Small businesses are particularly vulnerable to crime, both in terms of financial losses and damage to their reputation. While it may not be possible to completely eliminate the risk of crime, there are steps small business owners can take to reduce the likelihood of criminal activity that targets them. 

In today’s world, businesses of all sizes face a wide range of security threats, from cyberattacks and data breaches to physical theft and employee sabotage. That’s why it’s crucial for companies to develop a comprehensive security solution that includes measures to protect their assets, employees, and customers. 

Police across Western Canada are facing an increasing number of catalytic converter thefts and are looking for solutions to put a stop to this crime. 

Businesses are always at risk of theft. One common form of theft that often goes unnoticed is refund fraud - when an employee or an outsider can manipulate the system to issue fake refunds, causing significant financial losses to the company. 

Business crime is any illegal activity that uses a business’s infrastructure to perpetrate a criminal act. It can range from theft and break-ins to money laundering, embezzlement and fraud.

The catalytic converter is a car part that changes dangerous emissions into safe gasses to improve safety and reduce air pollution. It contains precious metals, such as platinum, palladium and rhodium, meaning the parts can be sold for a high price on the illegal market - which means dealerships must have robust security in place or be at risk of theft. 

Employee theft is a serious problem for businesses of all sizes and across a range of industries. It can lead to significant financial losses and can damage the reputation of a business, but thankfully, there are security solutions that can help mitigate that risk. 

Just this month, anexcavator was stolen from a construction site in Vancouver. Witnesses say that they watched the machine get loaded onto a flatbed late in the evening around 10:30 PM.

The excavator is estimated to be worth $50,000 and is the third machine to be stolen in four years from the same property owner. The RCMP are currently asking the public for help and requesting CCTV or dash cam footage from the area, as well as witnesses.

Machine theft is a real risk for construction sites, but it isn’t the only thing that thieves are looking to steal. Here are some more common items that thieves will take from construction sites, highlighting why construction site security is so critical:

While no one managing a hospital or pharmacy wants to believe that their staff would steal from them, the reality is that workers are regularly caught diverting medications illegally. Just last month, two nurses in BC were caughtstealing narcotics. This was done by diverting the drugs and falsifying records.

When you think of employee theft, you likely think of employees stealing cash, inventory, and other tangible property. But that isn’t the only form of theft. Employees can also steal from your business through time theft.

Just recently, amanager resigned from his position to avoid an investigation into time theft, which would have required him to pay back a substantial amount of wages for time that was misused.

While exterior security solutions can help prevent intruders from entering your facility, securing the inside of your business is just as important. It’s a critical part of keeping your operations running smoothly and ensuring the safety of your personnel and property.

In a competitive industry like retail, every dollar counts. And you know what you’re up against. Numerous industry studies show that shoplifting and employee theft losses per annum are huge. The 2020 National Retail Security Survey found shrinkage at an all-time high, accounting for 1.62% of a retailer’s bottom line — costing the industry $61.7 billion. 

Winter is coming in Western Canada and with it are additional security concerns related to less daylight hours, snow banks that can provide perfect hiding places for criminals and snowy weather that reduces the number of bystanders and can help conceal criminal activity.

Security systems are vital for any business from retail to property management to construction and more. When choosing a system, there are many factors to consider. One important factor is whether that system will be wired or wireless.

Holiday security should be one of your top concerns if you own a business. The holidays are a time when more people are out and about. The increased foot traffic and added distractions that come with the festive season can mean an increase in retail crime.

Nobody wants to believe that their employees would steal from them but it’s a common problem at many bars and restaurants. In fact, the National Restaurant Association says that 75 percent of inventory shortages are due to employee theft.

In a recent blog, we discussed the difference between breaking & entering, robbery and theft. While knowing these terms isn’t going to automatically help enhance your organization’s security solution, it can help you to gain a better idea of the security technology you need to better protect your business.

In 2020, there were approximately 90,900 incidents of shoplifting under $5,000. While this is a substantial decrease from previous years, it is still an incredibly high number. Not to mention, the decrease is believed to be because many stores were closed and so much time was spent at home through the pandemic.

According to the National Fire Protection Association of Canada nearly 115,000 of the 500,000 fires between 2015 and 2019 occurred in non-residential buildings. 

There are many steps you can take to prevent fire, such as installing a robust verified fire alarm, but first it’s important to know why the fires start. To help you keep your business or organization safe from fire, let’s look at the five most common causes of workplace fire.

This past July, a Downtown Eastside church in Vancouver, British Columbia burned down. The fire also took down the adjacent convenience store and came close to burning down a nearby hotel.