KEEPING SANTA MARIA VALLEY A SAFE PLACE FOR BUSINESS

KEEPING SANTA MARIA VALLEY A SAFE PLACE FOR BUSINESS

The labor shortage has impacted many sectors in Santa Maria. Most notably, the health care industries and public safety. The Santa Maria Police Department unfortunately does not have the resources or personnel to respond to the uptick in service calls regarding transients and camps near businesses.

The Chamber recently sat down with Sergeant Felix Diaz, Community Outreach Liason for SMPD, who provided tips on how the local community can be proactive rather than reactive in keeping their businesses safe. Sergeant Diaz encourages citizens to be vigilant, however, he also warns citizens to not try to stop crimes and to ‘leave it to the professionals.’

Tips From Sergeant Diaz

• Stay on top of exterior building maintenance to deter trespassing and loitering. This includes landscaping and keeping the front area clear of debris and litter. If the view of the storefront is clear from the street, officers are better able to assess the situation.

• Invest in high quality surveillance cameras.

• Install exterior lights along with cameras. Video footage is no good if there isn’t enough lighting.

• Make sure the alarm system point of contact information is up to date.

• If the business offers shopping carts, make sure employees routinely bring the carts back in.

• Report or address issues immediately, rather than waiting until they get out of control.

• File a Letter of Authority with the City of Santa Maria Police Department. This allows officers to respond to an incident on your property during after hours.

Scan to download Letter of Authority Form