Security is — or at least should be — a constant concern for everyone. Although many think of home burglaries and break-ins when they imagine criminal activity of that nature, oftentimes businesses are the targets of such criminals. Sometimes, the reasons why this occurs are obvious. Some business keep valuable goods — like computers — on site at all times. In fact, many businesses even keep sensitive information or money on site. Other times, criminals break in to businesses simply to vandalize them, their motives manifold. The point is that businesses have a lot to be concerned about, which is why commercial security solutions are advancing rapidly. Yet many businesses, and small businesses in particular, have not taken advantage of advanced commercial security systems. Why? Well, they might think that they are too “small time” to be the targets of burglars. Firstly, as previously mentioned, criminals are not always motivated by monetary means. Secondly, any business can be targeted by a criminal. Some criminals may even figure that small businesses don’t have high quality alarm systems and are therefore easier to break into. Remember, money is not the only thing at risk here. Any employees who could potentially be on site at the time of a break in are also at risk of being injured or even killed. Let’s look into how security and surveillance solutions can help your business.
Surveillance Solutions: The Basics
In this day and age, many surveillance solutions do not involve actual on site, human surveillance. Now, some security firms do hire out security guards. Guards have their advantages, but a good, technologically-advanced surveillance solutions can do the same job for — in many cases — less money in the long term, and certainly less human risk. Technologically-advanced surveillance solutions like video cameras have the advantage of being incapable of human error. They provide detailed records of events, and the higher resolution models often allow people to identify criminals casing potential points of attack before a crime even occurs. Furthermore, if burglars are examining a business and notice surveillance cameras, they’re less likely to target that business. This is why it’s estimated that 67% of burglaries could be avoided through the installation of video surveillance. With that being said, it might be a good idea to install audio surveillance as well, which will ensure that noise will be recorded as well.
Raising The Alarm: Alert Systems
Many people don’t understand how advanced alarm systems work, believing that these systems don’t deter burglars. First of all, if a burglar is aware of the presence of an alarm, he will be less likely to move forward with his plan. However, if the burglar is unaware of the alarm before moving forward, he is likely to stop and run after the alarm begins. Whether the burglary is planned or unplanned, over 50% of intruders have said that they would stop a burglary after discovering an alarm. But remember that not all alarm systems are created equal. Some alarm systems are created differently, with different reaction times. Some alarms don’t even set off a loud, blaring alarm, instead moving to contact the police quickly.
Choosing An Alarm: What To Look For
Some people avoid alarms simply because many alerts are false alarms. This is seen as too much of a hassle for some people to deal with. Firstly, it’s important to remember that any hassle confronted in such situations is not as bad as the hassle of dealing with a burglary. Secondly, many alarm systems will give you a chance to turn off the alarm before the police are dispatched. The delay usually anywhere from 30 seconds to three minutes. Some business owners opt for a shorter delay simply because this gives an experienced burglar less time to figure out how to turn off the alarm. By choosing the system that best suits your business’s needs, you will dramatically reduce your chance of break-in.
