The majority of burglaries are committed by
opportunist thieves.
They choose premises that have no obvious signs of security or
where they think they will not be seen. If they have succeeded
once, they can be motivated to try again.
It is important that you review your security
and act quickly. All of your
staff should be encouraged
to identify security risks. It is in everyone's
interest to ensure the security and success of your business
With a bit of thought and preparation, you can significantly
reduce opportunities for
criminals to break into your business.
Help us endeavour to put the robber out of business.
What precautionary methods can I do to protect my
business?
Cheshire Police actively encourages you to take the
following precautionary measures:
- Be aware of people loitering near your
premises.
- Be suspicious of people in vehicles watching the
premises, particularly this happens more than once
- Be alert for the unusual:
- People showing unreasonable interest in security or
staff numbers.
- Groups of people who would not be expected to
shop together.
- People asking to see high-value items, who
appear unlikely to afford or purchase them.
- Nervous people.
- Check the identity of non-customer visitors:
alarm engineers, surveyors, etc.
- Ring the organisations they claim to represent
before allowing access.
- Encourage staff to think critically
about weaknesses in security and discuss them with
management.
- Seek advice from specialist insurers and
brokers.
How can we keep our cash safe?
- Keep as little cash as possible on the
premises with a minimum in each till.
- Don’t count cash within anyone else’s
view.
- Locating the tills away from entrance/exit doors lessens
vulnerability to till snatches.
- Transfer excess cash to somewhere safe - you don’t need large
notes in the till.
- Restrict access to the rear of counters by
always securing lockable doors and counter flaps.
If large amounts of cash need to be banked or collected on a
regular basis, then the safest method is to employ a recognised
cash carrying company.
What extra security equipment could we use to protect the
business?
- Plastic till guards: A cheap but effective way
to prevent till snatches
- Smoke and dye money pack systems: Designed to
emit coloured smoke and spoil cash which has been stolen.
- Pneumatic cash transfer system: An air powered
tube system to convey cash to a secure area or safe.
- External access safes: Where cash collection
companies can supply or take away cash without the need to enter
the premises.
- Counter cache(s): Lockable metal containers,
which can be kept close to the till. They are intended for the
temporary holding of bank notes before transfer to the safe or
bank.
- Anti-bandit or bullet resistant glass and fast-rising
screens: Fitted at all till points or pay kiosks, these
offer the cashier protection and are a significant deterrent.
- Time-delay safes: Secure and only possible to
open after a pre-set time, these safes will keep any cash not in
the till, or not yet banked, safe from all but the most determined
robbers.