Guard against shoplifters
Whether you own or manage a shop, here are some steps you can take to prevent theft.
Shoplifting is the theft of goods from shops, including department stores. Typically, shoplifters conceal items on them, in pockets, under clothes or in a bag, and leave the premises without paying.
Shoplifters range from amateur opportunists to career criminals and organised crime groups, while vulnerable individuals may also be coerced by others into stealing.
How to deter shoplifting
Meet and greet customers
Meet and greet people as they enter the store and ask if they need any help as they shop. Making eye contact can also show you have acknowledged their presence.
Genuine customers may value that level of service but it may be enough to deter a shoplifter, so having staff who engage with customers will indicate they are likely to notice and react.
Most shoplifters will not pose a risk to staff, but others may do so. Make staff aware of how to spot a shoplifter and what the policy is on dealing with shoplifters.
Security cameras
Installing high-resolution CCTV which cover the whole store can be a valuable deterrent to potential thieves, as can displaying signs to let everyone in the premises know it is present.
If you have security cameras, make sure:
- the cameras are regularly checked, to ensure images are not obscured and there are no blind-spots
- the video signal from your camera is recording at a minimum of six frames per second
- you have a nominated person on each working shift, who is trained and able to either replay CCTV video footage recordings or provide CCTV footage files to the police, if required. Also ensure the nominated people know and understand the retention period of CCTV video recordings
- you are able to upload CCTV video footage to Avon and Somerset Police’s internet CCTV portal, with the time and date integral to the relevant picture, and without any drop in quality
- your system is capable of saving and securing recorded images for review or export at a later date
- the system clock for your CCTV cameras must always be set correctly, for example kept accurate in relation to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and British Summer Time (BST). This will be very important if a police investigation is carried out
- your system is password protected
Use electronic tagging
Thieves often target premises which do not have anti-theft systems, such as a security accredited anti-theft terminal and tagging system.
Consider having an anti-theft terminal installed an the store entrance to show shoplifters ‘this shop is protected’ and force them to go elsewhere.
Use ‘Electronic Article Surveillance’ which consists of attaching tags to items and detection systems at exits. These trigger an alarm if an item with an active tag leaves the premises without authorisation.
Join, or start, a partnership
Have you considered joining a scheme where shops work together by sharing information on shoplifters in your area? If such a scheme does not operate in your area, you can set one up.
Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP)
BCRPs operate to make towns, cities and communities safer by:
- collating intelligence on known troublemakers
- excluding from private premises on a ‘banned from one banned from all’ basis
- working with police to enforce those exclusions and prevent further offences
- assisting with the rehabilitation of offenders
- delivering local crime reduction initiatives
For more information on BCRPs, visit the National Business Crime Centre website.
UK Partners Against Crime (UKPAC)
UKPAC is a community of like-minded businesses, police, crime prevention agencies, and legal professionals collaborating to address crime and anti-social behaviour in your area.
Floor layout
Make sure high-value goods are under close surveillance and never store them close to the doors. These are the items most likely to be stolen and it is too easy for shoplifters to walk in, grab items and run out before staff have even noticed their presence.
Make sure your staff have a good view around the store; low shelves, wide aisles and avoiding dead ends all make it more difficult for shoplifters to work undetected.
Position tills close to the doors so staff can monitor people entering and exiting the shop. Consider using convex mirrors on the walls to maximise viewing opportunities.
If your store has changing rooms, put an attendant nearby who can monitor the items being taken in and out, and keep a close eye on potential shoplifters.