Important:Do not leave valuables out in plain sight in your office or your vehicle.
Important:Report theft to the property management office as soon as you know about it. Be prepared to furnish details of the incident.
General Office Security
Quick Tips and Reminders
Based on the types of incidences that have occurred in the past at Regions Center, here are some Quick Tips and Reminders for better office security:
- Do not lend your office key or access card to anyone.
- Do not prop open any entrance or exit door that leads into the public hall.
- Immediately report suspicious persons or activities to the property management office.
- Immediately report criminal activity such as theft to the police and to the property management office.
- Do not leave valuables in plain view in your vehicle.
- It is better to take dash mounted GPS units inside with you. Some thefts of these have occurred even when the unit was locked in the glove box because the thief noticed the empty mounting bracket on the dash and forced open the glove box to find the GPS!
- Lock up valuables such as stamps, petty cash, ear phones/buds, blank checks, etc. within your office. Put candy dishes away at the end of the day.
- Ensure that your suite doors are locked once your company closes for the day, even if there are a few employees still working.
- Lunch time and the end of the day are key times for theft because the confusion caused by the movement of people in and out of the suite .
- Locking refrigerators are best or a sign posted on the refrigerator stating "For Employees Only" will remind the cleaning staff not to help themselves.
Additional Security Procedures
The following are some additional procedures, which may help reduce losses of personal and company property:
- All doors should be checked for proper operation of locking mechanisms. Report problems using the on-line work order system.
- Office keys and access cards should be issued on an “as needed” basis. Employees should sign for keys as a control measure and be instructed never to loan their key to another employee for any reason. Assign a responsible person to control keys. If an employee is terminated, please report the employee’s name and card number to property management for cancellation. If a suite door key is lost or stolen, you may wish to re-key your office doors by contacting the property management office.
- Receptionists are the first line of defense against a potential intruder. It is important that they be responsible and properly trained in security. Reception desks should never be left unattended while the office door is open for entry. Receptionists should never leave their personal valuables unattended in the reception area including leaving purses underneath their desk. Petty cash boxes and checkbooks should be secured in another location.
- Visitors, guests, and applicants for employment should not be allowed beyond the reception desk without an escort. Arrange in advance with the property management office for after-hours visitors to the building, giving their name and the expected time of arrival. Advise visitors of the current procedure for building entry during these hours (they must be escorted by the tenant). Employees must be instructed when entering the building by use of access card not to let anyone else in. Authorized persons should understand that they must, on each occasion, follow the proper entry procedure.
- Persons providing a delivery, pickup, repair, or service of equipment should be identified and escorted. It may be advisable to appoint a person as coordinator of these functions.
- Report immediately to property management suspicious persons or activities. Also report persons loitering in a public corridor, elevator, garage, restroom or stairway, as well as unknown persons in your office space or persons trying the doors to other spaces. It is important to provide a detailed description and last known location of the suspicious individual to property management. Actual criminal activity should be reported to the police by calling 911 and to property management.
- Solicitors are not permitted to go door-to-door in Regions Center. Solicittion is sometimes used as a cover for theft activities. Please notify property management if approached by a solicitor.
- All business equipment of value on the premises, whether large or small, should be registered in a master file by serial number or marked permanently in some identifiable fashion. Employees who use personal equipment for business should also personally mark or record serial numbers. With accurate descriptions and identification, the police will be able to enter this information in the National Criminal Information Center Computer, accessible by all U. S. law enforcement agencies. Tenants removing items from the building after normal business hours should have a letter of authorization from their supervisor and make arrangements with property management in advance. Security has the authority to challenge anyone leaving the premises with items other than personal goods.
- Employees should keep purses and other items of value locked when not in their immediate control. Do not leave small office equipment (calculators, recorders, etc.) visible on desks and tables in unoccupied offices. It is important not to place purses under desks or on floors.
- Ensure that your suite doors are locked once your office closes or the receptionist leaves for the evening.