Business Liaison Program

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The Thornton Business Liaison Program is a FREE crime-prevention program that takes the neighbors-looking- after-neighbors’ concept to the commercial level, creating partnerships between businesses and law enforcement to reduce crime in our community.

The program philosophy is simple: take control of what happens in your business community. By empowering businesses with strategies to avoid becoming targets, we reduce the likelihood of crime and victimization. 

Program Goal

The primary goal of the program is to actively reduce and prevent crime through education and cooperation. While the specific needs of each business community may vary, successful programs consistently follow these core principles:

• Foster open communication and mutual understanding between law enforcement and business owners.
• Promote collaboration and support among business owners.
• Educate business owners on crime prevention strategies for their own properties, encourage vigilance over neighboring businesses, and reinforce the importance of documenting and reporting suspicious activity.
• Establish a telephone tree and/or email distribution list to quickly share information about criminal activity in the area.
• Create emergency alert signals that neighboring businesses can activate when assistance is needed.

Trainings

In partnership with Alliance Business Assistance Center, the training sessions will cover key areas such as:

• How to Be a Good Witness
• Shoplifting Prevention
• Personal Safety
• Building Security

The ultimate goal is to help create a safe, secure atmosphere for businesses, employees, and patrons alike.

Multiple Benefits

• "See Something, Say Something" guide: A quick-reference guide on how and when to report concerns, what suspicious activity looks like, and direct contacts for TPD Community Liaison Officers and other helpful city resources
• Lunch and Learn safety presentations: Informal, in-person sessions held in partnership with the Thornton's Alliance Business Assistance Center, where officers meet directly with business owners and staff to cover practical safety topics, answer questions, and build familiarity with local law enforcement contacts
• Trespass Affidavit Program: Allows business and property owners to authorize TPD to enforce trespassing on their behalf during non-business hours, giving officers the ability to act on unauthorized activity without requiring the owner to be present
• Business Camera Registry: A voluntary registry that lets businesses proactively share the location (NOT live access) of their security cameras with TPD, helping investigators quickly identify potential camera coverage near a reported incident

Tips for success

• Set clear, achievable goals. Identify simple steps you can take to improve safety and security at your business.
• Keep important information accessible. Make sure you have current contact information for your employees, neighboring businesses, and local law enforcement when needed.
• Stay aware of your surroundings. Pay attention to what is happening in and around your business. Knowing what is normal can help you recognize when something seems unusual or out of place.
• Do not put yourself at risk. Your role is to observe and report, not to confront, chase, or attempt to apprehend someone. When you see something suspicious, take note of important details and contact the appropriate authorities.
• Remember: You are an extra set of eyes and ears in your community. Stay alert, trust your instincts, and See Something, Say Something.

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design

• Natural Surveillance: Maximizes visibility by using clear sightlines, strategic window placements, transparent fencing, and proper lighting so people can easily observe their surroundings and spot suspicious behavior.
• Natural Access Control: Guides the flow of people and restricts unauthorized entry to potential targets using physical layouts, architectural design, landscaping, and clearly positioned entrances and exits
• Territorial Reinforcement: Uses physical features like pavement treatments, signs, and well-defined property lines to create a clear distinction between public and private spaces, fostering a sense of ownership among legitimate users
• Maintenance and Image: Keeps properties clean, repaired, and free of graffiti or trash to show that a space is actively cared for, which discourages vandalism and signals active guardianship
• Commercial and Retail: Marking clear parking boundaries, proper illumination, and visible store hours to guide consumer behavior and deter theft.

Getting Started

For more information call 720-977-5609 or email

TPD.BusinessSafety@ThorntonCO.gov