Protecting Your Business: Strategies for Navigating Civil Unrest

Secure IoT Office

10 Jun 2025 — 9 min read

In an era marked by increasing social conflict and uncertainty, businesses, particularly small enterprises, face heightened vulnerability to damage and theft during periods of civil unrest. Events like the 2020 Minnesota riots, which resulted in over $500 million in property damage to more than 1,500 businesses and buildings, underscore the devastating impact that such unrest can have on livelihoods and communities. Proactive planning and comprehensive security measures are essential to mitigate these risks and ensure business continuity.

Effective business protection during civil unrest often involves a dual approach, balancing overt deterrence with more subtle, blending-in strategies.

The Dual Approach: Deterrence vs. Discretion

For businesses, security measures can either overtly signal a property as a "hard target" or make it appear unremarkable to avoid attracting attention.

Overt Deterrence: This strategy involves making the property visibly difficult to breach, thereby deterring potential threats.
- Physical Barriers: Installing steel gates, roll-down shutters, or plywood boards over windows and doors can significantly impede criminals. Burglary-resistant glazing can also help protect against projectiles. Some businesses may opt for permanent solutions like mounted window bars and hinged gates.
- Alarm Systems: Upgrading to modern, monitored alarm systems with advanced features like motion detectors and real-time monitoring can ensure quick alerts to authorities. A UL-listed central station security alarm system is recommended.
- Visible Surveillance: Visible surveillance cameras act as a strong deterrent, making potential looters think twice. Cameras should cover key areas like entrances, exits, and high-value merchandise sections.
- Perimeter Security: Maintaining full perimeter fencing with secure gates and adequately lighting all sides of the building exterior, yard, and perimeter fence can enhance security. Removing potential climbing aids, trash, debris, or combustible storage from around the building also helps prevent arson and unauthorized access. Signage prohibiting access and warning trespassers can also be used.
Subtle Security ("Gray House" Concept): While less about blending into a crowd personally, this approach for property focuses on making a business appear unremarkable or less appealing as a target. The idea is to make the property seem like it wouldn't be worth the effort for a trespasser.
- Nondiscriminatory Appearance: An average-looking house or business is perceived as having no items of value. This can involve having higher security than neighbors without outwardly attracting attention. For example, installing hurricane-certified windows and doors with laminated glass and metal pins can provide resistance to prying and breaking while appearing normal.
- Hidden Cameras and Lighting: Cameras can be concealed in discreet places like bird feeders or birdhouses. Exterior lights can look normal but have dusk-to-dawn features to avoid indicating absence.
- Strategic Misdirection: Some suggest creating a "thieve's pack" or "thieve's safe" with some cash, fake jewels, or old, disabled electronics that are easily found. The intent is to lead looters to believe they've found the valuables and move on, while actual high-value items are more securely hidden. This strategy aims to minimize the looters' time and risk on the property.

Protecting Assets and Operations

Beyond physical barriers, it's crucial to safeguard the core elements of your business:

Remove Valuables: Remove cash and lockboxes from the site. Goods should be removed from display windows and show cabinets, and high-value merchandise secured.
Secure Records: Essential business records must be secured, and backups of all key information maintained at an off-site location.
Vehicle Protection: Move company vehicles off-site if possible, or park them in a way that reduces vandalism.
Internal Security: Lock interior areas with a high concentration of valuables, such as computer equipment, to prevent access.
Documentation: Regularly inventory and photograph your property to document its condition before any damage occurs, which is vital for insurance claims.

Emergency Preparedness and Staff Safety

Protecting employees is paramount during civil unrest.

Crisis Management Plan: Create and implement a crisis management plan that outlines what to do if looting occurs, how to protect staff, and how to communicate effectively during an emergency.
Training and Evacuation: Train staff on emergency response protocols and evacuation procedures. This ensures everyone knows their role and can act quickly to reduce injury and confusion.
Clear Safety Protocols: Establish clear guidelines on where to seek shelter, how to avoid dangerous areas, and when to call for help.
Communication Plan: Have an emergency communication plan for employees and ensure evacuation procedures are current and properly communicated.

The Role of Professional Assistance

Security Consultants: Hiring a security consultant can help identify vulnerabilities in your store layout and leverage expert analysis of local crime trends to develop tailored risk management strategies.
Armed Security: For businesses facing high-risk situations, hiring licensed and trained armed security personnel can enhance protection. However, clear guidelines must be established to prevent unnecessary violence and prioritize employee and customer safety.

Understanding the Context

The events of the 2020 Minnesota riots highlight how quickly situations can escalate from peaceful protests to widespread destruction, overwhelming local authorities and leading to significant property damage. Businesses were burned, looted, and vandalized, causing massive financial and emotional harm. The inability of law enforcement to respond effectively due to being overwhelmed or restricted demonstrates the critical need for businesses to have their own robust security measures in place.

Individuals and businesses can take various proactive measures to enhance their safety and security during times of civil unrest. These strategies range from personal awareness and blending in, to fortifying properties and establishing emergency protocols.

For Businesses

Protecting business property during civil unrest requires comprehensive planning, securing the premises, managing inventory, and safeguarding employees.

