For many people, it is the fear of the unknown that worries them the most, and for an unfortunate few, this leads to acute anxiety, a condition which can literally ruins lives.
It’s a bit different for the potential intruder. They too fear the unknown, so if you can increase the associated ‘uncertainty factor’, you could well make them think twice and target another, less well protected premises.
It’s all about increasing the perceived chance of being caught
In the potential intruder’s mind, a whole load of questions need answering:-
- Can I approach the premises without being spotted?
- Will I be able to break in, will the doors and windows and their locks be too difficult to force?
- Can I do all of this without tripping an alarm or being spotted on CCTV?
- Will I be able to move around the inside of the premises easily, or are there lots of strong internal doors to deal with?
- Will I be able to access the things I want to steal when I get in?
- Will I be able to do all of this and leave before the Police or some Security Guards arrive
As you can see, that’s quite a lot of questions, and the way to get the intruder to move on is to make the answer to these questions as hard as possible.
Let’s start with approaching the premises in a way that would not be picked up by any CCTV.
The way to make the situation all the more difficult is to ensure that there is sufficient external lighting as well as clear lines of sight for the CCTV cameras and few places to hide from any roaming mobile security patrol that might just happen to turn up.
That last point is worth another mention, as the Really Best Way to protect your business premises or home is to employ a security firm like Wye Security, who operate mobile patrols which visit all of the premises they are protecting, visiting them in a un-guess-able pattern.
Ability to Break down doors or Windows
It’s a well known fact that sometimes intruders use vehicles to crack open a premises, particularly any weak points like doors. The best way to stop them in their tracks is to install solid barriers around the premises. That way the intruder has to rely on more time consuming entry methods.
So, to make sure it takes as much time and causes as much noise as you can make it, use strong doors and really good locks. Perhaps even use security shutters and grills?
Can I do all of this without tripping an alarm?
The obvious point here is that you need an alarm in the first place, not just a box with a flashing light, AND that the alarm MUST be connected to a monitoring service, someone who can raise the alarm and call the Police, or better still the security firm that you pay to protect your business or home. I say ‘better still’ as they are likely to get there quicker than the Police.
Will the thief be able to move around the premises?
Obviously, they won’t know this until they have gained access (unless they have gleaned intelligence on the matter of course), but the fact is, if you have strong internal doors, the intruder will take longer to reach their ‘prize’ and may well leave without it, thus minimizing damage as well as losses.
Will I be able to do all of this and leave before the Police or some Security Guards arrive?
That is perhaps the 65 Million Dollar question, the one that the potential intruder REALLY wants an answer to.
We have seen some ways to make the answer to this question less certain, but we can do even better, as, apart from all the CCTV cameras and lights, the mere fact that there is a BIG SIGN saying that the premises are protected (perhaps by Wye Security?) is the icing on the cake.
And if they decide to ‘case the joint’, seeing that mobile patrol appear out of the night seals the deal, ‘this nut is just going to be too hard to crack’.
In Summary
The key principle is deterrence through risk: an intruder is most likely to avoid – or abandon – a premises where they expect to be seen, delayed, unable to escape before help arrives, and unlikely to leave with anything valuable.
If you would like us to reduce the chances of your business or home being burgled, please contact us. We know just how to provide the cost effective solution you require.