How Businesses Can Prevent Crime: A Guide For Bermudian Entrepreneurs
Owning a business comes with many responsibilities. Criminals will take advantage of any opening, so it’s important to protect your business and customers. Here are our top tips for preventing crime as an entrepreneur.
Assess the risk
The first step of crime prevention is identifying potential weak points. Carry out a crime risk assessment of your business, taking into account digital and physical crimes. You should do this regularly, as you can then use this to improve your systems.
Protect your data
Cybercrime’s impact can range from disruption of service to stolen money. Invest in cyber security software to protect your digital systems and keep it up to date. You should also back up your data regularly – daily, if possible.
Train staff
It’s common for criminals to attempt to gain access to your systems using junior members of staff. Make sure that your staff are trained in the basics of cyber security, such as knowing what a phishing email might look like and how to set secure passwords. Some companies even carry out tests where they send employees mock phishing emails to check that they are vigilant.
Shop staff should also be trained to spot potential shoplifters and what to do in the case of a burglary.
Consider your store layout
If your business has a physical store, you may encounter shoplifters. You can make your premises less inviting to shoplifters by examining the layout of your store – an easy path to grab the goods and then run out can make you more vulnerable. Having clear, labeled CCTV and no hidden areas can deter potential thieves. Stationing a staff member next to the door to greet people as they enter can also decrease the chances of someone trying to steal.
Keep it tidy
Unclean or messy places attract more crime. By keeping your premises in order, you demonstrate that they are regularly visited, cared for and secure. This reduces your chances of being vandalised or robbed.
Engage with your community
Having a close relationship with other businesses in your area can help you to spot and prevent crime. You could join your local neighbourhood watch scheme to stay informed about patterns in your area. This will help you protect your business in ways tailored to the area you operate.
Prevent employee fraud
While you may focus on external threats to your business, don’t forget to protect your business internally. Where possible, dividing up duties will make it easier to spot the culprit of any wrongdoing. Control access to data and equipment as much as possible with keycards and passwords, as this will prevent unauthorised access.
Report crime anonymously
If you have information about a crime but don’t want the police to know your identity, you can report it to Crime Stoppers. Our online form and phone lines do not collect any tracking information, and our team anonymises every report before sending it to police.
Share information using our online form or call 800-8477
