You often hear on the news that a company has been “hacked,” and vital information was stolen such as customers’ credit card information. Furthermore, many companies lose money yearly because of employee theft. The truth is that many crimes against companies are not committed by amateur, small-time crooks, but rather by highly skilled crime organizations. In order for companies to stop crime, the first step is crime identification.
Exterior Theft
Exterior theft happens when an outsider breaks in, and steals from a company. For example, a thief finds a little nook in a department store he can hide in. When the store closes, he waits until all personnel leaves. He then unlocks a back door, where his accomplices are waiting in cargo vans. This is a well thought out and preplanned crime, but unfortunately, it does happen.
Interior Theft
When an unethical employee commits the crime, interior theft occurs. This can be as simple as an employee sneaking out with an item, to pre-planning and finding vulnerabilities in a company’s security system. When a vulnerability is found, it’s exploited. Sometimes, a person fills out an application in the hopes of getting hired. The person’s goal is not to work for the employer, but rather to learn how to steal as much as possible once hired in.
Combined Theft
Combined theft occurs when an employee and an exterior criminal collude. For example, a thief may hide in the store until after closing. An employee has given him the security codes to disarm the alarm before opening the back door. Combined theft spans from just a few people to large, highly sophisticated organizations.
Cyber Crime
Cybercrime occurs when a company’s computer system is broken into, and vital information is stolen. This information may be credit card numbers, trade secrets, or even a transfer of money. Cybercrime may be initiated by external theft, internal theft, or a combination of both. It takes a lot of “brainpower” to successfully commit cybercrimes, and it’s usually done by organizations. In Canada, in an effort to stop cybercrime, the Government of Canada has invested substantial amounts in various programs to stop cybercrime committed against companies.
Fortunately, solutions do exist for companies to stop crime. One solution that has worked well is to install security cameras, particularly in niches or obscure areas. Another very effective solution is modern alarm systems from companies like Babb Lock & Safe Co Ltd., which are almost impossible to disable. For cybercrime, anti-virus software is constantly being developed and upgraded. It’s a never ending battle, as long as there are criminals; somebody will be there to stop them.