Preventing retail theft

[pioneer]

The initial message was deleted from this topic on 01 June 2013 at 20:46

[pioneer]

The initial message was deleted from this topic on 01 June 2013 at 20:47

[pioneer]

The initial message was deleted from this topic on 01 June 2013 at 20:47

[xr287]

How many shops do you have, is it actually worthwhile hiring security?

I work for a large retailer and the amount of shoplifters stopped and stock recovered by our security staff is staggering. Despite cctv and a range of different tags including those "spider" wraps you mentioned. All the serious shoplifters have ways round them and without people watching them a lot of that stock would have been lost.

[The Moose]

I have a solution in mind that sounds perfectly suited for you.

Would you mind if I gave you a call at some point?

If you would be kind enough to reply to my PM with your phone number and a suitable time, that would be fantastic.

Cheers

The Moose

[10JH]

If you're saying a security guard is an extra £20k a year, then is it worth it?

Have you worked out how much you're losing a year from it?

[xr287]

pioneer said:

xr287 said:

How many shops do you have, is it actually worthwhile hiring security?

I work for a large retailer and the amount of shoplifters stopped and stock recovered by our security staff is staggering. Despite cctv and a range of different tags including those "spider" wraps you mentioned. All the serious shoplifters have ways round them and without people watching them a lot of that stock would have been lost.

We operate 3 stores. Have used undercover security in past but results not good (perhaps that company not good plus it is an extra 20k a year at least). They are in quiet country towns rather than big city centres, I am worried that uniformed guards will put genuine customers off. If I go in a store and a guard is always following you (they are large superstores and to keep an eye on someone you would need to follow them) it puts me off browsing....

Generally they spot and follow people on cctv and then when they see them up to something have security waiting to pick them up when they try to leave rather than tailing them round the store. But like you say it does cost money, worth it with the size of the store I'm in but if your losing less than the cost of running a cctv system with at least one to monitor it and one to do the stops then it's a bit pointless.

[mat13]

Hire Deevlash

[Fabiao]

You need to identify the kind of shoplifter you're dealing with, really.

If they're opportunist, then the tagging will be a deterrent.

If they're working as part of a professional 'gang', they'll come 'tooled up' to remove or circumvent any kind of tagging you install.

What kind of tagging are you taking about?

'Soft' tagging is easily removable if placed in a visible location, and 'hard' tagging (eg. the 'dongles' on wire which need a removal tool at the till point) can be very expensive, especially if you're buying in relatively low volumes.

[majordad]

I had a Shop/Service Station for 8 yrs. It's important to make theft an issue for your staff, ie it stops with them and it affects them. They see it and they need to be looking for it. They need to be brave enough to speak up, make them stakeholders in your business, ie ask them why should I spend £20,000 per year hiring security when together we can solve the problem. Worked for me.

Also, IMHO, staff theft in retail will outnumber customer theft by value over 4 to 1. Watch them, and let them know you will show no mercy.

Before the service station/ shop I was in the Army !