12-Point Commercial Property Security Checklist for Houston Businesses

Most commercial break-ins in the Houston area are crimes of opportunity. The right combination of lighting, access control, patrol coverage, and visible deterrents pushes opportunists toward an easier target. Walk your property with this checklist. Mark each item Pass, Fail, or Needs Improvement. 1. Perimeter Lighting Are all entrances, loading docks, and parking areas lit to a minimum 2 foot-candles? Are any fixtures burned out or blocked by vegetation? 2. Landscaping Are shrubs near windows trimmed below sill height? Are trees near second-story windows pruned to prevent climbing access? 3. Door Hardware Are exterior doors solid-core with deadbolts at least 1 inch throw? Are strike plates secured with 3-inch screws into the frame? 4. Window Security Are ground-floor windows secured with locks, film, or bars? Are accessible upper windows treated with the same scrutiny? 5. Access Control Are former employees promptly removed from access lists? Are keys, fobs, and codes rotated after staff turnover? Is there an audit trail of after-hours entry? 6. Camera Coverage Do cameras cover every entry, the parking lot, the cash-handling area, and any high-value storage? Are recordings retained at least 30 days? 7. Alarm Monitoring Is the alarm professionally monitored, not just self-monitored via app? Are response protocols documented and tested? 8. Signage Are "Premises Under Surveillance" and "Armed Response" signs visible at all approaches? Deterrent signage has measurable impact on opportunistic crime. 9. Cash Handling Are deposits made at varying times by varying routes? Is the cash room out of view from public areas? 10. Patrol Coverage For after-hours, do you have either on-site or roving patrol checks at unpredictable intervals? Are patrol logs digitally timestamped with GPS? 11. Incident Reporting Is there a clear protocol for staff to document and report suspicious activity? Are reports reviewed monthly? 12. Annual Review When was the last formal security assessment by an outside firm? Threats and operations both evolve. A yearly review catches the drift. If you scored more than 3 Fails or Needs Improvements, you are probably overdue for a professional audit. Champion Security Agency provides complimentary site assessments for Houston-area commercial properties. Contact us through our quote form to schedule.