Rodney O
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Upload & Sell: Off
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JimmyStephans,
Glad you found my comments useful. So let me emphasize a couple of things and suggest a couple of additional things for you to consider:
It seems that your actions in regards your concern about the keys were perhaps not exactly the best. It is sounding like you had made yourself more attractive to a thief and certainly more more vulnerable.
Glad you got rid of that lock box. With 2 of you using it, that doubled its activity and the chances for people to see it and watch you open it. And to read the combination over your shoulder. Plus those things are not exactly security level boxes, particularly if it is a push button box.
Items:
1) it looks like your approach to handling the keys led to considerably less security than you had realized. Changing that approach should help a lot. But as it appears your locks have been compromised, you do need to have a good alarm system and possibly new types of locks.
2) this also brings up the question about your "spare keys". Where do you keep them? Since you have been concerned about locking yourself out, you certainly must have spares?
3) door locks: Stop using the door handle lock entirely. Replace it with a door handle with no locking capability. Then ONLY use the deadbolt to lock your door. That way you can not lock yourself out. And maybe add a second deadbolt. One dead bolt with a lever to open & lock it from the inside and the other requiring a key both inside & outside. And don't skimp on the cost of your deadbolts. Check with your locksmith for suggestions. I would suggest only using either drop bolt locks or extended throw deadbolts.
4) what access does your landlord require? Have you talked with them about the break in? If so, what did they say? And what is their key security? Have they had break ins at any other of their properties? Your new alarm system should be set to report all access when ever it is on. That way you will know more about the level of access activity. Some systems will even report entries to your cell phone and ID the specific access code that was used ( #1, #2, etc or by the user name assigned that code.)
5) again let me emphasize that you need to start trusting your employees more. If you trust them to be there while you're not, you should also trust them with being able to handle the keys. If you can't do that then you have to either change employees or come up with a work from home for them as suggested by one poster.
6) Btw video systems can do "missing item" detection. And as you've said, the items must themselves be visible and not in boxes or bags.
As to the police interest:
This is a relatively small $ value crime for them and there was no direct human contact, no personal injury, no physical damage and no evidence of a firearm being involved. Depending on the level of crime in your area, it is likely just a small rain drop for them. So you can't realistically expect very intense actions by them. They can however be a good source of information
Did you ask them about local crime levels local crime types, crime sprees, and for suggestions on improving your security and reducing your vulnerability? And how professional did you come across with them? It would be my guess that if this is an isolated crime, it will be in their eyes harder to solve. And even if it is part of a crime spree, it's likely to only get solved when the thief makes a mistake someplace else. Then the whole spree gets solved. Neither helps you very much.
But you can not expect the police to get too excited about a theft of < $10k of stuff these days. They are probably most valuable to you for the report for your insurance company and as a resource to help you learn what your vulnerabilities are.
One thing that this situation is pointing out is that it is a really good idea to have a security professional come in as a consultant for any business or even your house. They can evaluate your situation, security polices, and physical security very well and pretty quickly. And you get a much better perspective on your vulnerabilities, the current crime in your area as well as realistic recommendations. But do NOT count on an alarm company to give you this for free. They want to sell you something. Use an independent consultant.
hth
Rodney
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The new guy in the scrap job was honest and came to me for help because of threats from the driver and other guy. We patiently kept records showing increased sales for 3 months then with that evidence fired him.
o you know what a "booster box" is? If I was your UPS guy and picked up packages in the store room I'd be tempted to use one. You bring in a box with a false top or side you can open pretending it's a delivery, stick a camera in it when nobody is around, then say "Opps! I grabbed the wrong box off the truck... I'll be right back with the right one."