The restaurant industry is becoming increasingly competitive, particularly with disruptors, such as SkipTheDishes, changing the way consumers engage with the food service industry.

As a result, both chain and independent restaurants have struggled over the past few years - with many restaurant businesses closing down. To stay competitive, loss prevention is crucial.

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. 

The restaurant industry is highly competitive and fast-paced, but while you are focusing on keeping ahead of your competitor down the road you probably haven’t realized that there is a much greater threat to your business.

The security of your restaurant is crucial for protecting your investment and boosting yearly revenue, but many restaurants are still failing to implement a security plan that succeeds in preventing and stopping theft.

Crime may not be the first thing you think of when it comes to the restaurant industry, but your businesses isn’t safe from threats. Your restaurant is vulnerable to vandalism, break-ins, employee theft and even hold-ups. 

The hospitality industry is a fast-paced business, where products and services are always changing, and like the retail industry, after hours’ crime is always a big threat.

From fast-food restaurants, to a neighbourhood bar/eatery, or a white cloth, a la carte restaurant, owning and operating a restaurant is not easy.

If you want to deter criminals - having a quality, customized, security system is imperative. But it’s not the only thing you can do to make your business or property less appealing to thieves, robbers, and vandals looking for opportunities. It’s equally important to ensure your facility is environmentally unwelcoming to would-be intruders. You want to let criminals know that your business - whether an office, warehouse, retail store, or construction site - is not an easy target, and that their time would be better spent somewhere else.

The competitor down the street is not the only threat to your business. Your restaurant is vulnerable to vandalism, break-ins, hold-ups, employee theft, and even freezer failures. Protecting your assets and inventory from these types of threats is not easy, so we've come up with a few tips to help you improve your restaurant, bar, or lounge security.Whether you own a high-volume club/ lounge, a chain of family-themed restaurant, or a 5-star fine-dining establishment, you will want to make sure your security is up to par - but also tailored to fit your specific needs.

Most people don't associate a restaurant with the need to have a security system, but it's a fact that crimes of all types can occur in and around restaurants, at all times of the day and night.  And if we were to include fast food restaurants and some types of clubs and bars into this category, then you can see that the risk of crime is indeed real, and customers and employees have to be protected.

So how would you rate your restaurant security?