Crimes against small businesses tend to include employee theft, burglary, robbery, shoplifting and vandalism. These are crimes of opportunity, and the best way to prevent them is to perform a security audit immediately. Crime prevention involves three basic steps:

1. Review your physical layout.
2. Evaluate your hiring practices.
3. Install and test security systems.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Check your building

Walk around the property and look for vulnerable areas. Consider fencing and make sure there's adequate lighting, especially in the parking lots. Install good locks, especially deadbolts. Also, put IDs on your expensive equipment.

I recommend: ADT, American Alarm and Brinks are all good sources for security systems.

Screen employees

Do background checks on employees. This involves checking references, drug testing, checking driving records and, if they work with money, doing credit checks.

I recommend: Intelius, National Background Screening and ADP perform pre-employment screening checks.

Train employees

Employee training is your first defense against theft, particularly if you operate a retail business. Teach employees what to look for and how to respond to risky situations.

I recommend: Belding Skills Development and Friedman Group provide retail training services.

Watch your money

Don't leave more cash than absolutely necessary exposed. Buy a fireproof and anchored safe, and use a locked cash box. Make bank deposits at different times each day. Keep your register in sight of the door if you operate a retail store so police and security patrols can see it.

I recommend: Sentry Group and Advance Safes are solid providers of safes for your business.

Find more crime prevention tips

Many local police departments have developed lists of crime prevention tips for small business.

I recommend: The Philadelphia Police Department offers a helpful and detailed set of crime prevention ideas for small business at its Web site. The city of North Miami Beach also has a good list of prevention tips.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider forming a local business watch group. Work with others to promote your mutual safety.
• •  Ask your local police to audit your space and make suggestions for making it more secure.
• •  A supportive work environment that fosters trust is proven to diminish employee theft.
• •  Don't be a hero, and instruct your staff to do the same. The possible consequences are not worth the money.
• •  Put your local police and security firms on speed dial of every phone in your business.