Do you know what important steps to take?
1. Contact the authorities, advise them on the emergency. Stay calm and provide your contact information and location of the premises that got broken into.
2. I f you head to the location yourself, Do not approach the premises until police arrive and make sure it is safe. Stay clear and make notes of vehicles, license plates, color and type of vehicle, same if suspicious people near the scene, note height, weight, what they are wearing, this may help police with their search. Take pictures if possible.
3. Call your insurance company to alert them on the incident, providing them the time and date of the occurrence, provide as much information as possible of what may have happened and alert them to any damages you may see in advance. If you are not familiar with processing a claim, ask for help and guidance.
4. Most emergency glass companies in bigger cities have crews on the road all night listening to police scanners, and there would be a good chance they are on the scene before you. If not it contact someone to do emergency repairs.
First to arrive on the scene?
If you happen to be close to the location and happen to arrive before any emergency responders, stay clear of the area, do not enter the building in case the perpetrators are still inside. Let the Police make sure the building is safe and secure for you to enter.
Assist the police with their investigation, identify yourself, provide any surveillance video you may have captured.
Do not touch or disturb anything until the investigators have taken pictures, finger prints and provide you with permission.
To possibly help with your claim take pictures of all the damaged areas and items.
Begin taking a top to bottom inventory to build a list of what is taken, remember to check everything including your files, computers, sensitive documents, personal information or extra / spare keys.
This is a difficult time, be sure to ask for help from your employees, family or friends so you can complete documenting and reporting to the insurance company.
What you do to help prevent this from happening?
Do a complete security audit.
Improve alarm system, wireless option, more sensors, glass break sensors, monitoring service.
Video surveillance, better quality cameras, improve position of cameras to capture face or areas previously missed.
Protect windows and doors, add physical security inside the store behind the glass eg; bars or fold away gates.
Speak with the police, ask for their advice as well, maybe improved lighting inside and outside the store might help.
Here are some frequently asked questions that may help as well.
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