Written By: Brad Campbell | October 14, 2020
When it comes to retail and convenience store security, there is no magical solution or one-size-fits-all approach to retail theft and burglary problems. That being said, there are many ways you can secure merchandise inside your store to prevent theft and shoplifting, as well as reinforce your storefront glass and secure the outside of your property to protect against forced entry and burglary.
In this article, we’re going to give you a brief overview of some of the most important features of a comprehensive retail security system. We’ll then dive a little deeper into what we specialize in—improving your store’s security with certain types of reinforced retail glass and glass-like products.
How to Build a Strong Retail or Convenience Store Security System
Keep all entry points to your store locked when not in use, other than one main entrance for customers and employees. Restrict access to side and rear entrances and back rooms to only the employees who need to use them and make sure that they remain closed unless you need to use them for an essential activity like stocking your store.
Creating one central access point to your store ensures that you can easily keep tabs on everyone coming in and out of the premises. Restricting access to other entrances and areas means you know exactly who has access to them and reduces the chances of other entrances being used to commit theft.
Install video cameras that cover the exterior access points to your business and that monitor the merchandise and points of sale inside. Make sure your surveillance cameras provide both real-time monitoring and record video footage.
A robust video surveillance system allows you to see what’s going on inside and outside of your business at all times. This helps prevent shoplifting and internal theft during your operating hours and serves as a burglary deterrent when your doors are closed for the night.
Lighting and visibility are two components of a retail store security system that often get overlooked. Make sure both the interior and exterior of your business are brightly and thoroughly lit to discourage theft by making it harder for would-be criminals to hide their activities.
Install audible alarm systems that sound off when a controlled access point is breached or when glass gets broken. This makes criminals think twice about continuing a burglary or smash-and-grab theft attempt and alerts you and the authorities to what’s going on.
Silent alarms that employees can easily access are also something to consider. For instance, if you operate a 24-hour convenience store, a liquor store, or another type of late-night business that could be the target of an armed robbery, a silent alarm system can be beneficial.
Your retail glass doors and windows are the most vulnerable entry points in any type of business. Large glass storefronts are great because they allow customers to window shop, but they are also extremely susceptible to forced entry.
A burglar can make quick work of traditional window glass and even tempered safety glass by merely smashing it with any number of common burglary tools. This allows criminals easy access to your business and all its valuable merchandise.
When you think of ways to secure your windows and doors, metal shutters, screens, and bars are probably the first things that come to mind. Though these things can all work to deter and prevent burglary and theft, they’re not always practical.
Bars, scissor gates, an shutters provide a visual deterrent that can often discourage break ins, but some cities, landlords, and specialty brands do not want such products visible in the storefront. Riot Glass is an excellent alternative, providing a virtually invisible barrier to entry.
Fortunately, there are a variety of glass and glass-like products that you can use to reinforce vulnerable windows and doors. These products look and feel just like standard window glass, so you can improve your business’s security without hurting its visibility.
Shatter-Resistant Products to Improve Your Store’s Security
This type of film is composed of a pliable polyester Mylar coating that is applied directly to the inside surfaces of your existing glass. It is capable of holding glass together in the face of multiple high-force impacts to delay burglary and smash-and-grab theft attempts.
The next level up in store security is laminated safety glass. This type of glass consists of an extremely robust thermoplastic interlayer sandwiched between two glass layers that makes it up to 100 times stiffer and five times stronger than traditional interlayer safety glass.
Depending on the thickness, these types of glass panels can:
These panels aren’t glass but, instead, they are composed of acrylics, polycarbonates, and other plastics. This unique composition looks and feels just like glass, but provides a level of security far superior to any type of glass.
Polycarbonate panels are available in containment-grade, ballistic-rated, and non-ballistic varieties that can be virtually unbreakable depending on the specific rating. When you want the absolute best protection for your retail or convenience store against a variety of threats, these are the way to go.
Break-Resistant Doors and Windows for Retail and Convenience Store Security
When used in conjunction with other physical components of a strong security system, glass made of break-resistant materials is an effective and cost-effective way to protect your business and merchandise against forced entry, burglary, and smash-and-grab theft.
Contact us today for more information about our commercial glass products or to schedule a consultation.
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