Following a number of recent break-ins to business premises within the City Centre, Police Scotland would like to offer the following advice. This guidance may help prevent your business being targeted. Community Police officers within the City Centre will be carrying out dedicated patrols in an effort to detect and deter those responsible for these crimes of dishonesty.

• Always remove cash from premises at close of business each day.
• Ensure your locks are tested to British Standard.
• Window locks should be fitted where appropriate.
• Display a sign prominently on the door of the premises out with business hours, advising potential thieves that NO CASH IS HELD ON THE PREMISES.
• Do not leave cash in the till on the shop floor out with business hours.
• If your till point is visible from outside the shop, leave it lying open with the empty till tray on view.
• Remove valuable items from window displays at close of business to discourage ‘smash and grab’ thefts.
• Laptop computers and mobile phones are favourite housebreaking targets. These should be locked away or removed from the premises at close of business.
• Consider investing in a safe for storage of cash and valuables. A safe should be securely fixed to the fabric of the building and should only be used for short-term storage of cash.
• Consider installing an intruder alarm system. More information can be found on alarm systems and monitoring at www.nsi.org.uk
• Consider the installation of internal/external security shutters.
• Do cash runs to the bank in pairs where possible.

If your business is broken into, please follow these steps to prevent becoming a repeat victim:

• Phone 101 to report to local Police.
• Arrange for replacement glass as a matter of urgency, this may take time to order, deliver and fit.
• Arrange for the window or door to be securely boarded whilst awaiting replacement glazing.
• Don’t remove remaining glass from the frame until replacement glass is ready to be fitted, this can act as a deterrent.
• Remove all valuable stock and cash from the premises until the proper security is fully reinstated.