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WATCH: MPD holds business awareness forum on ways to prevent crime
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Smash-and-grabs, vehicle break-ins, robberies — these are, unfortunately, things to consider when running a business.
The Memphis Police Department (MPD) is working to make sure local business owners don’t become a target.
On Thursday, MPD spoke with businesses about how they can protect themselves, their investment and their property, laying out multiple ways to keep their businesses secured from criminals so they don’t become a victim.
“Predators are watching, so we need to be alert,” said Jacqueline Mason of Functional Independence Home Care, Inc.
Local business owners received tips and sought out solutions on what to do to curb the odds of their business being targeted by criminals.
“We have had our cars stolen from the parking lot, parts taken off of our vehicles,” Mason continued.
“We’ve had cars broken into and stuff like that,” said Adrian Rodgers, the market development manager of CareMax.
MPD hosted its Business Awareness Forum, covering all things security and safety. The department highlighted crimes, like robberies, burglaries and break-ins. Business owners were urged to use tools such as cameras, security guards, secure locks for door entrances and even dogs to protect their premises.
Law enforcement experts also suggest, for example, using good lighting in parking lot areas and mobile security patrol.
“The importance of today is to empower business owners with education to implement resources and things to slow down them, from becoming victims of crimes,” said Vonyale Montgomery, a community impact officer with MPD.
“I really want them to be educated, to make a difference for themselves when we cannot be there in enough time,” Montgomery said.
You may recall FOX13 covered time and time again local businesses being hit up by thieves. Companies like City Gear, targeted multiple times, and Buster’s Liquor & Wines, another victim of a smash-and-grab operation.
In some cases, thieves rammed trucks into doors of business fronts to force their way in, ransacking locations in Memphis and getting away with thousands of dollars’ worth of goods.
Those attending the business forum said they’ll take heed to the safety tips given out Thursday.
“Being alert of our surroundings,” Mason said. “We have a tendency to walk around with our cell phones and not paying attention to exactly where we are.”
Mason continued: “In home care, we serve the community. We have clinical staff that are going out into all of these particular neighborhoods, and we need to talk to them about parking in certain places and about being alert because they are carrying iPads and cellphones.”
“They’re calling patients and making sure it’s OK to come, so we want them to be more alert in the areas they are going in and make sure they are not leaving purses on the seat that would enhance a person breaking into their vehicles.”
Meanwhile, MPD pushed the message of working together, saying it’s not only about what police can do alone, but what business owners can also do to get ahead of crime to curb it.
“Crimes occur between 3-5 seconds,” Montgomery said. “Police response time could be anywhere from 5-8 minutes, so, in that particular amount of time, they need to be empowered to prolong, prevent or what have you, when it comes to crime before we can get there.”
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