Planning and Preparation:

Ensure emergency preparedness and business continuity plans are up to date.
Have an emergency communication plan for employees.
Ensure evacuation procedures are current and properly communicated to all staff.
Have alternate sites to stand up essential company operations if main facilities are inaccessible.
Secure external resources in advance to assist in an emergency.
Consider and secure necessary supplies in advance.
Develop a site-specific action plan that identifies measures and resources needed to protect property and equipment, and to minimize business interruption, ensuring the plan does not place yourself or employees in harm's way.

Protecting the Building and Property:

Storefront properties are particularly vulnerable to fire, looting, and vandalism.
Confirm fire protection systems (sprinklers, alarms) are in good working order; ensure sprinkler control valves are open and locked.
Have portable fire extinguishers present throughout the property.
Secure all access points to prevent unauthorized entry, including windows, skylights, roof access, and trash chutes.
Secure large windows with roll-down shutters, plywood boards, steel gates, or burglary-resistant glazing to deter projectiles and breakage. Plywood is quick, easy, and affordable for temporary protection. Bars and gates offer permanent deterrence but can be expensive and difficult to open quickly for evacuation.
Utilize a UL-listed central station security alarm system.
Upgrade your alarm system with advanced features like motion detectors and real-time monitoring for quick authority response.
Reinforce windows and doors using shatterproof glass or security film, and install stronger locks. Security films hold glass shards together upon impact.
Install visible surveillance cameras as a deterrent and for evidence collection. Choose a monitored alarm system to ensure authorities are immediately notified.
Integrate advanced security technologies like motion sensors, smart locks, and remote monitoring for better risk management.
For the property perimeter, maintain full perimeter fencing with secure gates.
Ensure emergency responders have site access via a Knox box or breakaway shackles.
Adequately light all sides of the building exterior, yard, and 10 feet around the perimeter fence.
Remove yard storage (or secure in trailers/inside the building).
Provide signage prohibiting access and warning trespassers will be prosecuted.
Remove trash, debris, combustible storage, and unwanted vegetation from around the building to prevent damage from projectiles or fire.
Move dumpsters, storage pods, or other large equipment away from the building to prevent roof or upper-floor access.
Consider "covert security" and "hiding in plain sight" by making your house fit in with the neighborhood but having higher security, such as hurricane-certified windows, laminated glass, metal pins for sashes, high-security storm doors with KeepSafe glass, concealed cameras (e.g., in bird feeders), and normal-looking exterior lights with dusk-to-dawn features.

Reducing and Removing Inventory & Valuables:

Identify valuable inventory, important records, critical machinery, and other key business items.
Remove cash and lockboxes from the site.
Remove goods from display windows and show cabinets; secure high-value merchandise.
Secure essential business records and maintain backups of all key information at an off-site location.
Move company vehicles off-site, or if not possible, park them to reduce vandalism.
Lock interior areas with a high concentration of valuables, such as computer equipment.
Inventory and photograph your property regularly to document it before any damage occurs.

Security Personnel & Employee Safety:

Ensure security personnel remaining on-site are familiar with company emergency procedures and have a current directory of emergency contact numbers.
Assess your store's security needs to determine if armed guards are necessary, especially in high-crime areas. If so, hire licensed and trained personnel experienced in high-pressure situations. Establish clear guidelines to prevent unnecessary violence and protect employee safety.
Create and implement a crisis management plan for looting scenarios, covering what to do, how to protect staff, and quick communication.
Train staff on emergency response protocols and evacuation procedures.
Establish clear employee safety protocols for handling riots, including where to seek shelter and when to call for help.

Reducing Risk of Violence & Coordination:

Spot and address signs of organized retail crime early, such as suspicious loitering or casing of the store, by increasing security presence or notifying authorities.
Use proactive store safety measures like a well-lit entrance, visible security cameras, and clear signage of safety policies.
Coordinate with local authorities by informing them of concerns or threats and asking for advice, which can lead to increased patrols or quick responses.

Post-Looting Recovery:

Assess damage and file insurance claims for looted property, documenting everything with photos and detailed lists.
Develop a post-disaster retail recovery plan to quickly restore operations (repair, restock, reopen) and prevent future incidents by analyzing security gaps.
Implement long-term retail security best practices to strengthen defenses, such as upgrading alarm systems and reinforcing windows and doors.

The Minnesota riots in 2020 highlight the severe consequences of inadequate preparation and response by authorities. Over 1,500 properties were damaged, resulting in over $500 million in property damage, lives were lost, and community morale plummeted. The increase in violent crime after the riots, including homicides, shootings, car thefts, and robberies, underscores the importance of robust security measures for businesses and individuals.

Conclusion

Protecting your business in times of civil unrest requires a comprehensive and proactive approach. By combining physical barriers, advanced alarm systems, strategic asset protection, thorough emergency planning, and, where appropriate, professional security personnel, businesses can significantly reduce their vulnerability and increase their chances of surviving and recovering from chaotic events. The goal is not just to deter, but to create a resilient business that can withstand unforeseen challenges and ensure the safety of its assets and people.