Do you vary the time of your bank deposits? Don't be so predictable that criminals will know your next move, and try to keep little cash on hand.

From the September How 2 issue of RTO Magazine

Answer these questions to see if your store is doing all it can to prevent crime, and are really equipped to handle a robbery.

Rent to own stores are sometimes easy targets because they are a cash business, the best merchandise is located at the front window, and oftentimes there is no video security to help them prevent the crime and protect themselves. Answer these questions to see if your store is doing all it can to prevent crime, and are really equipped to handle a robbery.

1. Do you have visible video surveillance in your store? One of the ways to benefit from having video security is to advertise it! Have visible customer monitors and large signs posted at the front and back door, reminding all patrons that you have 24 hour video security in place. Security is for their safety, they will appreciate it.

2. Are your cameras focused on the safe, the windows, and the front and back door? You should also consider placing cameras over the cash register and the loading dock, as well. High price items can “disappear” from the truck, or be disguised as garbage and snuck out to the trash bin for later retrieval.

3. Do you have access control on the back door lock? Do you change the code regularly? When management or employee turn-over occurs, you must always change the code right away.

4. Do you vary the time of your bank deposits? Don't be so predictable that criminals will know your next move, and try to keep little cash on hand.

5. Do you have a drop safe to deposit large bills into? If you use a drop safe, you can use it to eliminate access of large bills by dropping large bills into it.

6. Do you count cash away from the front counter, behind a closed door?

7. Have you rehearsed incident practices with your employees? Do they know what to do in an emergency situation? Be sure to implement an emergency plan for you and your employees, and even rehearse a scenario so that you can be ready if anything ever happens.

8. Would your employees be able to remember the intruder and identify him, in the event that a robbery takes place? When making a police report, the officer will ask for a description of the thief's clothing, his height, hair and eye color, and any identifying body marks. Your employees will need to have the presence of mind to remember those details, so that they can be recorded on the police report.

9. Do your employees know what constitutes a “suspicious customer”? Be aware of a person who does not make eye contact, “scanning” the room and looking upward, and appears nervous or agitated.

Be sure to make an effective incident preparedness plan for your business. The only way to handle these types of situations correctly is to be prepared before they ever occur. If a robbery does take place, it inflicts extreme duress on employees, and under these types of high stress situations, they will never be prepared of how to handle it correctly unless they are aware of what to do BEFORE it ever happens.

For more information, visit www.stealthsecurityservices.com, Or call 1-877-939-2824.