As an business, you have a responsibility to keep the workplace as safe as possible. You also need to know that your staff and customers are honest and safe.
- Think about ways to prevent crime – failure to take good precautions invites crime into business.
- Take action in more than one way – there is no silver bullet that will prevent all crimes.
- Get your staff involved in your actions, this shows them that you are serious about crime prevention, and builds up a crime prevention culture within your business.
- Work with others to make sure your efforts have the best effects.
Preventing theft:
- Always check references for new staff and request police clearances for new staff members.
- Clearly document and adhere to clear policies about employee theft.
- Train staff to identify thieves and to watch out for suspicious behaviour.
- Greet every person who enters the business in a friendly way.
- Make sure all monies coming in and going out are dealt with by different employees.
- Randomly check deliveries, both to your business and to your customers.
- Monitor the petty cash fund.
- Question excessive amounts of voids, credits, or damage claims.
- Never accept photocopies of invoices, delivery notes, etc.
- Investigate unusual occurrences such as missing documents or unexplained absences during the working day.
- Tell your staff to pay only for goods received and remind them not to pay for goods that have not been ordered, even if an invoice is provided.
- Change locks and computer passwords periodically.
- As a last resort, if you do discover theft in your business, consider prosecution – experts have found that it works as a strong deterrent to others.
- Always remember that your safety is always more important than your property.