Office security is one of the most significant factors affecting a small business’s bottom line. This is because of the almost 3 million break-ins that occur in the United States every year, one-third of them involve small businesses and cost a whopping $3.4 billion in losses and damages.
Unfortunately, after one successful break-in, your office becomes even more vulnerable to a repeat offense. What’s more, break-ins lead to a general feeling of insecurity amongst employees, staff, and customers.
7 Steps to Secure Your Office After a Break-in
If your office is broken into, you must take immediate action to secure the area, regain stability, and create a strategic plan to prevent future incidents. Allstate Security is here to guide you through this process and provide expert security solutions.
Follow these steps if your office or business is recovering from a break-in:
- Call the police: According to the FBI’s Crime in the US report, the majority of non-residential crimes occur at night. If you receive an alarm notification after office hours, do not try to enter the building and handle the problem yourself. It is quite possible that a burglar may still be inside. Contact the police immediately. Law enforcement will inspect the building. Your safety and that of your co-workers must come first.
- Secure the property: The Criminal Justice Information Services Division says that more than half of all break-ins occur through forcible entry, such as a broken window or door. Prevent future break-ins and the immediate threat of theft by securing these areas. Be sure to photograph broken entry points before repairs, as they may be needed for police reports and insurance claims. If there are no visible signs of a forced entry, it’s likely the thief acquired a key or gained access to an electronic key card or password. Be sure to change all passwords and locks to ensure your premises are secured.
- Communicate internally: Reassure staff and customers that there is a plan in place to recover and prevent future incidents. Share your updated security plan so everyone knows what they can do to keep the workplace safe. Consider a more visible plan that includes cameras and security guards to deter any future problems.
- Determine what was stolen: Make a detailed list of stolen or damaged items, including their value, replacement cost, and serial numbers. This list will be crucial for the incident report and insurance claim. Gather any receipts you may have of these items to verify ownership and cost.
- Investigate what went wrong: Review any camera footage taken at the time of the incident, focusing on the point of entry and any suspicious activity. Analyze access control records, including unusual entries during the incident, who the last person to leave and first to enter around the time of the break-in was, and any recent visitors or temporary employees.
- File an incident report: File an incident report for police and insurance purposes. Ensure all necessary information is included, like the sequence of events, entry method, timeline, and list of stolen items.
- Call your insurance company: File an insurance claim. Be sure to collect and organize all necessary documentation for a smooth claim process.
Prevent Break-ins with Allstate Security Guards
Hiring Allstate Security‘s experienced security guards is one of the best ways to prevent future break-ins. Their expertise ensures an advanced assessment of risks and gaps in your current strategy. Allstate Security’s comprehensive approach ensures that your office remains secure, giving you peace of mind and allowing you to focus on your business.
Don’t let a break-in leave you vulnerable. Contact Allstate Security today at 866-475-3818 to fortify your defenses and protect your workplace or click here for a free quote.