After working hard to start and run a successful business, the last thing you want to do is put it at risk simply by the way your landscaping is designed and set up. The exterior of your building makes a considerable difference in how well protected it is from burglaries, from having motion detectors to not giving the criminals a good place to hide. Here are some landscaping tips for outside your building that will help protect against burglaries.
Trim Bushes and Trees
While large trees, bushes and shrubbery can look beautiful and inviting outside your business, they may also be increasing your risk of burglary. Someone who is going to break into a building and steal electronics or office supplies is going to need a quick place to hide if anyone were to come out of the building. If you have tall trees or shrubbery, you are making it easier for them. On the other hand, if all your shrubbery and greenery is cut small and there is nowhere to hide, you are likely deterring criminals.
Motion Sensors
Another way to deter criminals from breaking into your building for theft is by installing motion sensors just outside your building. As soon as the criminal enters your property after hours, the sensor will go off with lights, sound, or a combination of both. Most likely, it will scare them off as they now risk getting caught on your property. It is a simple way to reduce your risk of burglary.
Add Exterior Lighting
Criminals want to know they can get away with a crime without being caught, but if there is a lot of exterior light, they are going to be less inclined to steal from your business. Don’t just have proper lighting when you are currently in your building, but all hours of the night, seven days a week. Most burglaries happen in the middle of the night, but if you have lights that are always on, they might assume you are still in the store or office and not bother attempting the theft.
Cut High Tree Branches
Not only is it a good idea to keep trees trimmed to reduce places for a burglar to hide, but to also not allow them an easy way for getting to second or third-floor windows. They know that many business owners lock first-floor windows, but often forget about the windows higher up. If the tree is close to a window on the side of the building, and there are large branches, the burglar might try to climb the tree and enter a window. Not only should you always keep all windows locked, but trim these branches that are located near windows.
Plant Thorny Bushes
If you have windows at the first floor of your building, go a step further to preventing break-ins by planting thorny bushes underneath these windows. The bushes should be planted low, but high enough to where they can’t easily be climbed over. A burglar isn’t going to try to break into a window and risk getting harmed by the thorns. Yuccas and rose bushes have a good amount of thorns for this purpose.
Not only are these tips vital for preventing burglaries, but you should also have a commercial crime insurance policyfor your business. If a theft does occur, it helps to protect your assets.
