Businesses in Western Canada are subject to a number of dangers from break-ins, theft, vandalism and property damage, and that’s why a security solution is essential for the success of your company.

Another major vulnerability for your company is fire, which can cause extreme damage in a very short period of time. In fact, according to the Occupation Health and Safety Administration, fire and explosions result in more than $2.3 billion in damage every year.

Owning a business is difficult. There are so many aspects of running your company that you need to get right, and spending your time worrying about external threats such as vandalism and crime should not be on that list.

That’s why organizations across Alberta need to ensure they implement a world-class verified security solution that will allow them to focus on what matters - running their core business and driving new revenue opportunities.

Whether it’s due to arson, wildfires or human error, thousands of non-residential fires occur in Western Canada each year. These fires cause huge distress to business owners and significant damage to the organization’s they own.

The best way to protect your company from the devastating effects of fire is to analyze your risk, implement levels of protection through new technologies and train your workforce on how to act if a fire does occur. 

The keys to your business give people access to more than your building - it provides them access to your equipment, supplies, inventory, electronics and customer information.

In the wrong hands your keys can be a serious security issue, providing criminals with dangerous access to your assets, put your business and employees in danger, and cost you financially. 

On April 20 of this year, three men were arrested after robbing a Vancouver restaurant. Nobody was hurt inside the restaurant and police response was quick. Since a couple of transit officers were conveniently located just across the street, the culprits were apprehending before they were able to take off in a cab.

However, in many instances of restaurant robbery the outcome is not always so successful. 

Schools, colleges and universities are designed to be safe spaces for learning and growth. Unfortunately, in many cases across Western Canada, ongoing education facility security concerns can often be a distraction.

Employee theft – often times when we think about it, we associate it with stealing products and goods from the shelves of a retail store. However, employee theft can happen across many different industries - including construction. 

Business offices of all kinds, whether small, large, one floor or taking up an entire multi-floor property, must ensure that they are as secure as possible to prevent theft and ensure the protection of their valuable assets.

Are you a retail business owner? Have you witnessed violence in your workplace? Did you know that violence in the workplace costs the British Columbia (BC) retail industry almost a million dollars a year in worker’s compensation alone? Not only that, but millions more are lost in missing merchandise, stolen money and property damage? 

Opioids are commonly used as painkillers but they are also highly addictive. It’s for this very reason that organizations working in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries are at high risk of falling victim to violent crime.

Homemade flamethrowers, guns, and knives are just some of the incredibly violent weapons that armed robbers use when stealing opiates and opioids from a pharmacy. 

Across Canada, construction site crime is becoming a widespread problem for business owners, with $46 million in equipment being stolen every year and companies being subjected to an average of two thefts annually. 

Are you worried about your company’s security system? If you are still using traditional CCTV, then it’s time that your business makes the switch to a verified security solution to ensure the protection of your assets.

Since 1977 Sonitrol has assisted with the capture of over 175,000 criminals. This success is a result of our verified surveillance technology, which catches criminals in the act, as well as our strong relationships with authorities across North America.

The latest data from Statistics Canada has found that Alberta is the leading province in Canada for the number of cannabis stores, as well as the total amount of cannabis retail sales. With so much business in the province, security for your dispensary should be top-of-mind.

The research found that, as of the end of February 2019, there are 75 retail cannabis stores operating in Alberta. The province’s stores have combined to sell $33 million worth of legal marijuana since October 17, 2018, when marijuana was first legalized. 

When we think of employee theft, the first things that come to mind are often tangible goods such as money from a till, property and supplies or goods and merchandise. In these situations, careful management and reconciliation through nightly balancing and regular inventory counts can be an effective way to recognize and reduce loss.

However, as a business owner, there are a number of ways that employees can commit fraud and remove assets from your business that may be less apparent. This is because employee theft can go beyond the things that we can touch and see. 

The importance of a verified security solution to protect your organization from copper theft has been brought to attention again after two men have been charged with copper wire theft in Calgary. It is believed they caused $300,000 in damage to the city’s oilfield well sites.

In the same week, an Alberta police officer claimed the province could see fewer copper wire thefts if some changes were made to the province’s regulations. 

If you have ever had a false alarm, you know the personal stress it has caused you – needlessly worrying about the safety of your property, the inconvenience of having to sort out the problem, and the frustration of the time spent dealing with an issue that actually wasn’t even an issue at all.

If a false alarm results in a call to the police or other emergency services, it isn’t just the time and money of the emergency services that will be wasted - it could also now result in a fine for your business. 

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police has recently revealed figures relating to two recent pilot projects aimed at reducing rural crime in central Alberta - and so far they have been a success! 

In an industry like retail, every dollar counts. However, with roughly $10 million in retail products being stolen in 2018 in Calgary stores alone, it can be hard for you as a retail operator to stay competitive, especially when you are having to increase prices to offset inventory shrinkage.

Unlike the criminals of the past, the motivation of modern shoplifters is becoming more advanced and methodical. 

If you own an automotive dealership in Western Canada you’ve probably heard the news - Alberta and Western Canada, in general, have incredibly high automotive crime rates.

Alberta, in particular, has been hit massively by automotive thefts in the past couple of years. In fact, thefts of vehicles in Alberta has jumped 56 per cent over the past five years - placing the county as the hotbed of Canadian vehicle crime.