9 Tips for keeping your business safe this Christmas

27.11.2023

With the festive season fast approaching, many business owners are looking forward to a well-deserved break. However, the holiday season also brings unique challenges, especially for small businesses that might be closed or operating with minimal staff.

As you prepare to enjoy this special time with family and friends, preparing your business for the potential risks that can arise when you're not there is crucial.

From security concerns to unexpected maintenance issues, there are several factors to consider ensuring your business remains safe and secure during the Christmas holidays.

What can happen while you’re away?

If you’re running a small business, chances are that you have to operate in a lean manner. Every piece of equipment and building cost has a weighted impact on overall financial operations.

Many things can go wrong and threaten the safety of your assets while no one’s there. Security issues include:

• Organised burglary that can wipe out stock or equipment
• Graffiti and vandalism to the building and equipment
• Arson that can ruin the property and everything inside
• Vagrancy inside your office
• Safety and damage issues, such as water leaks or temperature changes
• Illegal dumping of unwanted items or waste.

These issues have the potential to quickly turn into a complex and sticky situation. A water leak might lead to short circuits that heat up wires and cause an electrical fire. A person intruding the building could snoop around and keep personally identifiable information for future crimes.

How you can protect your business during Christmas

Christmas is upon us and it’s time to spend some much needed time with family and friends and enjoy a well-earned break.. As staff leave take annual leave and businesses operate on skeleton staff or no staff at all, Christmas presents thieves with a window of opportunity and a lower chance of being detected.

So, what can you do to prevent break-ins and loss of stock? Luckily there are a number of tactics you can implement, let’s take a look:

1. Test all of your security equipment

Be sure to test your fire alarms, security cameras and access control system, so you know they’re working and reporting properly.

By doing this well before Christmas, you’ll allow for time to make any needed adjustments or repairs.

2. Make sure your business is properly locked and armed.

If you’ll be gone for an extended period of time, checking every exterior door to make sure they’re locked and secured prior to departing is key.

If you have an access control system, be sure that any schedules set to automatically open doors on specific days and times are overridden during your absence, so the building is not unlocked and unattended during the Christmas period.

3. Conducting random patrols

Having a check in at intervals during the day or night, or a combination of both using a mobile patrol service can deter intruders. It also ensures regular updates from your business.

4. Security signage

It’s important to be able to display that your business is being protected by a security company. Signs for fences or window stickers serve as effective visual deterrents for illegal activity.

5. Alarm responses

Having a Monitored alarm systems and checking on your business if an alarm is triggered is key. Having a patrol service visit the site to investigate further issues and send a detailed report to you is even better.

6. Management of issues

Sometimes there are issues that will trigger an alarm, such as a broken water main or broken window. Using Wilson Security patrols, the incident will be reported.

7. Be aware of what can be seen through the windows of your business.

When you’re closed during the Christmas break, be aware of what can be seen inside your business from the street or sidewalk. Don’t show too much merchandise, equipment or other high-value items near the windows of your business.  This not only tempts thieves but can also make it easier for them to do a smash-and-grab.

8. Sufficient Lighting

Lighting is your first line of defence as it ensures a clear visual of would-be intruders. A well-lit site is less attractive to thieves than one with shadows and dark spots. Sufficient lighting also makes it difficult for thieves to stake out a business. Take the time to assess the lighting around the perimeter of your site or property.

9. Security escort services

During the Christmas period, you may have skeleton staff on shift. To ensure your staff are protected, having an escort service ensures they are safe and escorted between locations such as the office and their car.

A smart choice for small businesses

As we wind down to celebrate the festive season, ensuring the security and safety of your business should be a top priority.

While the holidays are a time for joy and relaxation, they can also present risks to unattended or minimally staffed businesses.

You can enjoy peace of mind knowing your business is well-protected by implementing the strategies outlined, such as thorough security checks, effective lighting, and professional security services like Wilson Security's mobile patrols.

Remember, preparing now can prevent potential crises later, allowing you to fully embrace the holiday spirit without worry.

Secure Your Peace of Mind This Holiday Season: Exclusive Offer on External Mobile Patrol Services

As we've explored a range of strategies to keep your business safe during the festive season, it's clear that one of the most effective measures is having a reliable and professional security presence.

Recognising this need, we're excited to present our External Mobile Patrol special holiday season offer. This service is tailored to provide your business with the extra layer of security it needs during a time when risks are heightened.

Our holiday season offer: