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A small business is often viewed as a gold mine to a criminal. There is sometimes the idea that small businesses are underprepared, which makes them an easier target. In fraud, small businesses are 200 times more vulnerable to attacks than their larger counterparts.
Are you doing everything in your power to mitigate security threats to your small company? Learn what security steps you should start working towards today.
1. Identify Risk Factors
When some criminals strike, they do so with intent and a clear goal in mind. Make sure you know what specific features of your business would make it attractive to an intruder. For example, with a bank, the apparent risk is the cash you keep on hand, and for an electronics store, it would be the expensive merchandise you keep in stock.
Don't assume you don't have anything valuable. If you're a small office, the files you keep with your clients' identity information would be highly valuable in the wrong hands. Assess all your potential targets to formulate a plan for protection.
2. Install a Controlled-Access System
When you can control who has access to your building, you can significantly lower the threat of an intruder. A controlled-access system can help you gain this power. Controlled-access systems function by use of a code, fingerprint scan, badge card, or another mechanism to unlock a door, which makes them harder to penetrate than a standard lock.
In the event of employee concerns, controlled-access systems allow you to reconfigure access at any time. If an employee is terminated, you can deactivate their access code immediately. The system also provides an opportunity to monitor who is in the building at all times.
3. Perform Background Screenings
An individual's background is not always an accurate assessment of their future potential, but this information is yet vital. Background checks might be time-consuming and sometimes expensive, but they are well worth their cost.
As much as 75 percent of employees admit to stealing at least once from an employer. Even more startling is the fact that more than 30 percent of all business bankruptcies are the result of in-house theft. A background screening can help you protect yourself from those individuals who have a record of employee theft and might be seeking a role with your company with the sole intent of stealing.
4. Implement an Active-Shooter Plan
Active-shooter scenarios are becoming more and more common in society. History has taught that predicting these horrific events is challenging but having a comprehensive plan for action in place can minimize their impact.
Within this plan, establish a notification system, which is a process you will use to ensure every person in the building knows that an active shooter is on the premises. Employees should be provided with instruction on how to safeguard themselves, alert the authorities and any options for exiting the building when it is safe to do so.
5. Invest in Protection
The most critical move small business owners can do is to invest in security. On-site guards can help you identify your risk, monitor employees, and help you design and implement an active shooter plan.
However, security protection can also help your team feel safer and boost their morale, improve your customer's experience, and, most importantly, help you identify and correct security red flags that you may not even be aware of. On-site security enhances your small business on every front.
Don't leave your business unprotected. Your efforts to train your team paired with the skill of a professional security specialist can tremendously lower your risks. Contact Intellex Security so that we can discuss our security options with you.
Retail theft is a serious threat, as more than $48 billion is stolen from business owners every year. What is even more alarming is that this high figure makes up theft not only at the hands of outside shoplifters but also at the hands of trusted employees.
Some level of risk for theft is unavoidable when running a retail business, but some business owners unnecessarily place themselves in a vulnerable position. Learn what security mistakes to avoid to protect your business.
1. Poor Store Layout
The layout of your store directly reflects your ability to defend it efficiently. Avoid the creation of any areas with low or no visibility. For example, in a clothing store, you would need to space the display racks and tables in a way that doesn’t inadvertently create hiding spaces for someone to slip a garment under their clothing.
An employee who is on one side of the store should be able to look around the store with a clear enough view to see what every customer is doing. The cashiers should also be placed in a central location, such as the middle of the store, to give these employees a clear view of the store and the front door.
2. Lackluster Inventory Control
A shoplifter typically steals from the showroom floor, whereas an employee may steal from the backroom. A business that doesn't have reasonable inventory control measures in place is making it easier for employees to steal and hurt the company’s bottom line. Begin your efforts by making sure all of your inventory is protected.
Employees should not be able to access inventory closets and other areas unless they have a valid reason or authorization. One way to ensure the protection of your inventory is by installing a keypad system on the door where the inventory is stored.
Make sure all shipments are documented and entered into a management software program. Inventory tracking makes it easier to identify theft, which allows you to curtail this concern faster.
3. Forgoing Employee Screening
It is vital that you screen all your employees. The most frightening thing about criminals is that they rarely portray themselves as bad people. Instead, they dress the part, talk the part and create an image that makes them appear trustworthy. Don't be influenced by image — you must get a better sense of who the person really is.
The reality is that crime does not have a look. Rely on a screening program that includes a background check to highlight any prior arrests or convictions locally and nationally. The screening should also include drug testing. With this information, you can determine which candidates are most qualified and align with your needs and which don't.
4. Making Security an Afterthought
Security should not be an afterthought for your company. Security is an investment that you must make for your company. First, invest in a high-quality IP security camera system. An IP system allows you to monitor floor activity while on and offsite.
