Introduction
Memorial Day Weekend. Friends, family, fun, relaxation, and some time off from work. It is, for most, a wonderful time of year. This includes thieves who are just waiting to take advantage of an empty lot and an empty office to earn money at your expense. Now is a key time to protect your assets, whether you have trucks, trailers, warehouse space, or offices. The following are just a few tried-and-true ways to prevent property theft over the holiday.
Fencing
Walk the perimeter of the yard to ensure that security fencing and physical barriers are in good condition and properly secured. This is a good opportunity to identify anything out of the ordinary that may require further investigation. Move units and all other materials such as pallets, tires, etc. far enough away from the fence so they cannot be used to climb over the fence.
Lighting
Check facility security lighting to ensure it is adequate and functional and remember to test timers for proper operation. Remember that lighting can be obstructed by vehicles or trees, which allows thieves to work without being seen. If a secure lot is not an option, choose a location that is well lit and equipped with surveillance cameras.
Alarms
Test all security alarms and cameras to confirm they are in working order, and test backup battery circuits to ensure they are operational in the event of power disruption. Use of a non-integrated cellular verified alarm system is recommended as a backup in the event the main system is defeated. Be sure the company alarm list is current with valid contact information. It should be a requirement of the responsible party to respond to alarm calls even if a malfunction is suspected. During a holiday, thieves want you and law enforcement to be lazy and not follow typical protocol following an alarm activation. If you have had any recent alarms, they might have been a “test” to see what response, if any, there is after activation. Get any concerns fixed now before the holiday weekend.
Equipment
Remove keys from all forklifts and vehicles and store them in a secure location. Secure trucks, tractors, trailers, and items of value at your facility or a secure lot. Check on unattended vehicles frequently. Utilize equipment locks such as steering wheel locks, air cuff locks, a battery kill switch, kingpin locks, glad-hand locks, and disc-cylinder padlocks on trailer doors. Use covert tracking devices embedded in freight with geo-fencing and alert notification capabilities.
Fuel
Diesel fuel in vehicle tanks is especially vulnerable to theft, but theft of Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF) has really increased in the past few years due to the precious metals inside. Thieves use portable saws to cut off the DPF, and they do this when nobody is working at your facility. If your units do not have anti-siphon devices or locking caps, instruct drivers not to fill the units at the end of the day before the holiday weekend.
Conclusion
Preparation is your best defense against Memorial Day theft. Following the steps listed above and beyond is a great step. If you do your due diligence and prepare your business for the holiday, you should find yourself relaxing comfortably with peace of mind.
