Essential Security Considerations for Restaurants and Cafés

Just because restaurants may not seem as attractive to thieves compared to a jeweller’s or retail establishment, there are still instances of cafés and restaurants being broken into in Plymouth. Only in 2020, a children’s café on Mutley Plain street had its window smashed. If locations as innocent as this are at risk, then you should be aware that yours may be too.

What’s at Stake?

Beyond the potential for missing stock and the instance of vandalism already mentioned, ramifications for your eatery could be more than financial. A staff member or customer could be placed in harm’s way as a result of a break-in for example, or worse, seriously injured. That could land you in grave legal trouble.

The busy nature of a kitchen means that it can be hard to keep an eye on exits and entrances during service. That’s why a security system can be paramount to employee security.

CCTV: A Blind Eye That Can’t Be Turned

While you or your coworkers may be busy cleaning or serving a customer, the ever-watchful eye of a CCTV system will be your guardian angel when having your back. By keeping permanent tabs on unexpected visitors entering your establishment, a CCTV camera is a more cost-effective way of keeping watch rather than relying on staff, who may be busy during service.

Unlike your employees, the humble CCTV camera can stay active during all hours of the day and night. It keeps its head on a total swivel, while watching and recording all points of entry with pre-programmed precision. When implemented into a larger security alarm, its strengths are multiplied even further. Just make sure they’re positioned correctly first.

Burglar Alarms: The Next Step to Safety

When paired with a burglar alarm, the surveillance qualities of a CCTV system cease to be a passive method of intruder control. Partnering both makes the burglar alarm the most common addition to a security system that elevates it to become more active in preventing vandalism and theft. 

Burglar alarms are favoured in kitchens and cafés because of how long they tend to be left open. In the case of eateries that stay open during almost all hours of the day, a burglar alarm means that your customers will be notified in the event of a break-in so they can stay clear of a potential hazard. 

Partnership with Fire Alarms

Much like a perpetrator, a burglar alarm rarely acts completely on its own. A burglar or motion alarm is commonly partnered with a heat-sensitive fire alarm system: this creates a two-part system that can respond to both fire and felon-related issues at once. 

If you’d like to take the next step towards a more secure premises, then consider the different types of fire alarm systems that will be present in your establishment. The best place to start is to know if you want your system to be wireless or not. 

At Ace Fire & Security we combine safety systems that respond to fire and break-in related risks to maintain safe working environments across the businesses and homes of Plymouth. 

Contact us today to find out how we can help secure your café or restaurant.