Security systems are essential to any business, large or small. They help protect your company from thieves and burglars who can come in through the front door or break into a window if they want to steal something valuable.
But what happens when that security system fails? It often means disaster for your business. That's why it's important to know how to handle these failures before you find yourself dealing with one on your own.
Here are some tips on how you can best deal with an issue like this so that it doesn't have lasting repercussions for your company's safety and success.
Call your security company immediately
When the security system at your place of business fails, you need to act fast. As soon as you notice a problem, call your security company and inform them about what happened.
They will either send someone out right away or give you additional instructions on how to proceed in the meantime.
Stay calm and assess the situation
You may understandably panic. After all, it feels like your business is under threat of attack or burglary because your security system failed.
However, you must stay calm and use your head to determine how to best proceed until help arrives. Take stock of the situation and assess how much danger your business is in.
If there are no signs of a break-in attempt or that anything was stolen, then you may not be in too much trouble. On the other hand, if you see broken windows or doors where it looks like nobody has come in yet, then you need to take more severe steps.
Determine how bad the damage is and whether your business is still safe or not
Now it's time to take an honest look at the situation, including the possibility of how you can fix things on your own. If possible, find out what exactly failed in your security system that allowed this issue to occur in the first place.
It may be that a single piece of equipment failed, and your system is otherwise in good shape. Then, you can probably secure the location with additional emergency measures until your professional security company arrives.
However, if the damage goes beyond a single area with widespread issues (like burglars inside and no one left on-premises),then you may want to evacuate the premises. Wait for the security company to arrive.
You may feel uncomfortable leaving some or all of your employees unattended. Still, it will prevent things from being stolen while everyone is away. It also gives you time to call in additional emergency personnel to help with the investigation if necessary.
Check on any nearby businesses
This might be when you discover that the security system in your small business is letting not only you down but also nearby companies.
If this is truly a widespread failure in several businesses' systems, it might be time to make some calls. Inform other owners about what happened and why they need to take action before burglars come to their location as well.
Contact your insurance company
If you have business or property damage, the next step may be to contact your insurance provider. It allows you to discuss what happened with someone who has firsthand knowledge about these situations. Then, they will also offer you advice on how best to proceed so that your business is completely protected in the future.
Insurance providers are experts on these matters, so you can trust them to guide you through this crisis and make sure that your property is secure again in no time.
Find out if a crime has been reported in your area recently
If it turns out that there have been reports of burglaries or robberies nearby in the last few days, then it's time to worry. In addition to your small business being in danger, this could mean that you're not the only victim, and other companies have been targeted as well.
If this is the case, then you can bet that there will be more attempts in the future until law enforcement officials capture these crooks who are running rampant in your area.
This means that it's up to you, the other small business owners, and law enforcement to take action now before things escalate any further.
Make sure employees are safe and accounted for
Depending on the circumstances surrounding this break-in attempt, there's a chance that employees were left alone on premises during this time.
You may want to take a moment or two to call everyone's cell phones and ensure that everybody is safe and accounted for before you go further with your investigation.
Contact the local police for assistance
If your small business situation becomes more serious, contacting local law enforcement officers is the next step. Do not take the chance, especially if there are criminals loose in your area.
We all know that cops are busy, but if there's an emergency situation, it might be possible to receive help quickly by phone or email.
Talk to an attorney
If you feel as if your small business is being targeted more than others in the area, then it's not a bad idea to get in touch with your lawyer.
You may have some contract or other legal issues that you need help with, so consulting an attorney before everything gets out of hand can prevent significant headaches later.
Final Thoughts
For many business owners, it's hard to know where and how best to start improving the security of their small business.
Now that you have a clearer picture of why improving your security system is essential, the next step is to figure out what you will do about it. Make sure that you follow our steps and check off each item as you go so that your business stays secure from now on.
A small business security system isn't just about stopping burglars in their tracks.
It's also about giving employees peace of mind that they'll be safe while they're on site doing their jobs. During this crisis, you can bet that your workers are more than a little bit anxious. So, the last thing you want them to worry about is their safety and security.
