How to Prevent Shoplifters from Stealing your Stuff

So what is the state of the shop lifting problem in the UK? Well we certainly have our fair share of the little blighters and with the recent economic upheaval we seem to have a lot more!

Shoplifters are costing retailers millions of pounds in what one senior figure calls an 'epidemic'. Shoplifters are becoming increasingly sophisticated and ever more likely to use violence. They are also far more aware of their rights when they are held in stores and they often tell police they have been assaulted in an attempt to get shop owners to drop the charges.

One Carlisle Security firm have been quoted as saying "we are actively recruiting new security guards as quickly as possible to deal with this epidemic". Epidemic! That's a word usually reserved for diseases! Northern Security front man Paul Hopper goes on to say "To ordinary shoppers, the presence of a uniformed officers is simply a reassurance," stated Hopper in conversation with SMT Online, "but to would-be shoplifters, it shows that the store is being vigilant and taking its security responsibilities seriously". And then he goes on to say... "Retailers tell us that it's not just luxury goods which are being targeted by the type of thieves who traditionally steal to order around Christmas time," said Hopper. "Food, for instance, is now on the list of non-professional shoplifters - which is why it's now common to see security tagging on items such as joints of meat".

So what are the old bill doing to help?! Well the retailers say that the police don't have any targets for reducing business crime and more often than not they see shoplifting as not worth pursuing.

The commons explanations for not reporting shoplifters are:

• Take up too much staff time (particularly in owner operated stores)
  24.5%


• Did not want to prosecute elderly, juveniles or mentally ill
  23.6%


• Low success rate in courts
  19.7%


• Fines/Penalties not a deterrent
  18.5%


• Low prosecution rate by the Crown Prosecution Service
  17.2%


• Only report the worst offenders
  12.9%


• Afraid of bad publicity
  9.0%

So what can you do to try and curb the onslaught of the sticky fingered jobsworths?!

Carboard cutouts cops! OK... this is slightly tongue in cheek to start with but as far as security goes a good life size cut out of the local bobby may be enough for a short sighted shoplifter to go elsewhere to commit his crimes.

One drawback to this method of prevention is the possibility that students (or the shoplifters themselves) may steal the cutout and give it pride of place in the corner of their living room. For more info see this story from The Daily Mail - Thieves steal cardboard copper used to prevent shoplifting

The main culprit in the shoplifting case is not the shoplifter! It is your shop itself! What private areas are there? Where could someone go unnoticed? Where could someone hide just long enough to tuck something in a bag or in a pram?

You may need to re-arrange the shop floor to reduce areas of low visibility.

This is by far the most obvious option. You are bound to stock items which the shoplifter will find more attractive and be able to sell on for a quick profit. So lock them up! Put them behind a screen or in a cage. It may not look too great but if it saves you money in the long run then you've got to play the game!

Many of these greasy shoplifter yobs steal with the main intent being the return of the merchandise to the store, the same or another branch, for a cash refund. This can be addressed by requiring a purchase receipt for all returns. This can sometimes create a conflict with the interest in delivering quality customer service.

The image on the right isn't strictly a shop sign used as a shoplifting deterrent but I reckon you could put off a few of the scum sucking parasites if you employed one of their chums to walk up and down out side the front of your shop wearing something similar!

Put signs up that show you are are a mean, lean shoplifter busting machine! Signs such as "smile you're on camera" or "free ride in a police car for all shoplifters" will help put shoplifters off the idea and dont worry about bending the truth a little to make your point. This is war after all!

The obvious deterrent for most shops, and the most effective tool in the fight on shoplifting terror mongers, it the CCTV system. With a good CCTV system in place you should be able to track every square inch of the shop floor and make sure that no-one can hide from the eye in the sky!

As with most things in life, the more you spend -- the more you get. Rotational "pod" CCTV cameras are by far the most effective and seem to strike the fear of God into even the most hardened of shoplifting vermin sucking weasels.

You should invest heavily in crime prevention method if the ROI is worth it. Larger stores are obviously more open to shoplifting carnage but the smaller shops can also benefit from a high quality CCTV system. One of the main reasons for this is proof! It gives you an accurate record of what's popping in your store -- and that proof could prove invaluable for future convictions.

If you run your shop well, and have proactive staff who always keep an eagle eye, then you cant go wrong! Make sure your staff are attentive and approachable whilst also maintaining a respect for the store which can only come from your input!

Making sure you have alert employees is your most effective weapons against these scrupulous thieves who thrive on anonymity!

Thanks for your time! Now get out there and collar those dirty rotten scoundrels!

Sources for the above came from:

http://www.webpronews.com/topnews/2001/01/07/tips-to-beat-shoplifters/
Northern Security Services
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-485201/Thieves-steal-cardboard-copper-used-prevent-shoplifting.html
http://www.info4security.com/story.asp?sectioncode=14&storycode=4121322&c=1