Have a professional install the cameras for you to ensure that you have ample coverage of the floor, in your employee spaces, and the exterior of your business. Second, make an investment in on-site security.
On-site security guards are skilled professionals who have a dominant appearance, which is sometimes enough to deter a criminal altogether. Additionally, in the event of an incident, you will have a trained professional on site that can handle the matter for you.
As a business owner, you play the most critical role in your security. Apply these tips and partner with a professional to ensure you are doing your part. At Intellex Security we are here to help you safeguard your retail location. Contact us to learn how we can help you.
Contact: Jason Rodriguez
www.JayRodChicago.com
(312) 515-9459
January 25, 2010
CHICAGO | One of Chicago's most experienced security guard companies has changed its name to Intellex Security.
Formerly Intell Security, Intellex Security will continue to bring more than 90 years of experience in law enforcement and security to retail, trucking and construction companies as well as hotels and conventions.
"Due to a conflict with a company that has a similar name, we decided to avoid confusion with that company," said Intellex President Joseph Kelly. "The name's changed, but we still bring more than 90 years of experience in the law enforcement and security field."
Kelly, along with Patrick Murray, who spent 28 years with the Chicago Police Department having climbed the ranks to detective, started Intell Security, now Intellex, in 1989. Kelly began as a cadet with the Chicago Police Department in 1965 before being assigned as a patrolman. He was promoted to detective in 1970 and eventually became a sergeant in 1976.
By 1978, Kelly became lieutenant. In 1990, Kelly was promoted to Captain before retiring in 1997.
"It kind of went hand-in-hand," Kelly said of starting the security guard company. "Because of my experience and contacts in the Chicagoland area, we started to provide security guards in an area where it was severely needed."
Intellex Security has been hired to work such major Chicago events as the Chicago Blues Festival, Celebrate on State Street, the Taste of Chicago, and construction performed for the Chicago Transit Authority and for a variety of conventions. Intellex has also provided security for special events hosted by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and several Fortune 500 companies, including Walgreens, United Airlines and Hilton Worldwide.
"We provide a wide array of services, such as off-duty law enforcement, armed security guards and unarmed security guards," Kelly said. "We've worked with retail companies, trucking companies, on construction sites, hotel security, convention security, travel group security, industrial security and more."
Kelly said Intellex Security customizes its coverage for each client individually.
"No event is too large or too small for us," he said. "Our strength is managing people. We know how to put the right people in the right places."
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Intellex Security, Inc.'s extensive security experience provides its clients with a wide array of services to meet the needs to protect their interests. It serves a diverse clientele that expects superior service with an open line of communication. Intellex Security, Inc. believes that with its combined 90 years of law enforcement experience, it's well equipped to handle various security situations. It has been in business in the Chicagoland area since 1989 and is conveniently located near Midway Airport. Intellex Security is fully insured with respect to General Liability and Workman's compensation. Intellex Security, Inc. is properly licensed in the state of Illinois.
In today's world, providing a comfortable and safe environment for convention vendors and attendees is paramount. With hundreds or thousands of people — often many strangers — milling around and interacting, though, this can be a challenge.
As a convention organizer, how can you improve safety and security for everyone involved? Here are five steps to take before the doors open.
1. Assess Potential Problems
The first step to creating a safe environment is to determine what the most likely potential threats are. Some challenges are generic and could affect any type of convention. This might include things like intruders, theft, cybersecurity problems, natural disasters, or a rowdy crowd.
Other security issues are specific to your particular convention or industry. Are there going to be any controversial speakers or subjects? Is the convention welcome in the community around it? Have there been protests before or trouble between different internal groups? Will there be valuable goods or high-profile individuals?
Preparing for these types of problems often requires more work and decision-making than standard threats.
2. Meet With Venue and Staff
Your first resource is likely the staff and management at the venue in which you're holding the convention. They should have experience in a variety of security challenges at their particular location, including providing and controlling access, moving crowds in the best manner, and where heightened security is more necessary. Use their experience as a tool to create your personalized plans.
Staff and volunteers will be on the front lines of keeping things safe and organized, so communicate with them regularly. Encourage everyone to speak openly and honestly, and provide simple and quick ways to report any problems or concerns.
3. Hire Outside Security
Professional security staff can be particularly valuable if your organization has a lot of volunteers or staff who don't do security work regularly. Hire a security company to provide uniformed guards to patrol both inside and outside the event and provide a visible presence to reassure everyone.
In addition to regular patrols of all public and private convention areas, you may want additional personnel to check ID badges, provide security for VIP attendees, perform some crowd control, and transport valuables (such as ticket money or high dollar items for vendors). Coordinate with the security service about what additional services they can provide.
