For small business owners, running a successful operation is already a challenge—but when criminals target your livelihood, that challenge becomes even greater. In South Boston, a string of break-ins has shaken local businesses along East Broadway Street, proving once again that thieves will go to great lengths to access cash.
One such incident took place at The Paramount, a neighborhood diner known for its welcoming atmosphere and loyal customers. Late Thursday night, a would-be burglar broke in through the back door, stealing hundreds of dollars in tip money. But his main target? The safe.
Weak security invites persistence. This wasn’t just a quick smash-and-grab, this was a determined attempt to get into the restaurant’s safe. The intruder first tried using a crowbar. When that failed, he left, only to return with a shovel in a second attempt to crack the safe open.
The restaurant’s manager, Dan Conlon, summed it up: “He tried to break into our safe… first with a crowbar. When that didn’t work, he came back with a shovel.”
Fortunately, the safe held strong, but the break-in still resulted in stolen cash, property damage, and a serious disruption to business. And this wasn’t an isolated event—at least two other nearby businesses were hit in recent days.
Incidents like this highlight a harsh reality: a weak safe is an invitation. If a thief is willing to break in twice with different tools, that’s a clear indicator that many safes are seen as beatable. In far too many cases, burglars successfully crack open or carry away inadequate safes, leaving businesses to deal with the financial loss and operational setbacks.
But what if businesses were better prepared? What if thieves saw a hardened target instead of an easy payday?
A truly secure business starts with a fortified safe—one that isn’t just a locked box but a high-security investment. The right safe can mean the difference between a failed break-in attempt (like at The Paramount) and a devastating loss.
Here’s what every business should consider:
✔ Reinforced Construction – A high-security safe with hardened steel and reinforced locking mechanisms is built to withstand attacks.
✔ Tamper-Resistant Features – Crowbars, drills, and even shovels should be useless against your safe. Look for solutions designed to resist common burglary tools.
✔ Anchoring Systems – Many thieves simply steal the entire safe if they can’t crack it. Bolting it to the ground or integrating it into your facility’s infrastructure prevents that risk.
✔ Smart Security Integration – Modern safes go beyond just metal and locks. Smart safes with digital tracking, time-locking features, and limited access control can make theft attempts even less appealing.
Businesses, such as restaurants, who are frequently targeting for burglaries should seek out high-security safes and retrofit solutions, provided by trusted security integrators, like Amphion, that make breaking in a near-impossible task. Whether it’s upgrading your existing safe or installing a new, reinforced model, these solutions are designed to protect your assets, reduce losses, and make criminals think twice.
For the businesses on East Broadway, the damage has already been done. The stress, the repairs, the lost income – it’s a harsh lesson in why security must be proactive, not reactive.
Don’t wait for a break-in to show you the weaknesses in your security. Harden the target now.
