Danburg Properties of Boca Raton, a leading developer and landlord of Class-A commercial, office and warehouse space in Boca Raton and Southern Palm Beach County, works closely with the Boca Raton Police Department to bring our tenant businesses, business owners, their employees and customers – as well as residents and patrons throughout the city – the latest in safety information.

This latest article looks at the importance of creating and maintaining a safe and secure workplace in Boca Raton and Southern Palm Beach County. After all, the workplace is a very busy environment. Throughout the workday, a constant flux of employees, vendors, clients, customers, maintenance workers and even solicitors and salespeople filter through offices, businesses and parking lots.

The Boca Raton Police Services Department has noticed an upswing in property thefts from these areas. They remind business owners, employees and anyone with a bona fide reason to be there to be vigilant in securing personal property: lock up purses, briefcases, wallets, ID badges, cell phones, tablets, and laptops.

A growing trend police are witnessing is personal property theft via distraction-style theft. One person distracts with phony questions, while a second takes the item. This is done by perpetrators impersonating legitimate maintenance or utility workers, as random, would-be passers-by go unnoticed.

Whether you’re a tenant, business owner, employee, customer or vendor doing business in a Boca Raton retail, commercial, office or warehouse space, please take the following precautions to avoid becoming a victim:

Maintain a Greeter. A greeter offers the ability to identify, intercept and/or assist people in a controlled area away from valuable business and employee property.

Secure your valuables. Keep your purse or wallet with you or locked in a secure drawer, locker, or cabinet. Unsecured valuables offer an easy target for theft.

Secure laptops, desktop computers, and other high-end equipment with theft-resistant locking cables or similar hardware. If locking cables or similar hardware is not available, consider placing laptops in secured storage area after hours. Record serial numbers of all equipment and keep in a separate secure location.

Secure documents. Keep employee files, cash, checks and other valuables in a locked drawer, cabinet or closet.

No solo workers. Retail businesses should always have at least two employees working. One employee should be available to engage customers and answer questions while a second employee maintains awareness of the register and restricted areas. No exceptions.

Report strange people or activities. Instruct all employees to report unfamiliar people in work areas or anyone outside of their usual work area.

Grant no access to strangers. Never allow anyone unattended in restricted areas or backrooms; including service personnel. Legitimate workers will have a means to gain access, such as a key card.

Secure your business with solid doors and deadbolt locks. Thieves enter buildings with multiple suites after hours and steal property from businesses with unlocked or poorly secured doors.

Lock all interior doors and exterior doors after hours and individual businesses (suites) should consider installing their own alarm and Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) systems.

As a leading developer and landlord of Class-A office and warehouse space in Boca Raton and Southern Palm Beach County, Danburg Properties of Boca Raton is committed to maintaining a safe environment in partnership with the smart business practices of our tenants. If you have any questions, please call us.

Report any suspicious people or activities to the Boca Raton Police immediately by calling 561-368-6201.