CELEBRITY restaurant owner Giovanni Malacrino, and South Wales based security solutions provider SECUREIT, have issued a timely reminder for hospitality businesses to review their premises security and protection systems in the run up to one of the busiest times of the year.
With Christmas fast approaching, one of the most important trading periods for the hospitality sector, it is vitally important that restaurateurs have the right resources in place to protect their customers, staff and stock.
This seasonal advice for hospitality businesses is issued following a series of high-profile walk-out thefts that shook the hospitality industry this summer. Even with over 40 years of experience of trading in the capital city of Wales, restaurateur and friend to the stars Giovanni Malacrino, was still surprised at the scale of losses those Welsh businesses suffered this year.
He said: “Four leading south Wales bars and restaurants suffered significant financial losses in the summer months due to customers, who ordered hundreds of pounds worth of food and drinks, clearing off once they had cleared their plates.
“It really is heartbreaking for the business owners, many of whom work seven days a week to keep their businesses afloat. Fortunately, the last business to be scammed was able to launch an appeal for help, leading to two arrests”.
SECUREIT managing director, Philip Popham reflected on the events that took place when unscrupulous customers deserted the premises they had been dining in.
He said: “Just Like many businesses, the hospitality sector has seen margins squeezed and profitability plummet in recent years due to spiralling food, rent and utility costs, paired with reduced consumer spending.
“A customer walkout valued at hundreds of pounds can quite simply wipe out a whole day or even a week’s profits in one go. A good security and surveillance system can not only act as a crime deterrent, it can also help in cost recovery and the prosecution of those involved”.
With the experience of working with leading restaurant owners and businesses such as Giovanni’s in the capital, SECUREIT can provide customers with state-of-the-art monitoring technologies.
Popham added: “In addition to using CCTV in dining areas, we work with hospitality business owners like Giovanni to create a full premises security solution. Café, bar and restaurant owners are advised this winter to consider their security risk assessment and look at all operational elements”.
Seasoned entrepreneur Giovanni recommends reviewing all operational elements including:
- Car parks: “A well-lit and orderly car park with signage and visible CCTV to capture license plates, deterring potential thieves from driving off without paying”.
- Cover all exits: “CCTV installations must cover all exits to be effective. This not only deters crime but also reassures customers and staff”.
- Staff training: “Proactive security measures, and trained and vigilant staff in a secure environment, can contribute to preventing restaurant theft”.
Fortunately a modern and visible CCTV system is all it takes to act as a deterrent to many people. But the latest high definition CCTV technologies also offer business owners the very real prospect of the perpetrators of walk-out thefts being brought to justice and their losses recovered.
Even this close to the festive season, SECUREIT are still designing, installing, maintaining and monitoring CCTV in the hospitality sector. The company ensures that its customers have the best CCTV system for their needs including, high resolution picture quality – vital for prosecutions and loss recovery, remote access and even the offer of a full 24-hour monitoring system. They can supply and install a system for south Wales bars and restaurants in need of extra festive protection from their head office located just off the M4 near Bridgend.
