MAPPING THE ROAD TO SECURITY According to U.S. Department of Commerce statistics, small businesses are 35 times more likely to become crime victims than businesses with receipts over $5 million. Insurance Industry estimates show that losses from employee dishonesty alone cause up to 30 percent of all business failures. Add to that the damage from crimes committed by outsiders against business property, employees and customers and the loss becomes even more staggering. Crime does have a significant negative impact on the small business. Yet, security and loss prevention are among the most neglected and poorly managed aspects of small business operation. There is a misconception that security and loss prevention programs are too expensive. There are numerous inexpensive methods that can be applied to loss prevention. A small business should consider these methods with both the response of, “can I afford it” and “can I afford not to.” Failure to adequately address the crime threat can have serious consequences. Allowing opportunities for theft and dishonesty to exist certainly aids the true criminals who actively prey on vulnerable businesses. This alone is bad enough, but it gets worse. A lax environment where opportunities for theft abound, can lead even the honest person into temptation. Although security hardware and alarm systems can be expensive, they are only part of a loss prevention program. Every aspect of business involving protection of personnel, property or assets should be addressed. Examples of key areas could include: employee selection, employee conduct, customer relations, inventory control, cash handling, return policies, trash disposal, access controls, physical security, and environment analysis...etc. Loss prevention programs safeguard company assets. The first step in establishing a program involves identifying those assets. Inventory, equipment, supplies and cash are assets, so are people. Protection of employees and customers is an essential, but often overlooked, program element. The business itself is the ultimate asset. For a business not to aggressively look at solutions to loss prevention problems will not make the problems go away only invite more losses. These losses can lead a business into financial ruin causing the business to close. Every business needs a loss prevention program. The nature and extent will vary with individual requirements but some type of program is always necessary. Loss prevention is a critical management function. Two areas that cause small business a great amount of loss are thefts and robberies. These occur both when the business is open and when the business is closed. Although there is no perfect solution to these problems, there are several measures that can be taken to minimize the occurrence of these type losses. The following are suggestions that can help to deter thefts and robberies, and help in the apprehension of the criminals who perpetrate these type crimes. By implementing these suggestions, the business can help to remove its target that marks it as a victim. By addressing the issue of loss prevention, the business can prosper with more profit and less loss. By understanding the correct route the business must take to secure its assets, the business has successfully mapped its road to security. By staying on this route, the business enjoys reaching its ultimate goal of being a profitable business with minimum losses.

This ETT ( Eliminating The Target) Program is a program designed by R.J. McCurry in 1996, while he was at the Guilford County Sheriff's Department. It is divided into two sections. The first section deals with steps that can be taken to help eliminate the threat of break-ins. The second section deals with steps that can be taken to help eliminate the threat of robberies. No plan or program is going to stop these two threats completely, but, by applying the strategies listed in this program to the daily operation of the business; it will lessen the possibility of these happening. By applying Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) and changing the make-up of the environment that is part of the business, the business can take positive action to minimizing losses and therefore increase profits from the business. The business itself helps to eliminate the target of would-be criminals.

GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK AGAINST BREAK-INS Up in smoke! That’s where all the profits go when a business has a break-in. Sometimes burglaries light a fire under business owners, convincing them to take security precautions. But too often, people fail to act until a crime has already occurred. Burglary is a crime of opportunity. Burglars aim for the target that’s most vulnerable to forced entry. By making unauthorized entry difficult, time consuming and noisy, you’ll probably discourage most thieves. When you add security practices to the mix, you’ve gone a long way towards defending yourself against burglary and break-ins.

LINES OF DEFENSE What are your perimeter lines of defense? There’s the perimeter of your building, which includes fences and exterior lighting. There’s the potential points of entry on the building itself. And there’s the interior, your third line of defense with lighting, alarms, safes, and signs warning of security measures.