Business Crime - Crime Prevention - Surrey Police

Accessing your business premises

Most businesses use keys to access their premises. To avoid the risk of them falling into the wrong hands, it is vital that they are closely controlled.

Keys

• Only give master keys to trusted members of staff
• Check regularly that no keys have been lost. If keys are lost, immediately change the locks
• Appoint trusted, nominated key holders to attend our of hours if there is an emergency, or use a security company to provide a key holding service
• Never leave keys lying around

Combination locks

• For high security areas, use push button combination locks. There are no keys to lose and offenders and highly unlikely to guess the code.
• Change the codes on combination locks regularly
• Make sure staff are careful not to let passers by see the code as they enter it

CCTV

Surveillance techniques, such as CCTV can help keep your premises and your staff safe by deterring potential thieves. To ensure your CCTV is fully effective;

• Clean the lens regularly
• Store all recording equipment and recorded equipment in a locked cabinet to stop a thief removing it - and the evidence
• Save a recorded tape or digital image for 31 days before recording over it
• Ensure that time and date settings are correct
• Face a camera towards the doorway so you get a clear head and shoulders image of everybody entering the premises

In order for your CCTV system to be legal (and an effective deterrent) there must be clear signage stating;

• The name of the operator
• The purpose of the CCTV, i.e. crime prevention
• A contact telephone number
• For more information on the legal requirements of CCTV visit www.ico.gov.uk

Alarms

A burglar or intruder alarm installed and used properly can be one of the most effective deterrents to burglars. Alarms can be audible-only or monitored remotely by an alarm monitoring centre. This is arranged by your alarm installer. Monitored systems with police response are strongly recommended for business premises.

• Many insurance companies require customers to use approved alarm installers if they wish to benefit from lower insurance premiums.
• Get quotations from at least three companies who are subject to independent inspection by an approved body that is recognised by the police. These include: National Security Inspectorate (NSI), Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board (SSAIB).
• To get a police response to your alarm system, you must use an alarm company that is registered with the NSI or SSAIB.
• All independently-inspected alarm companies must make sure that they adhere to strict standards.
• Alarm system should comply with the latest British and European standards.

Security lighting

Good lighting is essential, both as a security measure and as a valuable aid to reducing fear in your staff and visitors by creating a safe environment.

• Make sure your security lights are positioned properly - badly positioned lighting can assist intruders and annoy neighbours
• Check lights regularly to make sure they are working well
• Permanent low-cost dusk to dawn lighting is preferable to higher cost lighting linked to a movement sensor
• Make sure lighting does not affect CCTV
• Leave selected lights on around the premises or use a timer to give the impression that someone is working late, or that you have 24hr staff cover.
• Seek specialist advice if you are unsure about the most effective lighting

Cashing in.

Many businesses have to hold cash on the premises, whether it is from retail sales or to pay the weekly payroll. Cash is appealing for thieves so take the following precautions;

• Keep as little cash as possible on the premises and do not count cash in view of anyone
• Put tills away from entrance/exit doors
• Move excess cash to a safe place
• If possible, avoid paying staff in cash
• Leave tills empty and open at night

Be alert at all times

• Adopt set security procedures and ensure all staff are briefed on security procedures. Work out your response to a major incident such as an armed robbery and make sure that your staff know what to do.
• Staff should remain vigilant. Encourage them to report anything suspicious to management or the police
• Train staff to achieve early eye contact with visitors and customers
• Avoid predictable routines, such as always having only one member of staff at lunch time and transporting cash at the same time every day
• If you have a reception desk, never leave it unattended
• Intruders can hide in a building until it is closed and empty - search your premises carefully before setting the alarm and locking up
• If possible, keep windows free of posters and displays so staff can see who is loitering outside

Preventing theft

• Valuable items such as audio-visual equipment or tools should be locked away when not in use, and not left in view of windows
• Rooms containing valuable equipment or stock should be locked and alarmed when not in use
• Advise all employees to protect and secure their valuable property if they have to bring it to work. Provide lockers if possible
• Make sure you stock take on a regular basis
• Don't risk leaving doors unlocked or windows open, even when there are people on the premises

UV spray systems

UV spray systems include a unique forensic code and are popular with retail outlets, schools, warehouses, jewellers and other organisations who need to protect valuable stock and prevent damage to their premises.

UV spray systems are fitted at the entry points of premises (or other vulnerable areas) and when activated emit a burst of solution on to the intruder. They can also be linked to an existing intruder alarm or panic button.

Although the dye is invisible to the naked eye, it stays on skin and clothing for weeks, and everybody who is booked into custody within Surrey Police is routinely scanned using ultraviolet light for traces of the dye. If a suspect is found to have traces of UV dye on their skin, hair or clothing, samples will be taken and sent away for forensic analysis. These samples can prove irrefutably that the offender has broken into a particular premises.

UV spray systems, along with signage warning of their presence are a powerful deterrent to potential burglars.

UV grease

If your organisation needs to protect outdoor goods such as lead roofing or copper piping, forensic UV grease may be the answer. UV grease can be applied to many outdoor goods and materials and transfers itself onto the offenders skin and clothes if tampered with. It is almost impossible to remove and the unique forensic code within the grease can link the crimninal to a crime scene. It also proves conclusive ownership so recovered stolen goods can be easily returned to their rightful owners.

Permanent property marking

Protecting your valuable equipment by making them less attractive to thieves is the main aim of property marking. If your property is marked it becomes 'too hot to handle' and therefore difficult to sell on. It also greatly increases the chance of you getting it back.

As well as compiling a full list of make, model and serial number of all equipment we also recommend that you mark each individual item with some form of unique mark. This can be either a forensic UV dye product or a stencil or irremovable sticker. Good products will always be provided with stickers to advertise to would be thieves that you have taken crime prevention measures

What to do in the event of a theft

Call 999 if the crime is in place or you are in danger. Otherwise call 101.

If you can, give the police;

• A description of the person/people involved
• A description of any vehicles involved - make, model, colour, registration number and the direction of travel
• A description of what has been stolen or damaged

If you require advice on your business premises' security and are unable to find out what you need in this booklet, contact your local crime reduction advisor on 0845 125 2222. They can help you carry out a thorough risk assessment and check where there are opportunities for crime.

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