How to protect your business from graffiti

While petty vandalism like graffiti is sometimes brushed off as teenagers ‘having fun’ and part of growing up, it’s not a laughing matter if it’s your business that has been affected by it.

In fact, fixing the damage that has been caused by vandalism usually doesn’t come cheap and is often not something that has been budgeted for. The best way to protect your business against vandalism is to prepare yourself. Here are a few ways that you can do so.

Anti-graffiti paint
These types of paints are applied to your walls to make the removal of graffiti a simpler task. They work by preventing paints like spray paint from forming a physical bond with your existing paintwork on the exterior of your property and allow graffiti paint to be easily washed off.

Fences and gates
Of course while anti-graffiti paint can make it easier to remove graffiti, it would be better to stop it from happening in the first place. An easy way to do this is to install strong barriers to entry such as fencing and security gates. This means that even if vandals can make their way into your property they may struggle to get out again which will likely put them off ever attempting to do so.

CCTV
Security cameras are dual purpose; not only do they act as a deterrent to would-be graffiti artists but they can also help your business to prosecute an offender should they be caught.

Lighting
Graffiti will often take place at night which means vandals have a better chance of going unnoticed, so invest in some good motion censored lighting to deter them.

Gateway Automation provide a range products to help businesses and individuals to secure their sites and also provide nationwide servicing and repairs to gates, barriers and other perimeter security equipment. To find out more, please call us on 01522 682255.

3 things criminals look for when targeting commercial property

When it comes to our own homes recognising the threat of burglary usually comes naturally. However our places of work sometimes don’t always get the same level of consideration. Criminals know this and will look for the following three tell-tale signs that a property will be easy to break into.

Goods on display
It sounds obvious but you should make sure that anything worth stealing is kept indoors and well protected behind a perimeter gate and fencing system.

By leaving equipment, plant machinery or other valuable goods outside you are tempting opportunistic thieves who may believe they have a chance of making a quick get-away due to the goods being outdoors.

Storing them safely away and using a perimeter gate, fences or automatic rising kerbs to prevent vehicle entry, you can be confident that they will have a hard time both getting in and getting out again.

No physical deterrents
If a criminal thinks they can get away with breaking into your property then they are more likely to try and do so. So you need to look at all the ways that you could possibly put them off.

Swing gates, sliding gates and bi-folding gates are a good place to start and can warn off any would-be intruders.

Unsecured entry points
Windows and doors are some of the most common entry points when it comes to break ins. You should make sure that windows are always shut out-of-hours; the handles are not visible from the outside and if necessary have iron bars on exterior windows.

Not all security breaches happen during out-of-hours and through windows though, and many criminals will have the audacity to walk straight into your building through the front door if they are left unchallenged. You can reduce the chances of this happening by having security turnstiles in place to help you decide who gets access and to stop visitors while you ask to see their credentials.

Gateway Automation provide a range of perimeter security systems to help businesses and individuals to secure their sites and also provide nationwide servicing and repairs to gates, barriers and other perimeter security equipment. To find out more, please contact us on 01522 68255 or take a look at our brochure which can be viewed here: http://www.gatewayautomation.co.uk/brochure/.