Not all break-ins occur at night. 

There are many instances reported by the Police of break-ins during daytime, by audacious criminals who pretend to be employees, an IT worker, or a repairman. They just casually walk into an office (usually larger offices with lots of staff), and steal valuables from the desk of employees.

These businesses are incredibly lucky.  While it is extremely unfortunate that valuable items owned by employees are stolen, the situation could be much worse.  

I’m not only referring to the potential damage and costs associated with property theft and intellectual property theft, but also the possibility of workplace violence.   

With workplace violence on the rise, security measures need to be implemented to protect employees from the threat of violence. Even if you think they are protected, or you think this may never happen at your workplace, proper risk assessment reviews and security equipment need to be installed.

Each of the businesses should ask themselves how an unauthorized person could enter their business, its secure areas, speak to employees, and then exit undetected with employee valuables in hand?

What measures can you implement to protect your employees and prevent criminals from entering?

Prevent Access.  Protect employees by installing a Managed Access Control system that prevents criminals from entering the office.

• Provide employees with electronic access key cards to allow access to only authorized individuals.
• Minimize access to secure areas by selecting specific team members who require access.
• Consider installing a secondary door and/or reception area to prevent criminals from entering unnoticed

Ask for Identification. Encourage employees to wear employee identification, such as company branded photo id cards.  This is especially important for employees with access to secure areas.  Visitor identification can be given to temporary workers who will be completing repairs or similar short-term work.   This will limit the possibility of a thief entering unnoticed, as it not only gives them an extra hurdle to jump over, but also gives the power to your employees to confidently identify unauthorized individuals who have gained access to your office.  If a criminal gains access, employees will be able to question their presence and act accordingly.   

Encourage Employees to Lock Items.  Be sure to provide a safe place where employees are able to lock up their personal items such as purses or jackets. This will help limit accessibility to the easy-to-steal items in your office.  Another option would be allowing employees to use lockable desks and filing cabinets as personal storage when they are away from their workspace.  If either of these options is not possible, remind employees to keep valuable items at home, or at minimum, out of sight. 

Share Your Policy.   If you do not already have a policy in place that deals with visitors in the office, consider creating one and sharing it with your employees.  In addition to explaining your policies on identification, access and locking valuables, you should include: 

• Identifying Visitors.   Employees may be able to identify temporary workers by their visitor identification, or unauthorized persons by their lack of identification.  Give your employees the power to question the presence of an unknown individual, regardless of their identification, especially considering some criminals may have the ability to forge their own “company id.”  
  
  
• Secure Area Policies.  Outline who has access to secure areas to ensure employees are able to identify who is permitted to enter the area.  Consider implementing a policy where repairmen who are working in the area should be accompanied by an employee with secure area access. 
  
  
• Key Card Policies.  Employees may be tempted to open the door for those entering the office behind them.  Share information on why this practice is not a good idea.  Criminals may take advantage of this act of kindness by sneaking into the facility. 
  
  
• Safety Policies.  Provide your employees with steps on how to handle a situation where they have noticed a temporary worker or unknown individual in the office.  Set up a procedure that includes contacting management immediately.  Safety is of the utmost importance – make sure your staff do not confront the individual directly, especially with the threat of workplace violence on the rise.
  
  Share tips of what to look for when identifying unauthourized persons, especially since the possibility of forged identification is possible.  A repairman whose keycard is “not working” or an IT worker who enters a secured area unaccompanied, are two easy-to-spot behaviours that could indicate an unauthorized person has gained access.
  
  Also be sure to implement a communication strategy that ensures management promptly informs employees of new hires or temporary workers and provides key cards with employee identification as soon as possible.

CCTV Video Monitor Your Business.  Install an integrated CCTV video monitoring system that will allow you to supervise your business 24/7.  SonaVision is the perfect system for monitoring, as you will be able to remotely monitor activity in your business to reduce theft, vandalism and increase employee safety.  This security system will also be monitored by Sonitrol’s Central Monitoring Operators 24/7, and easily integrated with verified audio intrusion detection, allowing you to protect your business from criminals at all times.  

We offer unbiased and professional office security and building security audits to help you determine the best security solution for your business or building.  Contact us today - the audit is free!|

About Sonitrol Western Canada

We're so confident in our technology and responsive service, that no one else in the industry can match our guarantee. Our unique verified audio and CCTV video business security solutions enable our operators to hear and see what is happening in your business before the criminals gain entry!! We verify the actual source of the alarm, and we get the police to attend the scene immediately. FOR A FREE SECURITY AUDIT, click here, or call 1-866-766-4876 - We are a security company with over 150 offices across North America serving clients across Western Canada in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Victoria, Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon. 

Sonitrol Western Canada, with its Verified Electronic Security Systems, is committed to providing customers with the most comprehensive security protection. Cooperation in the elimination of false alarms is not only beneficial to the system’s user, but results in better protection of the entire community by allowing law enforcement to use their resources as efficiently as possible.