Crime statistics for the past several years have provided some good news for small business owners. Incidences of robbery, burglary and theft are down nationwide, and some areas have seen dramatic drops in crime.

That said, any economic downturn is capable of spurring an increase in thefts and robberies. There is no foolproof method to prevent a crime from affecting your business, but you can do many things to reduce your risk and exposure to loss.

Business owners should have insurance for their establishment. Meet with your insurance agent regarding insuring your inventory. Make it a policy to limit the amount of cash you keep on your premises. Business owners who make frequent bank deposits substantially reduce their risk. If you handle a lot of cash, make deposits twice a day. Make a deposit during the day, so you can get the bulk of cash out of the store before evening.

Police officers recommend that you act as discreetly as possible when carrying large sums of cash, and that you vary both your hours and route to the bank. Do not create a discernible pattern that may make you an easy target. If your cash receipts are extremely large, you may want to hire an armored truck service to transport cash, further insulating your cash from risk.

Some armored car services will rent the owner dual-control safes, permitting the user to deposit funds in the safe without opening the safe door. The safe can be unlocked only jointly by the armored car driver and business owner or cashier. Because this makes access difficult, it reduces the chances of a robber getting a large sum of cash. Merchants that keep late hours may purchase drop safes with an inner compartment and special cash deposit drawer. These safes work on the same principle: Only the manager or owner has access to the cash once it has been deposited.

One of the simplest deterrents to theft is adequate lighting. It is so highly regarded as a deterrent that in some areas, law enforcement agencies require businesses to maintain acceptable light levels at all times. Good lighting in front, back, inside and out of the store can help patrolling police officers spot trouble. Clean, uncluttered windows are another good idea. If advertising posters and signs cover a large part of your display windows, a robbery may not be seen by a passing patrol car. Surveillance cameras, providing daily and nightly recordings of store activities, are another deterrent because of their value as evidence in cases that are prosecuted.