Dealing with a break-in is a highly stressful situation. There are so many factors to consider all at once. Is your office safe tonight? What information do you need for insurance? Has anyone called the police yet? When will the police be here? How is this going to impact the day’s work? How much of a loss have you made?
Break-ins can be difficult and distressing, so we bring you this easy guide to help you simplify the most important factors when dealing with a break-in.
Step 1. Take a Moment
The first step is to take is to breathe and relax. Security decisions are best made with a calm heart and mind to avoid shortcuts. So, take a moment, make yourself a warming drink, sit down and assess the situation. Then, call the police and let them know what has happened. If you’ve received an alarm notification outside of office hours, call the police first. You do not want to attempt to enter a building if a burglar is still inside. Leave that to the professionals.
Step 2. Take Stock
We are not talking about taking stock of what has been taken here, although that is important for the police and the insurance, that will come later.
It is essential to take stock of all your locks for office security: the front door, any other doors, your windows, and your safe. Note down any locks that have signs of someone tampering with them.
Also, check for any points of forced entry. Finally, if there are any broken windows and doors, you need to prioritize their repair as soon as possible to make your office safe once more.
Step 3. Change all Your Office Locks
You will need to change any locks that have signs of tampering. You are also advised to change locks that you don’t think have signs of tampering as an intruder may have left with keys or copies of keys. If your system works on access cards, revoke all access cards entry and only reactivate the cards you know are in your hands.
The simplest way to accomplish this task is to call your locksmith. A good locksmith will be able to come out quickly and work with you to ascertain your immediate security needs. Whether you are working with traditional locks, smart locks, or access systems, your locksmith is the fastest and safest way to get your office secure once more.
Step 4. Talk to Your Office Staff after a Break-In
Your aim in talking to the staff should accomplish three things:
- First, you will be reassuring your team that the office is a safe environment in which they can work productively. Take time to explain what has been happening and the plans for maintaining a safe environment in the future. Everyone plays a role in office security. Let them know how they can help prevent the issue from recurring.
- Someone may know something about the break-in. So, create a safe environment for people to turn in evidence that they may have. Office security needs to report the issue without risking their job if someone misplaces a key. This will help you gather all the information you need for the authorities.
- By communicating with your team, you may be able to pick out a member or two that you trust to help you secure the office. Sharing the burden can help reduce the stress and get your office back to regular working hours quicker. For example, you can assign them to take stock of what is missing, help arrange for replacement locks, or board up a broken window until the glaziers can come and fix it.
Step 5. Count the Damage
Possibly with a staff member or two to help you, take the time to count the damage. You are going to want to note the following information for the authorities and the insurance companies:
- What is missing?
- What has taken damage?
- How much would it cost to replace these items?
- Serial numbers of items.
- For technology devices, don’t erase data straight away. If the culprit has your device, the authorities may be able to track the IP and retrieve it.
You will also want to note:
- Who was in the building at the time?
- What does the CCTV show?
- Did your office receive any visitors in the week before the incident?
- Any other details your incident report will require.
Stay Calm with Your Commercial Locksmith
Having a locksmith to turn to during a break-in situation can take away stress. In addition, you won’t need to research locksmiths when you already have so much else on your plate. For another, you will not need to worry about the security of your office as you already have someone you can depend on to help you out in that area.
At Quickly Locksmiths in Miami, we have a team of experts available to help you with your commercial and residential security issues 24/7. Call us at (305) 984-9922 or contact us through our contact us page to find out how we can provide the best service for you and your company.
