Robbery & Burglary
• Protecting Assets
• Preventing Unauthorized Entry
• Deterring Crimes
• Helping to Apprehend Robbers and Recover Stolen Property
• What To Do If You Are Robbed
These tips can significantly enhance the security of your business. Also, you can call the GCPD to arrange for a free business security survey.
Protecting Assets
Assets can be protected by keeping them in a safe place, implementing procedures that deny criminals access to them, etc. • Locate the register where it is visible from the outside, but far enough away from the window so as
not to provoke a quick window smash.
• Use a time-lock drop safe for cash. Keep very little cash in the register. Keep your safe locked when
access is not required.
• Safes can be standing or mounted in floors or walls. Standing safes should be securely anchored
to the floor. The back should be against a wall so it will not be accessible. If the safe is visible from
outside the building, it should be well illuminated and have the front (locking side) turned away from
the windows. Floor safes should be located where they can be concealed.
• Use burglar-resistant safes for money and other valuables. Use fire-resistant safes for records.
Both types should have an Underwriters Laboratory (UL) label with their effectiveness ratings.
• Be unpredictable about moving money from your business to the bank. Vary the times, routes,
and methods of concealment. Make deposits during the business day, not after closing time.
Assign two employees to make deposits. Vary the assignments over time. Have the deposit carried
in a purse or plain bag; never use a bank bag.
• Have employees leave the depository if suspicious persons are present. Have them return and make
the deposit later.
• If you use an armored car service, always be prepared for their pickup and delivery.
• Never open your business for anyone after you have closed. Beware of the caller who states your
business has just been broken into and asks you to come down. Always confirm (by calling back) that
the call was from a law enforcement agency or your alarm company before going to your business.
• Keep all exterior doors locked during business hours except those used by customers or visitors.
Some employees or security guards should be located to monitor each public entrance. Emergency
exits should be alarmed and designated for emergency use only.
• Post signs to indicate areas that are open to the public and those that are for employees only. Install
locks on all doors to interior work areas to control public access. Doors to storage and supply rooms,
and individual offices should be kept locked when unattended.
• Have all employees wear ID badges or some other means of distinguishing them from visitors,
customers, and others on the premises. Businesses with restricted areas should give their employees
photo-ID badges that are color-coded to indicate the areas that the employee is authorized to enter.
Offices and storage, supply, and other work areas should be checked periodically for the presence of
unauthorized persons.
• Keep doors to public restrooms locked or under observation to prevent abuse of the facilities.
• Anchor computer hardware and other costly items of office equipment to a desk or install an alarm
that sounds when they are moved. If neither of these measures is possible, store the equipment in
a secure facility when it is not in use.
• Protect merchandise in display cases by keeping the case doors locked and installing laminated
glass or clear acrylic plastic in the windows. Use plastic tie-downs or metal chords to secure
merchandise on the tops of cases.
• Install good locks on outside storage sheds.
• Keep items stored outside at least 8 feet from perimeter walls and fences. Forklifts, moving
equipment, and other vehicles that can easily be started should be made inoperable.
• Park company vehicles in a secure fenced area when the business is closed. If this is not
possible, park them close to each other or the building to help prevent gas siphoning, battery
theft, and vehicle break-ins.
• Keep shipments inside until they are to be loaded on trucks.
• Open doors only when shipments are being sent out or brought in. Keep doors locked at other
times.
• Install a service bell for truck drivers to use to announce their arrival.
Preventing Unauthorized Entry
The following tips suggest how entry to your business can be controlled. They deal with doors, locks, windows, other openings, roofs, fences, walls, gates, and landscaping. Make sure that all protective measures installed meet the fire and life safety standards for your type of building. You can contact the Granite City Fire Department at (618) 876-4545 for assistance. This will assure safety and code compliance as well as enhance your security.Doors
• Exterior single-swing wooden doors should be of solid-core or paneled construction, with a
minimum thickness of 1-3/4 inches. Wooden doors can be reinforced with 16-gauge sheet metal
for additional security.
• Use strong "glass" in exterior glass doors. (See the material in Sec. B.2 on strong "glass" for
windows).
• Install a wide-angle (180 degree) peephole. This device enables you to identify persons at the
door without them seeing you.
• Hinges should be located on the inside or have non-removable pins.
• Adjust exterior sliding-glass patio-type doors so that they cannot be lifted up in their tracks to
defeat their locks. One way to do this is to install a few sheet-metal screws in the top track with
their heads nearly touching the top of the door when it is closed.
Locks
Doorknob locks offer no security. Defeating these locks is one of the most common means of forced entry. Chains don't provide security either. They are only good for privacy. All exterior doors should have an additional deadbolt lock. Go to a locksmith or hardware store for advice on locks.
