Several years ago I did a security survey for a museum located on the top
floor of a department store in Japan. Japan seems to have quite a few
shopping center museums.  They do, indeed, complicate security. In Japan, the
store security people monitor the museum's alarms.  The control room was not
"museum quality", that is, it was more suitable for a retail store than a
museum. Phone lines were not fully supervised to the level we might expect.
Everyone and his brother had a key to the museum space--building engineers,
guards, etc.--and the museum did not have tight control of anything--shipping
and receiving, utilities, water, maintenance in the building that might
affect them, etc.  The museum was obligated to use the guards provided by the
landlord and to be cleaned by the cleaning service provided to them.  There
are other issues.  Police response was slow because they had to enter the
store and then find their way with an escort to the top floor gallery.

One thing to do is try to alarm every object or case/vitrine. Try to model
your security around the mall jewelry store security model. Be carful of what
is displayed in the windows and remove small items if they are vulnerable at
night. Arrange to keep everyone out after hours including guards and landlord
staff. Above all, make sure your alarm system is good, that you use good
procedures with regard to issuing pass codes and dealing with the central
station, and that your line to the central station is supervised to UL Grade
AA standards (under the new UL standards this is standard supervision).
 Grade C digital dialers are not acceptable in any museum, especially not in
a shopping center setting since you don't control your utilities.
Have a good physical security survey conducted. Can anyone enter via ducts,
over walls, above ceilings (most shopping centers have a common attic), etc.?
Who has the key?  Security? Mall management? Is there a fire department rapid
access box with a key to the Mall?  If so, it is alarmed?
Is the space sprinklered? If so, this is OK but you need to look at this to
make sure that the system is adequate and properly installed and that there
are good procedures for water shut off and to avoid accidents.
How do you get items in and out?  Are there special risks in how this occurs?
This is just some food for thought. Hope it is useful.

Steve Keller
Museum Security Consultant
Steve Keller and Associates, Inc.
(904) 789-6740
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