SECURITEL BLOG

Owners of brick-and-mortar retail stores can appreciate the complexities inherent in protecting the physical safety of a storefront from all manners of threats to inventory, assets and even staff. The key is to understand the threats and work with a professional security company like SECURITEL, to build a comprehensive security system and monitor what goes on 24/7. 

Physical Threats for Retail Stores

There are a variety of physical security threats that retailers need to be prepared for. If you have a brick-and-mortar store you likely maintain thousands of dollars of inventory at all times. Physical threats to retail stores include damage from vandalism, fire, or natural disasters like flooding, earthquakes, or power outages. And then there are the shoplifters who also pose a risk, not to mention your own employees who have unique access to goods and cash. 

Retail Store Security Systems

There are a variety of ways to keep your inventory safe and discourage potential criminals from targeting your store. An in-store security system will make sure it is difficult for a criminal to easily get away with shoplifting or breaking-in. You want to have systems in place to ensure incidents will be automatically monitored and reported.

Alarms and Notifications

Many retailers benefit from intruder alarms equipped to monitor for potential break-ins and vandalism. Fire and carbon monoxide sensors can be set up to directly contact your local fire department if necessary. If someone shows up in the middle of the night and breaks through a window you want to have a system set up that will immediately dispatch the proper authorities your way. 

If your store or warehouse requires specific temperature controls, you can get commercial environmental sensors installed that can monitor and alert you to any changes in the temperature or humidity levels.

Access Control

If there are areas of your store that only certain people need to access, and maybe only at certain times of the day, an access control system can prove to be very helpful. Using login credentials such as passwords, PIN numbers, key fobs, key cards, or biometric scans, an access control system will allow or restrict access to specific areas of your facility. If you have many employees who need varying levels of access, a key card system might be the best solution. Key cards are easily deactivated if one gets lost or when employees turn over.

You might not want all your staff to have the ability to enter the premises at any time of the day or night. With a properly installed access control system, you can limit access to individuals or groups of employees only when they are scheduled to work.

Video Surveillance and Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV)

A professionally installed video surveillance system installed in key locations will record all comings and goings. If you are concerned with potential employee theft, having a video camera aimed at the register to monitor all cash entering and exiting is a good idea. Having cameras set up in your storage rooms can also be a valuable tool to monitor the stock that a rogue employee with access to these areas could steal.

Artificial Intelligence features such as facial recognition and license plate recognition are an available added level of security for your CCTV system.

Partnering with a Commercial Security Firm

The key to having a well-executed and effective security system to protect your retail store is to work with experts who have years of proven experience in designing and installing state-of-the-art commercial security systems. By choosing to work with a well-known commercial security company you ensure that your business receives the high-quality services it needs. Choose a company like SECURITEL, that has a good reputation in the community and that has proven training and experience in offering the services that your specific storefront requires. 

Despite a large number of possible threats that a retail store owner faces there's a lot you can do to protect your business. Professional commercial security companies are here to partner with you to create a comprehensive system that will keep your assets protected at all times and in a way that fits your budget and your goals. Whether you are setting up a new retail location or have a longstanding storefront, SECURITEL is here to help you design a system that meets your specific needs.