Protect Your Customers’ Personal Information

 

These days, criminals are not only on the hunt for merchandise and cash; they are also interested in your customer’s personal information. This makes it important for all businesses, whether you own a retail store, self-storage company or even an accounting firm, to take precautions against theft. Is your company properly secured against theft? Here are five tips to minimize the risk of robbery and keep your business safe:

1. Keep all areas of your store or office well lit even after closing time. If your business has blind spots use video cameras or mirrors to keep an eye on every customer.

2. Reduce access by keeping back doors and supply rooms locked at all times. Also assign a greeter, such as a clerk or secretary, to welcome customers when they enter.

3. Keep your business properly locked after hours. Installing exterior deadbolts and a security system. If your exterior door is glass, consider replacing panes with reinforced glass to prevent easy entry.

4. Protect your customer’s privacy by keeping secure documents in a locked filing cabinet or in a password protected computer file. You should also consider locking laptops in a safe or cabinet after work hours.

5. Record the serial numbers of any valuable equipment in your store or office. This information can help investigators if anything is stolen.

When securing your business against robbery don’t forget to enact procedures to prevent employee theft. US businesses lose a staggering $50 billion every year to criminal activity from their own employees. Employees can steal merchandise, office supplies or even cash. Installing register video cameras, requiring a manager approval system for registers and time cards, and doing periodic inventory checks are all ways to reduce the occurrence of employee theft.

By properly safe-guarding your business with lighting, alarms, locks and employee procedures, you can reduce your company’s risk of theft. Keeping your employees, assets and business safe is the first (and most important) step to running a successful business.