6 measures to improve burglary security

According to Länsförsäkringar, 4 out of 10 businesses are affected by crime, with half of them accounting for burglary and theft. This means that around 20% of all businesses are affected by burglary or theft.

At MaxiDoor we work primarily with steel doors and partitions. Nevertheless, our responsibility in projects often goes far beyond the door solution itself. Even though our product ends with a door or glass partition in most cases, the main solution the customer is looking for is increased burglary security. We help the customer with risk analysis and advice, and together with our partners we can also help the customer create an improved burglary security on several levels. Below we have listed 6 of the best and most cost-effective measures a company can do to quickly improve their burglary security.

Conduct a risk assessment to identify your vulnerabilities

It is always a good start to look at what vulnerabilities exist. You can go a long way yourself by staging a break-in and asking yourself how quickly or easily a burglar can get into the building and what could potentially be stolen.

Checking your doors
To begin with, it is always a good idea to find out how high the protection class of your doors is. For example, if your entrance door is rated RC3, this means that it has been tested to withstand a burglary attempt for at least 5 minutes using powerful tools.

Review other entrances
Make sure that all entrances that a burglar could potentially use are monitored with cameras and motion sensors. This allows security staff to quickly intervene in the event of a break-in. The last thing you want is to leave an entrance unguarded so that the burglar can take his time.

Map valuable documents and equipment
Identify which documents or equipment would be the most damaging to lose and find ways to secure these items. Machines can be locked down and documents can be digitally protected in various ways so that they are never only available locally.

Some can be done in-house, and an expert should be consulted for the big picture
As mentioned above, it is possible to achieve a lot internally, but it is always best to hire an expert to look at the whole picture. The advantage is that an expert has the experience of having dealt with many different burglary situations in the past. A security expert has a completely different way of knowing how burglars think, and is likely to find weaknesses that you haven't even considered.

Different actors who can offer a safety audit of your business:

• Insurance companies
• Lock and security companies
• Companies with a product niche in security, such as MaxiDoor.
• Security consultants

Contact us at MaxiDoor and we can help you, or we can recommend a suitable supplier based on your needs.

Increasing the security ratings of your doors, gates and locks

There are many ways to enter a building, the most common being through windows and doors. Much can be done to increase the level of difficulty for a burglar regarding doors. If a burglar notices that the door is not yielding at all, the burglary attempt is often stopped for that reason. For the door itself, there are 5 main categories to consider to make it more difficult for the thief.

• Replace the entire door with a higher protection class model
  This is the simplest and perhaps most effective solution, as a security door with a higher protection class is often equipped with many components and materials that you might otherwise have to supplement a lower-rated door with. Examples of what is included in a higher-rated door are: stronger basic construction, more locking points and increased space for door electronics. Finding out your door's protection class is easy: look at the back of the door, i.e. the narrow part opposite the door lock. There the door is marked with a classification between RC2 and RC6. The most common is RC2-RC4. An RC4-rated door is considered sufficiently secure in most contexts and should only be replaced with a higher-rated door in special cases where security is paramount. Read more about our security doors.
• Replacing the lock and strike plate with electronic models with a higher protection class
  In general, mechanical locks are less secure than electronically connected models. If you have a lock that only opens with a key and is not electronically connected at all, there is a weakness you can eliminate. Of course, electronic models are the best, but they are also very robust in their construction. An electronic lock has the advantage that it can notify the alarm center at the slightest shock, attack or opening attempt. Modern locks from, for example, Exma, Steplock, Assa and Safetron contain several smart features that make the lock difficult to break. For best security, combine a mechanical strike plate with a motorized lock and connect them to your alarm system. Another combination is to use a motor strike with a mechanical lock. At least one of the two parts should be electronic.
• Add reinforcements to your doors and gates
  If you don't have the means to replace all your security doors, you can significantly improve security with various accessories, which can reduce costs. First of all, the door can be equipped with a locking bar and padlock, with the padlock being protected by a steel clip guard. You can also equip all doors with an additional breakout protection, which is a steel panel that protects the frame opening and makes it much more difficult to break open the door, for example with a crowbar. Finally, if a socket for this is available, you can install an extra lock. This is best done via your local lock or door company. The extra lock is usually installed half a meter above your regular lock. Feel free to choose a hooked bolt for this extra lock. This reinforces the door's resistance and makes it more difficult to force. Many workshops and industrial operations have only one door as an outer shell. Inside is sometimes very valuable equipment that is crucial to the business. In the case of double doors, you should check that they have lever edge bolts, both at the top and bottom, and preferably a lockable espagnolette. Overhead doors can be reinforced with one or two padlocks attached to the top rail. Both double doors and overhead doors can be further reinforced with padlocks and locking bars.
• Creating an additional barrier through a door lock
  With good enough tools and experienced burglars, a security door can be broken through. These are accepted facts. What we often discuss instead is how long it takes and whether the emergency services and police can arrive before a burglary can take place. Something that makes it extremely difficult is to create a door lock, or simply a double entrance. This is common in banks, shopping malls, supermarkets, airports and various other public places. This means that the first external door does not provide direct access to the building, so the burglar needs to get through a second door of equal difficulty. A door lock is a more costly investment than the other two, but it provides a very high level of security, which not only makes burglary difficult. It also discourages the thief from even trying, which is one of the best protections against burglary. A door lock can be added to an existing entrance. You build an internal glass section with protective glass and a new security door. In combination with this, we also review your existing door, so that it provides the same level of protection as the internal entrance.
• Installing bollards or concrete elements in front of entrances
  A more unusual but risky method of burglary is to drive a vehicle into an entrance area to quickly bypass the entrance and enter the premises. This could be a "smash and grab" or a break-in at a business premises where the burglar takes the risk of immediately activating the alarm, as the actual theft or sabotage is expected to take very little time. Eliminate this risk by installing concrete curtains in front of vulnerable parts of the building. This could be in front of entrances and doors or the building in general. These can also be installed in the ground so that they can be raised and lowered and activated when the building is not in use.

