Police Working with the Business Community

Have you taken all precautions to keep your business safe and secure? Do you and your employees feel safe and secure at the workplace?

The Mesa Police Department offers our business community the following FREE services through our crime prevention officers:

  • Initial architectural plans can be reviewed by a Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) practitioner to ensure CPTED(PDF, 160KB) principals have been applied to design in the best possible safety and security precautions.
  • On-site CPTED safety and security assessments, inside and out. A Crime Prevention Officer will check your lights, locks and landscaping. You will be provided written or verbal comments and recommendations for a safer working environment.

The following presentations are available for owners and employees:

Identity Theft for Businesses

The US Department of Justice and the Canadian Solicitor General have issued a joint publication with great information for businesses about ID Theft.

Checklist for Business Owners

  • Secure uniforms, employee identification, company vehicles or other items that might be stolen or replicated and used to circumvent security measures.
  • Delivery drivers(PDF, 250KB) and taxi and limo drivers(PDF, 187KB) should take safety precautions.
  • Remind employees to be aware of their surroundings, suspicious persons and activities.
  • Challenge any unfamiliar persons in or near the work area. If they do not appear threatening, ask them about where they are going, who they work for, what their name is, etc.
  • Ensure that all security and video systems are operating and in good working order.
  • Consider stationing security personnel in area of high visibility and/or public access, i.e., public entrances, front desk areas, public gathering points, etc.
  • Consider reducing vehicle access to areas close to buildings.
  • Be aware of any packages that are abandoned and/or appear to be suspicious.
  • Increase scrutiny of public parking lots and vehicles.
  • Obtain identification from all persons doing business at your facility.
  • Report any suspicious activity to the Mesa Police Department at 480-644-2211.

Robbery Prevention Information

 Be Proactive

  • Install height indicator strip on the front door frame.
  • Place workable camera at eye level inside the business, aimed at the front door.
  • Develop a strong store policy -- Know it!  Enforce it!  Educate your employees!
  • Be aware of your surroundings. Reduction of opportunity equals reduction of vulnerability.

Interior Opportunities

  • Greet all customers as they enter. Make eye contact. Ask open-ended questions. Make transactions personal.
  • Be aware of who is inside the business. Watch for suspicious persons or activities.
  • Keep the business clean and uncluttered. Interior and exterior should be well lit. Do not block view throughout the store or outside into the parking lot with display items, posters or signs.
  • Enforce store policies. Clearly posted rules eliminate confusion.

Exterior Opportunities

  • Increase visibility. Lights, trimmed landscape, eye-viewers. Keep windows clear of posters and/or signs.
  • Control access. Keep rear doors locked at all times. Keep doors locked when business is closed. Keep the dumpster areas locked.
  • Recognize suspicious activity. Watch for people loitering before or after business hours. Look for unoccupied vehicles. Watch for people wearing clothing out-of-season (i.e., jacket in middle of summer). Watch for any "odd" behavior.

Vulnerabilities

  • Taking out the trash; night deposits; going home. Have specific rules for employees. Vary routines. Safety in numbers.

During a Robbery

  • Cooperate
  • Try to remain calm
  • Do not resist
  • Do not talk or ask questions
  • Do not stare
  • Expect to be threatened
  • Keep hands in plain sight
  • Activate alarm only if able to do so safely

After a Robbery

  • DO NOT give chase or follow suspect/s
  • Activate silent alarm, if not done already
  • Call 911 and say "I've just been robbed." Stay on the line and answer all questions.
  • Lock the front door and put up a "closed due to emergency" sign
  • Do not allow anyone to leave until police arrive
  • Move the person who was robbed to a quiet place
  • DO NOT touch anything
  • Try to preserve the crime scene
  • Do not discuss observations with anyone
  • Distribute "Suspect Description" forms to be completed individually
  • Give forms to police when they arrive

CPTED

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is a crime prevention philosophy based on the theory that the "proper design and effective use of the built environment can lead to the anticipation, and reduction in the fear and incidence of crime, as well as an improvement in the quality of life.

In Mesa, CPTED is mainly directed towards the business community and commercial complexes; however, many CPTED principles and views can be directly applied to residential neighborhoods as well.

If there are any questions, if you'd like to have a security assessment done for your property, and/or a presentation to your employees, please contact your crime prevention officer.

Education 

Crime prevention officers are assigned by Patrol District. They can educate business owners and employees on how to be safe at work, including robbery prevention. They can also provide a security assessment of your property, giving you direction on how to make your property safer for employees and customers.

To request a presentation for your employees on any crime prevention topic, please search your address using our interactive map to see which police district you are in.  You can then e-mail your crime prevention officer.

Central District
centralcrimeprevention@mesaaz.gov

Fiesta District
fiestacrimeprevention@mesaaz.gov

Red Mountain District
redmountaincrimeprevention@mesaaz.gov

Superstition District
superstitioncrimeprevention@mesaaz.gov

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