Case Studies

Business advice

by Mark Rowe

The South Yorkshire-based Business Crime Reduction Centre is warning companies that they may be targets for criminals during the extended Christmas holiday. Previous crime patterns suggest that not everyone takes a Christmas break. Sparsely populated industrial estates and other business areas provide thieves with a chance to get in some ‘overtime’ during the festive period.

In addition to burglaries, companies have suffered arson attacks and a number of cases of criminal damage have been recorded, which are frequently thought to be failed attempts to burgle premises.

Leaving premises unattended – and in some cases publicly advertising the dates when the business will be closed via voicemail or email auto-responders – can provide criminals with the ideal opportunity to attack premises.

Business Crime Reduction Centre Director, David Ransom said: “We do not want to alarm the business community – in fact overall, crime is falling across the region – however it would seem prudent to take some basic precautions if you plan to be away from the business over an extended period. There are many simple, cost free steps that can be taken, which will make premises less vulnerable.”

The Sheffield-based centre has produced a checklist of actions that can be taken for security. The list can be downloaded from the centre‟s website www.bcrc-uk.org If businesses require a more bespoke service they can contact the Business Crime Reduction Centre (0114 275 1283) and arrange for one of their security advisers to provide a free and impartial survey of the property, which will highlight where the vulnerabilities are to be found.

David Ransom said: “Naturally we wish everyone a safe and peaceful Christmas and the region‟s police personnel, along with the Business Crime Reduction Centre are here to try to ensure that happens.”

The Business Crime Reduction Centre is delivered with Yorkshire-based charity, People United Against Crime and South Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and Humberside Police forces. The Business Crime Reduction Centre is part financed by the European Union through the Yorkshire and Humber European Regional Development Fund Programme 2007-2013.

For more information – visit: www.bcrc-uk.org.

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