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What are you giving the burglars this Christmas? |
Whether you live in the UK, the US
or elsewhere, it's a great feeling to lock up the office for the holidays
- but have you done all you can to protect your premises? If you don't take
security seriously, you could be giving the thieves some valuable extra
gifts this year |
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Appoint key holders and get them to agree their availability for the
Christmas period, perhaps organising a rota to cover long closures
- Make sure the key holders' phone numbers are available
to relevant senior members of staff, including mobile numbers. And likewise,
make sure the key holders can get hold of a senior member of staff if
there is a problem
- Choose only responsible and authoritative people
to be your key holders, as they are the last people to check the building
before locking up, and the first to be called on in an emergency
- Give all the key holders everything they need
to know about the alarm codes, and precisely where they will find fuse
boxes, boilers, gas, water stop cocks, etc. In the middle of a flood
is not the time to start guessing where the stop cocks are!
- When staff are recording jolly Christmas messages
for the office answering machine or changing their own voicemail and
'Out of Office' email messages, remind them not to tell everyone that
the premises are empty for days on end
- Encourage staff to lock away all moveable, valuable
items in cupboards and drawers; lock the drawers and cabinets; and lock
the keys in a lockable cabinet! Then give the key to a highly trusted
person!
- Set passwords to lock PCs and laptops, to prevent
intruders accessing the data stored on them - and don't leave the new
passwords written down in the office
- Back up all your computers and store the disks
off site, or at the very least in a waterproof, fireproof, lockable
cabinet
- Consider using timer switches for desk lamps to
make the building appear occupied
- Make sure all intruder protection systems and
CCTV are working properly, and that spare tapes are available
- Fun though they are, Christmas decorations can
get in the way! Check the CCTV camera is not obscured by tinsel, and
that alarm beams are not disturbed by cardboard Santas
- Arrange for someone to collect post from time
to time, as a mountain of envelopes on the mat is a sure-fire give-away
that the offices are empty
- Take a good look outside the office before you
lock up. Look for obvious targets, such as valuable equipment visible
on desktops
- Close blinds where possible to stop opportunists
taking a peek - breaking in is risky, and if they can't see what's worth
taking they may decide not to chance it
- Make sure rubbish bags and bins outside your buildings
are emptied. Firstly, it reduces the threat of an arson attack, and
secondly, the building looks less obviously unattended.
Taking a little extra time to check your premises before you leave to start the holidays could mean a truly peaceful Christmas and a happy New Year.
With grateful thanks to Hawksmere for this safety advice. For information regarding Hawksmere's premises security seminars, please visit www.hawksmere.co.uk or call customer services on 020 7824 8257.
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