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The Cobb County Police Department is pleased to sponsor COBB BUSINESS WATCH, a cooperative crime prevention program for local businesses and police.  The primary goal of COBB BUSINESS WATCH is to reduce crime that affects businesses in unincorporated Cobb County.

The purpose of the program is three-fold:

1.      First, to reduce the likelihood of customers and businesses becoming victimized

2.      Second, to reduce crime related financial losses to businesses.

 3.      And third, to reduce the fear of crime for both the customer and business owner

As busy business owners and employees, you may be thinking, “Why should I join?  I’m too busy already.”  Let’s look at the benefits of joining the Cobb Business Watch Program.

BENEFITS OF JOINING COBB BUSINESS WATCH:

1.      First off, there is no cost to you;  it is a free program.  

2.      If you join you will receive the Cobb Business Watch Training DVD.   The DVD format makes it easy to train your employees because they can view the training when it is convenient.  Also, this training DVD contains both English and Spanish versions.

3.      You will also get a free packet for joining containing: a 5” x 5” Cobb Business Watch window decal for your storefront, and two Cobb Business Watch signs will be provided by Cobb DOT for each plaza or group of businesses to be posted in your parking lot.

4.      With the Cobb Business Watch signs and decals posted, customers will feel safer which could translate into more business.

5.      You also get enhanced communication and interaction with the Cobb County Police Department, which allows you to better express any needs or concerns.

6.      Your emergency contact information will be readily accessible to the Cobb Police Department should an emergency occur, and you need to be contacted after hours.

7.      You will receive Business Watch advisories on crime trends in your area from our Crime Analysis Unit.

8.      You will learn valuable crime prevention techniques that will help increase awareness and help reduce crime.

9.      Better communication between your fellow merchants.

10.  Better relationship with other resources such as the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office Fraud Unit;

11.  And Business Security Assessments can be conducted upon request.

EXAMPLES OF COMMON PROBLEMS BUSINESSES FACE:

1.      Shoplifting – Shoplifting is the most common problem faced by retail businesses.  Annually, businesses lose billions of dollars to shoplifters, and then they often must pass this loss on to the customers through higher prices.

2.      Counterfeit bills being passed - As the U.S. Treasury Department continues to make our U.S. paper currency harder to duplicate, the criminals continue to find new ways to make convincing counterfeits.

3.      Fraud – Whether it be check fraud or the ever growing problem of financial transaction card fraud, this is a top concern for retail business owners and managers. 

4.      Robbery – Of all the criminal concerns business owners have, being robbed is probably the one that is feared the most. 

5.      Vandalism – Annual damage estimates to American businesses are in the billions.  It can range from broken glass and pried doors, to graffiti on the back walls.  Vandalism is a real problem. 

6.      Burglary – You’ve had a record day at your business, you lock up and head home only to be called back a few hours later to find your storefront broken out.  Business burglary is a constant concern for every store owner. 

7.      Loitering – Individuals just hanging around your business could deter customers from entering your store.  It could also be a traveling sales person soliciting or an indigent person “panhandling” your customers in the parking lot. Whatever the case may be, loitering is a problem that hinders businesses. 

8.      Entering Autos – Entering auto is the most reported major crime in Cobb County.  It accounts for nearly 60% of major crime in this county.  It is basically, the burglary of your vehicle.  Whether it be a company vehicle or a customer’s, this crime affects your success in business.

9.      Auto Theft – If your customers are overly concerned about their vehicle being stolen from your parking lot while they shop in your store, they may elect to shop somewhere else and you lose business.  Company vehicles are also targeted for auto theft as well.

 

10.  Purse snatching – Usually this type of crime occurs in areas where women shop.  It could occur in your store, on the sidewalk or in your parking lot.  In any case, if customers don’t feel safe, they will shop at some location where they do. 

11.  Internal theft – Employee theft is a growing problem and accounts for a large amount of business losses.  This is definitely a common concern for store owners and mangers. 

Now that you are aware of some of the threats to your business, let’s look at how to join the Cobb Business Watch Program.
 

HOW TO JOIN:

There are only two requirements that must be met in order to qualify for the Cobb Business Watch Program:

First, you must have a valid Cobb County Business License to participate.   

Second, your business must be located in unincorporated Cobb County.

If your business qualifies and you would like to join please complete the Cobb Business Watch Registration Form  and mail or fax to:

Cobb County Police Dept.
*Attention Crime Prevention Unit
140 N. Marietta Pkwy.
Marietta, GA 3006

Or Fax it to:
770-590-5680
*Attention Crime Prevention Unit

Upon receipt you will be added to our Business Watch Directory.

Then have each of  your employees view the Cobb Business Watch Training DVD.  This should be available soon via our website.

That’s it; your business is now a participating member of the Cobb Business Watch Program.  We thank you for your time and interest in the Cobb Business Watch Program.  On behalf of the Cobb County Police Department, we want to thank you for helping to make Cobb County a safer place to work and live.

 

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