Smash-and-Grab Thefts: How to Safeguard Your Retail Business

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According to the Toronto Police Service, organized retail crime is a $5 billion industry in Canada affecting more than 87% of independent retailers, with two of every five organized retail thefts involving violence.

How can retailers defend their properties and inventories and enhance security without hiding behind fortress walls? Certainly, a comprehensive retail business insurance policy is vital for recovering from insurable losses such as theft.

Taking steps to strengthen theft prevention measures is also important. Let’s explore ways retailers can do that.

10 Ways to Minimize Smash-and-Grab Thefts and Enhance Store Security

Protecting your retail business from smash-and-grab robberies necessitates a multifaceted approach encompassing security measures, technology, and strategic planning, such as developing a loss prevention strategy.

Although some measures require investment, here are 10 effective ways to safeguard your store:

1. Strengthen Entrances and Exits

Reinforcing entrances, exits, and your shop’s perimeter can help deter thieves. For example, you can have shatterproof glass on windows and doors, add security bars to external display windows, and install a metal roll-down shutter to add a layer of protection to doors and windows after hours.

2. Enhance Storefront Visibility

Installing bright lighting and ensuring clear visibility into your storefront from the outside is wise. While it’s necessary to feature items in storefront windows, keep front windows clear of clutter so it’s easier to see inside.

3. Install Surveillance Security Cameras

Internal and external surveillance cameras positioned near entrances and exits, display cases with high-value products (like jewellery or electronics), and cash registers or self checkout machines that provide high-quality recorded footage and are monitored 24/7 can help reduce the threat of a robbery.

4. Use Impact-Resistant Displays

Speaking of in-store display cases, use locked, impact-resistant glass cases that contain high-value items. It’s also worthwhile to apply anti-theft tags on expensive merchandise in display cases, remove it from view, and secure it in a safe or locked storage room after hours.

5. Collaborate with Local Police

Participating in community crime prevention programs in your neighbourhood and fostering collaborative relationships with police can improve crime prevention tactics.

6. Install a 24/7 Monitored Alarm System

Using a 24/7 monitored alarm system serves three purposes: It provides video evidence if your shop is robbed, broken into, or vandalized, it can help deter crime (post prominent signage so the public knows your store is under surveillance), and it alerts police of an after-hours break-in, allowing them to respond quickly.

7. Keep Minimal Cash On Hand

During and after operating hours, keep a minimal amount of cash in cash registers. Use a safe to deposit cash regularly throughout business hours, and limit access of all employees to that safe.

It’s also wise to take steps to protect your store’s point-of-sale (POS) system from tampering or theft.

8. Train Employees on Theft Prevention Best Practices

Ensure all employees are trained on the recommended best practices for theft prevention. They should know how to spot suspicious behaviour and respond to emergencies. That requires implementing an emergency response plan for all staff members to know and follow.

9. Add Crime Insurance to Commercial Property Insurance

Commercial property insurance protects a business property and contents from a broad range of damage and loss, including fire, internal water damage, natural disasters, theft, and vandalism. 

However, adding optional commercial crime insurance to a property policy ups a shop owner’s coverage. It’s designed to cover internal theft by employees, forgery, robbery, dishonest acts, and electronic crime. 

10. Hire Security Guards

Employ uniformed security guards (or hire a security guard company) to serve as visible deterrents to thieves. 

Security guards are recommended during peak retail seasons or hours (for example, during the holiday shopping season) and should be trained to abide by your store’s emergency procedures or to respond to attempted criminal activity.

Protect Your Retail Store With Customized Retail Business Insurance

Enhanced security measures can make a significant difference in protecting retailers from crime. However, it’s a comprehensive retail insurance policy that helps business owners recover from theft, robberies, and other unexpected events.

Get the protection your retail business needs by filling out our online application in less than five minutes.

Let our knowledgeable, friendly team of licensed insurance brokers shop our partner network of over 50 insurers to get the low-cost coverage your business requires, customize it to suit your needs, and advise on how best to protect your finances and assets.