How-to guides
How to secure a small business storefront or shop after hours
Most after-hours break-ins at small businesses come through the back door, a side window or the glass out front. Harden those points, keep cash and high-value stock out of sight, and set cameras up to identify, not just record.
VuePoint
A small business is usually broken into for cash, easy-to-carry stock or tools, and the thief wants to be in and out quickly. That means the weak spot is predictable: the rear door in an alley, the glass front door, or a side window nobody looks at. Start there before buying anything.
Harden the building first
Closing the obvious ways in
- 1
Check the rear door
Solid core or metal, with a deadbolt, a latch guard over the gap and hinges that cannot be popped from outside. Many back doors are the weakest point in the building.
- 2
Deal with the glass
Security film, laminated glass, or roll-down grilles slow a smash-and-grab. Check what your lease and local codes allow on the storefront.
- 3
Light the outside
The rear door, alley and front entry should be lit all night. Keep a few interior lights on so a passerby or patrol can see inside. Lighting tips for cameras are in how to light a property for night cameras.
- 4
Remove the reward
Empty the register drawer and leave it open at close. Keep cash in a bolted safe, and move high-value stock away from the front windows overnight.
- 5
Control keys and codes
Know who has keys and alarm codes. Give each person their own code, and change locks or codes when staff leave.
Where cameras go in a small business
| Location | Job | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Front entry, inside | Identify everyone who comes in | About 7 to 9 ft up, facing the door; watch for backlight from the glass |
| Rear door, inside and outside | Identify and see the approach | Outside camera high and protected; inside camera facing the door |
| Register or counter | See transactions and the cash drawer | Do not capture card PIN entry; aim at the drawer and the customer side |
| Stockroom or high-value shelving | Observe | Wide view of the area |
| Exterior, parking or alley | Vehicles and approach routes | Mount high; cover where a getaway vehicle would park |
Positioning details, including backlit glass doors and night glare, are in how to position security cameras. Put the recorder somewhere locked and out of sight, or back events up off-site, so the evidence does not leave with the burglar.
Alarm, cameras or monitoring
- A burglar alarm tells someone a door or window opened or motion was detected inside. It often triggers after entry.
- Recorded cameras tell you what happened and who did it, usually the next morning.
- Live video monitoring uses outdoor cameras and analytics to flag people around the building after hours, so an operator can see what is happening and speak over a talk-down speaker, potentially before anyone gets inside. VuePoint Secure is one option if outside activity is your recurring problem.
Many businesses combine an alarm with recorded cameras and add live monitoring on the outside where after-hours activity is common. Read what is remote video monitoring for how that works.
End-of-day checklist
- Register drawer emptied and left open.
- Cash in the safe; safe locked.
- High-value stock away from windows.
- Rear door locked and checked from inside.
- Windows closed and latched.
- Exterior and a few interior lights on.
- Alarm armed; camera system shows all cameras online.
If something does happen, preserve the footage the same day and follow what to do after a security incident.
Common questions
- Where should cameras be placed in a small store?
- At the front entry facing in, at the rear door inside and out, over the register showing the drawer but not card PIN entry, on stockrooms, and outside covering parking or the alley.
- Can I record audio on my store cameras?
- It depends on your state. Many states restrict audio recording without consent, and some require consent from everyone recorded. Check local law before enabling microphones.
- Is a burglar alarm enough for a small business?
- An alarm reports entry. Cameras show who did it. Live video monitoring on the outside can let an operator intervene before entry. Which combination makes sense depends on how often after-hours activity happens.
Still stuck?
Send us the details and we'll tell you what we'd check next — whether or not the cameras are ours.