ADT Security Small Business Research Findings
Background
This research study was conducted to better understand the financial and emotional implications of crime to small business owners and the security measures taken by those businesses to reduce the chance of crime recurring.
The survey of 500 Australian small business owners is the most comprehensive research into small business security measures and perceptions in the last decade.
Methodology
ADT Security commissioned leading online market research panel Pure Profile to conduct this survey of 500 small business owners around Australia during June to July 2010. For the purposes of the research, small business was defined as a business with less than 20 employees while the generations are grouped as follows: Generation Y (born 1980-1994), Generation X (born 1965-1979), Baby Boomers (born 1946 -1964) and Builders (born before 1946).
Key Findings
Measures taken to protect business
• Simple lock and key most used option 86%, followed by alarm system (51%), CCTV (29%), window bars, 28%
• QLD owners least likely to invest in an alarm system 39% (SA and NT 59%, Vic and Tas 55%, NSW and ACT 53% and WA 50%)
Types of crime experienced by business
• Burglary most prevalent - Burglary (55%), shoplifting (34%) vandalism (33%), employee theft merchandise (24%) and employee theft of cash (21%)
• Vandalism most experienced in WA (50%), SA and NT 46%, Vic and Tas 36%, NSW/ACT and QLD 27% each.
• Employee theft of merchandise most rampant in NSW/ACT (32%). SA/NT (30%), QLD 19%, Vic and Tas (18%) and WA (13%)
• 63% of businesses have been a victim of crime more than once
Financial impact of crime
• 82% of businesses have suffered financially due to crime
• Of these businesses, stolen goods (82%), property damage (50%), business disruption or closure (32%), loss of customers or orders (12%), compensation/medical bills (4%)
• In estimating the cost, 43% have lost $1000 to $10,000 while 41% claim $100- $1000. Only 5% have experienced losses over $25,000
Emotional impact of crime
• Looking at the emotional side of crime, 54% admitted to associated feelings of stress (women more likely than men 52% vs 58%), 39% anxiety(women more likely than men 41% vs 37%), 7% are unable to be on the premises alone, while 4% were forced to take extended periods off from work.
• Gen Y most likely to have experienced the emotional impacts of crime: anxiety 48% - (X 39% Boomers 37% Builders 35%), stress 67% (X 56%, boomer 51%, builders 42%), inability to be alone on premises 23% (builders 8%, X 7%, boomers 4%
Why invest in security and what’s important
• Looking at the motivations for investing in security, 62% of owners want to feel confident that the business is protected when they aren’t there, 42% to protect high value goods, 33% to reduce customer theft, 32% to meet insurance requirements, 21% to protect staff, 19% to reduce employee theft.
• When considering security for their business, the latest technology is of greater significance to men with 21% taken it into consideration vs 13% of women.
• 24/7 monitoring is most important to the younger generation of business owners (Y 48%, X, 45%, boomer 37%, builders 19%)
Risk times for crime
• At night is perceived to be the biggest risk time for crime (49%) with during business hours (34%) and weekends (17%) following. 42% of business owners see a rise in crime on long weekends/public holidays; 41% over school holidays; 26% at Christmas and 12% at Easter.
• 61% of business owners see crime go up during challenging economic times
My ADT
- Home Security:
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- Segment Specialists:
- Corporate Info:
- Licenses:
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- VIC No. 65201491P
- WA No. SA40562
- SA No. ISL152299
- NSW No. 405187443
- ACT No. 17501009
- QLD No. 3258669
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