Why should you hire security for your business?

Extra security for your business can only help you, after all, it is better to be safe than sorry. Hiring a security guard is not just for banks or jewelry stores, any business is at risk of some form of crime or safety issue that a security guard can help manage. Here is why you should hire security for your business.

Gatekeepers
A security guard can help limit access to certain parts of your business. Managing the flow of people can be as direct as having security search people at the door or a metal detector, or as subtle as having them sit behind the front desk issuing name badges. However, security guards not only track the flow of people but items as well. Security guards can help spot items that should not be brought into your business, such as food or drinks, as well as keeping your merchandise in the store by preventing shoplifting.

Noticing security or safety risks
Security guards are often hired through an outside agency, making them brand new to your work environment. This unfamiliarity means that they can notice the risks that you have become desensitized to, such as why a particular window is always left open when employees leave the store. The window could be open due to a faulty air conditioning unit, or even because an employee wants to sneak back in later. A properly trained guard can get to the bottom of things you take for granted.

Preventing crimes in the first place
Security guards commonly wear recognizable uniforms that can deter potential criminals from causing you trouble. Having a person there to hold a potential shoplifter or vandal accountable is much more effective than cameras, which can malfunction and miss the person entirely. Security guards are also trained to look for suspicious people, so they can identify the person as they are in the act before they leave the store to get the person to stop. Identifying these suspicious customers is of particular importance if your business is in an area with a high crime rate, or in a business that manages valuable items.

Guards can suit your specific needs
The way that these crimes are handled is up to the business owner. There are several options for tackling problems, such as simply having the guard record information and alert the authorities, and resolving the issue themselves. Whether your guard is armed or not is also up to the business owner as well. There are several roles as well that a guard can fill: from monitoring security footage to watching the parking lot and building after hours. Exactly what your security guard does for your business is up to you.

Peace of mind
Finally, the presence of a security guard can help keep customers, employees, and yourself more relaxed by knowing that someone is there watching if something happens. Being relaxed means that your staff can be more productive by focusing on their work instead of their safety, and customers will be more comfortable being at your location. This idea is especially true if your business has an unlit parking lot or alleys near it, as security guards can also walk people to their cars and deter potential muggers hiding among the cars.

Garver Asset Protection and Investigations, LLC  contributed this article to the business news, tips, and real life applications Blog of the Better Business Bureau on 9/14/2017.