Los Angeles: Business Watch stresses teamwork, crime prevention education, and businesses working together with the police to prevent crime. In the Business Watch Program, business owners, managers and employees are taught valuable crime prevention techniques that help them reduce losses and criminal opportunities.

Business Watch also stresses communication between businesses and the Department, such as the exchange of telephone numbers to be used in the event of a crime or other emergency; and information regarding suspicious persons, potential shoplifters or any other criminal activity.

Every business owner, manager and employee plays a part in making a business safe. Here are some things you can do in case of the following situation:

• Have at least two employees open and close your business;

• Avoid routine bank transactions, rotate banking days and vary times and routes of travel for bank deposits; and

• Don’t use marked "money bags" that make it obvious to would-be robbers, that you are carrying money for deposit. Carry money in nondescript carriers.

• Lock your business;

• Ask any witnesses to stay until the police arrive; and

• Write down an accurate description of the robber(s), weapon, vehicle and it’s license plate number and property taken, as soon as you are able to do so.

Chief of Police Bernard C. Parks states "Criminals calculate their risk carefully, they know that their easiest targets lie in areas unwatched by business owners, employees and local residents. Business Watch programs encourage business owners and employees to protect each others businesses, lives and property by securing their businesses and reporting criminal or suspicious activity to the police."

For additional information or to obtain a copy of Crime Prevention Circulars, contact the Crime Prevention Unit, at 213-485-3134, or visit "Crime Prevention Tips".

This press release was prepared by Public Information Officer Jason Lee, Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.