Don't Forget To Follow These Steps After A Break-In
Having your business broken into can be quite traumatic, even if nobody is hurt. After you have contacted the police and called your insurance company, it's time to take a deep breath and relax. You're okay, and things will be back to normal again, in time. What you need to focus on now, while you wait for the police and insurance companies to get back to you, is ensuring you don't suffer from another break-in in the future.
Have your locks replaced.
Even if the burglar broke in through a window, there's a chance he or she could have taken a key to the door from behind the counter, or that the robbery was mediated by someone who knew how to get into the building after-hours. Have all of your locks replaced by a commercial lock repair service as soon as possible. Also, chance the passwords on all of your security systems. If you have secondary locks, such as one that leads to a separate wing inside the business, make sure you replace these, too. Keep your receipts -- there's a good chance your insurance company will reimburse you for the costs.
Establish new protocols with employees.
If you have employees, call a meeting with all of them and discuss the appropriate protocols you would like them to follow, should they become aware of a break-in before you do. In most cases, the first phone call you'll want them to make is to the police, and the second one will be to you. Ensure that your employees know to put their safety above everything else, and not to risk their lives or safety in an attempt to stop a burglary.
Evaluate situations that may have perpetuated the break-in.
Is your merchandise displayed obviously in the business' front window? Do you sometimes forget to pull the shades down when you leave at night? Maybe you've given keys to past employees who failed to return them after they were let go from their positions. Evaluate these and other circumstances that may have led to the break-in, and then determine how you expect to address each circumstance. Be open to suggestions from employees, especially if they spend more time in the actual establishment than you do.
A break-in is never a good thing, but looking at it as a learning opportunity and a chance to re-focus your security efforts makes it more bearable. Stay focused on making improvements to prevent future break-ins, and you won't feel as stressed out by the numerous calls and meetings with police and insurance representatives.