Businesses may be looking forward to a break and shutting their doors between Christmas and New Year. However, a fencing firm warns, leaving a premises unattended for any length of time can increase the chances of burglary or criminal damage.
A recent ONS report showed that property crimes in the UK have fallen since last year, but only slightly. While crimes such as burglary and vandalism have dropped markedly in the past 20 years, business owners must continue to be vigilant in protecting their property.
Christmas can see a spike in this type of offence, as opportunistic thieves prey on the fact that many people will be enjoying the festivities and that many business properties will be empty for over a week. A Bolton security fence company, One Stop Fencing, is keen to remind small business owners that they need to take sensible action to ensure their buildings are as secure as possible over Christmas. The company has put together some tips for those who are debating shutting up shop for the “theftive season”:
Ensure all valuables are out of sight and locked away. Occurrences of shoplifting have increased, whilst other property crime has dropped, so this point is vital. Whether laptops are hidden in desk drawers or moved away from windows, it removes the temptation for thieves. Ensure that your blinds or curtains are fully shut and all windows are locked. It sounds basic, but this will be sure to hinder most thieves!
Many companies will wind down on Christmas Eve, and you might want to treat your hardworking staff to a few beers. However, you cannot afford to let the festivities cloud your judgement. Rushing off to the pub is all well and good, but have you put the alarms on, ensured your CCTV is working and double-checked that entrance points are secure?
You, or somebody you trust, should visit the premises every day to check all entrances and windows. This will flag any attempts to break in, which can then be fixed or reported to the police as soon as possible. It would be best to visit the building as a pair in order to keep safe.
Increase obvious security systems, such as fences, security cameras or alarms. Seeing these obstacles will put off any opportunists who think they could break in on the spur of the moment, as most break-ins are rarely premeditated. We appreciate that times are hard for many small businesses, but you shouldn’t hold back when it comes to investing in the security of your business premises.
Double-locking doors and windows, keeping lights on timers and visiting at different times will all help to prevent occurrences of crime to your business’ property and make it much more difficult to break in.
Darren Griffiths, owner of One Stop Fencing, says: “It is fantastic to see that crime rates to property are continuing to drop, however we can see from the survey that there are still concerns to be had, and businesses must take plenty of precautions when leaving their premises vacant for an extended period of time. It is unfortunate that the time for festive cheer lends itself to an increase in crime, but increased developments in security mean that we are able to protect ourselves against theft or criminal damage.
“If the worst does happen, and you are a victim of theft or criminal damage, the use of security cameras and developments in forensic testing will mean that it is more likely you will catch the culprits.“
