When you’re a small business owner, you’ve always got a lot of worries and concerns about your business. But one thing you shouldn’t have to worry about is whether or not your store and your products are going to be safe when you turn in for the night. But sadly, many businesses do get broken into or vandalized when no one is around.
Luckily, there are things you can do to reduce the chances of this happening to you. To help you see how this can be done, here are three ways to better protect your small business from vandalism.
Protect Your Glass
Most businesses have big windows out on front that can help encourage people passing by to come into your store. And while these big windows can be great for this purpose, they can also be a potential way for vandals to target your business and break into your store.
To discourage this and better protect yourself, you may want to consider getting protective shutters that you can roll down over your windows at night. You can even find some that cover the entire front of your store to offer you even more protection. Another option, according to Marianne Bonner, a contributor to The Balance Small Business, is to install glass that’s resistant to breaking. Then, even if someone does decide to vandalize your business, they won’t be able to break your front window and gain access to your property.
Lock All Doors Other Than The Entrance
When operating a brick-and-mortar store, you’ll want to do everything in your power to encourage people to come into your establishment and do business with you. However, making yourself too accessible could also put you at risk.
Knowing this, Brooks Nelson, a contributor to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, recommends that you initiate a closed-door policy for your business. This usually entails that all of the doors coming into and out of your business are always locked except for your front entrance. If someone needs to access these other doors, you should require them to use a key and lock the door behind them.
Increase Your Security
Most vandals look for easy targets when they want to do damage to a business or other property. So to keep yourself from being an easy target, you may want to beef up your security.
If you don’t already have a security system, this should be your first step. But if you’re still worried about the safety of your property, you could also consider hiring private security to patrol the area regularly as a way to deter vandals from putting themselves in a position to get caught.
If you’re concerned about vandalism in the area where you do business, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you better protect your small business.