How Stores Can Mitigate Organized Retail Crime this Thanksgiving Shopping Weekend

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Thanksgiving shopping weekend can be a hectic experience for everyone involved but for your business, it’s one of the most profitable. All told, 20 to 30 percent of your 2017 retail sales will likely happen this holiday season with a large portion will occur this weekend.

Of those considering shopping the long holiday weekend, the survey found that 20 percent plan to shop on Thanksgiving Day (32 million). Black Friday will remain the busiest day, with 70 percent planning to shop (115 million).

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Business Security: 7 Common Security Measures Too Often Overlooked

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

As a business owner or manager, you know that security is critical to protecting your building and its occupants as well as maintaining your peace of mind.

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, security can be compromised, especially if you overlook important elements of your risk mitigation plan.

We’ve put together a list of seven common security oversights commercial property owners and managers often make to help you avoid them. Read more →

Tips to Improve the Physical Security of Credit Unions

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

closeup on security CCTV camera or surveillance system in local cash dispenser

Cyberattacks against credit unions are on the rise. As such, protecting their networks is top of mind for security managers.

It’s just as critical for credit union facility managers and/or security managers to pay attention to the physical security of their buildings.

Here are some tips to help you protect your employees, your members and your assets:

    • Install a burglar alarm system that includes perimeter alarms to detect an attempted intrusion into your facility, vault, safe, night depository and ATM.
    • Install IP video surveillance as it is one of main tools a credit union can employ to help detect internal fraud as well as help police investigate a robbery. Internet Protocol (IP) cameras offer resolutions many times higher than analog cameras, enabling you to get clearer images from wider angles. IP cameras also cover more ground in one shot, which means you can save money because you can install fewer cameras to monitor your facility. Install the cameras in strategic locations, including lobbies to monitor people entering and exiting your building as well as moving around inside; behind the teller area to better capture people’s faces; and outside the building. You should also install a purpose-built ATM surveillance camera.

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Caught in The Act: Video Verified Alarm Systems Improve Police Response Time to Business Burglaries

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Try typing “how to break into a store with an alarm” into Google search, and you’ll be startled to see almost 15 million results.

Businesses without alarms are 4.5 times more likely to be burglarized than those that do have them. But even a great alarm system won’t always stop the most tenacious burglars from trying.

The good news is, business security systems that protect retail, dealerships, schools, warehouses, construction sites, mom and pop shops, residences, and more, are evolving. And modern technology is leading to higher apprehension rates, fewer false alarms, and more comprehensive protection.

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Inspect Your Business Fire Alarm System Regularly

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

As a building owner/business owner, it’s critical that you take all the necessary – and mandated – steps to protect the lives of your employees and your customers. Commercial fire alarm systems are critical to helping you protect your business from fire and smoke.

When operating properly, these commercial fire alarm systems can prevent loss of life and property by alerting the people in your building and your alarm company of a fire emergency.

However, you can’t count on fire alarms to offer the protection your business needs if they’re not inspected on a regular basis.

The best way to determine if your business fire alarm system is up to code or if it needs maintenance is to have it inspected by trained professionals on a regular basis – an extensive inspection and testing should be done annually. Read more →

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Top Loss Prevention Conferences for 2016

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

iStock_000060897742_MediumIf you own a business, you understand the frustration of missing product. It is disheartening to put so much time and energy into your company only to find items unaccounted for when you take inventory.

Learning from the experts is a great way to improve your company’s loss prevention strategy. We have put together a list of some of the most attended and best reviewed retail loss prevention conferences around the country.

New England Loss Prevention Expo

This conference, sponsored by the Retailers Association of Massachusetts, is taking place on Thursday, September 15 from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. in the DCU Center, 50 Foster St., Worcester, Mass. Read more →

How To Appropriately Handle Employee Theft

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

employee theftEmployee theft can take different forms. Workers can steal merchandise, money, supplies and equipment and even pad their expense accounts. Regardless of the manner of employee theft, it still hurts your business and puts you in a tough management situation.

As a business owner, you do everything you can to hire employees who are trustworthy. If you suspect that a worker is stealing from you, it’s critical that you handle the case carefully.

Here are some tips to help you deal with employee theft:
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Shoplifting Rises During April School Vacation

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

iStock_000084928009_SmallAs that old saying goes, April showers bring May flowers. April also brings kids a week off from reading, writing and arithmetic.

In New England (with the exception of Connecticut and New Hampshire) spring vacation week is typically the third week in April. Without the structure of school, teens will be looking for fun things to do to occupy their time.

Unfortunately, some kids may turn to other types of not-so-fun activities. In the United States, shoplifting and arrest rates increase when students are off from school including during April school vacation.

When they don’t have regular routines, teens typically hang out at the local mall. No merchant is immune as shoplifting juveniles will steal from all kinds of stores, including big box stores, department stores, supermarkets, drug stores, and even convenience stores.

Teenagers may steal items from merchants for the thrill of it, or to impress their friends. Some of the most common items teens will steal include clothing, books, music, jewelry and anything they can fit into their pockets or purses. Read more →

Loss Prevention Tech Trends for 2016

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Loss Prevention Tech Trends for 2016When it came to loss prevention back in the day, retailers hired security guards, off-duty police officers, or other such folks to catch criminals trying to rip off their stores. The effectiveness of a retailer’s business security was mainly judged in terms of the number of arrests its security personnel made.

Times have changed, however. Now the name of the game is “loss prevention,” minimizing retail loss rather than making a lot of arrests. To that end, retailers are turning to innovative technology to help them mitigate theft and fraud.

Here are the four trends in “asset protection technology” for 2016, according to the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA).

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American Alarm Video System Helps Police Crack Down on Texting While Driving

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

It was a clear July morning and two Rutland, Massachusetts police officers were walking across Main Street in a marked crosswalk. The approaching Ford Explorer had plenty of time to stop for the pedestrians. Instead, it was almost a tragedy.

The alert police officers jumped away from the oncoming vehicle just in time, or else they would have been run down. The distracted driver was texting.


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