How Do I Keep My Retail Business Secure At Night?

Retail business owners know how challenging it can be to keep their storefronts secure at night. While petty theft is more likely to occur during business hours, vandalism and smash-and-grab crimes are most common outside of business hours. These thefts can be incredibly financially damaging. The NFR estimates that organized retail crimes cost businesses 7 cents for every $100, on average. To be proactive against retail crime, and to maintain peace of mind, it’s vital to have a comprehensive overnight retail security strategy in place.

In this blog, we will discuss solutions and best practices that business owners can implement to maximize their overnight retail security strategy. 

Access Point Security And Employee Training

Focus on securing all entry points, including doors, windows, and loading docks. Reinforce doors with quality locks, and consider installing security bars or shutters over windows and doors for added protection. Windows should be made of tempered glass or reinforced with security film to prevent smash-and-grab thefts.

Educate your staff on security protocols and emphasize the importance of diligence in securing the premises at the end of each day. Implement strict closing procedures that include thorough checks of all entry points, ensuring that no doors or windows are left unlocked. Encourage employees to report any suspicious activities or individuals, and have a system in place for receiving and investigating employee reports. 

Boost Security With Lighting

Well-lit exteriors can significantly reduce the risk of criminal activity. Ensure that the perimeter of your retail space and property is well-lit, including parking lots and alleys. Bright lighting not only discourages potential burglars but also provides clear visibility for CCTV cameras to capture high-quality footage. 

Alarm Systems and Monitoring

Install a reliable alarm system that includes sensors for doors, windows, and motion detection. Pairing your alarm system with an emergency response service, such as Blackbird Security’s mobile patrol services, is vital in ensuring the security of your site. An alarm system not only alerts business owners to potential security breaches but also security personnel who can minimize theft and incidents at the scene within seconds. 

Hire An Overnight Uniformed Security Guard

When vagrancy and vandalism prove to be too great an issue, or for clients whose store inventory is highly valuable, such as high-end retailers, hiring an overnight uniformed security guard is the safest option in ensuring the protection of assets and property. 

An on-site security guard ensures that any security threats are addressed instantly. Additionally, the mere presence of a security guard acts as a strong deterrent for potential thieves and vagrants. Static security guards can be stationed at the most problematic exterior locations or patrol around the perimeter of the store outside of business hours. 

Alternatively, businesses that don’t require a static on-site security guard presence overnight should consider investing in mobile patrol security. 

What Is Mobile Patrol Security?

Canadian businesses face unique security challenges after hours, depending on their industry. Mobile patrol security offers a dynamic, customizable, and cost-effective solution, involving security personnel patrolling business premises in a marked security vehicle on a randomized schedule. 

How Overnight Mobile Patrol Security Enhances Security for Canadian Retail Businesses

At Blackbird Security, many of our mobile patrol security clients are retail businesses. Mobile security services have emerged as a proactive solution to fortify nighttime protection. 

The presence of a marked security vehicle can act as a powerful deterrent, sending a clear message that a retail business is actively protected. Blackbird Security’s mobile patrol vehicles are equipped with flashing overhead lights, which effectively scare off perpetrators committing in-progress crimes. 

Mobile patrol guards can perform a range of duties, from monitoring CCTV cameras, to checking alarm system functionality to conducting thorough inspections of doors, windows, and other vulnerable points. Blackbird’s mobile security guards write detailed reports of their nightly findings and security incidents as they emerge, giving our clients full transparency into the security of their stores. 

In the event of an alarm activation, Blackbird Security’s 24/7 Control Centre team will be instantly alerted and respond by deploying a nearby mobile security guard. Once at the site, the security guard will take steps to mitigate risks. This ensures that your store is protected by a security professional, no matter the time of day. 

Mobile patrol security is incredibly cost-effective without compromising on the quality of service. Since mobile patrol guards are not constantly present at your store, they are more efficient than stationary security guards. This saves on the fees of hiring an overnight security guard while ensuring your business has protection when it needs it. 

Having a security professional on call at all hours of the day and night provides security coverage in a cost-effective package, providing an invaluable benefit to retail business owners. Consider integrating mobile patrol security into your overall retail security strategy.

Partner With Canada’s Best Retail Security Company

Ultimately, unmanned security measures can only go so far in effectively and proactively protecting businesses, which is why mobile patrol security is such an incredible option. Its low price tag returns dividends in the form of protected assets, inventory, property, and peace of mind, making it the clear best solution for retail businesses seeking cost-effective security for their storefronts. 

Every brick-and-mortar business will experience theft and crime during its years of operation. The question isn’t “Should I implement security measures?” but rather, “What security measures does my business need?”. Mobile patrol security is a highly effective, cost-efficient solution for safeguarding property, assets, and the well-being of staff.

Curious to learn more about how mobile patrol security can benefit your business? Contact us today.