Caught In The ActGuidelines for preventing instances of internal crime

In cartoons, you can immediately spot the bad guy--his slick,black hair and droopy mustache give him away. In real life, though,it's not as easy to tell who might be a criminal.

Rather than waste your time suspecting everyone of evil intent,it's easier, cheaper and healthier to take some simple steps toprevent crime from happening in the first place. There are ways tomake your business less vulnerable, notes Mike Coffey, CPCU,assistant vice president of Citizens Insurance in Howell, Michigan.Employee theft accounts for 50 to 70 percent of all workplacecrime, Coffey says. Staffers comprise as much as 40 percent of thatnumber, while support staff-including cleaning staff, contractorsand others-round out the rest.