Burglary Prevention - Ways to Keep your Small Business Safe

In light of recent events that took place over the weekend of the 3rd and 4th of August, the following are advised precautions to help keep your business safe from theft and burglaries. Up to five businesses in Fairfield had break-ins resulting in theft of money, items and property destruction. Please contact the Fairfield Police Department at 641-472-4146 if you have any information regarding the break-ins.

• Evaluate storefront and vulnerable access points - 

Set up multiple security cameras, keep parking lot and exterior of business well lit (24 hour lighting indoors/outdoors as well as motion sensor) and have an effective alarm system

• Choose tempered or laminated glass and keep your storefront manicured - 

Slow down/deter a burglar by replacing regular glass windows with reinforced tempered glass/laminated/safety glass. Keep walkways, lawns, shrubs, trees well maintained; it will discourage burglars who are "casing" locations. (Additionally, thorny bushes planted by windows have proven to be effective in deterring easy access)

•   Establishing good sight lines and positioning safes - 

Inside your business, keep cash registers/computers in plain sight (leave cash registers open to avoid register damage) line of sight is important and makes it easier for patrolling policeman at night to notice something. Safes located near front of business will make it easier to notice suspicious after-hours activity (seems counter-intuitive)

Please note the following local articles for further information:

https://www.exploreseiowa.com/2019/08/05/fairfield-police-department-investigating-rash-of-burglaries-at-local-businesses/

http://www.southeastiowaunion.com/article/20190806/ARTICLE/190809941/2676
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