WHY PROTECTIVE SECURITY MEASURES ARE STILL THE WAY TO GO

Protecting your commercial property is a must. Losing valuable stock or having to put work on hold to deal with the after-effects of burglary can have a significant impact on your business. When considering security measures at your business property, you might be wonder if security doors, retractable grilles, window bars and steel bollards are worth the investment. Ponder no more, as we explain why they make all the difference.

Steel security doors and other measures send a message

It’s a matter of simple psychology, quite often just the very presence of a security door is enough to put off an interested burglar or gang. If the criminals think that a ‘job’ is going to be difficult because it requires conspicuous and noisy metal cutters to gain entry, robbers are more likely to move onto an easier target. The more defences that you put in the way? The less likely you are to become a victim.
The need for security measures in commercial areas and buildings is particularly relevant when statistics from The New Zealand Herald’s Burglary prevention special show that commercial properties are more likely to be hit by gangs of burglars rather than individuals. More reason to add extra security measures on windows and doors too.

Proper installation and materials make a difference

Of course, despite your best efforts, nothing is ever 100% impenetrable. However, you can make a robber think twice or give up if you use the most durable materials. Opting for steel gates fitted to your exact measurements are tough as well as being off-putting. A steel gate will be a burglar’s last choice when it comes to trying to break-in, and they will look for other ways to enter first such as open windows, ladders or unlocked doors (which is why it’ so important to remain vigilant about all possible entry and exit options).
Also (and it’s back to psychology again) consider a burglar’s thoughts when they see a large security gate, not only is the ‘job’ going to be difficult, but it will make them think twice about what other security measures you have in place.

What other security measures can you put in place?

As well as installing well-fitted steel security gates, you can ramp up your security by adding steel security bars and grilles on windows, a recommendation that fits with New Zealand Police’s advice in their Business Crime Prevention booklet: ‘’Make sure that all windows can be secured in such a way that they cannot be tampered with from outside’.
A survey in the US, conducted by TV station KGW8, asked convicted of burglars to share their insights on which security measures were likely to deter them from breaking into a property. The responses from the prison inmates included comments that ‘bars on windows’ were off-putting. Interestingly, they were less deterred by alarms as they knew how to cut-off the system.
The same security considerations also apply to your entry and exit doors. You should regularly maintain these doors and check for any signs of tampering. Solid steel doors will prove challenging to gain forced entry and are ideal at the front of a building. At the rear, however, it’s common to keep doors open to increase ventilation. If you install a door with a steel security screen, you will overcome this issue and not at the detriment of your security.
Specific shop storefronts may need to use a retractable grille to lock-up when away or overnight. Xpanda’s Expandor is the only New Zealand-made high-security trellis door that gives business owners the comfort of full security, but that also folds neatly out of the way to allow full access to the people that you do want in your store.
For certain high-risk commercial industries such as banks, government enterprises and transport hubs, steel bollards protect both the building, people and the contents inside. Steel bollards act as a strong physical and psychological barrier, especially if you are vulnerable to ram-raiding.

Final thoughts on your security measures

It’s hard to put a definitive price on the cost of burglary as every incident is different. However, The Australian Institute of Criminology’s Counting the Cost of Crime sums up the price of a ‘typical’ non-residential burglary at $4,500 per incident. Their statistics also show that while non-residential burglaries only account for 18% of all burglaries they make up 32% of the total costs.
Are you thinking of increasing your security measures? Contact us today to discuss your options and to arrange a quote.

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