4. Decide on an Access System
Whatever your convention makeup, you will need some sort of access control system. Most conventions provide simple badges to each attendee and check them at entrance doors. You may choose to have different badges for different days or types of guest. In addition, some badges should provide access to more secure locations, and these badges (or wristbands) should be easily visible to anyone at entrance doors even in a crowd.
In addition to badge access, determine how traffic will flow into, out of, and around rooms within the venue. Where will badges be checked? How and where will certain attendees be granted extra access? Who will have the ability to go backstage, wander into VIP lounges, and work in administrative areas? And how will you control access without slowing down traffic flow and creating hurt feelings?
5. Prepare Action Plans
As you develop your access plan and decide what the most likely emergency scenarios are, prepare detailed response plans. Write down all response plans and go over them thoroughly in staff meetings. Response plans should include general instructions as well as instructions for specific areas or specific threats. The outside security service can help design and review your action plans and provide feedback based on their years of experience.
By planning ahead for the safety of your convention, you will help ensure a smooth event and reduce stress among all staff and attendees. For help with all your Chicago area convention security needs, contact us at Intellex Security today.
The numbers are staggering, and although 2009 figures are not available, hard economic times coupled with a smaller Chicago police force may contribute to higher retail crime numbers this holiday season. Uniformed retail security officers provide a strong deterrent for retail theft. Here are five reasons why your business should hire a security guard firm to protect your assets:
- Theft and shoplifting are deterred by security officers.
There were more than 112,000 burglaries and thefts in Chicago in 2008 and nearly 8,500 were committed in December alone! Visible security officers will prompt criminals to find another location to commit a crime.
- Uniformed security roaming parking area protects customers and their vehicles.
Of the nearly 19,000 motor vehicle thefts reported in Chicago in 2008, about 1,200 of them occurred in December. Retail parking lots are not only great targets for motor vehicle thefts because of the coming and going of customers, but merchandise in the vehicles provide an added incentive for criminals to target your parking lot.
- The holiday shopping season brings criminals who target shoppers through purse thefts.
Though Americans in general have become more aware to keep their belongings close to them while shopping, a uniformed police officer will help create a safer, more relaxed environment for your shoppers to enjoy.
- The holiday shopping season draws pickpockets, which would be deterred by security presence.
Men and women alike are prone to criminals during the holiday season. Pickpockets have mastered the art of removing valuables without a victim noticing until it is too late.
- Uniformed security officers deter all crime against clients and customers and reassures customers of a safe shopping environment.
As a society, more and more people are becoming desperate for a quick fix. As the economy continues to slide, crime in unprotected areas has become a popular area for criminals to target.
More and more businesses—including department stores, retail outlets, construction companies and more—are outsourcing security guard services with trusted security guard companies as a way to continue protecting their assets in a more affordable way. In fact, 70 percent of America's largest companies report that one of their most important concerns is finding and retaining a quality contract security company.
Here are five reasons why outsourcing your security guard need is better than having an in-house service:
- Lowering your cost.
It's elementary. Five guards from an experienced and trusted security firm, like Intellex Security, will cost less in the big picture than hiring five guards of your own. Much of it has to do with health and liability insurance reasons.
- An outsourced firm administers the personnel.
If a department store, construction company, or other business needs a security guard staff, there are administrative duties linked to that responsibility as well. When you outsource the service, the stresses of hiring and scheduling a staff are relinquished to the firm.
- Requires no union involvement.
A trusted security firm's staff is highly trained and highly qualified to provide the services needed without having to negotiate internally with unions.
- Provides staffing flexibility.
A strong security guard company, like Intellex, is able to provide services around the clock at the times that are most important to you.
- Impartially performs security duties.
Hiring an outside firm will eliminate any accusations of bias or favoritism. We are hired to do a job and our only concerns are to do the job right and to your liking.
We have identified the top four characteristics of shoplifters to watch for in an effort to prevent your business from being part of the $9.6 billion shoplifting industry in 2009, according to the National Retail Federation.
- Professional shoplifter. These types of people are a severe threat to businesses. These people treat shoplifting as a job. They use planned methods and are well connected with fencing operations and attorneys.
- Drug users. They are also severe threats to businesses. They seek any way to find a source of income to supply for a very expensive habit, so they turn to shoplifting. Usually fences merchandise for 10-20 percent of value or returns for a refund.
- Amateur shoplifters. These people are less severe of a threat to businesses. Though these individuals may not present a severe threat to businesses, their cumulative effect can be damaging. Statistically, this category is largest in number.
- Thrill seeker. These individuals provide a moderate threat to business owners. They usually act in a gesture of defiance or as a result of peer pressure to do something daring.