Is your business situated on a main road or other highly visible location? Your premises may be at additional risk of vandalism. Vandalism includes graffiti, smashing windows and breaking signs attached to your business premises and can potentially cost business owners hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. As well as making sure you have comprehensive business insurance, there are a few ways you can try to minimize the damage caused to your business by vandalism:
• Improve lighting around your premises
• Install perimeter fencing if possible
• Use graffiti resistant paint on the outside of buildings
• Install video surveillance
• Place metal grilles and bars in windows
• Cover lights with protective coverings
• Use scratch resistant glass to minimize damage
If graffiti or vandalism is a common problem in your area you may wish to co-ordinate your efforts with other community business members and law enforcement agents. A neighborhood response could be a lot more effective than measures implemented by a single business alone and may often be targeted at specific groups of local offenders.
Vandalism may be caused by underlying community problems such as low employment or poverty. Addressing these issues could help reduce vandalism rates and there may be less chance of the need to make a claim for vandalism on your NY property insurance.
