What makes a warehouse a target
A warehouse concentrates goods, vehicles and tools behind one fence, often in an area that empties after hours. Offenders look for a fence they can cut or climb, a gate that is easy to talk through, and a loading bay left open.
Much loss is also internal or comes through the supply chain. Drivers, loaders and contractors all have legitimate access, which is why records matter as much as barriers.
The perimeter
Walk the fence line in daylight and again at night. Look for damage, places where vegetation or stacked pallets give cover or a climbing aid, and dark sections.
- Repair fencing promptly and keep a clear strip along both sides.
- Light the perimeter and the loading yard evenly, avoiding dark pockets.
- Keep a single controlled vehicle entrance where you can, with a separate pedestrian gate.
- Do not stack stock or skips against the fence.
Gate and loading bay control
The gate is where most of the control happens. Every vehicle and visitor should be logged in and out, with the driver's ID, vehicle registration and the order or delivery they are collecting.
At the loading bay, match what leaves to the paperwork. A guard or checker should count and sign, and the load should be sealed where practical. A mismatch should be reported the same day, not at stocktake.
Guards, patrols and supervision
On a large site, a guard at the gate and a roving guard cover different jobs. The roving guard needs a patrol route with check points, a way to record each visit, and a way to call for help.
Lone workers on a big property are at risk. Make sure each guard has a radio or phone, regular check-in times and a supervisor who visits. Mtunzini Group is a family-run, PSiRA-registered guarding company in Cape Town that manages its officers with field supervision, and any provider you use should explain how it does the same.
Cameras, alarms and keys
Cameras and alarms support guards by covering what a person cannot see everywhere at once. They help only if someone watches the alarm signal and has a plan to respond.
Control keys, tags and codes as tightly as you control stock. Record who holds which key, and change codes when staff leave.
Safety and security share the same site
A warehouse is also a workplace with forklifts, racking and fire risks. Security procedures must not block fire exits or create hazards. Guards should know the evacuation plan, assembly points and who the first aiders are.
Contractors and drivers need a site induction that covers both safety and security rules. Keep a record that they received it.
Power cuts and backup
Power cuts switch off lights, cameras, electric fences and gate motors at once. Ask what runs on backup, for how long, and what the guard does when it fails. A manual gate procedure and torches are cheap and essential.
Check that alarm signals still reach whoever responds when the power or the network is down. Test it, instead of assuming.
- Backup power for lights, cameras, gate and alarm.
- A written manual procedure for when systems are down.
- A test of the alarm-to-response chain at least a few times a year.
A simple checklist
Use this as a starting point for a site walk with your provider.
- Is the fence intact, clear and lit along its whole length?
- Are all vehicles and visitors logged in and out?
- Is outgoing stock checked against paperwork and signed for?
- Are patrols recorded, and are the records reviewed?
- Are all officers PSiRA-registered and briefed in writing?
- Who responds when an alarm goes off at night, and how long should it take?
Questions people ask
Is one gate guard enough for a warehouse?
For a small site with good perimeter and cameras, possibly. Larger sites usually need a roving guard as well, because a gate guard cannot see the yard.
Should I use guards or cameras?
They do different jobs. Cameras record and detect, while guards deter and respond. Most sites need both, scaled to the risk.
How do I deal with theft by staff or drivers?
Record everything that enters and leaves, count and sign, restrict access to stock areas, and review exceptions quickly.
Mtunzini Group is a family-run, PSiRA-registered guarding company in Cape Town that actively manages its officers with field supervision.