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                 Insurance Information Institute

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  How to Burglar-Proof Your Business



       It's a production that's mounted every 10 seconds, done with

  a cast of one or two, no script, no lights, and no audience - yet

  it brings the producers some $1.4 billion in annual profits, or

  almost $4 million per day.



       Its name is "Burglary," and it's one of the longest running

  shows in history, on or off Broadway.



       Burglary, defined as unlawful entry with or without force to

  commit a theft or other felony, accounts for a significant share of

  the country's serious crime.  Small businesses are popular targets,

  and much of the loss is in merchandise.



       Only about one of every six burglaries is cleared by arrest,

  according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.



       In the last decade, burglaries in the U.S. have about doubled.

  And unlike lightning, thieves may - and often do - strike in the

  same place twice.



       In the face of these facts, business owners and operators,

  especially those with small operations, cannot afford to ignore

  burglary prevention.



  Lock the Burglar Out



       A sturdy lock often will discourage a timid burglar and at

  least make a bold one work harder.  Experts say the pin-cylinder

  lock may give the best protection since it is difficult to pick.

  The lock should be a dead bolt type, requiring either a key or a

  knob to set is.  Such a lock cannot be opened by slipping a piece

  of celluloid between the door edge and jamb, a standard burglar's

  technique that works on locks which catch automatically when the

  door closes.



       The ultimate in frustration for the burglar is the double

  cylinder dead lock which must be opened by a key from either side,

  making it difficult for a hidden burglar to get out of the

  building.



       In addition to locks, a bar can be used on the rear door, a

  favorite entry point for burglars.  Bars over windows, skylights

  and other openings can also frustrate many unauthorized entrance.



  Count the Keys



       Experts advise that records should be kept on key

  distribution, and that employees should be required to turn in

  their keys when they leave the business.  Having a master key or

  one key for both outside doors and inside offices is convenient,

  but makes burglary a simple matter.  It is a good idea to code keys

  so that only the employees know which locks they fit.



  Sound the Alarm



       Burglar alarms are perhaps the most obvious means of burglar

  protection.



       The silent central-station alarm gives the best protection.

  This type goes off at a private protection agency or in the local

  police station, unknown to the burglar who continues working,

  reassured by the quiet.



       The cheaper building-type local alarm system - which wakes the

  entire neighborhood and alerts the burglar as well - is preferable

  to no alarm at all.  At least it may scare off the thief before he

  has completed the job.



       Alarm sensing devices are available in considerable variety,

  from radar motion detectors and invisible beams to an automatic

  phone dialer which efficiently calls both the police and the

  business owner.



  Put Burglars in the Spotlight



       Providing a lot of light, both inside and outside, usually is

  effective.  Having each entrance point, including windows and large

  vents, flooded with light will discourage all but the most highly

  motivated burglar, and will force any burglar to work quickly.

  Mercury and metallic vapor lamps serve well since they are well-

  nigh unbreakable.



       It is advisable to arrange indoor lighting so that anyone on

  the inside can be spotted by police patrolling the area.  It's best

  that window displays not block the view from the street.



  Slow the Burglar Down



       The burglar who has actually managed to slip past the alarm,

  lights, locks, and bars can still be foiled.  A simple

  rearrangement of merchandise can be frustrating or even discourage

  the thief completely.



       One device guaranteed to infuriate a burglar is to tie the

  cords of electrical appliances together.  The burglar will either

  waste precious time frantically untying knots, or will abandon the

  effort.



       The same principle can be applied to guns, bicycles or other

  items which can easily be chained together.



       A special hint for clothing stores is to reverse alternating

  hangers on the racks, making it impossible for a thief to sweep a

  line of merchandise off the rod and head for the door.  Attaching

  racks to the floor is another way to make a burglar consider a

  different line of work.



       Consider displaying expensive goods in the center of the

  store, but not all in one place, so that a burglar will have to

  work far from exits and will have to go to several locations for

  merchandise.



  Make Safes Safer



       Safes, especially ones with complicated locks and intricate

  storage facilities, look formidable, but must be used properly to

  be effective.



       No matter what the weight or shape, safes can be bolted to the

  building and placed near the front of the store so they will be

  visible from the street at night.  Since burglars can't take what

  isn't there, prudent managers will leave the safe as empty as

  possible, banking excess cash at night.  It also is a good idea to

  equip safes with silent alarms.



  Use Gratings, Special Glass



       Heavy metal window screens and doorway gratings are an

  inexpensive way to protect display cases.



       Burglar resistant glass, a sandwich of plastic between two

  sheets of glass, thwarts access to displays and the building

  itself.  It can be broken but is takes continual hammering to break

  it.



       Private police patrols may be employed, but one of the most

  effective patrols is a watchdog, which few burglars are willing to

  face.



  Don't Forget the Obvious



       All the hints above can help prevent burglaries, but common

  sense precautions must also be used.  For instance, having all the

  windows barred will be useless if a transom is left open or an

  employee is careless with his or her keys.



       Only by applying all prevention techniques diligently can the

  business-owner assure that the thief's profits do not become the

  owner's loss.



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