As a business owner, you must be aware of your store’s potential for criminal activity. While no one likes to think about it, the fact is that crime does happen, and it can have a severe impact on your business. There are a few simple steps you can take, however, to help deter criminals and keep your store safe.
The first step is to be aware of the most common types of criminal activity in retail stores. These include shoplifting, employee theft, credit card fraud, and organized retail crime. Once you know what to look for, you can put some specific procedures in place to help prevent these crimes from happening.
1. Shoplifting
Shoplifting is one of the retail stores’ most common types of criminal activity. In most cases, shoplifting is committed by individuals looking to steal small items they can quickly sell or trade for cash. To help prevent shoplifting, train your employees on spotting potential shoplifters and what to do if they see someone attempting to steal something from your store. You should also invest in security devices such as security mirror systems and alarm tags.
Some stores even employ off-duty police officers to help deter shoplifting. They can provide a visible presence in the store and help apprehend shoplifters if they occur. Try to keep your store well-lit and free of hiding places where shoplifters could conceal stolen items.
While you can’t eliminate the risk of shoplifting completely, taking these steps can help to deter criminals and make it more difficult for them to steal from your store successfully. Plan for the worst by having a clear shoplifting policy and ensuring your employees are familiar with it.
2. Employee theft
This is a more complicated type of crime that takes place in retail stores. Employees who commit theft often do so because they feel underpaid or overworked. These individuals may start by stealing small items from the store, but they can eventually move on to larger items or cash. You want to trust your employees, but it’s essential to be aware that this type of crime can occur in any business.
There are a few things you can do to help prevent employee theft. First, do a background check on all new employees before you hire them. This will help you to weed out any individuals with a history of theft or other criminal activity. It would help if you also had a clear and concise employee handbook that outlines your policies on theft and the consequences for breaking those policies.
If you keep valuable items in your store, such as jewelry or electronics, consider investing in a safe. This will deter employees from trying to steal these items and protect them in case of a break-in. You can also secure entire rooms or areas of your store with durable and high-security locks such as mechanical push button cylindrical locks to prevent unauthorized access. These locks will prevent employees from accessing areas you don’t want them to be in.
3. Credit card fraud
Credit cards are another common target for criminals. This crime is committed by employees who have access to customer information or other unauthorized individuals who can obtain this information. They will use the credit card to make purchases or withdraw cash from the account. This can be costly for your business, as you may be responsible for the fraudulent charges.
To help prevent credit card fraud, encrypt all customer data and limit access to this information to only a few key employees. You should also regularly review your credit card statements for any unauthorized charges. Some businesses also require customers to show ID when using a credit card, but this is not always practical or possible.
4. Organized retail crime
Organized retail crime is a type of crime that is committed by groups of individuals who work together to steal large quantities of merchandise from stores. This merchandise is then often sold illegally online or at off-site locations. It can be difficult to prevent this type of crime, as the criminals are often very organized and may have inside information about your store.
One thing you can do is to train your employees on how to spot suspicious behavior and report it immediately. You should also install surveillance cameras throughout your store and consider investing in a security system with an alarm system that will notify the police in case of a break-in.
Taking some simple precautions and being aware of the most common types of criminal activity in retail stores can help deter criminals and keep your business safe. Always be on the lookout for suspicious behavior and immediately report it to the authorities. By taking these steps, you can help to keep your store safe from crime.
