Make the building harder to enter
Offenders prefer easy targets. Look at your premises as they would: which door or window is weakest, where can they work unseen, and how long would it take to get in.
Fix the weakest point first. A strong lock on a weak door does nothing.
- Solid doors, good locks and burglar bars or security gates on windows and openings.
- Lighting at entrances, the yard and the back of the building.
- A working alarm that is armed every night and responded to.
- Cut back trees and bushes that hide doors and windows.
Control keys, cash and valuables
Keep a record of who holds each key and change locks when a key is lost or an employee leaves. Keep cash on the premises to a minimum, bank often at varied times and use a safe that is fixed down.
Store valuable stock out of sight and out of reach, and lock it away at night.
Look inside as well
A good share of theft involves someone who has legitimate access. Vet new staff, split duties so one person cannot order, receive and pay, count stock regularly and review unusual losses.
Make it known that stock is counted. That alone deters casual theft.
Guards, patrols and response
If you have a guard, give them written instructions and a way to call for help. If you rely on an alarm, know who responds, how they are reached and how long they will take.
Any provider you use should be registered with PSiRA. Ask to see proof of registration, as PSiRA advises, and make sure the officers on your contract are registered too.
If it happens
Stay safe and do not confront offenders. Call SAPS and your security provider. Do not touch or clean the scene, so that evidence is preserved. Write down what you notice, list what is missing and record serial numbers.
Inform your insurer promptly and keep your SAPS case number. Afterwards, ask how they got in, and fix that weakness first.
Think like the offender
Offenders choose targets with the least effort and risk. They look for easy entry, little chance of being seen and quick goods to sell. Make each of those harder: better doors, better lighting and nothing valuable on show.
Check what can be seen from outside at night. Stock, laptops and cash visible through a window invite a break-in. Move them or screen the glass.
Insurance and records
Read your insurance policy. Insurers often require certain locks, alarms or safes, and a claim can fail if conditions were not met. Keep an up-to-date list of your assets with serial numbers and photographs, stored off site.
Good records also help SAPS recover stolen items and help you spot slow losses before they become large.
A simple checklist
Walk your premises with this list once a month.
- Are all doors, windows and gates locked and in good repair?
- Is the alarm armed, tested and answered?
- Are keys accounted for, and were locks changed after staff left?
- Is cash kept to a minimum and banked at varied times?
- Is stock counted and valuable items locked away?
- Do staff know what to do in a robbery or break-in?
Questions people ask
What should I do first after a break-in?
Make sure everyone is safe, call SAPS, do not disturb the scene, and then tell your security provider and insurer.
Is an alarm enough?
An alarm is useful only if someone responds. Combine it with locks, lighting and good habits.
Do I need a guard at night?
It depends on your risk and your stock. A risk assessment will tell you whether a guard, an alarm with response, or better physical security is the better use of money.
Sources
Mtunzini Group is a family-run, PSiRA-registered guarding company in Cape Town that actively manages its officers with field supervision.