As a restaurant owner, you know that your business is vulnerable to any number of security issues, including armed robbery, burglary and employee theft.

That’s why it’s important to have adequate restaurant security in place to protect your employees, your customers and yourself.

Protecting your assets and inventory is no easy task, so we’ve compiled some tips to help you do just that:

• Install a business security system to electronically protect your assets and your employees. Today’s technology even lets you monitor and control what’s going on in your restaurant when you’re not there. You can remotely manage the alarm systems and security cameras as well as door and window sensors via any computer, smartphone, or other mobile device with Internet access.

• Install a video surveillance system to help deter crime, including employee theft, and capture incidents to help law enforcement in their investigations.
• Integrate intrusion detection systems with automated lighting controls. That means if an intruder forces a door open, breaks a window or activates the motion sensor, the exterior building lights as well as the lights in the parking lot will turn on.
• Deposit cash frequently during the day, particularly after busy shifts. In addition, don’t leave any cash in your establishment overnight so if someone breaks into your restaurant, at least you won’t lose any money.
• Vary your routines because criminals often scout locations and look for familiar patterns such as what time you go to the bank every day. They could watch what you do for four or five days in a row and if they detect a pattern, they could make their move on the sixth or seventh day and steal your hard-earned money.
• Train your employees on the proper safety and security procedures so they know what to do if there’s an accident, emergency or if a crime is being committed. You should also provide your workers with a written security policy.
• Install an inventory control system to deter employees from stealing your merchandise. An inventory control system will help you identify any shortages in your supplies, which could be a sign of employee theft. You should let your people know this system is in place.

As a restaurant owner, you’ve worked hard for everything you have. Following these tips will help you protect your efforts.

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