Office buildings are high-value targets for criminals, as they contain a wealth of valuable equipment and data. But there are ways to secure your building and deter criminals from targeting it. Here are five tips to get you started.
Have a Guard on Duty
You have to consider that your employees might steal from you—the economy’s estimated loss of $50 billion annually from employee theft alone. Thankfully, guards are significant deterrents against inside and outside criminal activities.
Guards can monitor your office building 24/7, keeping an eye out for any suspicious activity. They can also perform regular security checks, ensuring all doors and windows are secure. They are the best form of security because they aren’t as routinely as AI or robots. They are also more proactive than other options on this list. However, they do have on great disadvantage and that they cost more.
Guards have to be a part of your company’s security budget. The average pay of a security guard is around $15 an hour. Depending on the size of your building and the level of security you need, you could be paying hundreds of dollars a day for security. This can put you at a disadvantage as you might have spent thousands of dollars by having a guard on site. A better and cheaper option might be using robust locks.
Keep All Entrances and Exits Locked at All Times
More often than not, criminals will take the easy way in. All it takes is an unlocked door or window for them to enter your office building. To deter criminals, you should keep all entrances and exits locked. A reliable padlock cylinder is good enough to prevent them from entering the building. They were also very cheap. You might only need to spend a hundred dollars on securing the entrances and exits of your business using these locks.
When you add this security measure with security guards, you can drastically reduce the chances of being victimized by crime.
Install Motion Detectors
Installing motion detectors is a great way to know if someone is on your property. These devices can be placed around the perimeter of your office building. If someone walks within the range of the sensor, it will trigger an alarm. This will alert you and the security guards to their presence.
It’s also a good idea to combine motion detectors with CCTV cameras. This way, you can get a clear view of who is on your property and what they are doing. This combination is enough to detect any criminal activity in your office building.
Invest in a Good Alarm System
If you want to deter criminals from even attempting to break into your office building, then you should invest in an alarm system. There are two main types of alarm systems: wired and wireless.
Wired Systems
Wired systems are the most reliable but also the most expensive. They are less likely to have false alarms and are more difficult to disable.
Wireless Systems
Wireless systems are becoming more popular as they are easier to install and usually come with additional features, such as the ability to control them from your smartphone.
Both alarm systems will deter criminals and alert you to intrusions. But they can be costly, depending on the size of your office.
Give Employees Panic Buttons
Crimes can also happen in the morning when your employees are just arriving at the office. That’s why it’s a good idea to give them panic buttons. These devices can be carried in their pockets. There are now even apps that offer this option. If they feel in danger, they can make a gesture on their phone, and a silent alarm will sound to notify your security team. It can also be a loud sound to scare off the attacker and give your employees time to get to safety. It will also alert the security guards to the situation.
The main advantage of having this panic button is that it puts security in your employees’ hands. This empowers them to take action and can help prevent crimes from happening.
Final Thoughts
Security is a significant concern for every company in the United States. As property crime increases, it’s essential t secure your office building. The five security measures mentioned above are an excellent place to start. They will help deter criminals and make your office safer for your employees. It will also help you save money from the possibility of theft and other problems that criminal activities can bring to your office.