To order engine locks and striker plates you can visit our partner Göthes Industribeslag's e-commerce at www.gothes.se/motorlas/.

Making your windows more secure against burglary

A company's windows often represent a major vulnerability. This is true for premises as well as private homes. Windows are often less well equipped than doors, so thieves often choose a window over a door if the window is easily accessible.

So what can be done to secure the windows? First of all, it must be ensured that the windows of the premises cannot be broken simply by smashing them with a crowbar or other common tool.

• Glass alarm with surface mounted glass breakage detector
  Every window should have a glass breakage detector installed. This is a small but very sensitive sensor that is installed in two parts, one on the inside and the other on the outside. In case of external impact or shattering of glass, this detector triggers the alarm and thus saves valuable time. With such a detector, the alarm is activated early rather than when the thief has entered and the building's internal motion sensors activate the alarm.
• Replacing window glass with protective glass
  The most effective measure is to replace the glass in the windows with protective glass. At the same time, increasing the number of panes in the window is a good idea. Generally speaking, 3-glass windows are considered safe enough, provided that protective glass is in place. Note that if the building has many windows, it may be appropriate to primarily try to replace the glass on the windows that are most easily accessible, such as those at ground level.
• Minimize visibility
  If you have expensive equipment on your premises, it is best to let as few people as possible know about it. It is a good idea not to display items that could be stolen. Consider frosting the window panes that have the most visibility. Rearranging the furniture in the room or making sure to close curtains or blinds at closing time can be alternative solutions.
• Installing window grilles on the most vulnerable windows
  Although a window grille is not the most aesthetically pleasing, it is very effective. If the thief manages to break the glass, even with the above measures in place, a protective grille can put an end to the break-in. A grille can be installed on workshop windows, basement windows and other windows around the building.
• Installing security espagnolette and window locks for burglar-proof windows
  Today's windows are often controlled by an espagnolette. They can have different levels of security and offer different levels of protection. Check how burglar-proof your windows are and, if possible, replace your espagnolettes with security espagnolettes. These are lockable from the inside with a key and have more and stronger locking bolts, as well as a more robust lock overall. In addition to a new espagnolette, a window lock can be installed. This is installed on the inside of the window and prevents the window from opening, even if the handle can be lifted.

Installing security lighting for the building and surrounding area

There are different types of lighting that can be installed to increase security. Some we can call active lighting, which is the lighting that is always on to act as a deterrent. This is because burglars tend to work under the cover of darkness. The other part we can call passive lighting, activated by motion sensors, which has a similar, but slightly different, function.

Active lighting
Ensuring that the building is primarily illuminated from all angles is a relatively cost-effective investment. Automating some variation of indoor lighting can be a good idea to imitate presence in the premises. Different types of outdoor LED lights create a less burglar-friendly environment. The next level is to create an outer shell of lighting away from the building, such as near driveways, parking lots, and associated green spaces, depending on your company's environment. Light from street poles and floodlights makes your business much less burglar-friendly. Thieves naturally don't like to feel watched, and these measures help.

Passive lighting
These types of headlights have a number of features worth mentioning. First, they are linked to motion sensors, which makes them more energy-efficient than lights left on for long periods of time. But they are also very psychologically influential. The sudden switching on of a bright light creates a feeling of being watched, which deters the thief. Moreover, it is not at all uncommon for these lights to be directly connected to a camera surveillance system, which immediately starts recording movement. These cameras are in almost all cases also connected to alarm centers, which means that a security guard can immediately see what activated the light. So the feeling of being watched by the suddenly lit light is often justified. The thief knows that when the light comes on, security guards and police may already be on their way, which means the clock is ticking.

Creating an external barrier with fences, gates and walls

If your company has not installed a fence or gates around the building, it creates both physical and psychological opportunities for approaches from unwanted visitors. Certainly, a fence is not impossible to get over with a ladder, or even by climbing. But it is not only physical protection that comes into play here. Having an external fence marks a clear boundary. Once it has been crossed, trespassers should be on their guard and understand that they may be under surveillance, as they are unauthorized on someone else's land. Based on security needs, a fence can also be supplemented with barbed wire, motion sensors, lighting and cameras. This forms a very strong external protection, which is often more suitable for larger companies with high security requirements.

