SECURITEL BLOG

Running a restaurant is not like running any other business. This also goes for the security demands and requirements for setting up an effective security system for restaurant establishments. 

Restaurants regularly have a lot of cash on hand, both in registers as well as with servers who can often end their shifts with a large amount of tips. Many restaurants also have a well-stocked bar with expensive liquor and wines that can pose a tempting target for many criminals. These, along with your other assets, create the need for proper security measures to deter and protect your establishment, customers and staff from threats. 

Physical Security Threats for Restaurants

There are numerous physical threats to your restaurant's safety which can be mitigated with some prevention techniques and emergency preparedness plans. Physical security threats to your establishment include robbery, violence (fights between patrons or employees), vandalism, slips and falls, cooking fires and employee theft. The way to address physical security threats is to have a well-thought-out prevention plan to deter possible criminal activities as well as to have video surveillance and alarm systems in place.

Video Surveillance for Restaurant Security

Security cameras are an essential component to restaurant security that can both deter and record criminal activity. If something should happen, having well placed video cameras with audio recording capabilities can enable you to keep an accurate record of what exactly occurred. Most average criminals will be deterred by the threat of their actions being caught on camera.

Placing a camera over the cash register can also be a good way to ensure your employees aren’t stealing from your business by not recording sales, taking money from the cash drawer or voiding out orders and pocketing the money. Cameras placed to monitor entrances, bar areas, and parking lots can be combined with 24/7 lighting. Depending on your business location and needs you may want to have the ability to monitor your surveillance cameras in real time from your smartphone which can be a very useful tool to keep your establishment safe. 

Keep Important Areas Well-Lit

Adequate lighting is needed in all the vulnerable areas in your restaurant to deter burglars, prevent violence, and allow your recording equipment to fully record what is happening. You can use motion-activated lights in indoor areas to save some electricity but still be able to record what people are doing.

Alarms and Notifications

Alarms are an important aspect of any commercial security system, as they deter potential criminals as well as alert you and the proper authorities in the event of an incident. 

Alarms that are combined with door and window sensors will alert you to any possible break-in attempt while fire and carbon monoxide alarms will keep you informed of any environmental hazards. 

You will want an alarm system that can automatically contact your security professionals and authorities in the event of a break-in, fire, or other significant event. Your restaurant should have a robust fire alarm system that can monitor hazards even in the middle of the night when no one is there. If just one fryer gets left on and catches fire overnight, you want an alarm system that is wired to alert the authorities.

Access Control for Restaurant Security

Access control is used to deny a person access to a part of your facility and to only allow authorized users to be in certain areas at certain times. With access control systems you can control who has access to what and record when individuals enter or leave the premises. This can be very helpful to restaurant owners given the large number of employees in and around your business. The janitorial workers who come late at night can be monitored separately from the servers and kitchen staff who will show up earlier in the day.

Access control often uses some type of login credentials such as passwords, pin numbers, or biometric scans to allow or restrict access to specific areas. Keycards and key fobs can be a good option as they offer more customization and security advantages than physical keys and can be selectively disabled if lost or stolen.

Partnering with a Commercial Security Firm

Restaurants need security systems. In order to get the most affordable system that fits your needs you need to work with a professional commercial security company who can help you tailor these systems to your specific needs. 

SECURITEL has state-of-the-art training and experience installing restaurant security systems and is ready to work with you to tailor everything to your exact business needs.