• Install single cylinder deadbolt locks on all exterior doors. Bolts should have a minimum throw
of 1 inch. Strike plates should have screws that are at least 3 inches long.
• On all exterior double doors, install flush bolts installed at the top and bottom of the inactive door.
These should be made of steel and have a minimum throw of 1 inch.
• Install locking devices on all exterior sliding-glass patio-type doors. These doors should have
deadbolt locks as well as secondary locking devices, the simplest of which is a wooden stick that
is placed in the lower track to prevent the door from opening. Better security can be obtained from
thumbscrew-type locks that are mounted on both the top and bottom tracks.
• Install good locks on all doors that lead outside through garages or storage areas.
• Install good locks on gates, garages, sheds, etc. If padlocks are used, they should be keyed and
able to survive assaults by bolt cutters or pry bars. The shackles should be made of hardened steel
and be at least 9/32 inch thick. It is even better to use a "shielded" padlock that is designed to
protect against bolt cutters. Combination locks should not be used because they offer very poor
security.
• Use a multi-frequency opener on electrically-operated garage doors, and make sure that the
bottom cannot be lifted up to allow a burglar to crawl under the door.
• Use hardened steel hinges, hasps, and padlocks on hand-lifted garage doors.
• Install cane bolts or sliding hasps on the inside of garage doors to provide additional security.
• Go to a locksmith or hardware store for advice on locks.
• Consider installing a crossbar as an additional locking mechanism for exterior doors that have
in interior swing. Place a metal bar or 2 x 4 piece of wood in brackets mounted on both sides of
a door. Slide bolts made of heavy gauge steel can also be effective.
• Use panic deadbolts operated by push-bars to secure secondary exits that are designated for
emergency use only. They can be alarmed to ring a bell or sound a horn when the door is opened.
• Consider installing latch guards on glass doors. These are steel plates that are bolted to the frame
of the door to prevent the deadbolt locking mechanism from being twisted off or otherwise removed.
Some guards also protect the latch area. More expensive guards protect the mortise cylinder and
prevent a burglar from drilling out the tumblers.
Windows and Other Openings
• Secure double-hung sash windows by drilling a hole that slants downward through a top corner
of the bottom window into the bottom corner of the top window on both sides of the window. Place
an eyebolt or nail in the hole to prevent the window from being opened.
• Replace Louvre windows with solid glass or some other type of ventilating window. If this cannot be
done, glue the panes together with a two-part epoxy resin.
• Secure casement windows with key-locking latches. Make sure that the protrusion on the window
that the lock is attached to is made of steel and not worn, and that the window closes properly and
is not bowed or warped.
• Secure sliding-glass windows as described above for sash windows or by the same types of locking
devices used for sliding-glass doors.
• Consider installing security bars on side, rear, or other windows that a burglar might break to enter
your business. Make sure that the retaining bolts cannot be removed from the outside. Bars must
comply with Fire Code requirements for inside release to permit an occupant to escape in the event
of a fire.
• Use reinforced or strong "glass" in viewing windows on the lock sides of doors so a burglar cannot
break them and reach in to open the door.
• Install strong "glass" in display windows, (e.g. laminated glass or clear acrylic plastic, to prevent
window-smash burglaries). The former has plastic sheets between layers of glass. It looks like safety
glass but will not shatter easily, even after repeated blows. The latter is also shatterproof but has
several disadvantages. It comes in limited sizes, and is susceptible to marring and scratching.
• Secure crawl spaces, ventilation windows, attics that connect to adjoining businesses, and other
openings. Make sure that window air conditioners are installed securely and cannot easily be
removed from the outside. Seal mail slots in doors if a coat hanger or other device can be inserted
and used to release the door lock.
Ladders, trees, fences, drain pipes, and adjoining rooftops can provide roof access if measures are not taken to deny such access.
• Shroud ladders with locking covers.
• Trim tree limbs that could provide access.
• Secure rooftop skylights, ventilation shafts, air conditioning and heating ducts, and other possible
entry points on the inside with grills or grates. Those that cannot be secured should be alarmed.
Well-built fences, walls, and gates are the first line of defense against criminals. The permissible heights and locations of various types of fences are specified in the Granite City Zoning Code.
• Install open chain link or ornamental metal fencing unless privacy and noise reduction are needed.
These types are preferred because they do not block visibility into the property and are less susceptible
to graffiti. Chain link fencing should have its bottom secured with tension wire or galvanized pipe, or
embedded in concrete to prevent it from being lifted up to enable a person to crawl in.
