You may think that your employees would never steal from you or that your business would never be the victim of theft, but the harsh reality is that nearly every business is eventually victimised by fraud or theft. Thieves (including your employees) do not need direct access to cash to steal from you—merchandise, supplies and securities are all vulnerable. Criminals can steal finished products or even raw materials without your knowledge. Make no mistake: Any product can be a target if there is an opportunity to make a profit, which is why you need crime insurance protection for your business.

Internal Crime

There are two main types of crime threatening your organisation: internal and external. Internal crime is perpetrated from within your organisation and is dangerous because it is so insidious—depending on the situation, it may be difficult to detect, especially if your employees are skilled at disguising it. That is why constantly scrutinising your accounting processes is so important. The following are examples of some of the most common strategies for internal crime:

• Keeping two sets of books or removing ledger sheets to cover up shortages
• Stealing cash, merchandise and materials
• Charging inactive accounts
• Paying bonuses to those who should not get them
• Increasing amounts on cheques and invoices after they have been paid
• Paying bills to companies that do not exist and then cashing those cheques
• Padding payroll and cash expenditures
• Not crediting cash payments
• Invoicing materials below sale price and receiving the undercharge from the customer

External Crime

Internal crime is not the only crime exposure your organisation faces—external criminals also pose a serious threat. External criminals can steal from you either in-person or online. As businesses rely increasingly on digital technology, the threat of computer fraud increases. Not all crime policies cover computer crime, but it is a growing trend as the frequency of cyber crime continues to rise. Some common examples of external crime include:

• Using computers to hack into your system and transfer funds, steal sensitive financial data, etc
• Purchasing goods by way of identity and card fraud
• Scamming your business using counterfeit money
• Stealing company property and money, either online or in person

Safeguards Against Crime

In addition to obtaining crime cover, try implementing these safeguards to better protect your business:

Internal Crime Safeguards:

• Limit employees’ access to storage areas.
• Inspect merchandise and goods thoroughly when they are received as shipments.
• Ensure that there is more than one employee inspecting outgoing and incoming shipments.
• Conduct periodic inventory counts, and compare that information to your records.
• Implement a concrete strategy for handling returned merchandise.
• Establish a line of authority at your organisation, and ensure that everyone is acting responsibly.
• Separate your accounting and operating functions.
• Create a ‘paper trail’ for each transaction.

External Crime Safeguards:

• Secure raw materials, semi-finished goods and finished goods in walled, fenced or locked areas on your premises.
• Invest in robust premises security to deter potential thieves.
• Rely on free resources from the Information Commissioner’s Office to boost your cyber security.
• Shred documents with sensitive financial data to prevent thieves from accessing them.
• Undertake periodic crime risk assessments to uncover any vulnerabilities you are not addressing.

Crime can be sneaky and difficult to address, which is why it is imperative that you take the necessary measures to protect your business. Contact Lockyers at 01924 278222 today to learn about how we can fortify your business against crime—no matter where it comes from.