How to Improve the Physical Security of Your Small Business

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Burglar using special tools to break in a houseAs more and more small businesses fall victim to data breaches, it’s understandable that you would invest resources to beef up your cybersecurity efforts.

However, it’s equally as important that you continually address the physical security needs of your company to protect against theft and vandalism.

Here are some steps you can take to help you improve your firm’s physical security:

  • Be sure your business security system includes redundant communications and a back-up battery – Your system must be able to send an emergency signal under any circumstances. Redundant communication channels and battery back-up mean your system will still be functional and able to send an alarm signal when help is needed, even in the event of a power failure or if your phone line goes dead.

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Fire Safety for Religious Properties

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Candles in churchReligious institutions are not just used for Sunday services. They often house daycare centers, preschools, bible study groups and community gatherings.

From 2007 to 2011, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 1,780 structure fires in religious and funeral properties each year, according to a 2013 report from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

Most of those fires, however, involved religious properties, with just four percent taking place in funeral parlors. On average, those fires resulted in two civilian deaths, 19 civilian injuries, and $111 million in property damage per year, the NFPA noted. Read more →

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Inspect Your Business Fire Alarm System Regularly

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

bus alarm testAs 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 →

Tips to Help Your Business Weather a New England Storm

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

New England Business Security During BlizzardSpring in New England comes with beautiful blooms, green grass — and the occasional late-season snow storm. This week’s nor’easter is a good example.

Here are some key tips to help make sure you successfully weather a storm. 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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Fire Inspections: Is Your Commercial Building Up to Code?

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

No building is completely safe from a fire. In 2013, there were approximately 93,000 non-residential building fires in the US—accounting for 65 deaths, 1,425 injuries, and nearly $2.5 billion in losses, according to the U.S. Fire Administration’s National Fire Data Center.

Putting an efficient and effective fire prevention program plan in place, ensuring that your commercial fire alarm system is operating properly, and adhering to your state’s fire code and ordinances could prevent many of these fires. Before the fire inspectors in your town come out to inspect your building, you should be sure your property is up to code.

Here are 10 of the fire safety codes that must be adhered to in commercial buildings in Massachusetts: (Check the applicable laws in your state to identify the fire safety codes for commercial buildings.)

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4 Holiday Retail Loss Prevention Tips

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

4 Holiday Retail Loss Prevention TipsThe holiday season is the busiest and most profitable time of the year for retailers. It’s also a busy and profitable time for criminals.

Shoppers are flooding the malls, big box stores, and smaller neighborhood shops looking for just the right gifts for family and friends. With all the extra foot traffic, businesses must be extra vigilant, paying particular attention to thwarting shoplifters, which may include employees.

Here are four holidays loss prevention tips to help you protect your bottom line:

Read more →