The quantity and value of your merchandise, as well as the amount of money kept in your store, help make your business an attractive target for thieves.

Don't make things easy for them! Protect your business against these three types of theft by following our prevention advice:

• break-ins
• shoplifting
• robbery

BREAK-INS

A break-in is when the thief illegally enters a home or business and steals property.

Advice

• Make sure the doors to your business are well lit. Avoid having bushes, trees and fences around the entry way: they may provide hiding places for thieves.
• Do not use tinted windows, which darken the inside of the business.
• Make sure the windows are not blocked, to allow visibility from outside. A business plastered with posters and signs is more vulnerable to theft.
• Keep your lighting system in good repair.
• Keep the inside of your business lit at night.
• Install security doors and windows.
• Install a security system to alert the neighbourhood of intruders.
• Install a vandal-proof video surveillance system.
• Make sure the street address is clearly visible in the front and back of your building.
• Make sure you keep track of the keys you give to your employees.
• Read the brochure Are your valuables safe? (format PDF). It will help you identify vulnerabilities and take steps to resolve them. The officers at your neighbourhood police station can help you for free!
• Join Opération BIC (format PDF) to mark and inventory your assets
• If you are robbed, call 9-1-1 immediately. If you witness the theft, describe the thief and the thief's escape route.

SHOPLIFTING

Shoplifting is when someone steals merchandise from a retailer after legally entering the store.

Advice

• Place valuable objects and those than can be easily hidden on the body near the cash or in a locked counter.
• Install a visible video surveillance system to discourage thieves.
• Install mirrors so you can see all over your store.
• Arrange your store to avoid corners where thieves can act without being seen.
• Install a light alarm or an audio door alarm.
• Make sure the address is clearly visible in the front and back of your building.
• Be wary of customers who carry bags or wear baggy clothing.
• If your store is shoplifted, call 9-1-1 immediately. If you witness the theft, describe the thief and the thief's escape route.

ROBBERY

A robbery is a theft that involves threats or violence using a weapon or another object. The motive is to take merchandise or money from a business. This is both a personal crime and a property crime.

Advice

• Place the cash register so it is visible from outside the store.
• Avoid signs, stands and shelves that obstruct the view from outside.
• Use a burglary alarm system.
• Install a video surveillance system.
• Do your deposits – especially night deposits – at different times.
• Do not keep much cash in the cash register.
• Make sure the address is clearly visible from the front and back of your building.

If you are robbed:

• Do not try to defend yourself. Give the money to the robber in order to reduce the risk of injury.
• Call 9-1-1 immediately. Describe the robber and the robber's escape route.

Alternate information

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