Protecting your assets: reducing theft in your health and fitness club

There are methods to decrease the likelihood of crimes at your business. Based on the theft and burglary losses experienced by fitness and health clubs, the following suggestions are offered to help mitigate risk.

Reinforce entry points. Strengthen door access points by adding deadbolt locks to the top and bottom of doors, making them harder to pry open or kick in. Install shatterproof glass on ground-level windows to prevent break-ins.

Be aware of scams. Stay vigilant against scams, including cyber-crimes where bad actors attempt to access your banking information.

Keep equipment list. Maintain a current list of all equipment and business personal property. Stencil or engrave your club’s name on the equipment. Keep serial numbers, receipts/invoices and identifying photos of equipment.

Install security cameras. Place security cameras in conspicuous locations and post notices that the premises are under surveillance. Consider hiring a third-party security service for enhanced surveillance and responsiveness. Establish guidelines for how long to retain video footage, which can be crucial for identifying criminals.

Patrol premises. Regularly patrol your premises, watching for signs of suspicious activities and new vandalism, which may indicate escalating criminal activities. Remove debris like large rocks, defective equipment parts and discarded weights that could be used to gain access to your building.

Lighting. Effective lighting can deter crime against persons or property. Ensure both the exterior and interior of your facility are well-lit. Keep windows unobstructed to support interior visibility.

Community watch programs. Contact your local Chamber of Commerce or police department to inquire about community watch programs and join if available. There is strength in numbers.

C.P.T.E.D. tactics. Implement Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (C.P.T.E.D.) tactics to design and build your physical environment in a way that positively influences behavior and reduces crime. Areas designed with C.P.T.E.D. are perceived as safe by users and risky by criminals.

Landscaping shrubs. According to homesteady.com, landscaping shrubs can help discourage criminal activity and maintain your facility perimeter. Plant low-growing shrubs with prickly leaves or spines under windows to discourage entry and offloading stolen goods.

Medium-height shrubs with thickly branching spiny stems are effective deterrents against fences or walls. Sharp-leaved shrubs with spiny leaves can serve as barriers. Keep landscaping around windows maintained to ensure visibility and prevent bad actors from using it as a shield.

For more information on security lighting and C.P.T.E.D., visit Markel’s Risk Solution Services website or view the documents linked below.

• Tips for effective security lighting | Markel
• Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design

Source

Shrubs That Provide Home Security, Csanyi.Carolyn, February 27, 2017 Shrubs That Provide Home Security | HomeSteady