Business Crime Prevention

BusinessCrime Prevention

National Crime Prevention Association2345 Crystal Drive, Suite 500

Arlington, VA 22202202-261-4153 FAX 202-296-1356

[email protected]/ncpa

Business Crime Prevention

Crime Risks

Burglary Robbery Shoplifting Employee Theft Credit Card Fraud Bad Checks Employee Violence Terrorism

Identifying Crime Risk

External Risks

Neighborhood Crime Trends

Crime Generators

Potential Crime Targets

Identifying Crime Risk

Internal Risks

Type of Business

Property/Assets/Inventory

Cash Business

Perception of Security

Employees

Workplace Risk Factors

low staffing

working alone

working late at night/ early in morning

working with money or drugs

guarding property

long waits for services by customers

lack of services

Determining Vulnerability

PhysicalInspection

Zone 1: Property Boundary

Zone 2: Open Space

Zone 3: Building Exterior

Zone 4: Building Interior

Sunday was a day of rest in many states.

Elimination of Blue Laws increased business exposure to crime by 17%, open 6 days rather than 7.

Business Crime

Businesses have become more exposed to robbery, shoplifting and employee theft.

New longer hours attract more customers who expose themselves to more crimes and leave more homes unoccupied.

Business Crime

Business Crime

The leading cause of death of women in the workplace is murder.

National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health

Women Working1940 - 25%1950 - 34%1960 - 38%1970 - 43%1980 - 52%1990 - 58%1998 - 60%

Business CrimeNational Institute of Occupational Safety and Health

1993 – 2002: average 827 of workplace homicides/yr.

Workplace homicides declined dramatically from 1,074 murders in 1993 to 609 in 2002, a 43% decline

46% reduction in workplace homicides among males over the decade while only 28% for females.

Burglary

Prevention Measures

Fences and Gates

Parking Areas

Open Spaces

Exterior Lighting

Doors

Windows

Locks and Hardware

Burglary

PreventionMeasures

Security Room

Safes

Tools and Equipment

Interior Lighting

Alarms/Security Systems

Key Control

Employee training

Robbery

Homicide:

High Risk RetailEstablishments

(NIOSH 1998)

Liquor Stores (7.5 /100,000 workers)

Gasoline Stations (4.8)

Jewelry Stores (4.7)

Grocery Stores (3.8)

Eating & Drinking Places (1.5)

Robbery

PreventionMeasures Policies

Cash Control

Maintenance

Hours of Operation

Staffing

Employee Training

Robbery

Prevention Measures Policies

Policies should be in place and in writing.

Employees should be given copies of the policies.

Policies should include procedures for dealing crime.

Robbery

PreventionMeasures Facility

Escape Routes

Hiding Places

Cash register location

Visibility

Lighting

Visibility

Create the fishbowl effect.

Natural Surveillance

Keep signs out of the window or either high or low.

Visibility - This

Visibility - or This

Employee Actions

Employees should greet and make eye contact with customers.

Teach observation skills.

Encourage reporting suspicious activity.

Have cashiers move away from registers.

Hire two employees during high risk times.

Cash Control

A strong deterrent to robbery.

Adhere to cash limits.

Use drop safe.

If no drop safe, have manager pull excess money and large bills.

Cash Control

Opening and Closing

Vulnerable time for robbery.

Opening check the business interior and exterior.

Have time delay safe.

Two people should close and leave through the front door.

Allow employees to move cars near exit.

If a robbery happens - Employee Response

Train employees

Treat as a regular transaction

Cooperate

Robber's description

No chasing

No weapons

Protect crime scene

After the Robbery

Lock the doors.

Observe vehicle - direction of travel.

Call Police - have #’s posted by phone.

Keep all customers inside.

Give out description form.

Retrieve serial #’s of bait money.

Description exercises.

Employee Theft

What is the scope of the problem compared to shoplifting?

How much shrinkage is linked to shoplifting?

How much is linked to employee theft?

Employee Theft

Warning signsof employee

theft.

Alcohol or drug use.

Obsessive gambling.

Financial difficulties.

Disgruntled.

Dishonest tendencies.

Living beyond means of job.

Poor security attitude.

Employee Theft

Warning signsof employee

theft.

Quick to accuse fellow workers.

Volunteers to open &close.

Overly friendly with suppliers & customers.

Works long hours.

Assumes & guards responsibilities.

Employee Theft Prevention

Don’t allow employees to keep belongings near register.

Check packages of employees as they leave.

Use clear trash bags check dumpsters.

Have employees park away from store.

Require employees to leave through the front door.

Shoplifting

Prevention Measures

Policies

Train employees.

Understand shoplifting laws. Establish clear policies &

procedures.

Greet and observe customers.

Check customer’s packages.

Identify property.

Post warnings.

Shoplifting

PreventionPreventionMeasuresMeasures

FacilityFacility

Keep a neat & orderly store.Keep a neat & orderly store.

Enhance visibility.Enhance visibility.

Restrict access to valuable items.Restrict access to valuable items.

Keep valuable items away from Keep valuable items away from exits.exits.

Control exits.Control exits. Restrict access to certain areasRestrict access to certain areas

Check Fraud Prevention

When was account opened?

Less than one year is a risk.

The date the account was opened is on the check.

Low check numbers.

Accept valid drivers license.

Scrutinize license & pictures & compare signatures.

Check Fraud Prevention

Post check acceptance policy.

Make employees responsible for adhering to check cashing policies.

Have them initial checks for later prosecution.

Keep file of bad check passers.

Credit Card Fraud Prevention

Post procedural guidelines for dealing with credit cards near register.

Maintain control of card until transaction is complete.

Obtain two forms of ID.

Compare signatures.

Check expiration.

Detecting Fraudulent Transactions

Customer takes card out of pocket rather than wallet.

Customer questions floor limit.

Customer appears to be in a hurry.

Customer attempts to confuse the cashier.

Customer makes indiscriminant purchases without regard to size etc.

Customer can’t produce ID.


Program Options

Business Watch

Security Surveys

CPTED

Target Hardening

Employee training

Guards or off duty police


Program Options

Policies and procedures

FAX, e-mail information network

Escorts

Rewards for crime tips

Address marking

Certified Crime Prevention Business

Prince William County Police Department - Virginia


Prince William County Police Department

Written policies/procedures that address crimes or threats relevant to your particular business.

Train employees in crime prevention as approved by, or from, the Crime Prevention Unit.

On-site security assessment by Crime Prevention Unit personnel trained in CPTED.

Designate a contact person who can coordinate crime prevention/security issues and act as a liaison with the Police Department.



Incentives

Possibility of reduced insurance premiums.

Listing on the Department's website as a member business.

Free risk-reduction/security assessment and report.

Free crime-prevention training/technical assistance in developing written crime prevention policies.



Incentives

Crime alerts to member businesses.

Quarterly informative crime-prevention newsletter.

Marketing tool for Certified Crime Prevention Business designation.

A visible sign that sends a clear message that the business is serious about crime prevention.

Documents

Business Crime Prevention