It is usually a good sign when footfall is high in retail stores. When shops are busy with many visitors, good business usually follows, but unfortunately an influx of genuine shoppers also makes it easy for unscrupulous individuals to hide.
Shoplifters and vandals are the scourge of businesses of all sizes, but experience and technological advances over time have given business owners a number of effective ways to combat them. After all, it is important to do so not only to protect their inventory, but also to protect employees and genuine customers.
If you’re new to retail business or just looking to improve your own security measures in response to recent trouble, this article offers a number of time-tested tips that could help.
Invest in a good surveillance system
Many businesses use CCTV camera systems in Brisbane and other major cities. Shops there might be visited by thousands of people each day, increasing the likelihood that they will receive a visitor whose intentions are not good. However, it can be a sensible investment for stores in smaller towns too.
CCTV is an effective deterrent, gives peace of mind to shoppers and employees, and provides strong evidence to support insurance claims and police investigations. A camera system with the right features can be an excellent all-round security solution.
Consider the layout
The position of your shelves and overall layout of your store can make a big difference to how effectively it can be monitored by cameras and employees. It is of particular importance to look for blind or dark spots, which are either not covered by cameras or not well-lit. Keeping the store tidy and regularly checking inventory can also help you spot crimes.
You should also have signs clearly indicating which areas only staff are permitted to access, and if possible you should display high value items behind the checkouts.
Alarms
Another popular solution used by many businesses, and probably your car, is an alarm. For retail stores, there are two main types to consider. The first are burglar alarms, which are located on doors and windows and will be triggered when they detect an attempted break-in.
The other type for retail stores to consider are anti-theft devices, also known as security tags although they sometimes come in the form of boxes too. Staff remove these when a customer pays for the item, otherwise a sensor at the store exit will detect them and trigger the alarm. This means that it will trigger if somebody tries to leave without paying for the item.
Train staff
Training staff to spot and handle potential shoplifters is important, but even something as simple as having them interact with customers when they enter the store can make a big difference. For example, approaching customers to offer help will be appreciated by your real customers, while subtly letting others know that you are watching.
Conclusion
These are just some of the many approaches you can take to prevent shoplifting and other crimes from happening on your premises. Between technology, attentive staff, and a common-sense approach to your store layout, it is possible to prevent many crimes from taking place at all.
