Business Crime Prevention

1. BusinessCrime PreventionNational Crime Prevention Association2345 Crystal Drive, Suite 500Arlington, VA 22202202-261-4153 FAX 202-296-1356pharris@ncpc.orgwww.ncpc.org/ncpa

2. Crime Risks Burglary Robbery Shoplifting Employee Theft Credit Card Fraud Bad Checks Employee Violence Terrorism Business Crime Prevention

3. External Risks Neighborhood Crime Trends Crime Generators Potential Crime Targets Identifying Crime Risk

4. Internal Risks Type of Business Property/Assets/Inventory Cash Business Perception of Security Employees Identifying Crime Risk

5. Workplace Risk Factors • low staffing • working alone • working late at night/ early in morning • working with money or drugs • guarding property • long waits for services by customers • lack of services

6. Physical Inspection Zone 1: Property Boundary Zone 2: Open Space Zone 3: Building Exterior Zone 4: Building Interior Determining Vulnerability

7. Business Crime Sunday was a day of rest in many states. Elimination of Blue Laws increased business exposure to crime by 17%, open 6 days rather than 7.

8. Business Crime • Businesses have become more exposed to robbery, shoplifting and employee theft. • New longer hours attract more customers who expose themselves to more crimes and leave more homes unoccupied.

9. Business Crime National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health The leading cause of death of women in the workplace is murder. Women Working 1940 - 25% 1950 - 34% 1960 - 38% 1970 - 43% 1980 - 52% 1990 - 58% 1998 - 60%

10. Business Crime National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health 1993 – 2002: average 827 of workplace homicides/yr. Workplace homicides declined dramatically from 1,074 murders in 1993 to 609 in 2002, a 43% decline 46% reduction in workplace homicides among males over the decade while only 28% for females.

11. Prevention Measures Fences and Gates Parking Areas Open Spaces Exterior Lighting Doors Windows Locks and Hardware Burglary

12. Prevention Measures Security Room Safes Tools and Equipment Interior Lighting Alarms/Security Systems Key Control Employee training Burglary

13. Homicide: High Risk Retail Establishments (NIOSH 1998) Liquor Stores (7.5 /100,000 workers) Gasoline Stations (4.8) Jewelry Stores (4.7) Grocery Stores (3.8) Eating & Drinking Places (1.5) Robbery

14. Prevention Measures Policies Cash Control Maintenance Hours of Operation Staffing Employee Training Robbery

15. Prevention Measures Policies Policies should be in place and in writing. Employees should be given copies of the policies. Policies should include procedures for dealing crime. Robbery

16. Prevention Measures Facility Escape Routes Hiding Places Cash register location Visibility Lighting Robbery

17. Visibility • Create the fishbowl effect. • Natural Surveillance • Keep signs out of the window or either high or low.

18. Visibility - This

19. Visibility - or This

20. Employee Actions • Employees should greet and make eye contact with customers. • Teach observation skills. • Encourage reporting suspicious activity. • Have cashiers move away from registers. • Hire two employees during high risk times.

21. Cash Control • A strong deterrent to robbery. • Adhere to cash limits. • Use drop safe. • If no drop safe, have manager pull excess money and large bills.

22. Cash Control

23. Opening and Closing • Vulnerable time for robbery. • Opening check the business interior and exterior. • Have time delay safe. • Two people should close and leave through the front door. • Allow employees to move cars near exit.

24. If a robbery happens - Employee Response • Train employees • Treat as a regular transaction • Cooperate • Robber's description • No chasing • No weapons • Protect crime scene

25. Lock the doors. Observe vehicle - direction of travel. Call Police - have #’s posted by phone. Keep all customers inside. Give out description form. Retrieve serial #’s of bait money. Description exercises. After the Robbery

26. Employee Theft • What is the scope of the problem compared to shoplifting? • How much shrinkage is linked to shoplifting? • How much is linked to employee theft?

27. Warning signs of employee theft. Alcohol or drug use. Obsessive gambling. Financial difficulties. Disgruntled. Dishonest tendencies. Living beyond means of job. Poor security attitude. Employee Theft

28. Warning signs of employee theft. Quick to accuse fellow workers. Volunteers to open &close. Overly friendly with suppliers & customers. Works long hours. Assumes & guards responsibilities. Employee Theft

29. Employee Theft Prevention • Don’t allow employees to keep belongings near register. • Check packages of employees as they leave. • Use clear trash bags check dumpsters. • Have employees park away from store. • Require employees to leave through the front door.

30. Prevention Measures Policies Train employees. Understand shoplifting laws. Establish clear policies & procedures. Greet and observe customers. Check customer’s packages. Identify property. Post warnings. Shoplifting

31. Prevention Measures Facility Keep a neat & orderly store. Enhance visibility. Restrict access to valuable items. Keep valuable items away from exits. Control exits. Restrict access to certain areas Shoplifting

32. Check Fraud Prevention • When was account opened? • Less than one year is a risk. • The date the account was opened is on the check. • Low check numbers. • Accept valid drivers license. • Scrutinize license & pictures & compare signatures.

33. Check Fraud Prevention • Post check acceptance policy. • Make employees responsible for adhering to check cashing policies. • Have them initial checks for later prosecution. • Keep file of bad check passers.

34. Credit Card Fraud Prevention • Post procedural guidelines for dealing with credit cards near register. • Maintain control of card until transaction is complete. • Obtain two forms of ID. • Compare signatures. • Check expiration.

35. Detecting Fraudulent Transactions • Customer takes card out of pocket rather than wallet. • Customer questions floor limit. • Customer appears to be in a hurry. • Customer attempts to confuse the cashier. • Customer makes indiscriminant purchases without regard to size etc. • Customer can’t produce ID.

36. Program Options Business Watch Security Surveys CPTED Target Hardening Employee training Guards or off duty police Business Crime Prevention

37. Program Options Policies and procedures FAX, e-mail information network Escorts Rewards for crime tips Address marking Business Crime Prevention

38. Certified Crime Prevention BusinessPrince William County Police Department - Virginia

39. Certified Crime Prevention BusinessPrince William County Police Department • Written policies/procedures that address crimes or threats relevant to your particular business. • Train employees in crime prevention as approved by, or from, the Crime Prevention Unit. • On-site security assessment by Crime Prevention Unit personnel trained in CPTED. • Designate a contact person who can coordinate crime prevention/security issues and act as a liaison with the Police Department.

40. Certified Crime Prevention BusinessPrince William County Police Department Incentives • Possibility of reduced insurance premiums. • Listing on the Department's website as a member business. • Free risk-reduction/security assessment and report. • Free crime-prevention training/technical assistance in developing written crime prevention policies.

41. Certified Crime Prevention BusinessPrince William County Police Department Incentives • Crime alerts to member businesses. • Quarterly informative crime-prevention newsletter. • Marketing tool for Certified Crime Prevention Business designation. • A visible sign that sends a clear message that the business is serious about crime prevention.