• Use sharp pointed fencing, (e.g. fencing with spikes or a barbed- or concertina-wire topping, only in
industrial and agricultural zones). In the former it is permitted on top of a fence with a minimum height
of 6 ft. The topping cannot exceed a height of 3 ft or project beyond property lines.
• Equip gates with good locks. Latches should be mounted with carriage bolts and nuts that are welded
on or secured by stripped bolt threads.
• Gates that are opened on the inside by a handle or knob should have shields that prevent a person
from reaching in to open them. They should also be tall enough so that a person cannot reach over
the top to open them.
• Gates with beveled latches should be shielded so a person cannot insert a wire or bar between the
frame and the gate and push in the latch. A dead-bolt lock with a cylindrical latch would be even better
on gates that are not emergency exits and are closed and locked manually from the outside.
• Gates that are opened on the inside by a push bar should be solid or have a solid metal or plastic
shield on the inside of the gate that extends at least two feet above and below the push bar. The
shield will prevent a person from opening the gate from the outside by looping a wire through the gate
and pulling on the push bar.
• Exit gates should have springs that close them securely after a person goes through. Sensors should
also be installed to warn the security office or manager that a gate has been left open.
• Trim trees so that limbs don't provide a means of getting on roofs or second stories, or of getting
over a wall or fence.
• Plant bushes with thorns or prickly leaves under ground-level windows to make access more
difficult for burglars.
• Plant bushes with thorns or prickly leaves along fences and walls to make climbing more difficult
and prevent graffiti.
Deterring Crimes
Crimes can be deterred by having good visibility and surveillance on the property, installing an alarm system, employing security guards, keeping the property in good condition, posting warning signs, etc. • Keep windows and counters clear. Don't allow them to be cluttered with signs and displays
.
• Install convex mirrors to enable employees to see people in areas that might be blocked by
display shelves, walls, or other obstructions.
• Post signs saying that employees do not have access to the safe.
• Post signs saying that the store is covered by CCTV cameras.
• Post a Neighborhood Watch or alarm company sticker on entry doors and windows.
• Know what is happening outside the store or place of business. Post NO LOITERING signs. Look
for anyone watching the store, or loitering in or around it. Make sure exterior lighting is adequate.
• Post NO TRESPASSING signs.
• Post NO PUBLIC PARKING signs. Signs prohibiting public parking or stating that parking is for
customers only, and stating that unauthorized vehicles will be removed at the owner’s expense.
• If a store has a retail package off-sale alcoholic beverage license to sell alcoholic beverages it
must post signs stating that OPEN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTAINERS ARE PROHIBITED ON
THE PREMISES. These signs must be clearly visible to patrons of the licensee and parking lot and
to persons on the public sidewalk immediately adjacent to the licensed premises. This prohibition
also applies to the public sidewalk immediately adjacent to the licensed premises.
• Greet all customers. Make eye contact as they enter the business. Ask if assistance is needed.
Customers and clients like the attention -- robbers don't.
• Consider employing well-trained, highly visible security guards. Uniformed security guards that
patrol the business on foot can be highly effective in deterring robberies and burglaries. The company
that provides the guards should be licensed and insured. The guards should be licensed as well.
• Install a good alarm system. A basic system has sensors attached to doors, windows, and other
openings to detect entries. Sensors can also be installed inside to detect motion or attempts to
enter specific areas. Reputable companies will install and maintain a system that will ring an alarm
on the premises and silently signal the company's headquarters for dispatching the police or an
alarm company agent. Once the company representative has made an appraisal of your security
needs, ask for a written proposal and a copy of the contract you will have to sign. Make sure the
contract lists all the points of protection, the equipment to be installed, and the initial and monthly
payments. You should also check with your insurance company to see if you qualify for an alarm
discount and get an alarm system permit from the City Clerk.
• Use fencing, gates, landscaping, pavement treatment, signs, etc. to define clear boundaries
between your property and adjoining properties.
• Keep your property in good condition. Criminals are attracted to property in poor condition because
they see that the owners or tenants do not care about it. Keep property free of trash, litter, weeds,
leaves, dismantled or inoperative vehicles, and other things that indicate neglect. Remove graffiti
as soon as possible after it is found. This will discourage further vandalism. The graffiti should be
covered with matching paint so a "canvas" is not left for the vandals. Hardware or paint stores should
be consulted regarding the best products for removing various types of graffiti from specific surfaces
without damaging the surface. Extreme care should be used in applying special graffiti removal
products like MEK (Methyl Ethyl Ketone) or "Graffiti Remover" on glass or unpainted surfaces.
Replace broken windows or screens. Repair broken fences and gate locks. Remove loose rocks
and other objects that could be used to vandalize your property.
