March 16, 2010
Business owners - from the neighborhood "mom and pop" stores to major retailers - have to protect their property just like the other residents of Richmond.
In an effort to assist them, the Richmond Police Department's Community Care Crime Prevention Team will host a Business Watch Forum from 9 a.m. to noon Monday, March 22, at the Richmond Police Training Academy, 1202 W. Graham Road.
"Everyone is familiar with Neighborhood Watch where neighbors look out for one another in their neighborhoods. We're working to build the same type of network with our business corridors in the city," Captain Sybil El-Amin said.
Crime prevention presentations for businesses will be made by Richmond Police, the U.S. Secret Service and alarm and lighting vendors. Richmond Police will present strategies for businesses to harden themselves as a target for robbers, burglars and shoplifters. The Secret Service will cover cash and counterfeiting.
"We've seen a slight increase in commercial robberies and we want to see what we can do to help the business owners help themselves and also help us help them," El-Amin said. "Our business is crime prevention."
All business owners and members of the public are invited to attend this free forum. However, please call the Community Care Crime Prevention Team at 646-5061 to register your attendance by Friday, March 19.
