In the wake of California’s pioneering bottle bill, one of the most successful and cost-effective recycling and pollution reduction programs in North America, a small family saw an opportunity to open a recycling center in the Sacramento area. They made a bold move to leave a steady job to open a recycling business. From modest beginnings with just one trailer load every two weeks to a Bay Area expansion, the now 30-year-old family business is a testament to resilience, dedication, and success – the quintessential American dream.
But times have changed.
As a business owner in the Bay Area, they have come face to face with the harsh realities of commercial property crime and petty theft. There are almost-daily threats of theft, vandalism, and arson, which chip away at the foundation of small businesses and the collective sense of safety. Yet, amidst this struggle, commercial, manufacturing, and industrial property crime continues to be a lower priority for local law enforcement as the priorities have shifted to other more dangerous crimes.
Californians are focused on retail theft. Because it is much more “in the face” of the average Californian, policymakers and regulators are quick to hold hearings or introduce legislation. Unfortunately, these hearings don’t cover the lesser-known ripple effect of commercial property crime in our communities.
When we delve deeper into the data, we uncover a stark reality: the clearance rates for property crimes, including those targeting commercial establishments, are shockingly low. According to the Public Policy Institute of California, only 9% of reported property crimes are cleared in California, a figure that has been steadily declining since the early 1990s. Burglaries, auto thefts, and larcenies—all crimes commonly faced by businesses—are solved at similarly dismal rates, further exacerbating the sense of vulnerability felt by owners and employees alike. Even with cameras, business owners struggle to get closure and justice.
The clearance rate is connected to another issue they’ve faced: cost. In most cities and counties, after three “false alarm calls” (which is misleading considering it’s not about whether a suspect was there or not, but more so if they are identified and/or apprehended), businesses have to pay a false alarm fee ranging from $200 to $400 or more for law enforcement to come out when alarms go off and no criminal activity is found. Having reached the yearly limit of three “false alarm” calls in just one month, the company saw the writing on the wall and realized they couldn’t afford to keep calling local law enforcement and paying false alarm fees.
People may think that stealing small amounts of cans and bottles for cash is a small, petty crime, but it adds up and eventually leads to having equipment and machinery also regularly burglarized and damaged. While the value may be low for cans and bottles, the repair and replacement costs associated with machinery are astronomically high. The company used traditional chain link fences, barbed wire, motion detectors, audible alarms and cameras, but fences were cut through easily, and cameras and motion sensors have about a 30-minute response time for law enforcement—those who choose to steal and damage property are aware of this and are gone in less than 10 minutes.
To finally curb this issue, the company took it upon themselves to install an electric fence around a few locations. Before these fences were up, alarms were going off weekly. Now, the company gets a few “tamper notices” about only a few times per year and many of those are weather related with wind blowing branches and material around that can cause a false alert. Not only has the company saved money, protected equipment, and kept employees safe, the emotional cost has been greatly relieved, and the sleep of the property owners has been much better.
Business owners urge policymakers, law enforcement agencies, and community leaders to address commercial, manufacturing, and industrial property crime in California. It is essential to elevate the voices of businesses and do more to increase available resources, better collaborate with law enforcement, and streamline processes that allow businesses to invest in effective security technologies. Only by working together can safer communities be created where businesses can thrive without the specter of crime.
Written by an anonymous business owner dedicated to providing valuable insights while protecting the integrity and privacy of their business.