Supporting local businesses

We know that crime can be devastating to businesses of all sizes. We don’t want it to happen to you, so we’ll support you in the following ways:

• if you’re a victim of crime, we’ll support you and neighbouring businesses to improve security measures

• we’ll visit local businesses throughout the region to advise on how to keep your property and business safe

• we’ll invite you to sign up to our ‘We Don’t Buy Crime’ partnership approach

• we’ll advise you on the use of lighting and CCTV to deter offenders

• we’ll give you signs to display, stating that property offered for sale will be checked

If you’re a business trading in second-hand goods:

• we’ll give you a free UV torch, to check whether property offered for sale has been stolen

• we’ll share details of stolen property with you as soon as we can

• we’ll ask you to be our ‘eyes and ears’ on the street

• we’ll help you to recognise the signs of criminal exploitation, if you see it

• we’ll ask you to call us straight away if you have any concerns

• we’ll invite you to sign up to the WDBC portal.

Why?

• it’s less likely that offenders will target a business which is well secured

• it will be easier for retailers to recognise stolen property and block the sale of stolen goods

• it will be easier to trace offenders to specific crimes, and to secure a conviction

• it will be easier to return stolen property to its rightful owner

• offenders will find it more difficult to dispose of and profit from stolen goods

• this will help to deter offenders as ‘crime won’t pay’

• this will reduce incidents of acquisitive crime

• this will also help us to tackle serious organised crime, and to safeguard vulnerable people who are being criminally exploited.

If you have any suspicion at all that the item has been stolen, please contact us and we will investigate this.

We also send retailers regular stolen property alerts to share details of any stolen property in circulation.

When taking part in a transaction with a member of the public, please remember the following: 

• confirm the seller has two forms of ID - both photographic and proof of address - and record their details,

• make reasonable enquiries about the item’s ownership; for example, its history and provenance,

• keep up to date on the information shared by the police about stolen goods possibly in circulation,

• check each item with UV torch provided.

If you have any doubts about the item or the seller, contact us via 101.
Always call 999 if it's an emergency.

How To Secure Your Fuel

There are a number of steps that you can take to reduce the risk of falling victim to fuel theft. 

These include:

Install lighting

Install security lighting to illuminate any suspicious activity and if CCTV is installed on the site or premises the lighting scheme should be designed to complement it and not create shadows or glare which can inhibit or restrict the images being captured.

Use remote monitoring

CCTV with remote monitoring is a deterrent and will help protect both farms and construction sites. Due to the remote nature of some of these sites and the geographical area they cover, any CCTV systems should include surveillance of areas with high risk such as fuel tanks. Remote monitoring 24/7 by an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) can confirm the cause of an alarm activation and identify any suspicious activity.

Consider mobile CCTV systems

Consider a mobile CCTV unit and PIDS system on vulnerable sites, these systems are designed to work on construction sites and as stand-alone units they can be quickly deployed and installed and cover vulnerable areas. These can provide a near instant message to the site manager, together with a good quality image of the person in the vicinity of the camera. They can also be linked to an Alarm Receiving Centre to confirm the cause of an alarm activation and identify any suspicious activity. SBD have several members who specialise in this area and can advise on the best solution.

Check CCTV coverage

Ensure that any installed CCTV is not blocked, or its coverage is restricted by the parking of large vehicles in the sight lines of the camera. During the day this should be the responsibility of the site manager and security staff should check this when they start their shift.

Landscaping or vegetation which could restrict the coverage of these cameras during the growing seasons must be maintained and cut back to ensure unimpeded coverage.

Use Signage

Use signage to highlight the security measures you have installed. This can help deter criminals who may casually walk through the site to gain a greater understanding of the security. These could include signs such as: Private property, Keep out, Warning CCTV in operation, All vehicles are left with minimum fuel, Security patrols in operation.

Secure & lock

Secure vehicles and machinery in a compound or container if possible and use a locking fuel tank cap and anti-syphoning devices.

Activate alarms

Activate intruder alarm systems, which may have a local sounder or remotely monitored signalling.

For more information on alarms, visit https://www.policesecuritysystems.com/

Consider manned guarding

Depending on the threat and risk to the whole site, manned guarding can be a highly effective visible deterrent.

Any company providing security personnel should be approved by the Security Industry Authority (SIA ) under their approved contractor scheme.

If you have a question about We Don't Buy Crime or acquisitive crime in Gwent:

Email us

If you want to contact Gwent Police about another matter or to report a crime you can direct message us on social media or call 101 or 999 in an emergency.