What Small Businesses Need to Know About Theft PreventionPreventing theft and loss of assets should be a concern for all small businesses in Florida. Even casual theft by employees and customers will affect revenues over time. This can damage a business and create an environment with low morale and little room for growth. Small business owners need to address the problem before it becomes a major issue. There are several important points every small business owner in Florida should understand when it comes to preventing theft.

Opportunity and access are two key reasons that theft occurs, especially among employees. Small businesses need to implement some form of strict access control to prevent employees and even customers from having the opportunity to steal. Access control systems could be simple door locks, electronic keypads or biometric systems that use fingerprints or palm prints to identify personnel. These systems should bar entrance to sensitive areas like a back-office room containing cash, a high-value storage area or entire sections of an office. This includes preventing access to computer server rooms where a person could circumvent software-based security.

The large majority of small businesses in Florida use computers to store data, to interact with customers or to perform accounting. The information on these systems is subject to theft just like any physical asset. Small business owners need to implement tight security measures that include internal passwords, restricted employee accounts and physical defenses against a person taking a hard drive or laptop. It also means installing and maintaining security firewalls and authentication systems on public-facing servers that might be vulnerable to hackers. This will make customers confident while also protecting sensitive personal information.

One of the most effective forms of theft prevention is the use of cameras in a retail storefront or office. Cameras allow a Florida business to monitor exactly what a person is doing at any time. They can detect suspicious behaviors and potentially weak areas where customers can act without being seen. Professional Florida security companies  can install a network of cameras that include systems that archive footage throughout the day and have features like zoom. The presence of cameras will deter many people from attempting theft because the footage can be used forensically during a criminal prosecution. 

Monitoring systems should be in place to supplement cameras. Monitoring systems use sensors or other devices to detect access to restricted areas like a closed loading dock, a storage room or a private office. Florida security companies can install motion detectors or more traditional sensors that signal an alarm if a door or window is opened. These systems prevent theft after the storefront or office closes. They also help with theft prevention by making sure customers and employees do not approach restricted areas while the small business is open. These monitoring systems allow for immediate action and can prevent loss of valuable assets.

Theft in the workplace sometimes becomes part of a culture that employees start to find acceptable or even rewarding. It is sometimes encouraged by disgruntled or unhappy employees. An effective step towards theft prevention is the implementation and enforcement of strong in-house policies. Setting a policy that provides no tolerance for theft will make it clear to employees that the behavior is not acceptable and is not being ignored. The policies should be clearly stated, posted in the workplace and then enforced without exception. This will discourage many employees from stealing even the smallest items from the workplace.