ABSTRACT
Physical security is that aspect of security concerned with physical measures designed to safeguard personnel, to prevent unauthorized access to equipment, facilities, material, and documents, and to safeguard them against loss, damage, and theft. Loss prevention is particularly concerned with preventing loss of supplies, tools, equipment, and other materials in use, storage, and transit. Concern is focused not only on the threat of criminal activity and acts of wrongdoing by forces external to the organizational unit, but also on internal causes — theft and pilferage by those who have authorized access, inattention to physical security practices and procedures, and disregard for property controls and accountability. Physical security and loss prevention measures include instructions, procedures, plans, policies, agreements, systems, and resources committed and designed to safeguard personnel, protect property, and prevent losses. Physical security helps remove the opportunity from people who want to commit fraud. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, as the cliché goes.
