How To Reduce Equipment Theft In Your Office

by Startacus Admin

Got issues with equipment theft by employees in your office or workplace? These practical tips will help prevent just that.

Equipment theft can be a serious issue for many businesses, particularly those that have expensive items at their offices.

These might include equipment that is used to provide services to clients, as well as general office items such as printers and computing gear.

The theft of office equipment costs businesses in the UK as much as £190 million a year collectively, so it’s worth your organisation working to avoid it where possible.

If your business is dealing with equipment theft by your employees in your office, then keep reading for some practical tips to prevent the issue.

Consider Asset Tagging To Prove Ownership Of Your Items

It might sound obvious, but you should consider tagging your office’s assets to make it clear who they belong to. Labels that prove your business’s ownership of the equipment can help to deter thieves, as well as make it easier to recover any items that are stolen from your office. As such, you should use the asset tagging services from Label Source to mark your office’s equipment and show that it belongs to your company. This approach will ensure that your items are clearly labelled and allow you to reduce the amount of money wasted each year replacing stolen equipment.

Put Together Guidance On Removing Equipment From Your Office

Sometimes, your employees might need to take equipment out of your office, for example, if they’re using it for a conference or supporting a customer at their residence. If you don’t have a policy for signing equipment in and out, then you might find that your staff try their luck and take items without returning them. As such, you should put together a guidebook on how to remove equipment from your office and return it. Include information on how to sign out equipment, who to report to if items are damaged, and where to sign it back in again. A robust procedure could help you to reduce equipment theft in your office and improve your chances of tracking down any missing items that you do notice.

Conduct An Office Equipment Audit Every Year

A key part of running an office is managing your office equipment. One of the components of this is auditing your office equipment inventory. Make sure that you do this every year or whenever your business makes a significant purchase, such as a new piece of equipment or a roll-out of new computers. If you notice any discrepancy in the audit, then you can deal with this as quickly as possible so that the issue is resolved satisfactorily. The audit should be conducted by the office manager, and the results should be reported to the business directors. A regular equipment audit can also help your team to notice any issues with existing equipment, such as damage, and get it dealt with promptly.

The theft of office equipment, particularly by staff, can be deeply challenging for any business and could end up costing you significantly if you don’t deal with it correctly. Use these tips to reduce equipment theft and keep your company’s property safe.

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Published on: 20th September 2021