Business Safety Toolkit

The best theft prevention becomes a regular business routine. Minimizing the risk of theft creates a safe and secure environment for employees and customers alike and is just good business. Here are some recommendations:

Establish clear policies and procedures

• Develop and communicate clear policies regarding acceptable behavior, ethical standards, and consequences for theft or dishonesty. 
• Implement procedures for handling cash, inventory, and sensitive information securely.
• Ensure all employees understand the importance of theft prevention and their role in maintaining security.

Implement physical security measures

• Install security cameras, alarms, and access control systems to deter theft and unauthorized access to sensitive areas.
• Use safes, lockboxes, and secure storage areas to protect cash, valuable assets, and sensitive information.

Monitor cash, inventory, and financial transactions

• Conduct regular inventory audits to track stock levels, identify discrepancies, and detect potential theft or shrinkage.
• Implement controls to reconcile cash registers, sales records, and financial transactions to prevent theft and fraud.
• Ensure that cash is stored securely and is inaccessible to visitors. Minimizing the accessibility of cash will decrease the likelihood it will be targeted for theft.  For example: manage cash deposits out of sight of customers, and keep sightlines clear around the till to enable staff to identify suspicious would-be thieves.

Encourage paying attention and reporting:

• Encourage employees to pay attention and report any suspicious activity, theft, or security breaches immediately.  For police non-emergencies contact the Burnaby RCMP at 604-646-9999, and for any crimes in progress, call 911. 

Provide comprehensive training:

• Train employees on theft prevention policies, procedures, and best practices during onboarding and update training regularly. 
• Educate staff on how to identify suspicious behavior, handle cash transactions securely, and report theft or security concerns promptly.  For additional resources, contact the crime prevention team.   

The importance of customer service

• Greeting your customers, making eye contact with them, and offering assistance not only enhances the customer’s experience, but shows them and others within the store that you are aware of their presence, and you are paying attention.

Develop a comprehensive workplace violence prevention policy

• Create a clear and detailed policy that defines unacceptable behavior, outlines consequences for violations, and provides reporting procedures for employees who experience or witness violence or threatening behavior.

Establish clear procedures for handling complaints and threats: 

• Develop protocols for investigating and addressing complaints, threats, or incidents of violence.
• Employees should feel comfortable reporting concerns to management without fear of retaliation.

Stay vigilant and responsive

• Regularly assess the workplace environment for potential risks and address any concerns promptly.
• Encourage employees to report unusual or concerning behaviour and take appropriate action to mitigate risks.

Defusing angry, offensive, and disrespectful customers:

• The first step to increase the safety of your environment is to de-escalate situations where customers begin to display agitation. In these situations, remain respectful and courteous in attempts to defuse the situation.
• Sometimes, de-escalation may not work. Remember, you do not need to tolerate abusive behaviour. Under the Trespass Act, you can request difficult customers to leave your place of business to prevent the situation from escalating into more severe forms of violence. If they refuse to leave, call 911.

Develop working alone procedures

• To keep yourself, your employees, and your business safe, make sure that nobody is working alone.  If someone must work alone, review the Workers Compensation Act, and ensure that there are checks in place so there are means for emergency communication. 
• When there are multiple people present, the likelihood of violence and theft decreases, creating a safer environment for everyone.
• Ensure there is always more than one person on the premises, especially for the early morning and late-night shifts.

For more information on how to prevent violence in the workplace, refer to WorkSafe BC’s guide on developing a workplace violence prevention program. 

Protecting a business from cyber threats is paramount in today's digital landscape. Here are some tips to help safeguard your business:

Educate employees

• Train employees in cybersecurity best practices, including how to recognize phishing emails, create strong passwords, and securely handle sensitive information. 
• Regularly remind them of the importance of paying attention and reporting any suspicious activities.

Keep software updated 

• Ensure that all software, including operating systems, antivirus programs, and applications, are kept up to date with the latest security patches and updates. 

Secure network infrastructure 

• Implement firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and encryption protocols to protect your network from unauthorized access and data breaches. 

Backup data regularly 

• Implement regular data backup procedures to ensure that critical business data is protected in the event of a cyber-attack, system failure, or data breach. 
• Store backups securely, preferably offsite or in the cloud.

Restrict access to sensitive information: 

• Limit access to sensitive data and systems to only those employees who require it to perform their job duties.

Establish security policies and procedures 

• Develop comprehensive security policies and procedures that address various aspects of cybersecurity, including acceptable use policies, data handling procedures, incident response protocols, and employee training requirements. 
• Regularly review and update policies to reflect changes in technology.

Security cameras are vital for businesses by capturing evidence to identify suspects and aid law enforcement in investigations. Cameras help to improve employee and customer safety, provide a cost-effective way to protect assets and maintain a secure environment.

To decide on security cameras for your business, assess your specific needs, determine ease of installation and understand privacy laws and guidelines like the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for BC (OIPC).

Some things for business owners to consider before the installation of a camera system:

• Purpose – what is the purpose of the camera system? Is it to deter criminal activity or to aid in identifying those captured on camera committing a crime?
• Placement – the placement of the camera is more important than the number of cameras you have. If the camera’s angle is too high or wide, it may hinder identification of individuals in recorded images. Position cameras to capture clear views of people’s faces. This helps if you need to identify someone in your footage. Mount your cameras high enough so that they are out of reach and cannot be tampered with. Discuss options with a security company. 
• Lighting – ensure that there is sufficient lighting in the area under surveillance.  Lighting should be balanced to avoid areas with shadows and backlighting. 
• Quality – viewing previously recorded feed and not live feed is important in determining the quality of the camera system. Images seen from the live video monitor may look better than recorded video.  Use the highest resolution possible to capture a good quality image. 
• Recording – images or video from the recording should be date and time stamped. Be aware of any time difference between the time stamp on the video and the actual time of the event.
• Length of recording – how long is the recording kept? A digital video recorder (DVR) works on the FIFO system (first in, first out) and overwritten video is not retrievable. If you use a DVR, note down the make, model and serial number. 
• File format – original format is the preferred video file to provide to police to aid in an investigation. If possible, a second copy with more commonly played formats (WMV, MPEG-4, etc.) is helpful.

Also consider creating a plan to monitor your security camera system. This may include remote viewing for monitoring your camera from anywhere (using a smartphone or tablet), motion detection alerts, infrared night vision and vandal-resistant design for outdoor cameras. 

Integrating a security camera system into your business is a strategic investment that goes far beyond surveillance. It contributes to a safer working environment, may discourage criminal activity and can provide insights for operational improvements.