How to Improve Your Store’s Security

Two security cameras on the exterior of a store

Business owners know the importance of protecting their assets, equipment, property, employees, and customers. Loss prevention is essential for the economic health of your business, as well as your reputation. Even if your store is located in an area with low crime rates, keeping your store secure is critical. A refresh is helpful if you have security measures in place but haven’t updated them in some time. 

Employee Training

A fundamental part of improving security is through employee training. Sometimes, well-meaning employees could make a security breach or break-in easier by misunderstanding a store policy or forgetting to do a task. It’s almost always better to err on the side of too much training (or as much training as your staff time can allow). 

If you run a retail store with a traditional point-of-sale system and a new employee has already worked in a similar environment as a cashier, make sure you still invest the time in training them on security procedures. You may also have measures in place to keep employees from taking from the store, and these measures should be transparent and covered in training.

Know Your Regulars

If you have a retail store where specific customers come frequently (once a week, every few weeks, or a few times a month), it is essential to know these people. On the one hand, knowing your regulars will help you build rapport and relationships with them. This can also help security measures since regulars who value your store may notice suspicious activity before you or your team does. They may not have the ability or clearance to do much when they see suspicious activity, but they can let the staff know so that the staff can look into the activity. 

TDL Display Cases

Camera Placements

Security cameras and tech are the norms for most stores and public buildings. However, even a high-quality security camera is only as good as its placement. Security tech experts can recommend the optimal places for your cameras, and you should think of your building in “zones” that will be covered or uncovered by the cameras’ reaches. You should also check in with privacy guidelines for your building type, such as not including cameras in bathrooms or other private areas. 

Secure Display Cases

High-value inventory, like jewelry, electronics, guns, etc., are best kept in display cases in your store. Well-designed cases will still allow for the items to easily be seen inside the case by the customers looking in from outside. The TDL™ Series Display Cases are tested for deflection of the glass barrier and load resistance and made with combinations of Hurricane Glass and Polycarbonate. Thoughtful and proven design for display cases prevents people from smashing the case or attempting to ram an object through. 

Parking Lot Security

Customers like stores with parking lots for convenience – many folks prefer not to street park unless necessary. Having a parking lot for your store comes with the extra responsibility of keeping the lot clean and secure. You should take measures to have lights in your lot, along with additional security cameras and the building’s external cameras. The parking lot is also the first and last defense of the store. If there is suspicious activity, the first chance you have to notice it may be in the parking lot, and the last chance suspicious characters leave.

Cybersecurity

In addition to physical security, cybersecurity is also critical. If you have an e-commerce aspect to your business, you’ll need to take extra precautions against scammers and hackers. You should reinforce your security cameras, point-of-sale system, and other security tech with backups available. Being cognizant of social media postings is also a form of cybersecurity. If your business commonly posts photos of the property or employees, you should consider any information someone could gather about your store from what you post.

Update Equipment

Some stores take losses because the security measures they had in place hadn’t been updated or working properly. Store managers or owners may consider reviewing a store security checklist frequently and testing security tech, like alarm systems or security gates. Employees should also be familiar with the equipment and trained in basic troubleshooting. 

Customers walking in a store

Action Plan

If worse comes to worst and your store is being robbed while employees and customers are in the building, you’ll want to think and act fast. It may be beneficial to come up with a potential scenario for training purposes for your employees. Personal safety comes before any amount of merchandise, so employees and customers should act quickly to leave the store through a safe exit route or shelter in a protected spot in the store. Ideally, even if robbers can get into the store, if high-value items are protected in anti-theft cases and containers, this will deter them long enough for help to come. 

Work with Jahabow

If you’re looking for secure display cases to improve your store’s security and loss prevention, look no further than our team here at Jahabow. We are industry leaders in “everything showcase” and specialize in TDL™ Secure Display Cases. These products have a proven track record of deterring theft and improving aesthetics in your store. Get in touch today!