At the end of every working day, you’ll be used to locking up the doors before you head home. It’s just another part of the routine. It’s also one of the most important moments for your property’s security, because once the shutters are down and the lights are off, your premises can become an easy target if the right measures aren’t in place. Whether you run a shop, a warehouse or a commercial unit, making sure your business is secure out of hours should be more than just turning a key. You need to make sure that every potential entry point is properly protected and that you’re actively deterring people from trying their luck. But how do you do that?
High Security Locks
First up, your doors, in particular your locks, should be as secure as possible. Your doors are your first line of defence, so you need to make sure they’re up to the task. There are a number of different locks you could choose from, but in general, it means you need to look for a few things:
- BS3621 mortice locks for any wooden doors
- High-security euro cylinders (ideally TS007 3-star) for any uPVC or aluminium doors
- Multi-point locking systems that secure the door at multiple points
And most importantly, don’t just rely on older or basic locks, especially if they just came with the premises. These types of locks are vulnerable to techniques like snapping, picking or drilling, and can be broken through easily by a thief with a bit of know-how. Investing in high security locks for your doors is one of the best things you can do for your business, especially if you value what you keep behind the doors.
Extra Door Security
Once you’ve got the locks sorted, you can take the next step up in door based security. These are physical reinforcements that add an extra layer of protection against break ins, and may vary depending on what doors you have and the type of usage they get. A good locksmith will be able to tell you what would be best for you, but some options include British Standard night latches, door bolts or deadlocks, reinforced trike plates and hinges, door chains or restrictors for controlled access. All of these make it much harder for an intruder to force entry.
Shutters and Grilles
If your business has street-facing windows or doors, then a physical barrier like shutters or grilles provides a powerful level of protection. You can opt to have these over just the door, just the windows, or to come down and cover the entire shop frontage during closed hours. Roller shutters are a popular option for retail premises, along with internal or external security grilles that provide a second barrier if an intruder does get through the lock. You can also opt for lockable barriers on vulnerable access points, which can act not only as a deterrent but as a delaying tactic. Remember, intruders like quick, easy targets, so something that will be difficult and take a long time to get through is the perfect deterrent.
Not Just the Front Door
A lot of businesses will focus on getting their front door as secure as possible. In theory, this makes sense, since the front door is the easiest point of entry. But it’s not the only one, and thieves will look for side and rear access points when a front door is too tricky or too public. So when you’re thinking about how to secure your premises, don’t forget areas like:
- Back doors and fire exits
- Windows, especially if they’re at ground level
- Delivery entrances
- Shared access areas if you’re in a multi-unit building
Control the Keys
This is more of an ongoing security effort, but that doesn’t make it any less important. Good key management is critical for any business, yet we often see it become a major issue. Over time keys will get lost, copied or passed between staff, without any proper tracking to make sure you know exactly who has access to what at any one time. We recommend keeping clear records of who holds keys, and updating them regularly. If staff leave, make sure any keys they have are returned, and try to avoid duplicating keys wherever possible.
As locksmiths, we often recommend using a master key system wherever possible. This system allows controlled access to different areas for each member of staff, while management still keep overall control. For example, a standard key can be copied without your knowledge, but restricted key system like the master key means that the keys can’t be copied without authorisation. This gives you better control over access and more accountability among staff, especially if you’re working in an office, warehouse or a building with multiple users.
Have a Plan
Even with all the best precautions in place, things can still go wrong. Determined thieves can try to break in, and even if they don’t make it inside, they can still cause damage to your doors and locks. On top of that, there are more mundane things, like keys being lost or locks failing, all of which mean you’re struck without a way into your office, or to make it secure when you leave. We recommend having a backup plan in place in case something like that happens. It doesn’t have to be a big, grand plan either. It can be as simple as:
- Having a trusted locksmith’s number saved
- Know who to call for emergency repairs
- Act quickly if you think your security has been compromised
At My Locks Locksmiths, we work with businesses to not only fix things when they go wrong, but to make sure their business premises are kept safe 24/7, even after they’ve left for the night. We can provide consultancy, advice and installations for extra security, and be your on-call in case the worst should happen. If you’d like to know more, just get in touch with the team today.