Useful Tips

To help you and your business, we have the following information covering these areas:

  1. - Protecting your business (including FREE PDF Downloads to help Beat Business Crime)
  2. - Preventing theft (including FREE PDF Downloads to help Beat Business Crime)
  3. - Preventing fraud
  4. - FREE PDF Downloads to help Beat Business Crime

Protecting your business


Here is some useful information how to protect your business:

  1. Firstly carry out a complete and thorough risk assessment of your business, looking at your company inside and out, seeing where there could be an opportunity for crime. Opportunities include anything from insecure cash tills, visible stock and contents, right through to anti-social behaviour outside your building.
  2. Think like a criminal and ask yourself how you would or could break into your premises. Look for potential weak spots in your security. Then make a list of ways it could be reduced, and action them.
  3. Look at ways to strengthen doors and windows as the more barriers you create, the more you could delay and discourage burglars from targeting your business.
  4. The locks on your final exit doors are required to be of a minimum standard. The Risk Calculator can help you identify which level you require. However as a general rule, the minimum level of security required by insurers for these doors is either a 5 level mortise deadlock or two key operated security bolts.
  5. Make sure the outside of the building is adequately illuminated, especially out of business hours. To download a full document giving more information on external lighting, click here.
  6. Introduce appropriate access control to the building to monitor entry. This is a good way to make sure no unwanted visitors gain access.
  7. There are several different types of intruder alarms available that can help to protect your business. Depending on your business type, an alarm may be a requirement of your insurance company. The different types include an audible alarm, an alarm linked to a monitoring station, and alarms that alert the police. Alarms that are linked to monitoring stations or the police will usually incur a monthly maintenance charge.
  8. Use CCTV and audio recording equipment to monitor buildings. To download a full document giving more information on CCTV, click here.
  9. Check and double check that all exits are securely locked when leaving the business, and never leave keys lying around.

Preventing theft


The cost of having your computer, stock and/or records stolen can soon add up, and it’s not just the financial costs that need to be considered. The inconvenience caused to you, your staff and the company itself could cause considerable disruption for many months.

  1. Train staff to spot thieves, look out for any suspicious behaviour, and feel comfortable in reporting it.
  2. Remember to check the references of any new members of staff.
  3. Secure expensive equipment to solid furniture, floors or nearby walls using ‘lock plates’.
  4. Conduct regular audits on your property and equipment, as this will help identify any missing items.
  5. Tagging or marking equipment is always advisable. To download a full document giving more information on security marking your property, click here.
  6. Whenever possible, store computer equipment within a secure and locked room.
  7. Carrying cash to and from the bank will always be hazardous; however, the risk almost certainly increases in proportion to the amount of cash being carried. To download a full document giving more information on carrying cash to and from the bank, click here
  8. Buying a safe may reduce one of the risks that your business faces. To download a full document giving more information on what to consider when buying a safe, click here.
  9. Product alarms could be worth considering for high value and attractive stock, which will monitor the movement of individual pieces of equipment.
  10. For retailers, there is a risk of robbery and at the same time violence to your employees. To download a full document giving more information on robbery precautions for retailers, click here

Preventing Fraud


  1. Limit access to sensitive equipment, documents and computers to only essential staff to try and reduce the chance of any unauthorised use.
  2. Take steps to tackle credit card fraud by:
  3. Routinely checking the dates the credit and debit cards are valid from and to
  4. Phone for authorisation where appropriate
  5. Chip and Pin now makes it very difficult for fraudsters, but in the event a signature is required, check the card and its signature strip. Then check the signature you're given against the one on the card
  6. Check the number on the card matches the number on the till printout.
  7. If you accept credit card payments without seeing the actual card, ask your bank about ways to help reduce the risks of fraud.

FREE PDF Downloads to help Beat Business Crime


As part of our commitment to beating business crime, we are providing 6 FREE downloads to help you and your business, which are:

  1. External security lighting
  2. Security marking of property
  3. CCTV
  4. Carrying cash to and from the bank
  5. Buying a safe
  6. Robbery precautions for retailers

If you are having any problems with downloading these PDF files, please email us at questions@premierlinedirect.co.uk