Marijuana Business Magazine May-June 2020

May-June 2020 | mjbizdaily.com 95 safes to be a certain poundage. There’s transportation—who’s bringing product in and how it’s moving. A lot of that is common sense.” With that in mind, don’t forgo the basics. Lock up product on the floor as well as in the vault. Some owners install a bulletproof, reinforced safe room or panic room where employees can retreat during an intrusion. Depending on the area and level of risk, some dispensary owners go a step further by armoring the building or placing concrete-reinforced posts outside, in front of doors or walls, to prevent vehicles from driving through. A mantrap—a small secured space where only one customer at a time can enter or exit—limits exposure to em- ployees, other customers and product. Besides controlling access, mantraps enable employees to identify customers and lock doors remotely if they suspect a problem. But John Orloff, senior vice president of security risk management for Jensen Hughes, a global safety, security and risk- based engineering and consulting firm, noted that employees sometimes get lax with people they know, including current or former clients. For example, a mari- juana retailer might tend toward leaving the exterior door unsecured, which risks security personnel being caught in the mantrap with an armed attacker. To avoid that situation, Orloff ’s firm recommends retailers allow only one person at a time through the exterior door and into the mantrap. Employees can unlock the door remotely and then, once the customer is in the mantrap, open the interior door to admit the customer to the store itself. He urges retailers to post the policy on the building exterior to inform customers about the procedure. “Most people will adhere to written guidance if you post it and you stick to it,” he said. “Employees have to be trained on it. They have to under- stand why it’s important: It’s for their safety—their patrons’ (safety) and the safety of assets inside the building.” DON’T SKIMP ON TECHNOLOGY At a basic level, security can help with the business owner’s mandate for workers to keep an eye on the cash register and exterior. Employer- established security settings can control access to rooms and registers. SECURITY PROVISIONING: Program systems—from cash registers to access doors—to let in only those people who require access at that time. Set appropriate parameters to minimize any internal losses. TRAINING: Train employees when they’re hired and review procedures on a regular basis. Talk through hypothetical and real situations and best solutions. BUDDY SYSTEM: Don’t allow employees to work, enter or exit alone. ASK LAW ENFORCEMENT: Invite police to look for vulnerabilities and train your team on what to do in case of a robbery. STAY ALERT: Use trained armored services to transport cash. Enforce the need for drivers and loaders to stay alert—no texting, phone calls or meals in a vehicle with cash or product. STAY INFORMED: Have a tip-off system for employees who see anything suspicious to report it to the owners. Owners might offer a cash reward or use an anonymous reporting system, reminding staff that they protect themselves by increasing security. PUBLICIZE YOUR EFFORTS: Jerry Millen, owner of The Greenhouse in Walled Lake, Michigan, believes in publicity—such as a TV story on company security efforts—to tell thieves it’s a bad idea to try stealing from you. “Without giving your secrets away, get the word out that you’re secure.” PROTECT PERSONAL PRIVACY: Dispensary owners can tap into online services to protect their own private information. Services such as DeleteMe can help by removing owners’ personal data, such as addresses and family members’ names, from the internet to reduce their exposure to those looking to track down cash or otherwise exploit them. – Susanna Donato EIGHT TACTICS TO KEEP YOUR STORE SAFE