You've built a successful business with regular income, a solid reputation in the neighbourhood and a dependable workforce. All of this helps you bring in more consumers, and everything is going fine. But then, one day, some thief searching for a quick buck chooses to rob your business, placing not just yourself, but perhaps your staff and customers in danger.
A robbery at your place of business can leave you with far more than the things stolen. It puts your confidence, peace of mind and the reputation of your company in danger. While there are steps you can take to reduce the risk of a business robbery, having a plan in place in the event of a break-in is still important.
So, with that in mind, here are six things you should do if your business is robbed.
Notify the authorities
Notify the authorities as soon as you become aware of the robbery. Ensure that all of your staff understands that if they come across a crime, this is the first thing they must do. Before the police have investigated the crime scene, nothing should be touched or interfered with. They've been taught to hunt for hints and evidence that you may be unaware of. If you have a security system in place that has a virtual guard, you won't need to contact the authorities because they will be alerted of the heist immediately.Arrange for emergency repairs
Depending on how the burglars gained access to your workspace, you may need to make arrangements to re-secure it. Call for an emergency glass replacement for any windows that were shattered to gain entrance. Get an emergency locksmith to repair door locks and cut new keys if your door has been jimmied or smashed through or if you suspect the burglar has a spare door key.
A day or two after the break-in, it's a good idea to ask the police if there are any further precautions you should take. Officers have witnessed dozens, if not hundreds of burglaries and can often provide you with useful tips on how to secure your business again.Hand over the evidence you have
When the cops come to the crime site, you should hand over any evidence or information you have about the robbery of your business. If there are any witnesses, tell the cops about them. Give them whatever information you know about the criminal's appearance or the getaway car. If you have surveillance cameras, hand over the video footage of the robbery to the authorities.
Retain all receipts for any locksmith or glass repair work you have done. As part of your burglary claim, many insurance companies will reimburse these expenses.Communicate with your employees
Businesses cannot expect their staff to know what to do in the event of a robbery or other high-stress situation. While it's something workers don't want to think about, it's something for which they must be as prepared as possible.
Of course, this is especially true for people who work in industries where robberies are more common like retail. Make sure your staff induction and training programme includes advice on how to act in challenging situations and how to be as cool as possible in the event of a robbery or other high-pressure incident.Secure your business area and the surroundings
After being robbed, in addition to safeguarding the interior of your company, you should also block the exterior, such as the main area with a parking lot and the back area. You may secure it by laying normal masking tape on the ground out or instructing passers-by to stay a safe distance away from the tape. Securing the area around your company helps prevent inquisitive spectators from inadvertently upsetting the scene, as well as individuals from being injured by shattered glass or damaged doors and windows.
Return to your shop after securing the exterior, lock the doors if they haven't been smashed, and keep workers and witnesses away from the cash register, vault and any other locations the thief may have touched.Ask witnesses to remain at the scene
If there were witnesses to the robbery, they would naturally desire to flee the site of the crime. However, do your best to convince them that they are secure because the cops are on their way, and ask that any customers, workers or passers-by who observed the heist remain at the spot until the cops come. If they are forced to leave or refuse to stay, write down their names and contact information and tell them that you will give their information to the cops.
None of us wants to get robbed or have our belongings taken, but as a business owner, you must consider these possibilities and be prepared. Being caught off guard is the last thing you want to happen.
You should constantly implement measures that protect your workers, customers, executives, and yourself from a prospective robbery, as well as during a heist itself. Hopefully, the suggestions in this post serve as a good starting point for developing your own robbery prevention and response strategies. Stay safe!
