Checklist:
- Keep the lights on
- Remove ALL cash and receipts
- Do not leave any valuables clearly visible or accessible
- All safes and tills should be emptied and moved off-site for safe storage
- Keep all cash drawers open to show that nothing is in the drawers
- All ATM’s should be emptied and moved off-site for safe storage
- All alcohol products removed from bar and put in secured storage areas (no alcohol left visible from outside)
- Consider posting “NO CASH or Valuables on Premises” signage
- Deactivate all scheduled FOB door openings (ie. Cleaners, deliveries, etc)
- Disconnect all kitchen gas lines from their gas source
- Make regular site visits to monitor your shop/business and to manage inventory and storage conditions (consider scattering the times this is done to not establish a pattern)
Additional considerations (not included on the checklist):
- Consider installing an alarm monitoring system. If you already have one, ensure the contact list is up to date.
- Clearly post signage on the door/window to indicate that the premises are monitored by an alarm company; that no money is kept on the premises and contact information for police and the business owner in case a member of the public sees damage to the property or suspicious activity.
- If the premises are closed for an extended period of time, clean all glass surfaces and create a tracking log of when cleaning was completed. This may help investigators with suspect fingerprints in the event of a break-in.
- Consider installing a surveillance camera system that can be monitored online by owner/management.
- Consider using a laminate on all windows and glass doors to prevent the glass from being broken from blunt force. Although damage to glass will occur in a break-in attempt, it will greatly discourage or prevent entry.
- Install latch guards on doors to protect against prying including on secondary doors such as employee and loading entrances.