The other week a client of mine who is a property manager commented that he had seen me on the evening news and he asked me what he could do about security on one of his properties. As much as I would have liked to made the answer seem like rocket science, well it just isn’t (in most cases).
I went on to tell him start with improving and updating his parking lot signage. I suggested that he post simple signs such as “Place valuables out of sight”, “Watch Your Children, Watch Your Surroundings and Watch Your Purse”. I thought I saw a light bulb light above his head, no, but really I could see the WOW expression on his facial expression.
Patrons many times feel and think that they will only be a minute, the with that is the thought process itself is flawed. It takes less than a minute to smash a car window out and snatch a laptop then run. The criminal does not care that the window cost more to replace than what they stole. That criminal could really care less that that patron may not return for repeat business to that business. To much of this can cause the business to fail, then that property manager is faced with a lost tentant and the it all goes down hill from there.
I know it seems simple and it is. However that simple sign notifies that patron to look around the car before exiting. Then on a very basic level they begin to watch the surroundings as the travel to and from the vehicle, who knows maybe they may even hang up the cell phone.
While there is no 100% deterrent this is very good start. Signs like these can be printed up at many local sign shops, if you have any problems finding them shoot me an email and I will get you set up with them.