According to the US Department of Justice, more than 28 percent of burglaries are non-residential, meaning they target commercial properties, including retail stores. That’s why it’s so important for retailers to ensure that their storefronts are completely protected against forced entry.
The majority of commercial burglaries and instances of smash-and-grab theft have one big commonality: the thieves enter the targeted property through a vulnerable door or window.
Experienced burglars and opportunistic thieves can quickly size up a building or storefront and identify its weakest points where they can force entry. In most cases, breaking into a retail store is a matter of smashing a piece of glass in a door and opening it from the inside or breaking a pane of storefront glass and stepping right into the building.
Professional thieves know how to get in and out of businesses with the most valuable goods, fast. Even if your storefront is alarmed and monitored, the criminals may be long gone with your property by the time the police arrive.
Traditional security systems with cameras, alarm systems, and access control points are great to have, but they don’t physically prevent forced entry. In order to keep the bad guys out, you need to create formidable physical barriers to forced entry over vulnerable storefront glass doors and windows.
Riot Glass offers a full range of retrofit retail security glazing products designed to fit over your existing storefront glass to keep your business secure 24/7. Riot Glass stops would-be intruders from gaining access to your property. It also minimizes the damage from forced entry attempts to avoid costly repairs.
Riot Glass security framing systems have a sleek, modern design and the glazing looks and feels like your existing window glass. Unlike traditional retail store bars and grates, Riot Glass doesn’t hurt the curb appeal of your business or limit the functionality of your window glass. Your storefront will still let natural light in, provide views of the outdoors, and allow window shopping.
For most retail applications, the ArmorPlast line from Riot Glass provides the ideal level of security and a perfect balance between strength and affordability. ArmorPlast polycarbonate glazing shields have all the functionality of traditional glass, but the virtually unbreakable strength of polycarbonate.
For forced entry and theft prevention, ArmorPlast AP25 containment-grade glazing shields provide more than enough storefront glass protection. If you want an even higher level of security, ArmorPlast is available in ballistic-grade versions with ballistic resistance ratings up to UL 752 Level 8.
For more information about using Riot Glass and ArmorPlast to protect your business from forced entry, smash-and-grab theft, and other threats, go to riotglass.com.
