Increase in Cannabis Business Burglaries and Break-Ins

In recent months, there has been an uptick cannabis business burglaries and theft across the United States and Canada. As a result, many areas that permit cannabis have released advisories notifying cannabis businesses about this increase and providing guidance on how to better prevent theft. This is especially true in states and provinces that have been hit the hardest as regulatory agencies attempt to bring robbery and burglary rates down to normal levels to avoid unnecessary risk to cannabis businesses.

Where Is This Occurring?

While there is limited available data on the total amount of cannabis stolen from businesses, both at the hands of internal and external actors, it remains clear that cannabis is inherently high-risk and highly sought after by criminals. Given the expensive nature of cannabis products and ease of resale, dispensaries and cultivation centers can present a tempting opportunity for opportunistic thieves. Additionally, given the federally illegal status of cannabis, many cannabis businesses keep large amounts of cash on hand due to banking restrictions. These factors combine to place a significant target on cannabis businesses, further emphasizing the need for strict security measures to keep employees and property safe.

Recently, the US states of Michigan, Colorado, Washington, and the Canadian province of Ontario have released advisory bulletins warning cannabis businesses of new trends in crime centered around these businesses. In essence, the advisory bulletins spell out exactly which type of businesses have been targeted, what methods thieves have been using to breach the premises, and what clues to look out for to ensure a better shot at prevention.

Popular Methods to Robbery & Burglary

There is no hard and fast rule to how criminals approach cannabis business burglaries and theft. However, analyzing trends in conjunction with law enforcement reporting can help cannabis businesses take steps to prevent some of the more common tactics. While following the advice of advisory bulletins is highly recommended, cannabis business owners must be mindful of many other ways that criminals can target their business. These bulletins are very useful in identifying the most pertinent and recent threats which can help expose vulnerabilities some cannabis business owners may not have considered before due to the ever-changing nature of crimes.

These recent advisory bulletins warn cannabis businesses of quick hitting smash-and-grab type burglaries. Typically, a business will be cased and studied by individuals who will then wait until after business hours to attempt to breach the premises. The criminals usually wait in vehicles parked near the premises, typically on the outer edges with multiple individuals in the car. Once the individuals determine it is safe to do so, they will send one person who will attempt to open a back door or window with a tool such as a crowbar or a hammer. Once the building or premise is breached, the rest of the individuals will rush over and, in a short amount of time, grab what they can from inside the business to escape before law enforcement can respond to alarms. While this is a currently popular method of burglary in North America, it is just one of many examples of how criminals can burglarize a cannabis business.

Fraud Risks for Cannabis Businesses

While it is true that theft is the leading issue surrounding physical security at cannabis businesses, fraud is another potential vulnerability in which the diversion of cash or cannabis products can happen. In late September, Michigan warned cannabis businesses of fraud targeting cannabis businesses that take large orders from third-party vendors and buyers. In this case, individuals would place fraudulent orders through retailers and distributors by pretending to be a licensed cannabis company and then have them delivered to third-party locations. While due diligence and simple verification systems should be able to mitigate this risk, this scenario serves as a reminder that the theft of cannabis can come in many different forms.

How to Prevent Criminal Activity

By incorporating appropriate security measures in response to new trends, your business is not only less susceptible to losses, but you are also more likely to deter future break-ins by making your business not appear as a soft target. To stay at the forefront of these ever-changing criminal threats, the business owner or the security consultant must constantly research for new information regarding trends – much like the information contained within the bulletins issued in recent months. The quicker you learn about arising security threats, the faster you can implement countermeasures to prevent cannabis business burglaries and loss.

Additionally, ensuring that your business has plans to routinely evaluate the security measures, equipment, and standard operating procedures can help management identify vulnerable areas that need additional attention. Ensuring that your business’ security is fully functional and up to standards is also imperative in preventing theft and deterring criminal activity.

Consulting with a security professional to secure your business through implementing proactive and reactive security measures to protect your property can go a long way. A cannabis security professional can help identify vulnerabilities in your current or proposed security plan while also introducing additional measures your business can take to remain secure. These cannabis security professionals can recommend state-of-the-art security devices and help you create security plans for many threats including criminal activity and emergencies. They can walk you through best practices for routinely checking all of your security equipment and help training staff on how to identify faulty equipment and other vulnerabilities. Security consultants can also help create a plan to stay on top of the latest trends in cannabis security so that your business can more readily adapt to new challenges.

How Can Sapphire Risk Help?

Tony Gallo and the team of experts and consultants at Sapphire Risk Advisory Group have worked to secure medical marijuana and recreational cannabis businesses in 36 states. Follow us on social media to stay up to date with more security best practices and cannabis industry updates!