to a less secure target. In the unfortunate event of an incident, recorded footage supports insurance claims and investigations, aiding authorities in identifying and apprehending offenders.
Before closing for the holidays, there are some practical steps every business should take to reduce security risks:
1. Install or upgrade security cameras and alarm systems. Make sure the system is up to date and covers all key entry points.
2. Secure all doors and windows. Double-check all access points, so nothing is left unlocked or vulnerable.
3. Communicate with neighbouring businesses or local security. Let them know the business will be closed for a period, so they can keep an eye out for any unusual activity.
4. Schedule regular patrols or property checks. Some businesses arrange for a security company or a trusted individual to visit the premises periodically during the holiday break.
Taking a few proactive steps can save business owners a lot of trouble when they reopen after the holiday. No one wants to return to damaged property or stolen assets. We’ve seen how proper preparation can prevent everything from petty vandalism to major theft. Businesses should do what they can now, so they don’t have to deal with the consequences later.
(1) https://www.police.act.gov.au/safety-and-security/property-crime-prevention/business-security
Dennison Hambling is managing director at Intelligent Monitoring Group.