In 2021-22, there were 867 accounts of violent or abusive incidents daily, according to the BRC’s Crime Survey 2023. There were also 8 million cases of customer theft in just a year, making it a very dangerous period for retailers. This makes security in retail all the more important for businesses.
Given the substantial financial risks at stake, it is evident that even retail stores must prioritise implementing effective security services and protective measures. As a store owner, it becomes crucial for retailers to evaluate the efficacy of their security systems and policies to deter shoplifting and theft effectively.
This article explores what security in retail means, its significance and how you can further improve it more efficiently.
Table of Contents
Security in Retail
What is Retail Security?
Retailing is a thorough process that involves managing merchandise, strategic planning for the future, enhancing sales, and more. It covers everything from buying to selling, pricing to serving and from encountering losses to generating profits per retailer.
In addition to adding various business strategies within a retail outlet, preserving store profits and protecting the enterprise are both key focuses for every retailer. This is what is known as retail security.
Broadly speaking, security in retail refers to the protective measures for a store’s merchandise, the store itself, and shoppers. It also encompasses techniques used to employ a more secure and safe business or sales environment. Implementing these security measures means boosting the security of a retail store, and guarding against undesirable incidents. These often include theft, shoplifting, and the like.
What is the Biggest Security Threat Retailers Face?
Implementing these security measures means boosting the security of a retail store, and guarding against undesirable incidents. These often include shoplifting, violence, and the like.
Regrettably, theft is an unavoidable challenge for all retail businesses. The degree of risk and damage may differ based on the type and scale of the impacted outlet. For example, businesses specialising in jewellery or electronics are more susceptible to risks and potential losses in cases of shoplifting, due to the higher value of their inventory.
Though, regardless of the retail businesses that you operate, it is highly important to prioritise security in retail that is robust and efficient. They can be essential for easily reducing sustained losses over a longer period.
Benefits of Retail Security Guards
Retail security officers can be a huge advantage in improving security in your outlets. Below, we have listed some of the benefits of said security guards:
Guards Can Act as a Visual Deterrence
The presence of security in retail acts as a visual deterrent to potential criminals, who pose a threat not only to the business but also to customers and employees within the store. Retail security guards play a crucial role in preventing crimes like burglary, shoplifting, checkout fraud and refund fraud, simply by patrolling the store and making themselves known.
Sense of Security
By significantly decreasing the likelihood of potential threats, guards can also serve as a means of providing peace of mind and a sense of security for both staff and customers in the store. Their presence can let people know that they are in a safe environment for as long as they are there.
Additionally, security guards demonstrate to customers that their safety is one of your priorities and that you are willing to put measures in place to ensure their protection within your store. It also demonstrates to employees that you care about their safety and wellbeing, helping to improve productivity. If employees do not need to worry about their own safety, they will feel confident in focusing on other tasks at hand.
Handling Crime
When visual deterrence proves insufficient and a crime is in progress, security guards are trained to respond promptly and appropriately to a variety of criminal activities. Their responsibilities may include relaying gathered information to the appropriate authorities or detaining a suspect. However, it is important to note that security guards can only detain suspected criminals by performing a citizen’s arrest.
Monitoring Crime
Retail security guards may sometimes be employed to monitor a retail outlet through their surveillance systems, verify employee or customer credentials, and inspect the premises for contraband. When it comes to retailers, security guards can keep an eye out for shoplifters, loiterers, and vandals. This helps them with effectively preventing crime before it has the chance to occur.
Importance of Security in Retail
If there isn’t a sufficient amount of security in a retail outlet, criminals may be attempted to target the business. This is why it is essential to have a robust retail security plan in place. If you are curious about why security in retail is considered vital, explore the information provided below to better understand this approach:
Theft Prevention
Employing strong security measures can help to prevent potential thefts. If a tempted criminal were to see a security guard in your storefront or notice a CCTV or alarm system installed within your store, the likelihood of them attempting to shoplift is significantly decreased.
The implementation of a retail security system makes it obvious that the business is committing to a heightened level of theft prevention in its storefronts. In turn, this will help to discourage and dissuade potential thieves from targeting your retail outlet.
Profit Preservation
Another crucial advantage of retail security is profit preservation. A robust security system not only helps to contribute to securing a safe environment, but also takes the necessary security measures to achieve profit prevention and other outcomes in the most efficient way.
Aid in Legal Matters
Having a security system on your property, supported by video records, or a retail security guard who can provide a witness testimony enables you to nip shoplifting matters in the bud. This provides additional support in identifying perpetrators, catching them in the act, and aiding police in investigations. This allows for more legal options to locate and apprehend any criminals that targeted your store.
Alternatively, security guards can perform a citizen’s arrest if they catch a criminal in the act. This gives ample time for the police to turn up and conduct an official investigation, which results in a higher likelihood of the criminal being held responsible for their actions, rather than getting away.
Prevent Any Unwanted Incident
Criminals may not always be external threats, which is a very important fact to remember. That’s why it is incredibly important to employ security in each area of your retail outlet to prevent undesirable incidents from coming into play.
In summary, it is essential to safeguard your business to properly shield you and your business from potential losses in the most efficient manner.
How to Improve Retail Security Management
When it comes to security in retail, individuals will often associate CCTV systems and visible signs of them with it. These are some of the more frequently occurring security systems in place for retailers. And whilst they do play a pivotal role in the majority of security systems, they are not the be-all-end-all solution for crime prevention in retail businesses. Here, we have outlines some of the most significant security measures that you can consider:
- Avoid Splitting up Workers: It is generally good practice to avoid splitting up employees into one-man groups. Having at least two or more workers present in the store at one time decreases the chances of a thief committing any malicious activities.
- Install Surveillance or Alarm Systems: A security system which operates 24/7 can help to deter potential robberies or forgeries targeting your store.
- Train Your Staff: Training your staff to deal with critical situations professionally and effectively is vital for their own safety. If no authoritative forces are around to help, the employees can attempt to de-escalate any threats if it is safe to do so.
- Avoid Keeping Large Deposits On-Site: Keeping large deposits within your retailer can tempt robbers into targeting your business, increasing the risk of security threats.
- Hire a Retail Security Guard: Doing this allows you to take advantage of their capabilities even when you aren’t present at the storefront. Security guards can act as a visual deterrent, monitor CCTV, and manage incidents as and when they happen.
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Conclusion
Security in retail is a layered approach to securing and safeguarding a retail property or business. They focus on preventing the risk of security threats and reducing the damages that occur to their outlets as a result of that. It is also important to consider investing in the most efficient and effective security measures to stay protected from unwanted incidents.
If you are interested in learning more regarding the latest retail news, check out some of our other articles, like Retail Security Officer Duties or What are the Most Shoplifted Items UK?
Consider checking out our other socials, like our YouTube Channel, where you can find even more security guides and facts!
