The Stone Mountain CID and its partners work hard to protect businesses from opportunistic criminals. Unfortunately, the upcoming holiday season represents a time of increased incidents targeting businesses.
It is worth noting that burglary is the most common crime plaguing businesses of all sizes and industries, and there is no sign of this trending easing off in the near future. The Stone Mountain CID, its private security partners and the DeKalb County Police are committed to protecting commercial properties and offer these suggested measures to help during the holidays.
Check the premises – Identify any property and building weak zones for close monitoring. An open dock bay or dark area could lead to unnecessary losses.
Lock after-hour gates – A chief means of defense against theft and burglary is to maintain a safe environment. Locking and double-checking access gates not only ensures building security, but also protects cargo vehicles kept on the property overnight.
Keep trash/recycle containers locked – Whenever possible, keep exterior trash and recycle containers locked and placed away from the building. Establish procedures requiring that at least two employees are present when trash is removed from the building.
Watch for “orphaned” freight – These are items separated from the rest of the load. Anything left alone could be a red flag that it is marked to be stolen.
While these tips cannot ensure 100% protection against theft or burglary during the holiday rush, they can provide extra defense. If any suspicious activity is seen, take immediate action – call 911. Then follow up later with a call to the Stone Mountain CID’s Emory Morsberger at 770-409-8100 for additional assistance.