Opening and closing presents risks, so you may need to adapt your procedure. Stay alert and try to have a minimum of two members of staff present. Agree a memorable code word or signal to alert each other to potential hazards. Trust your instincts and don’t put yourself in danger: call 999 if you suspect something. 

Ensure Controlled Drugs and high risk medications are locked in a security rated safe which is either bolted to the floor or secured to the wall. If there isn’t enough storage space within the safe, excess medication should be stored out of view and if possible in another lockable cupboard, cabinet or locked room. The more layers of security you create between where the drugs are stored, the more difficult the drugs will be to steal.

Introducing extra barriers to protect stock will help. For example: storing multiple smaller quantities of high risk or valuable medicines potentially reduces the volume of loss. 

If they can be hidden or disguised, it will be even harder for a criminal to find.

Leaving the lights on will maximise visibility throughout the shop from the outside during the hours of darkness. 

Keys and other valuables should be locked away or out of sight.

Always set the alarm, lock up and leave the building secure. A Door Jammer can be used to wedge inward opening doors shut and make it harder for them to be forced open. Like other police-approved products and services, including reputable CCTV installers, details can be found on the Secured by Design website.