As tariff uncertainty swirls, businesses across industries are waiting to see how potential changes could impact everything from prices of inventory to materials and more. We’ve already seen reports of prices increasing across several industries and in some cases, the news is changing by the day.

Unfortunately, as costs of items rise, thieves take notice. This puts businesses at greater risk for theft and vandalism. No one knows where the latest round of tariffs will lead. However, one thing is clear, it’s important for businesses to act now amid tariff uncertainty before thieves and vandals strike. Let’s dive into why physical security must remain top of mind.

Protecting valuable items

Although many industries could be impacted by potential tariffs, the construction and auto industries are good examples to look at and examine possible impacts. Throughout my career in physical security there has been a clear correlation between rising prices of inventory and materials and the increased risk of theft.

Reuters reports that lumber futures just hit a two and a half year high. This raises new concerns for construction and staging sites which may be stocked with material waiting to be installed. Not a new problem, thieves will often target these sites at night and steal raw materials. In some cases, with items like copper pipe, they’ll even rip out what’s already been installed.

In the auto industry, new cars could cost up to $6,400 more according to the Yale Budget Lab. Unfortunately, as costs of items rise, thieves take notice and the inventory already sitting on many lots becomes that much more valuable and in demand. We saw this firsthand just a few years ago at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. As production of new cars slowed, the price of used cars skyrocketed, becoming a bigger target for thieves. 

And it’s not just the vehicles themselves. Parts like tires, rims and catalytic converters are easy to steal in minutes and flip for a quick profit at salvage yards and recycling centers. For construction, this extends to everything from heavy equipment, to tools, steel, and more.

Physical security challenges

What are businesses doing to protect against the threat of theft and vandalism? Not enough. We’re seeing businesses deploy outdated security strategies including fences or CCTV alone. The problem? These solutions are not proactive. Responding after the fact doesn’t do much good — in physical security, timing is everything. The ability to respond and stop suspicious activity in real-time before it turns into a problem that impacts a business’s bottom line is crucial, especially if what you’re trying to protect is highly sought after.

Too many businesses wait until it’s too late to secure their properties. From parking lots, to dealerships, construction sites, utilities, storage facilities and beyond, waiting until a security incident occurs is not the answer. All it takes is a single incident resulting in monetary or brand damage to cause serious impacts on the business.

Double down on physical security

Tariff outcomes and potential crime trends remain uncertain. The bottom line is that physical security should always be prioritized before trouble strikes. It’s impossible to tell what the future holds, but businesses can act now to prevent problems later.

The best approach to beefing up defenses against thieves and vandals is a layered one. Layering physical security measures creates a comprehensive, smart plan of action that ensures sites will remain secure at all hours. Businesses should:

• Establish a perimeter with fencing
• Adopt video surveillance
• Deploy proper lighting as an active deterrent and to enhance video quality
• Set determined times when active monitoring of surveillance feeds should take place and no one should be around
• Layer on artificial intelligence (AI) to speed up response times and reduce false alarms

Businesses should prioritize these tools together to create a layered security strategy that works 24/7, no matter the tariff or trade situation. We don’t know what the future holds but now is as good a time as ever to prioritize physical security, double down on defenses, and protect your business to stay ready should trouble strike.