Strategy 2 - Make it difficult to commit the offence

Cash register or point of sale area

The major target for criminal activity is the point of sale area. Behind the counter is your territory and there should be no opportunity for access behind the counter by customers.

• Situate the point of sale area away from entrances and exits is possible
• Minimise the visibility of the cash drawer, especially when it is open
• Ensure the counter is highly visible & the floor is raised
• Counters should also be designed to provide as much distance as practicable between the customer and staff
• Remove 'clutter' from windows and around the 'Point of Sale' or cash register area
• The counter area should facilitate a clear view of the interior of the store and be visible from outside the premises
• Keep the number of public entrances to your store to a minimum
• Remove items that 'obstruct' view of register (impulse/promotional items)
• Place incident reporting procedures near register

Staff training

Training should be undertaken:

• When the employee commences employment
• As a refresher during their career
• When new procedures are adopted
• When new technology is introduced

Consider training staff in the following areas

• Cash Handling and Management Procedures
• Open/Closing Security Routines
• Customer Management (e.g. entry/exit screening baggage screening, merchandise tags, EFTPOS)
• Security practices and procedures
• Identifying, reporting and recording Suspect Activity (using the Suspect Person/Suspect Vehicle Brochure)
• Identifying, reporting and recording
• General Offences
• What to do in the event of an 'Armed Robbery'

Staff numbers

• Have more than one staff member involved in opening and closing (mutual support)
• If more that one staff member is on duty, prior detection is possible and assaults are less likely When leaving the workplace consider leaving in groups
• If your business operates during hours of darkness allow staff to park their vehicles close to the workplace
• When a person is working alone, consider using a remote controlled duress alarm

Networking

• Develop networks with other businesses operating in close proximity to your premises.
• Exchange contact particulars and keep a copy of the contact list at the point of sale.

Opening and closing

An analysis of crime trends clearly shows that businesses are at greater risk of victimisation at the time of opening or closing. Do not allow anyone into the premises after you have closed. Before leaving the workplace staff should take the time to check for any suspicious activity in the vicinity of the premises.

Safes

A safe will deter, delay and deny access to valuable property and/or information. However, most safes are designed to secure money or valuable for a limited period of time only. If an offender has sufficient time and equipment, most safes will either be broken or removed. Transfer money to banking facilities as soon as possible.

Consider the following -

• Time delay locks or two key opening systems
• Changing locks if keys are missing
• Limiting access to safe combination/keys
• Anchoring safe to building structure
• Lockable post feed device - cash cannot be removed after it is fed into slot of TDR
• Rating Safe (Torch and Drill Resistant)
• Securing tools which could be used on safe
• A dye bomb which will mark the contents inside
• Warning signs stating that the safe cannot be opened by staff