Business Watch Tips

 
Business Watch stresses teamwork, crime prevention education and businesses working together with the police to prevent crime. In the Business Watch Program, business owners, managers and employees are taught valuable crime prevention techniques that help them reduce losses and criminal opportunity.
Business Watch also stresses communication between businesses and the Department, such as the exchange of telephone numbers to be used in the event of a crime or other emergency; and information regarding suspicious persons, potential shoplifters or any other criminal activity.
Every business owner, manager and employee plays a part in making a business safe. Here are some tips to make your business safe.

Robbery Prevention

Have at least two employees open and close your business;

Avoid routine bank transactions, rotate banking days and vary times and routes of travel for bank deposits; and
Don’t use marked "money bags" that make it obvious to would-be robbers, that you are carrying money for deposit. Carry money in nondescript carriers.

After a Robbery

Lock your business;
Ask witnesses to stay until the police arrive; and
Write down an accurate description of the robber(s), weapon, property taken, vehicle and it’s license plate number as soon as you are able to do so.

Commander Sharon Papa, Department spokesperson, states, "Criminals calculate their risk carefully. They know that their easiest targets lie in areas unwatched by business owners, employees and local residents. Business Watch programs encourage business owners and employees to protect each other’s businesses, lives and property by securing their businesses and reporting criminal or suspicious activities to the police."
For additional information or to obtain copies of Crime Prevention Circulars, contact the Community Liaison/Crime Prevention Unit, at 213- 485-3134.
This Press Release was prepared by Sgt. Mike Peterson, Crime Prevention Unit, 213-485-3134