Commercial Break-and-Enter | Durham Regional Police Service

THEFT PROTECTION

Retail and Business Security Tips

Attend to customers promptly.
Ensure business layout eliminates blind spot corners, areas to hide and reduces exit points.
Create clear sightlines in aisles and reduce the height of displays. Keep easy to conceal valuables under lock and key.
Keep your business well-lit inside and outside. You want to prevent the entire indoors from being seen from outside, but yet visible enough for witnesses to be alerted from outside, if an intruder is inside.
Install CCTV cameras and post signage that advises premise is under video surveillance. (even if cameras are not present, signage deters criminals).
Install an alarm system with voice activation advising police have been dispatched.
Window signs and coverings should never cover more than 30% of the window and be positioned below eye level to ensure employees can see outside and passerby's can be alerted if an intruder has entered after business hours.
Ensure safes are bolted to the floor in an area that is not visible. If you do not have a safe, consider hiding valuables in unsuspecting areas (not drawers).
Install bars on windows, tempered glass, glass break sensors and keep valuables away from main windows.
Record serial numbers and photograph all valuables.
Leave cash registers open, with minimal to no monies inside and place signage on cash counter and main door that advises of such.
If taking daily cash home, never take the same route, drive past your home and ensure you’re not being followed.

Online Services for business owners

Tips for protecting you business

Ensure you lock all doors, including garage/shipping/receiving doors when leaving.

Consider installing (electronic) door chimes/door bells on main doors and all unlocked doors to alert when someone has entered.

Install night-time lighting and sensor lights and leave both on in the evening.
Never use sensor lighting as your only source of night time exterior lighting. Thieves prefer businesses in darkness.
If your business is lit up, they will move on to the next business. A .25 cent lightbulb is one of your best forms of security.
Make sure your driveway /parking lot / walkways are well-lit at night.

Ensure your property is visible and do not allow for hiding spots, such as big trees/hedges.
Keep an unobstructed line of visibility for you to look out of your business to the street and parking lot.
Overgrown hedges/bushes and trees are a definite advantage for criminals.
- Shrubs should be six feet away from all entry points and walkways.
- Hedges should be six inches below the level of all windows.
- Tree Limbs on mature trees should be trimmed seven feet from the ground.

Keep personal and company vehicle doors locked at all times. Even if your vehicle is parked.
directly in front of your business during daylight hours.
Keep vehicle windows closed and never leave spare keys in plain view or in an easily accessible area
Never leave vehicle(s) running unattended.
Never leave valuable objects and packages in plain sight, lock them in the trunk.