NCJ Number
190790
Date Published
2001
Length
6 pages
Annotation
The purpose of this circular is to standardize commercial-burglary-prevention information presented by the Los Angeles Police Department at business-related community crime prevention meetings.
Abstract
The information presented is intended to help businesses counter burglary through a risk-management approach. "Risk management" is defined as "identifying areas of criminal vulnerability, analyzing the resulting potential profit loss, and implementing appropriate security measures at a reasonable cost." Some general recommendations for business burglary prevention pertain to key control, employee training in security systems and procedures, fencing of the perimeter of the property, security equipment, and the use of alarms. Nine recommendations focused on lighting; recommendations pertained to doors; 10 security guidelines related to padlocks; and 4 recommendations concerned the security room. There are also detailed security recommendations regarding safes, tools and equipment, employee training, and alarms. The circular advises that what most attracts burglars to a business is an exterior appearance that suggests apathy and neglect by business owners. Littered parking lots, gang graffiti on buildings, broken fences, overgrown landscaping, and poor lighting send a message to criminals that the business owners and managers are not attentive to the business and its concerns.