NCJ Number
76344
Date Published
1981
Length
257 pages
Annotation
This book for owners of small businesses provides the professional and technical knowledge that these owners need to make such decisions as selecting the most secure business location, hiring employees and keeping them honest, and identifying and preventing small business crimes.
Abstract
The importance of a safe business location is emphasized in an initial section which advises prospective shop renters or buyers to investigate the crime statistics for the area, the quality of the local police department, the condition of the building and the neighborhood, and features of the building and its surroundings which could make it vulnerable to crime. These can include nonsecured entrances on the roof, shrubbery or other structures which obstruct the view of the building and might be used as hiding places, access to a main thoroughfare making escape easy, and much more. Self-surveys of the exterior and interior of a present or future site are suggested, and steps to accomplish them are given. Testing the security of present employee procedures and the honesty of employees using a false thief is also recommended. In addition, the text explains how to proceed once a dishonest employee or shoplifter has been discovered to protect the store owner from the legal consequences of making a false charge. Overall, the importance of effective procedures for hiring, handling cash, and monitoring inventory are emphasized. A system of adequate checks and balances with regard to procedures involving cash flow and acceptance of checks and credit cards is suggested. Small-business owners may be exposed to burglary and robbery so few times that they may not have sufficient knowledge to react successfully. The text describes typical burglars and robbers, the conditions that prevail when a robbery is in progress and the best way to cope with them, and the probable police response to the crime. In addition, a step-by-step method for computer security is presented. A chapter on business and organized crime defines organized crime, describes the techniques, and provides alternative legal courses of action open to small businessmen when confronted with organized crime. A final section instructs business owners who become crime victims, covering such topics as describing the thief, providing evidence, and knowing about courts and police. Key facts about insurance are discussed, including the amount of needed insurance protection, documentation of valuables, information required to make a successful claim, and tips on self-insurance. Charts, photographs, and tabular data are provided. Checklists summarize important information.