Your Full-Service Security System & Fire Alarm Company
“Know your locksmith before you need one.” Too many things can go wrong when you are in desperate need of a locksmith… from being overcharged, to being stuck paying for damage to your property because of shoddy workmanship, to theft.
The Minnesota Attorney General’s office has issued a warning to be wary of out-of-state businesses posing as local locksmiths, and there have been many reports of people and businesses being scammed by disreputable companies.
According to an analysis of The Hartford’s small business claims, water and freezing damage is the most common insurance claim for small businesses after burglary and theft.
The problem of course, is that most office buildings and commercial properties are unoccupied overnight and on weekends, allowing an undetected water leak to cause catastrophic water damage, high insurance claims, and loss of business.
What many property owners and managers don’t realize is that the cost to add water monitoring to your fire and security monitoring is relatively inexpensive. Sensors for detecting water leaks and flooding inside data centers, server rooms, commercial buildings, and other critical areas can be easily added.
Call Metro Alarm & Lock to learn more about water leak monitoring.
1. “10 Most Common and Costliest Small Business Claims” Insurance Journal, April 9, 2015
The State of Minnesota has adopted the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 72 as the standard for ALL fire alarm system installations. However, once a system is installed it is a challenge to know and ensure that it continues to comply with code requirements.
It is even more important that your back door is in good shape precisely because it is used less often and doesn’t have the same inherent deterrents as your front door. Often opening onto an alley or parking lot, your back door is more vulnerable to break-ins. Now is a good time to conduct a visual inspection of your back door to make sure it closes tightly without a lot of play in the hinges or gaps that can be used to pry the door open. If your door doesn’t fit tightly in the jam, is 15-20 years old, or doesn’t lock securely, it’s time to replace it.
Each year theft and fraud cost American businesses as much as $50 billion. According to the 2016 Global Fraud Study by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, employee theft (the most common form of reported fraud) averages $125,000 per loss. The Study goes on to report that “the median loss suffered by organizations with fewer than 100 employees was the same as that incurred by larger organizations; although the loss had more impact on the smaller businesses.”
