Don’t Be Creepy – The Art of Physical Surveillance and Retail Theft Prevention

In the fight to stop shoplifting in retail stores, there are several retail theft prevention methods you can employ to accomplish the task. Of course, you will want to have a good security alarm system in your store to ensure that your business is protected after hours from burglars.  You will also need to get a good EAS (Electronic Article Surveillance) system for your entrance and exit doors, like a top of the line Checkpoint Systems setup that works with different kinds of security tags and labels.  Last but not least, if you have the budget, it would be a good idea to hire someone that handles investigations on shoplifters and employees.

If you are able to have a loss prevention or asset protection team member working in your store that looks for shoplifters, make sure they have the proper training so they don’t wind up scaring away your loyal customers.  After all, the goal is to stop shoplifting, not stop customers from purchasing your merchandise.  I have worked in the retail loss prevention field for several years, and know that if you aren’t mindful of your surroundings while you are watching someone in the store, you can turn out looking like a creep yourself.

I remember several occasions that my coworkers and I have been mistaken for shady characters ourselves.   For example, I remember watching a person from across the store when another customer just happened to walk in the line of sight between myself and the shoplifter.  The customer thought I was watching her, and she became so nervous that she asked for a manager at the front of the store, and said that there was a strange man watching her.  The manager said that he would call “security” to safely escort her to her car.  To her surprise, I showed up and introduced myself.  After realizing the situation, the customer laughed and obviously no longer needed the escort to her vehicle.  Although I was well trained myself, things like this do tend to happen on occasion.

Once you have watched shoplifters a few times, you start to get a feel for what works and what doesn’t work.  You need to know the setup of the store and know where you can get a good vantage point when you are watching someone wherever they happen to be in the store.  You can also use your environment and the merchandise to blend in without being seen.  For instance, you can use peg holes in the shelving to look through, or adjust merchandise so that it hides your head and body as you are watching someone.  When a shoplifter is looking around to see if someone is watching them, they tend to look at eye level, so if you stay lower when you are looking at them from behind merchandise, they will be less likely to see you.  I’m not saying that you have to crawl around on the ground, but just try to stay below eye level.  With a combination of good retail theft prevention equipment and a team that is looking out for shoplifters in your store, you are sure to make a positive impact on your bottom line.

For more information contact us at Antishoplifting.net or call 1.770.426.0547