Crime During the Holidays
For many businesses, crime during the holidays can cut into profits, with the holiday season being one of the most profitable times of the year. In fact, 20 to 40 percent of yearly sales for small to mid-size retail businesses occur in these last two months.[1]
Yes, business is booming this time of year, and so are the opportunities for theft. Criminals want to cash in on the holiday season as much as you do. In fact, the Jack L. Hayes International Annual Theft Survey revealed the more than 1.2 million shoplifters and employees were arrested for theft during the holiday season a few years ago – and these were just the ones that were caught.
But crime isn’t isolated to retail stores. Thieves are looking for an easy opportunity to make a quick buck and if your business seems like an easy target, they’ll take it. However, you can protect your business from crime during the holidays. Here are a few tips to help:
Be Aware of Your Surroundings
While some holiday thieves are impulsive, seizing what they perceive to be a prime opportunity to steal, most of them are savvier than that. They may even be involved in an organized retail crime ring. To reduce their risk of getting caught, they’ll often case the businesses they want to steal from. Always be on the lookout during the holidays for people lingering around your business and acting suspiciously and encourage your employees to do the same. Make it a point to routinely review the recordings of your surveillance equipment too for anything unusual.
Change Patterns and Routines
Depending on the type of business you operate, there may be certain points in the day where you or your employees are more vulnerable to crime. So it’s important to change up your routines and patterns periodically, especially during the holiday season, to help deter crime. For example, if you operate a cash register and money is routinely taken out of the till or to the bank at a certain time each day, move the times around to throw anyone off who’s been observing your patterns.
Keep Valuable Assets Locked Up
If certain goods in your store or place of business are worth a lot of money, don’t leave them exposed. Not only do the holidays attract more criminals, they draw in more people in general. And it’s much easier for a crime to go unnoticed in a large crowd of people. So help reduce the opportunity and temptation this time of year to steal high-valued goods by putting a barrier between them and your customers. If someone really wants to purchase your top-dollar items, they will find you or an employee to assist them.
Utilize Security Cameras
If you own a business, you should have security cameras in place. They will protect your business year-round, and especially during the holiday season. But it’s good to regularly audit your surveillance equipment to be sure that its capturing everything. If you rearranged your store for the holidays, are there any new blind spots? Or is there any equipment that has failed or is in need of replacement? These things should be checked and monitored regularly either by you or the surveillance company that you contract with.
Pro-Vigil Can Keep Your Business Safe During the Holidays
As the undisputed leaders in the security space, Pro-Vigil can help your business stay safe during the holidays. With features such as virtual security guards who remotely monitor your business and look for suspicious activity or IP camera health and equipment monitoring to ensure that your equipment is functioning well, your business is protected so that you can enjoy your holidays. Visit Pro-Vigil to get your free quote.
[1] https://www.thebalancesmb.com/prepare-business-christmas-season-2948278
