Prevent Retail Theft And Protect Staff

As a 409% increase in retail theft has recently hit the headlines, we thought it was a good time to discuss security and prevention. But having looked deeper into the statistics published by Grocer, we’re most concerned about the 85.4% rise in violence toward staff.

And it goes further; it’s costing customers 10p in crime tax, which is added to every transaction to prevent theft, and millions of pounds in stock. Combining revenue loss, cost of living pressures, and staffing challenges makes it easy to see why theft is becoming a big headache for retailers.

3 Top Tips To Reduce Retail Theft

We know theft is a far-reaching issue, but here are the top three areas we recommend to reduce theft or assist in the identification of an alleged criminal:

1 . Access control

Theft happens in storage areas as well as on the shop floor. At West Mercia Security, we’ve been installing stock cages and access control pads to restrict and record who enters and exits, and we've been combining this with CCTV. The aim is to be able to audit what and who enters and exits the stock area.

2. CCTV

For high-level operations, it’s not uncommon for criminals to target older systems with easier disconnection or poor-quality imagery. Install high-tech CCTV systems that are harder to interfere with and have excellent quality – so you can pass this on to the authorities – especially to identify repeat offenders. 

3. Reduce Blind Spots

Ensure cameras have no blind spots – it’s in a criminal's interest to find those areas to stash goods that can't be seen or used to show evidence in court. Combine new alarm system technology with CCTV, access control, and fire systems to provide a 360-degree prevention and audit strategy. 

Police advice to reduce shop theft

We also found some helpful Police research that helps to prevent theft:

A. Meet & Greet

Meet and greet customers within 3-4 seconds to prevent theft. Criminals judge how easy it will be to steal from your business quickly.

B. Crime Mapping

Create a crime map to spot areas where theft is more likely. Increase CCTV and other security measures in this area.

C. Tags

Consider electronic tagging for stock frequently stolen where viable.

D. A Clear Line Of View

Increase visibility across your store to make it harder for thieves to steal easily.

We work closely with retail businesses to protect stock and increase security. One of our customer stories can be read here. 

West Mercia Security is a Stourbridge-based business that can secure, protect, and connect your retail business and prevent theft.

Call us on 01384 396316 or email [email protected] for more information.

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