An additional aspect, mainly prioritized by larger companies and worth mentioning in combination with an external barrier, is of course a gate or a barrier. The gate enables your company to have much better control over all vehicles visiting the property. Thus, you can get a better overview of who might have had access to sensitive information about the building's structure and possible vulnerabilities. Gates are often linked to some form of logging system, which allows visitors to the company to be logged, with details such as name, vehicle and purpose.

Finally, don't forget to post signs at your external barrier, but also generally around doors and other suitable locations. Signs and stickers are often not a big investment, but can work very well as a deterrent. Put up clear signage showing that you are using CCTV and that the emergency services are responsible for the area, and that the area is off limits.

Invest in a good security system that links all parts together

Last but not least, there are various types of camera and alarm monitoring systems. In these systems, everything is interconnected, such as doors, windows, sensors, lighting and much more. They are the hub of your entire security structure and are connected to security guards who can respond at the slightest indication of a break-in.

The most basic things to install for high security are three things: an access control system that logs every entry to the building, a camera surveillance system and a burglar alarm that goes off in case of unauthorized entry. Often, all these elements are installed by a security company. They make sure everything is connected so that the different parts talk to each other. If the alarm goes off, security guards first look at the cameras to determine if a response is needed. Below we detail the most important elements to consider and invest in for a security system:

• Access control systems
  An access control system enables door opening through the use of a tag, key fob or biometric identification. The door is then opened electronically by a motorized lock that receives an encrypted signal from the access control system, which instructs the door to open. In the case of access control systems, it is important to issue personalized access devices to know exactly who entered at what time. Access logs can then be monitored to detect suspicious activity, or used as a basis for investigating a burglary afterwards. Should an access card or key tag be lost, or if you simply suspect it has fallen into the wrong hands, a centrally controlled system can deactivate and replace it. Access control systems can be set up to require multiple levels of authentication to allow entry. Examples include a key tag and a code. That is, a tag alone is not enough to gain access to the building. A key tag can be lost, stolen or found. It should not be enough to enter the building. There are also biometric authentication systems, which use fingerprints or eye recognition. This is a higher level of security commonly used in high-security facilities, such as chemical industries, pharmaceutical manufacturing, data centers and military organizations. These activities leave very little or no margin for sabotage, and missteps can have devastating consequences.
• Camera surveillance and alarms
  This is one of the most important measures a business can take to increase its burglary security. When installing cameras, it is important to ensure that they truly capture all possible angles and entrances that a burglar can use. In addition, they should optimally be fixed in a way that they cannot be reoriented, taken down or covered up. They can be set up covertly, so that they are difficult to detect; at a height to be difficult to reach or under a protective dome. The camera surveillance should be linked to a centrally controlled alarm system that either records constantly, or records immediately upon activation by a motion sensor. The camera surveillance should be directly connected to an alarm center that is instructed to respond to a suspected burglary. An alarm siren is often installed in connection with camera surveillance. The siren has an important function and should in almost all cases be included in the overall solution. It acts as a deterrent and can notify people in the vicinity to call the police.
• Motion sensors
  These sensors are important for the functioning of the alarm system. It is often a sensor that activates the alarm or notifies the alarm center that a potential break-in is underway. Motion sensors can be advantageously installed for:
  - Doors and locks
  - windows
  - Fences
  - Lights
  - In open areas inside and outside the premises

Protection classes for business and insurance

The cost of your company's insurance is based on the protection class your company has. The protection class depends on the risk of burglary for the business and the level of stolen goods available. Insurance companies relate to the protection class on a scale of 1-3 and are generally based on the SSF 200 standard "Rules for burglary protection - Buildings and premises".

The scale is described in simple terms below:

Protection class 1
No or low quantity of desirable property.
R2C requirement according to EN1627 with approved locking device for doors and windows.

Protection class 2
More desirable or partially theft-prone property.
RC3 requirement according to EN1627 with approved locking device for door and window.

Protection class 3
Theft-prone property/assets and/or higher protection value.
RC4 requirement according to EN1627 with two approved locking units for door and window.

Closing words

There is much that businesses can do to increase their security. This article serves as a guide to the most general, cost-effective and important measures that small to medium-sized businesses can take to increase their burglary protection. If you don't already have these measures in place, we believe there are solutions that are relatively easy to implement. Which ones are best for you will depend on your unique situation. These are not recommendations that will work for all companies, but something that in our experience is good for many companies and authorities we have worked with. In addition to the points above, it may be wise to review your cybersecurity to reduce access to passwords, business systems and the like, as failure to do so can also lead to unwanted access to your building.

The points above are only tips for one product or product area in burglary security, such as locks, lighting or security. These areas offer a much larger overall offer from the respective expert companies. Contact MaxiDoor for our recommendations on suppliers in the chosen product area.