We’ve put together ten tips that you can use as a business owner to reduce theft and shoplifting at your business. Most thieves shoplift on an average of 1.5 times a week; with nearly $25 million worth of merchandise stolen every day. The following is a list of proactive steps you can take to reduce your losses due to shoplifting.
1. Prevention is your best protection. A business that announces they don’t tolerate theft will often be passed over in favor of a more “friendly” store. Signage and cameras (real or realistic-looking fakes) discourage many would-be shoplifters. Postacrime (www.postacrime.com) has a variety of effective signage and prevention tools. Decals on windows, fitting room mirrors and display fixtures will let the criminals know you’re watching them closely. Many police departments post advice and precautions on preventing retail theft; the Salem, Oregon police department (http://www.cityofsalem.net./export/departments/police/tips_for_preventing_shoplifting.htm) offers very practical information on protecting your business.
2. Trained employees are your best weapon against shoplifting. Just the act of greeting a patron or offering help lets a shoplifter know that he/she is being watched and the employees are attentive. Employees should watch for inappropriately baggy clothing, lingering in corners and unusual attention to traffic and employees. Occasionally a shoplifter will have a partner to create a distraction such as an argument or fainting; employees should designate one or more to react in such a situation while the others continue to work.
3. Physical barriers are excellent deterrents. Arranging your hangars in alternating directions prevents someone from grabbing an armful of clothing and fleeing. Filling up corners with racks or locked display cases will eliminate hiding places and convex mirrors will afford a better overall view of your store. Locked, laminated glass cases for small valuables can prevent smash ‘n runs. Lock little-used doors such as those to storerooms or closets. Closed checkout lanes should be adequately blocked.
4. Forewarned is forearmed! Know what’s going around and what to expect. Postacrime (www.postacrime.com) offers free memberships that, among other things, provide email alerts so you can be on the lookout for crime trends in your area. By posting a crime against your business, you alert others, possibly even someone that can help you catch your perpetrator. You can initiate a crime search, finding out what types of theft or vandalism have happened in your community. Local police departments also use Postacrime to alert the public of crimes in their area and to encourage the sharing of surveillance videos.
5. Require receipts for returns. By implementing a receipt-only return policy you will deter the thieves that shoplift your merchandise then return it for cash refunds. Legitimate clientele will rarely be upset by such a policy but thieves will most likely move on to a different store. Post the policy in a prominent place near the entrance and checkouts.
6. Fitting rooms that require employee keys are very effective. A weighted door will prevent partial closures that allow unobserved merchandise to into the fitting room. Have an attendant to verify what’s taken in and collect unwanted merchandise. A favorite technique of shoplifters is to conceal merchandise under an armful of clothing. The thief can conceal their loot without anyone knowing it was taken until inventory time.
7. Electronic tagging is rather costly but is a powerful deterrent. If you cannot invest in electronic tagging, you can find recycled tags and check stations for a fraction of the cost of active tagging. If you opt for inactive tags, however, be aware that the internet has numerous postings on message boards instructing in the removal of such tags. Have your checkout employee remove all tags then re-check for any missed ones. This will insure that no item leaves the store with an inactive tag, alerting thieves of a breach in your security system.
8. Customer Service. Asking questions such as “can I help you with anything on the bottom of your cart?” or “Is there anything else I can help you with today?” before completing the sale can remind an honest customer of something forgotten or make a shoplifter nervous enough to try to save face and “return” an item to the clerk.
9. Research laws regarding detainment of suspects. Legally detaining shoplifters can be tricky, so you should research your local and state laws on detention. In many localities, a thief must have exited the property before detention! Be sure to contact your local police department or visit their website for more information.
10. PROSECUTE!! Shoplifters that have consented to be interviewed often say they are only caught an average of once every 48 times they steal and the police are called in only half of those incidents. You are not doing a juvenile any favors by merely calling his/her parents, you are encouraging them to continue to shoplift by enforcing their belief that the consequences are mild. Habitual shoplifters aren’t grateful for a break, just relieved they can repeat their crimes.