Last week, the Netherlands was shaken by riots, arson, and looting in various city centers. Windows were shattered, cars were set on fire, and shops were looted. If you own a store or business in a city center, you may be concerned. While you cannot prevent the riots, you can take necessary measures to minimize the damage. In this article, we provide you with 25 valuable tips, some of which can be easily implemented today.

Although the violence accompanying these riots is very unusual for the Netherlands, it is something we have seen in other European countries and the United States. Exactly how things escalated remains to be determined, and investigations and the pursuit of perpetrators are still ongoing.

There is a significant difference between ordinary protesters and rioters. The attacks on the police, vandalism, and looting that took place last week have little to do with protesting and are mostly the work of rioters. Some of these are followers, swept along and incited by others. However, there are also rioters who deliberately plan to riot and destroy property—whether for the thrill, due to a failed upbringing, or because they are angry and want to make a point. Some young people even see it as a game, where other players decide what happens next, and they can earn points. These youths live-stream their involvement in the riots and looting on social media. Researchers refer to this phenomenon as ‘gamification.’

Looters, unlike rioters, are driven by self-interest and financial gain. Some rioters also loot, but there is also a group of organized looters who work systematically and in groups. They determine in advance which stores will yield the most and share information about these target stores with others. In the United States, we see examples of organized looters who block streets with their cars, allowing them to carry out their operations more calmly. Sometimes they even guard a store or building against other looters while their gang members raid the safe inside. We also see these types of gangs using large-scale (peaceful) protests as a cover to strike, using social media to mislead the police or flood emergency lines with (false) reports of looting in areas where they are not active.

Rioters, looters, arsonists, or thieves… Whatever we call them, they can cause significant damage, which is a nightmare for anyone affected.

Remove valuables and make it harder for them

You cannot prevent riots or looting, but you can take measures to significantly reduce the damage if rioters or looters are active in your area. You can protect your store from rioters and remove the “loot expectation” (attractive goods) to deter looters. In addition, you can take steps to make things more difficult for both rioters and looters. Some of these are the same measures you may already have taken against vandalism or burglary.

From the many possible measures, here are our top 25:

Measures to remove the loot and make things harder

  1. Empty your premises or store (and display window) so looters assume there is nothing to steal. It’s important that they can see at a glance from the outside that the store/premises is empty. If you have a retail store, communicate clearly (to your customers) that no products are present in the store during closure and direct them to your webshop. Do this through window displays, posters in the storefront, or social media. Depending on the situation, consider leaving lights on at night to make it clear that the store is empty.
  2. Store valuable items safely in a secure compartment, a safe, or at an external location.
  3. Remove all items that could be used as projectiles, both inside and outside. This includes trash bins, flower boxes, bike racks, terrace furniture, and advertising signs. Also remove flammable materials and small fire extinguishers (the latter only while the store is not in use).
  4. Display windows and glass can be protected against rioters with wooden boards. Coordinate with other stores/businesses in the street to do the same. However, this measure has limited effectiveness against targeted looting. Boards prevent looters from seeing that the store is empty, and well-prepared looters will break through them anyway. Secure wooden boards with screws that are not easily removed. Some looters come prepared with power drills…
  5. Leave (unsecured) interior doors unlocked, as this prevents further damage
  6. Monitor social media to discover if and when your city, street, or premises is mentioned as a target. Social media posts can also be used to identify potential perpetrators.
  7. Instruct staff not to comment on social media posts about looting at your premises.

More drastic, structural precautionary measures

  1. Store the most valuable goods and equipment in certified burglar-resistant storage spaces and safes. Looters usually lack the knowledge and experience to access these spaces/safes.
  2. Install metal security shutters or reinforced steel doors to delay access to the premises.
  3. Install burglar-resistant ‘riot’ security glazing in your store windows. Ensure you choose glazing with proven resistance against looters. Vandal-resistant glazing or security films are insufficient against looter violence. Keep in mind that security glazing can still be damaged by the force used.
  4. Ensure display areas are separated from the store by a barrier of walls or roller shutters, so looters cannot directly enter your store if a window is broken. In this case, you may need to install an additional door/shutter behind the front door in the barrier.
  5. In certain situations, a temporary barrier can be created using water-filled barrels. The barrels serve a dual purpose: difficult-to-move barrier and automatic fire suppression.
  6. Consider installing an automatic fire suppression system to minimize the damage caused by arson.

Planning and arrangements you can make in advance

  1. Create a crisis team within your store chain or street that is easily reachable by shop managers and local business owners.
  2. Form a small team to provide the first salvage efforts after any damage, so that the premises are secured and damage is minimized. For example:
    • Cleaners, security guards, repairers of glass and shutters and carpenters who can repair doors and hinges and locks.
    • Employees (of security affairs) who can secure camera images and who can make an inventory of the damage and report it to the insurer.
  3. Maintain a (local) contact list with phone numbers for your neighborhood police officer, surrounding businesses/stores, and any nearby residents..
  4. Coordinate with your Private Alarm Center (PAC) to create modified instructions for alarm response during riots and looting: only respond on-site when safe. Safety can be assessed by (remotely) viewing camera footage or consulting someone on-site (e.g., from the call list).
  5. Have daily damage assessments conducted at a set time if unrest continues for an extended period.

Other recommendations

  1. Install (clearly visible) security cameras. Security cameras with cloud storage can help collect evidence of riots and looting. Camera footage also aids in tracking down and prosecuting looters.
  2. Anti-theft tags that damage or destroy products when removed are (limitedly) effective. If you sell clothing, ensure items cannot be easily taken in large quantities. Hang hangers alternately or secure them with steel wire or chain.
  3. Ensure as many valuable business assets as possible are marked as belonging to your store. This makes reselling the items more difficult. A digital display screen in your corporate colors is less attractive for resale.
  4. Store backups of data and customer records off-site.
  5. Remove all personnel files from the premises. These often contain confidential and privacy-sensitive data that could be used for identity theft or fraud.
  6. Never allow your employees to remain in the store during active or imminent looting. In such cases, do not go to your store yourself either; stay safely at home.
  7. Consider increasing your insurance coverage during a threat, rather than investing in extra security measures.

Finally, measures are always tailored

If your store or premises are at risk of being targeted by looters, carefully consider which measures to take. The suggestions above are general, and some may not be suitable or may be too costly for you. Preemptively assess which group of perpetrators you are dealing with and the attractiveness of your store. Then decide which measures are appropriate. Some simple measures cost little or nothing, while more substantial ones may require a larger investment. For the latter, expert advice is essential. Our experts are happy to help you. Contact Jan Schumer today at jan.schumer@mactwin.nl or by phone (026) 479 22 27.