Locking down the office simply isn’t good enough these days, and even if your building is located in a relatively crime-free area, you may want to consider a commercial security system. And even though property crime dipped almost 3% from 2009 to 2010, according to the latest FBI statistics, it nonetheless presents a serious problem for business owners. According to the FBI, larceny-theft was the most common type of property crime, at 68% of all property crimes. There were more than 1.6 million arrests nationwide in 2010 for property crimes, and in more than 40% of crimes committed, a firearm was used. And the total losses for property crimes? The tally came in at an estimated $15.7 billion in 2010.

In other words, a savvy business owner should invest in some type of commercial security system. Here are a few more reasons:

1) Control Over Who Comes In and Out Of Your Building

A business can exert some control over who comes in and out of a building with a controlled access system. Employees receive a pass “key,” while all others have to sign in to be granted access. Anyone who gains access to one of these areas will trigger an alarm without the pass key. This not only keeps employees (and visitors) safe, but it also helps keep tabs on who is coming and going from your office.

2) Protect Private Information

Commercial security systems come in many forms, such as online commercial security systems. These types of systems can help you avoid possible breaches of company secrets by only allowing authorized access to certain documents.

3) Keep Employees Safe Outside Your Building, Too

Parking lots can be dangerous, especially if they’re in a dark or remote area. Security cameras, though, may serve as a deterrent, because a criminal is more likely to think twice about committing a crime if he knows he’s being watched.

4) Helps With Investigations

Security cameras can also aide in a police investigation. It might not keep you from being robbed – although robbers who see a security camera will typically look somewhere else – but it could help the police catch the bad guys.