Shoplifting prevention and detection methods in retail security

Shoplifting is currently one among the most prevalent of non-violent offenses in the U.S.A. Shoplifting refers to stealing property put forward for sale. It is a costly issue - U.S. businesses and consumers lose billions every year to shoplifting. The former have to bear the burden of security-related costs and that of lost merchandise, while the latter have to pay a larger amount as retail prices as sellers pass on those costs. The police must strive hard to ensure prevention of the crime, as well as capture of shoplifters (Shoplifting Prevention Guide, 2011).

Shoplifters come from all income levels and age groups. Literally anybody entering a retail outlet may be a possible shoplifter. Shoplifters generally appear to be of two types: professionals, for whom this is their livelihood; and amateurs, who steal for many different reasons. This may involve merely a wish to possess the product, a wish to own luxuries, group status or peer pressure, kleptomania, stealing for fun, stealing to support any drug habit, a desperate need (e.g. a beggar stealing clothes or food), believing that the shop owes them the item, and so forth (Shoplifting Prevention Guide, 2011).

Prevention and Detection

1. Two-Way Mirrors (Retail and business Security)

This technique of theft detection/prevention is relatively old. Such mirrors are strategically placed all over shops, allowing constant surveillance to security officers. The mirrors work as follows: the glass on the side of the main store floor (normally well-lit) appears to be a mirror, while it actually is a window that, on the security room side (dimly lighted to ensure very little transmission of light via the glass) allows a clear view of the other side. Shoplifters can only see their own reflection. However, security officers, because of the intense light on the shop floor, can see the main store clearly. In simple words, while shoplifters are unable to see security officials, security officers have a clear view of the shoplifter. It is only possible to look through from the shop floor if its lights are dimmed; i.e. in such a case, people from both sides can see one another through the glass. Similarly, in case the security room is brightly lit, the mirror becomes a glass, allowing people to view each other from both sides.

2. Video Monitoring (Retail and business Security)

Technological advances have accorded greater flexibility and ease of use to video surveillance systems. Current security systems that employ Internet Protocol (IP) cameras possess easy installation and maintenance characteristics. They can be almost completely customized, enabling development of a business security system that is based on individual company needs. Placing video monitors around the business at strategic positions allows security officials to monitor shoplifting as well as other crimes. For example, in a recent crime in Kansas's Overland Park, a man aged 26 was detained and convicted of murdering a girl of 18 years. His capture and subsequent sentence was possible because of a Target surveillance camera, which showed him forcing the girl into her vehicle. The girl's body was discovered some days later in a woody location in Missouri. The video showing the abduction proved instrumental in catching the criminal.

4. Training store employees (Retail and business Security)

It is important to teach anti-shoplifting measures to store personnel. Shoplifters don't want anybody noticing them. Making salespersons interact with shoppers in their respective areas is rather effective when it comes to preventing shoplifting. Potential shoplifters can be deterred by a simple offering of help; when already catering to another customer, salespersons can say something along the lines of "I'll come over to help you out in a moment." An effective salesperson training program will cover shoplifting indicators, cautioning sales clerks to always remain alert. For instance, store employees must know to look out for anybody carrying concealment devices or walking around with unnatural or short steps because of items concealed in their clothing.

Store employees should be warned not to try to stop the suspect if they observe any incident of shoplifting, as this may cause physical harm to other customers or the employee himself. Instead, security or police officials should immediately be notified.

5. Monitoring Fitting Rooms (Retail and business Security)

One of the best opportunities for shoplifting comes from unmonitored fitting rooms. Shoplifters merely wear new clothing, or even exchange their present clothes with new store items, returning their old clothing to the shop rack. This necessitates careful supervision of fitting rooms. For instance, store policy should limit how many items can be taken into the fitting rooms by a customer. The best way to do this would be assigning a store employee to fitting rooms, enabling monitoring of the number of clothes taken in by customers.

Auditable signaling mechanisms on fitting-room doors that alert salespersons to the fact that somebody has gone in can also be useful. One must always remember that shoplifters try their level best to not attract attention to themselves.

6. Merchandize Tracking (Retail and business Security)

Many ways for identifying legitimate purchase of store merchandise exist; one example is instructing stapling of receipts to packages. Another example is electronic tags attached to store articles; the tag trigger an alarm at store exits and can only be removed from articles by cashiers with the use of special shears.

7. Other Deterrence Techniques (Retail and business Security)

Some other techniques to deter shoplifting include:

Attaching audible alerts to unlocked store exits.

Closing and blocking off checkout counters when not in use.

Designing the store to have entryways and exits in a common foyer.

Paying attention to deterrence while planning store layout. Adequate lighting should be maintained throughout the store. A minimal number of protruding displays and wings should be kept, all having a maximum height of three feet. Display cases must be set in irregular sequences.

Small, high-value products such as small appliances and cigarettes should be placed behind counters or in locked cases and supervised by a clerk.

Displays should be kept neat; spotting missing goods from orderly arrangements is easier.

My Opinion

I feel that an approach involving both "merchandize tracking" and "video monitoring" would be most effective.

Installing and monitoring CCTV -- Cost reductions and quality improvements have facilitated extensive adoption of CCTV (closed-circuit television) for preventing shoplifting. While there are only few published evaluations, one detailed research that studied fifteen English clothing stores discovered that the value of CCTV is directly proportional to sophistication of the system (Beck and Willis, 1999). CCTV usage may facilitate deterring of thefts, while also strengthening arrests, because of the digital proof of offense they provide (Shoplifting Prevention Guide).

Using electronic article surveillance (EAS) -- Also called electronic tagging. There are numerous electronic sensing gadgets for preventing and detecting shoplifting. Embedded sensors or tags having special magnetic or electronic characteristics are attached to store items. Store exits contain special electronics that detect non-deactivated tags. In stores wherein EAS is adopted, all store personnel must receive additional training with regards to how the system works, and proper deactivating or removal procedures after purchase of the item. These systems can be costly; further, installation and removal from articles can be time consuming (Shoplifting Prevention Guide, 2011; Hobson, 2001).