Rural Retail Crime Prevention Advice
Following the recent theft of a four figure sum of money from a Post Office in Cairndow, Argyll the following advice is being issued whilst raising awareness of the incident in rural Argyll, to prevent reoccurrence.
This particular incident involved a pre-meditated tactic within three male individuals using distractors to create an opportunity to lift unattended monies and make off.
The basic principles below will go a long way to avoiding such an occurrence whilst providing Police Scotland with the evidential opportunities to detect those responsible.
- The interior design / layout of the building and/or security management policy must ensure that visitors or members of the general public cannot gain direct access to high risk areas or areas accommodating high value assets
- Areas used for storage of high value materials will be provided access control
- Areas used for cash handling should have good natural surveillance, have a solid brick or equivalent surround, preferably an outward opening enhanced security door and an internal panic button linked to the alarm
- A suitably designed, fit for purpose, monitored intruder alarm system should be installed. For police response, the system must comply with the requirements of the ACPOS Security Systems policy.
- CCTV should be deployed and fit for purpose, be monitored (e.g. on site/remote or recorded) with all cameras, wiring and recording/monitoring equipment secured.
Although not always possible – outlets with dual purpose and high volumes of cash should avoid lone working.
Further advice can be gleaned from the Scottish Business Resilience Centre.
Crime Prevention Surveys and Advice are available on request by myself.
PC Donald MacKay
Rural Watch Co-ordinator
Argyll & West Dunbartonshire