Banks and stores suffer from these, and it’s guaranteed to be on top of a list of traumatic experiences for the people and victims of this crime. A hold up occurs when money or property is taken from another by putting the victim in fear or personal violence. The criminal/s usually rob at gunpoint or by means of some other threat.

Businesses are constantly protecting themselves from these situations. Unfortunately, these crimes still occur. The most they can do for now is conduct policies that will allow everyone in the business, and the customers, to be protected when a hold up occurs.

Physical Security Measures:

Businesses usually have safes within for their valuables.

Fit a time lock to the safe or ATM. This locks the safe for 1 hour or more.

Fit time delay to the safe or ATM lock. Most hold ups take 90 seconds or less. Time delay slows the opening process.

Fit duress (silent hold up alert) to safe or ATM’s combination lock. If your business has a hold up, the secret number you dial can be sent to your 24 hour monitoring company. Police will be notified. Response will be prompt.

Fit under counter drop boxes. This container allows staff to secure excess cash from the cash drawer.

Fit hold up buttons and carry duress pendants.

Build a secure room into your business premises (and your home). Fit a solid timber door, deadlock and a steel grille on any windows. Fit a phone extension in this room. Keep the safe inside this room.

Fit steel posts or bollards in front of driveways, shop fronts.

Electronic Security to Stop or Delay Hold Up:

Fit a quality alarm system with hold up buttons.

Connect the safe lock into the alarm system.

Monitor the alarm 24 hours (the under rated security device in businesses). Under no circumstances connect the alarm to a mobile phone. If your business is a high risk target, fit a second alarm. The second alarm system could be wireless or use another pathway such as GPRS, GSM or the Internet communication system.

Fit a CCTV Surveillance camera system.

Do not fit dummy cameras. You can be sued if a hold up occurs, and there is no surveillance to protect your staff.

Personal Security:

Count cash behind locked doors.

All staff should wear professionally made identification badges carrying a photograph. Some clubs and larger retailers use name badges and the company name. These simple badges are easily duplicated or stolen.

Employ a Security Guard. This could be at the end of the days trading, the Guard can usher staff into their car, and be present for the cash count.

These security tips are from Ferret.com Australia.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 4th, 2007 at 7:31 am and is filed under Safety, Home Security Tips, Home Security. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.