You’ve locked the doors. Set the alarm. Installed the cameras. So your business is secure… right?
Not necessarily.
While it’s easy to imagine break-ins happening under the cover of night with a ski mask and crowbar, the reality is often much sneakier – and stranger. Criminals have gotten more creative, and understanding their lesser-known tactics is key to staying one step ahead.
Here are a few strange-but-true ways bad actors case and target facilities – and what you can do to stop them.
Fake Deliveries & Vendor Disguises
One of the oldest tricks in the book: walk in like you belong. Criminals will often wear uniforms (think delivery driver or repair tech) to blend in, scope out the property, or gain access to restricted areas – especially if the building has high foot traffic or multiple vendors.
Prevent it: Ensure your front desk or security team checks IDs, verifies vendor appointments, and keeps a detailed log of all visitors – even those in a uniform.
Using Social Media to Pick Targets
Yes, your business’s Instagram feed might be giving more away than you think. Criminals sometimes use public social media posts to learn your floorplan, hours, staff schedules, or high-value assets.
Prevent it: Be intentional with what you share online – especially images showing backroom layouts, deliveries, or security features.
Propping Open “Just One” Door
Employees stepping out for a smoke break or to take a call will sometimes prop open a side or back door “just for a second.” Criminals take note. These unsecured entry points are a prime way to gain access without triggering alarms.
Prevent it: Educate your team on the importance of keeping all doors secured – even during business hours – and consider door alarms or door-ajar alerts.
“Testing” Response Times
Some criminals will intentionally trigger false alarms or create minor disturbances to see how quickly security responds – and where the weak points are. If no one reacts or shows up, they’ve just learned something valuable.
Prevent it: Regularly audit your response systems and train staff or guards to take even small disturbances seriously.
Light-Level Loopholes
Dim corners of parking lots, broken motion lights, or inconsistent lighting schedules are prime zones for criminal activity. Thieves often case businesses after dark and take note of blind spots or predictable patterns.
Prevent it: Invest in smart lighting, motion sensors, and regular maintenance checks to eliminate shadows and stay unpredictable.
Partnering with Professionals Makes a Difference
Most burglaries aren’t random – they’re planned. And it doesn’t take much for a bad actor to identify a soft target. At NSG, our trained security guards don’t just patrol – they observe, report, and identify patterns before problems happen.
Whether it’s greeting unfamiliar faces, monitoring camera systems, or doing weekly site evaluations, we help our clients stay ahead of unusual (and all-too-real) tactics like these.
When’s the last time someone walked your property thinking like a criminal? If it’s been a while, we’d be happy to help. NSG offers customized security solutions backed by real experience, trained professionals, and a whole lot of peace of mind.
