Safety Checklist For Your Store

Jewelers Mutual lists these everyday reminders for store owners to ensure their safety.

• Inspect showcases several times daily for tampering.
• Exercise proper key control; never leave keys on hooks or on counters and use wrist key holders.
• Keep showcases locked when unattended.
• Show one item at a time.
• Greet each customer who enters the store.
• Always ask outside salespeople, delivery people, etc., for proper identification before doing business with them.
• Use pre-established code words to alert other employees of suspicious situations.

Opening and closing guidelines:

• Observe your surroundings when you arrive.
• Inspect the perimeter of the store for any signs of a possible break-in.
• Open and close with two people-someone should watch from a safe distance and have a cellular phone.
• As soon as you enter the business, relock the door.
• With the doors locked, remove valuables from safes or vault to prepare for the work day.
• Distribute high-value merchandise throughout the store in strategic areas away from entrances.
• Never unlock your doors to anyone who is not an employee while you are preparing to open.
• At the end of the business day and after customers have left, lock your doors before placing as much merchandise as possible in safes or vaults.
  
  

Robbery: A Safety Checklist

Jewelers Mutual says "While no jewelry business is completely safe from robbery, you can make your business less vulnerable to robbers. In addition, you and your employees should be prepared to respond safely during a robbery to help protect yourself and customers from the violence which often accompanies this crime".

The following suggestions may help you prevent robberies and prepare to respond safely during a robbery:

If you think your business is being cased:

During a robbery, remember:

• Do not resist.
• Cooperate. Obey the robber's orders.
• Stay calm. Focus on surviving.
• Do not reach for a holdup button or phone while the robber is present and may see you.
• Avoid eye contact with the robber.
• Expect to be threatened. Assume the robber will shoot.

Develop a written plan

• This plan or manual should describe your business's security procedures, including what to do in the event of a robbery or other crime. You could organize your plan under the following headings:

• Security: Part of every employee's job.
  Opening and closing procedures
  Good selling is good security
  Specific assignments
  Are you being cased
  What to do during a robbery.
  Other emergency procedures and contact persons

Other advice:

• Develop a network of local jewelers to share information about casings, crimes, etc.
• Contact your local police. Share your security concerns, discuss crime issues. Keep them informed. Ask them to stop by your store frequently.
• Conduct training sessions with your employees about security procedures.
• Frequently circulate information to employees about security issues and procedures.
• Don't brag to strangers about being a jeweler.
• Avoid items like personalized license plates or luggage tags that identify you as a jeweler.