The post-pandemic food service landscape is fraught with evolving threats and pressing security concerns. A hot topic, coming out of the first ever RLPSA Franchise Focus Day, covered lessons learned from solving drive-through burglaries across the country. Restaurant LP executives and franchisees continue to look for ways to prevent and “harden the target” against burglaries, which cost the industry millions of dollars in damages, profit, and lost sales.

Whether it’s property crimes, such as the burglaries experienced by restaurants across the country since the onset of the pandemic, or incidents that escalate to major thefts and violence, the outcomes are problematic. Business leaders are overwhelmed and terrified – two words often used to describe the sentiment in the restaurant community. Enduring a night in the food service wilderness requires restaurant operators to build confidence by hardening the target against these crimes. What’s inside your toolkit?

Gear Checklist

  • Law Enforcement Relationships: Law enforcement presence at restaurants can help deter criminal activity, such as robberies and other incidents, by demonstrating to the community a strong partnership between local business leaders and police. Where to begin and what to discuss can be found in this RLPSA resource:  Getting Proactive with Law Enforcement Partnerships
  • Intrusion Detection: A physical security staple for any business is an intrusion alarm system which provides alerts and audible alarms if an unauthorized user or intruder attempts to gain access to your restaurant.
  • Video Surveillance: Intruders all have one thing in common: They don’t want to get caught. Implementing a video surveillance system provides greater visibility inside and outside your restaurant, pushing criminals to easier targets.
  • Swiss Army Knife: Get all your survival strategies in one tool with a video-verified alarm system. They are one of the most advanced methods for intruder protection, combining the alerts of traditional intrusion detection with the versatility and functionality of video surveillance. Recent developments have made it much easier to incorporate video-verified alarms with almost any surveillance system, eliminating costs associated with replacing equipment.

During an actual intrusion event, a Security Source video-verified alarm system can also provide necessary prevention steps such as voice-down warnings, using 24/7 live operators, while law enforcement is on the way – preventing losses from happening. These systems, along with custom motion-activated announcements, are also helpful in preventing loitering and deterring potential intruders before an attempted break-in.

Standalone intrusions systems, without video verification, is better than nothing – but can sometimes create unintended consequences in the form of false alarms. Non-verified alarms continue to put a considerable strain on law enforcement resources. The average false alarm takes up to 20 minutes of police time, costing taxpayers an exorbitant amount of money. Each year, local police departments respond to upwards of 300,000 false alarms, taking valuable time away from critical emergencies. Restaurants are feeling the impact, too. False alarm fines can reach as high as $250 per incident, costing businesses $1.4 billion each year.

In the vast and uncultivated regions of the restaurant wilderness, there are no guarantees or immunity idols. Survival means being prepared and having all the right tools. Add video-verified alarms to your tool kit by consulting with a Security Source survivalist today: https://securitysource.com/contact-us/

Interested in learning more about video verified alarms? Learn more about why a Security Source video-verified system is worth it, what to expect from them, and how the savings grows with the life of the system – The one thing you’ve been missing to fully secure your business.