Retail and Trade Theft Prevention and Security

Anxiety about the incidence of crime is intensifying throughout rural Ireland, and builders merchants and hardware retailers are not immune to rising concerns about break-ins, burglaries and theft. An Garda Síochána have a strategy to deal with retail crime and offer tips on crime prevention measures for builders merchants and hardware retailers.

An Garda Síochána have some important tips on burglary and vandalism prevention: “The physical protection of a retail premises from burglary and vandalism follows the crime prevention principle of ‘protect from the perimeter inwards’.”

Key actions that may be considered include:

• premises should remain well-illuminated after closing;
• an intruder alarm system to standard (EN 50131) should be installed and connected to an – approved monitoring station to standard (IS 228/97); and,
• CCTV cameras should be strategically positioned, in line with operational requirements