Many of the estimated 18 million American small businesses are ideal targets for criminals. They are often open late with few staff members, they often keep valuable merchandise in stock and cash on hand – and despite their vulnerability, small businesses are vital to the nation’s economy, paying over 44 percent of the U.S. private payroll according to the Small Business Administration.

This year could prove to be even more of a challenge for small businesses. Law enforcement officials nationwide are predicting a rise in crime and police departments across the country are reporting shoplifting arrests up 10 to 20 percent over last year. In these tough economic times, it’s important for small business owners to reassess what they are doing to protect their businesses from burglary, robbery, shoplifting and fraud which, according to a study from the National Sheriff’s Association, causes at least 30 percent of all small business failures.

Crime can disrupt profits and destroy employee morale for larger companies, but one criminal act can be enough to devastate a small business. The potential for loss of revenue and merchandise can be overwhelming and crimes like robbery pose a serious threat to customer and employee safety.

The first and most important step in re-evaluating the security of your small business is prioritizing. Consider the risks most relevant to your business and tackle them first in order to develop a complete and effective plan. A comprehensive security plan might include both high and low-tech solutions to build a barrier against crime, protect your livelihood and proactively deter potential thieves.

There are solutions for just about every security risk. The key is to remember that no one security solution can stand alone; implementing a security plan that includes technology, design and employee involvement is the only way to fully secure your business.

Here are a few effective low-tech security solutions that may help keep costs down while making your businesses less attractive to thieves. Remember that the more obstacles placed in front of thieves, the more likely they are to look elsewhere for an easy target.