Have you ever wondered how to prevent shoplifting in your store or in the supermarket? How to reduce retail theft? Well, look no more we`ve got you covered.
Anyone who works in retail knows how problematic and damaging shoplifting can be to a business, but what measures can you actually take to reduce this problem?
There are many things that you can do to prevent shoplifting. You can make your store less vulnerable, improve surveillance, give better training to your staff, and implement anti-theft policies and technology as well.
Here are the 6 most common ways to prevent shoplifting in supermarkets, which include.
1. Utilise Attentive Customer Service
2. Install Cameras and Mirrors
3. Organize Your Store
4. Train Your Staff
5. Track And Plan
6. Invest In Technology
Read ahead in this article to discover all you need to know about how to prevent shoplifting in your store.
Do You Need To Be Concerned About Shoplifting?
Perhaps the first thing that you will want to think about is whether or not investing significant time and resources into tackling the issue of shoplifting is going to be worth it in the long run. In reality, this is a problem that is perhaps more prevalent than you think.
According to data from the FBI, there were more than 548,000 separate instances of shoplifting in 2021, which accounted for nearly 1/5 of all theft cases in the country.
Around 10% of the population of the US is thought to have committed this offense at some time in their life, and some statistics indicate that it is only becoming more common in recent years.
In 2019, shrinkage as a result of shoplifting reached a colossal $61 billion dollars. The supermarket giant Walmart has recently reported that theft is a bigger issue now than it has ever been, costing them around 1% of all their revenue, and they are increasing their efforts to address it.
With that in mind, it might be wise for you to do the same. You might not have the same resources that Walmart has to throw at the problem, but there is a lot that you can do to deter theft in your store – and it doesn’t always have to break the bank.
Read also >> Will The Police Track Me Down for Shoplifting? (Do This Now…)
Read also >> How Long Do Stores Keep Shoplifting Records?
Read also >> How Long After Shoplifting Can You Be Caught? (Do This Now!)
Read also >> What Happens If You Get Caught Shoplifting Under 18?
How To Secure Your Store Against Shoplifters
There are many different precautions that you could take to reduce the prevalence of shoplifting and we’re going to talk about some of the most effective and simplest to implement so that you can start feeling more secure today.
1. Utilise Attentive Customer Service
This tip is a win-win as it doesn’t just deter shoplifters – it also creates a warm and inviting atmosphere for your regular customers as well.
Your staff is your greatest asset, and great customer service will reduce incidents of theft.
- Greet shoppers at the entrance. Most shoplifters will determine whether or not they will be able to take an item from your store within the first 5 seconds of walking through the door, and being greeted by a member of staff will let them know that you are paying attention.
- Offer assistance. Making sure that your staff is visible and attentive to the needs of your customers will make them feel seen and observed. It is important, though, that this is done in a respectful and friendly way that does not make regular shoppers uncomfortable.
- Ensure good staff numbers. Shoplifters often work in groups and will try to distract members of staff so that others can get away. It is important that your store is never understaffed and you always have a good number of people on hand.
2. Install Cameras and Mirrors
This is perhaps the most well-known deterrent against shoplifting but it is well-known for a reason. There are many important benefits to having mirrors in the aisles of your store as well as an internal CCTV system.
First, they will make it much easier for your staff to monitor what is happening across the entire store in real time. It can also ensure that there are no hidden corners or “dark spots” where someone can be completely concealed (more on that later).
On top of this, you will also be able to gather evidence and track crimes that do occur – which is incredibly important for both prosecuting offenders and planning ahead.
Finally, it will make potential shoplifters feel like they are being watched and make the store appear less vulnerable.
3. Organize Your Store
Shoplifters benefit greatly from chaos and disorder. If your store is untidy and chaotic then this creates opportunities for things to go missing without you even being aware of it.
You should think carefully about your store’s layout so that there aren’t any corners for someone to hide in or areas that are not visible on the cameras or mirrors.
The aisles should be wide and uncluttered and the whole space should be clean and tidy so that it would be very difficult to steal something without being noticed.
You also need to know exactly what you have in the store and where it is. Keeping track of your inventory is vital if you want to know whether or not shoplifting is becoming a problem, and the more awareness you have of your space then the better you can spot potential risks.
4. Train Your Staff
To make sure that the right steps are being taken at every opportunity, you and your staff need to know exactly what to do at all times.
Your staff should be well informed about how shoplifters operate and they should know all of the anti-theft protocols that you have in place. They should be able to identify potential scams like switching price tags and making false returns, and they should have a way to alert other staff about a potential shoplifter without raising an alarm – such as through a coded message or announcement.
Shoplifters can be dangerous and everyone who works in your store should know when and how they should approach anyone that they think may be suspicious. You will need to carry out a thorough risk assessment and have a clear policy in place. It may be best for all staff to alert a manager or a member of the security team instead of directly engaging themselves.
5. Track And Plan
No matter what you do, shoplifters may still attempt to steal from your store regardless, and keeping track of any and all incidents that occur will allow you to be better prepared for the next time.
You should note when and where every incident takes place so that you can map the vulnerable areas of the store.
You may want to increase surveillance in these areas, move items around, or adjust the layout to make these spaces more visible.
You also want to know which items in your store are most at-risk. They may need to be moved to an area with more traffic, they may need to have security tags on them, or even be placed in a lockable cabinet.
6. Invest In Technology
You might think that more expensive technological solutions might be out of your budget but there are a lot of different options out there that could save you significantly more than you spend.
An electronic tagging system, for example, accompanied by an anti-theft terminal at the entrance, will make it much more difficult for an individual to leave without paying.
It may also be worth investing in a more high-tech camera system that offers better visibility or automatic monitoring that makes it much easier to identify suspicious activity.
Summary
So, how can you prevent shoplifting in your store? It’s all about being prepared and proactive. You need to know how shoplifters operate, have a clear plan in place, and train your staff on what to look out for and exactly what they should do if they notice something suspicious.
You need to make sure that your store is organized and all areas are as visible and well-monitored as possible, which may mean installing additional cameras and mirrors.
You need to keep track of what is going on and maybe even invest in additional technology.
Reference Sources
https://nypost.com/2022/01/22/why-shoplifting-is-soaring-in-the-us-and-will-get-worse/