WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT MY KELOWNA BUSINESS FROM BREAK-INS?
Securing your business against break-ins is one of the most important business investments you can make. You have spent tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars building your business. Protecting your assets is critical to your long-term success. However, with so many security options, how do you know which ones are most effective?
One of the most important considerations is the visibility of the security product. Visible barriers deter thieves from breaking into a business. The vast majority of break-ins are smash and grabs. Thieves use rocks, crowbars or hammers to break your glass easily. They enter your business and grab whatever they can and are typically gone within a minute or two. Count to 60 and imagine what a thief can steal at your business during that time.
ALARMS / SECURITY SYSTEMS / MONITORING SERVICES
The purpose of an alarm is to notify you that a burglar has broken into your business. But the alarm doesn’t stop thieves. They know very well you have an alarm. They don’t really care, though, because by the time the alarm company contacts you and then the police, the thieves are well on the way to their next target. Every business has an alarm, yet they still get broken into. Clearly, alarms in and of themselves are not a strong deterrent. Monitoring services have a similar role. They provide data that confirms your business has been broken into, but once again, the element of time works in the criminal’s favor.
SECURITY CAMERAS
Security cameras provide footage to help determine when the crime occurred and what tools were used to break into the business. But this information is only useful after the crime has been committed. Thieves also wear hoodies, caps, and masks to conceal their identity, so the footage is rarely useful in apprehending them. They know you likely have cameras, but just like with the alarms, they really don’t care too much.
THE IMPORTANCE OF VISIBLE SECURITY
A robust and physical barrier, such as an expanding scissor gate, is the best way to protect your business. Some business owners are under the impression that window film is the solution. While it does provide a barrier, the thief can’t see it and, therefore, attempts to break into your business anyway. Not only have you spent your hard earned money on a product that didn’t stop the break-in, you still have to repair the glass. Thieves can often smash through the window film and grab your valuable products within a few seconds. Expanding metal gates provide a visible and physical deterrent to deter thieves from breaking into your business.
LAYERS OF SECURITY
Alarms and cameras have their place. Many insurance companies will not provide coverage if you don’t have these products. They also assist police with investigations. However, adding folding gates as an additional layer of security tells criminals to stay away. Your business is no longer the easy target on the block. You have taken away the opportunity for the quick smash-and-grab.
Folding security gates are the perfect balance between providing a strong, visible barrier against thieves and maintaining a welcoming appearance for your customers. During the day, the gates fold neatly out of the way and are barely visible. At night, they cover your doors and windows with a strong, visible barrier.
Using multiple layers of security, along with folding security gates, provides a barrier that works to help deter criminals and protect your business.