Burglarized

[surfflite]

Inside job.
No break in
Suspect had keys to outside doors and office.
Suspect knew camera system and disable and erased the recorded video.
Ransacked office and found VTM keys that were hidden and opened VTM.
Stole ALL money in bank pouch ($2151) stored inside VTM, left ALL coin rolls next to pouch ($30) and ALL money in VTM machine bill holders ($222)


So do you all re-key ALL your locks every time you let an employee go? It cost me $477 to have this done after the burglary. Is this just another "expense" I should plan on forking out every time I let an employee go?

[canon]

Keep VTM key on your person and don't store money in VTM. If someone breaks into a card store the first thing to break into is the VTM.

[chad]

Why would you give an employee your VTM keys? It's like your asking them to just break in.

No one has the key to my office and the VTM keys.

[Dr Phi11y]

As a Divisional Loss Prevention Supervisor for a major retailer, the short answer is: yes. You should re-key your store after letting employees go. It absolutely is a hassle and it is a cost of doing business.

Alarm codes/safe combinations/keys should be changed any time an employee who had use of any of those things is separated.

If there is a machine (washers, dryers, changers,VTM) that regular employees do not have keys for, don't leave copies of those keys at the store to be found (hindsight...).

There are potentially other ways to reduce the liabilities, including using do not duplicate keys to locks and machines whenever possible. Although it would also cost more, I'd recommend an ip security surveillance and store the information remotely.

I am assuming this was a former employee based on your last line, but you did not say if you knew for sure...that'd be the first name I gave to the police, as well as a list of all employees and addresses.

For anyone else who may have any ways to reduce theft/fraud or beef up security, please don't hesitate to contact me. I am glad to give advice when I can..

Phil

[jh]

There is hidden cost associated with having employees. Any idea who the suspect was? any way to obtain the fingerprint? Was any of your former employees familiar with the DVR system? As thieves generally want to get in and out asap, it is possible that the employee, who was familiar with your place, was there. I would invite him/her to steal one more time. I can remotely connect to the store surveillance system from home computer and record whatever on the screen at home. If a damage can be recovered, then there is no cost. Another thing you might want to consider - install an auto door lock system that opens/closes automatically so your employees hold no keys.

[laundryboy2]

store keys for attendants should include front door key and maintenance/store room key ONLY.

no other keys on site. not even my wife has keys to the stores.

alarm should have individual codes for each employee. When terminating an employee get your keys back and change the alarm code. Yes, they could have duplicated their keys. Yes, they could have figured out someone elses code.

Change all employee codes will send a message to everyone that is currently with you.

Regardless of the break in, the real failure is the availability if keys on-site. Unfortunately, you just learned this the hard way!

[Howard]

Employee access to VTM keys? What were you thinking? VTM keys stay with me and spares in my safe at my office.

Employees get a key to the front door, if and only if they might have a need for it. That key gets you into the store, with no access to anything a customer would not have access to. They get the combination to the WDF area, it gets changed EVERYTIME there is an employee change. That is it, no other keys for employees.

[CanCanCase]

I do the same as Howard, except my staff doesn't even get a key to the front door... One of the benefits of a 24-hour operation - everyone has access all the time.

Door codes change with every separation (reminds me I just fired a gal today...time to visit all stores and change 5 door combos.)

Sorry for the loss, Kerry. Be sure to push the police investigation as much as possible. Earn a reputation for prosecuting every little theft, vandalism and robbery to the fullest extent of the law.

- Case

[chslaundry]

So do you all re-key ALL your locks every time you let an employee go? It cost me $477 to have this done after the burglary.

with your current access settings, how can you tell that it was an ex-employee and not a current one?

[Duane]

Only my wife and I have access to the cash, employees only have cleaning keys and use a biometric (thumb print) lock to get into the office. No locks on front door as we are open 24/7.

I have two DVRs and a couple of cameras recordings are remote so no one would be able to delete the files even if they are able to steal the devices.

The petty cash of $50 has a log of what is used and has never been off in nearly 10 years.

Re-key your store and tighten security......
Secure your DVR.
Remove all cash/coin keys.
Remove excess cash from store. If needed, install a drop safe.

As for the DVR if the files have not been overwritten yet you might be able to recover the deleted files. Stop your DVR now to stop recording over the older files. Install a new drive and have a computer expert scan your old drive for deleted files.

Duane.