If you run a retail business, at some point you’ll probably find yourself in need of security bags – whether it’s for handling cash, cheques, important documents and paperwork, bank drafts, or any other number of items. And if you’re like many other people, when that time comes you might find yourself scratching your head. That’s because, with everything else you’ve got on the go at any given time, you probably don’t spend a whole lot of time contemplating the right security bags for your business – and there are quite a few options. So, if you feel like you’re dealing the most complicated simple item imaginable, don’t worry. You’re not alone.

But this doesn’t have to be a decision that eats away at your day. Because you can get by in virtually any situation with these three types of security bags:

• Locking Bags which are extremely secure and feature built-in keyed locks.
• High-Grade Poly Bags which are very tough and feature a number of security and tamper-prevention properties.
• Standard Sealable Bags which are relatively low in security and anti-tampering features, utilize a simple fold-over closure, and can generally be re-used

Finding the right bag just comes down to understanding your needs and matching them with the appropriate solution. Here are three simple questions you can ask to help you find the right security bags.

Question 1: What Will This Bag Be Carrying? 

Security bags are used for a wide range purposes and can carry any number of things. This can be something relatively low-value, such as basic documents or printed materials, but it can also be something extremely important and high-value, such as cash, confidential material, or drugs and medicine. In fact, we’ve even worked with the Ministry of Defense to provide bags that are secure enough to transport firearms.

If you’re going to be transporting something that is extremely high in value or importance, you may want to consider a locking bag. These are often used by governments to transport high value documentation. At Northern Specialty Supplies, we offer locking bags that feature a 7-pin Security Lock and key. We can even do multiple bags with one master key to ensure that a designated party can access the contents of any bag at any time.

For other types of high-value items, such as cash, checks, bank drafts, documents, and even forensic evidence, you might want to look into a high-grade poly bag. We are proud to offer one of the best poly bags on the market – our very own Keeperbag – which boasts a wide array of sophisticated anti-tampering features.

And if you’re carrying lower value items, you may want to opt for a simple sealable bag.

Question 2: How Many People Will be Handling This Bag?

Take a look at your chain of custody. This can also influence the type of security bag you will want to use. For instance, if you’re handing off your item directly to the recipient, you’re probably safe in putting it in a reusable security bag, such as a Keyless Security Expendable Inter-Office Mailer bag, a standard deposit bag, a standard Keeperbag, or a float bag.

However, if your chain of custody is significantly longer, you’ll want to opt for something more secure. Take, for example, the retail industry. If you work in retail, you’ve probably got a long chain of custody for your cash deposits: your cash leaves the till and is put into a bag. From there, it goes to a safe. Your safe is then accessed by an armored car company who takes the money from the safe to the car and brought to a cash processing centre where it may be emptied by yet another person who verifies the deposit aligned with what you reported. Then, finally, it is often put in another bag and carried to a financial institution for deposit.

Consider how many hands are involved in that equation before your hard-earned money actually makes it into your bank account. When your chain of custody is extensive, you will likely want to take extra precautions. For example, you may want to double up on your security: you can place the cash into a sealed, tamper-proof, high-grade poly bag, like our SAFE Keeperbag, and then place this bag into a heavy-duty key-locked bag for extra security, such as our Briefcase-Style Locking Courier Bag.

Question 3: Is It Important for You to Be Assured Your Bag Hasn’t Been Opened?  

Some items may be confidential or sensitive in nature which means that it may be imperative to you that the bag remains sealed and that the contents are seen or handled only be the intended recipient. If this is the case, then you’ll want to be assured that the integrity of the security bag has not been compromised and that whatever it’s carrying has remained completely private. For instance, we frequently supply security bags to police forces to prevent tampering with valuable evidence until it is ready for trial.

We also recently worked with a local municipal government in Ontario during an election to provide products that would help prevent elections fraud. Once ballots had been cast, they were put in a secure bag and taken to a secure location to be destroyed. This was integral as it helped ensure that ballots didn’t make it back into the system and risk being counted twice. For this, they utilized our SAFE Keeperbag because it features a number of anti-tampering properties including a VOID message that appears if the bag has been tampered with by freezing or chemicals; thermochromic ink that changes colour when heated, random printed black diamonds that prevent attempts to replace the seal; printing along the side welds that prevents tampering by cutting; and most importantly, dual sequential numbering and barcodes that can be validated by ensuring they match up to what was initially recorded. This process allowed the recipients at the secure location to receive the ballots, be sure that they were intact and hadn’t been tampered with, and help ensure a fair election. If you’d like to learn more on this topic, check out our blog post: Key Factors in Ensuring the Security of Votes and Ballots in Ontario’s Municipal Election.

If you know what your needs are, you can easily and efficiently find the right security bag for your needs. And if you’ve got questions about the ideal solution, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here to help.