• Leave a few interior lights on at night in the back of the store or office where they may illuminate
and silhouette intruders, and not create glare for passing patrol cars.
• Illuminate all external areas of the property, including entry areas, storage yards, and parking lots.
Such lights are usually mounted on poles, the sides of buildings, or the edges of roofs. Timers
or photoelectric cells can be used to turn lights on at dusk and off at dawn. And motion sensors can
be used to turn lights on when any motion is detected. Streetlights or lights from adjoining properties
should not be relied on for lighting the property at night. Also, the lights should be directed so they
don't shine into the eyes of passing motorists or police patrols.
• Replace burnt-out bulbs promptly. Use screens, wired glass covers, or other protection for light
fixtures and bulbs. Install padlocks on circuit-breaker boxes to prevent the lights from being turned off.
• Keep landscaping trimmed to preserve good visibility on the property and deny criminals possible
hiding places. Trim bushes to less than 3 feet to eliminate possible hiding places, especially near
windows, sidewalks, and exterior doors. Trim tree canopies to at least 8 feet. And make sure that
trees and bushes do not block lights.
Helping to Apprehend Robbers and Recover Stolen Property
• Train your employees on what to do during a robbery.
• Use "bait money." Keep a list of serial and series numbers. Do not use these bills to make
change.
• Keep a record of descriptions of suspicious persons or vehicles. Be alert to your customers
and surroundings, especially at opening and closing. Be aware of thieves using physical
disguises: wigs, mustaches, etc. If possible have two employees open and close.
• Place colored height marks at all exits to estimate suspect's height.
• Develop a mutual aid system. Form an agreement with nearby merchants to keep an eye on
each other's businesses and watch for suspicious activities. An inexpensive buzzer system can
alert adjoining businesses to an emergency situation.
• Install video cameras to cover the front door, register, safe, and other areas where there is no
surveillance by employees. They should be mounted where they cannot be covered or tampered
with. Dummy cameras should not be used because most criminals can tell the difference between
real cameras and dummies. Monitors have to be watched continually to enable crimes in progress
to be observed and reported, and actions taken to stop them and apprehend the criminals before
they can escape. Otherwise cameras only help deter crimes by providing a record of the crime that
might be used to identify the perpetrator.
• Install panic alarm buttons at cashier and other vulnerable positions.
• Place the company's name or some identification number on all company-owned items, (e.g. office
equipment, tools, vehicles, and machinery). This can be done by engraving or etching, or by using a
permanent adhesive, or by attaching microdots. In small individually-owned businesses the owner's
drivers license number preceded by "IL" can be used as a property identifier. In large businesses an
Owner Applied Number (OAN) is more appropriate. You can get help obtaining these numbers from
the Madison County Sheriff's Office at (618) 692-6087. They are coded by state and country and kept
on file by law enforcement agencies throughout the country.
• Place numbered confetti in bulk goods containers.
• Keep a detailed, up-to-date record of your valuables. Include type, model, serial number, fair market
value, etc.
• Make address numbers easy to read from the street to avoid delays in police response. (Numbers
on curbs or mailboxes should not be the sole means of identification. If numbers are painted on
curbs, they should be located near driveways where they are not likely to be blocked by parked
vehicles.) The numbers should be at least 6 inches high on a high-contrast background, and lighted
so they can be seen at night. Where numbers at the main entrance are not easily visible from the
street, (e.g. for businesses in a shopping mall, additional numbers should be posted where they will
be visible). Numbers should also be posted in the rear of the business and on the roof so they can be
seen from alleys and the air, respectively.
What to Do If You Are Robbed
The first thing to do is to train your employees on what to do in the event of a robbery. Every robbery is different. You will need to assess yourself, the robber, and the situation to determine what you should do. Here are some general tips: • Act calmly. Do exactly what the robber says. Keep your movements short and smooth to avoid startling
the robber.
• Do not resist. Cooperate for your own safety and the safety of others. Robbers usually are anxious
and easily provoked. Tell the robber about any movements you plan to make.
• Activate an alarm if it can be done safely without alerting the robber.
• Observe carefully. Study the robber's face and clothing, note any other distinguishing features,
observe the direction of escape, record the license, make, and color of any vehicle used in the robbery,
etc. Write down everything you can remember about the robber and the crime itself.
• Lock the door and call 9-1-1 immediately after the robber leaves. Call the police before you call the
owner or anyone else.
• Preserve the scene. Discontinue regular business until officers have searched the scene. Cover any
surfaces the robber may have touched and keep away from areas where the robber may have been.
• Ask witnesses to remain. Get names and phone numbers if they are unable to remain. Ask to see
their driver's licenses or other ID to verify this information.
• Don't discuss the robbery with others until all statements have been taken.