How to Prevent Shoplifters
Shoplifting creates financial burdens for business owners. Large-scale theft has motivated many large retailers to take preventative measures. It's now common for large retail stores to have an asset-protection or loss-prevention department. Many stores employ mirrors, cameras and anti-theft merchandise tags to deter theft. Shoplifters prefer their crimes to go unnoticed and often act quickly. Deterring shoplifters and monitoring suspicious activity are manageable ways to help prevent shoplifting.
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Instructions
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Train your employees to keep a watchful eye on customers and store exits. For example, hold meetings with your staff to educate them on common shoplifting techniques, including hiding merchandise in sleeves or inside bigger pieces of merchandise.
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Post signage in restrooms, dressing rooms and entrances warning shoplifters of prosecution. Merchandise should not be allowed in restrooms; dressing rooms should be locked when not in use.
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Install a closed-circuit-camera system and mirrors in corners of the store. Shoplifters are less likely to steal if they believe they have little privacy.
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Reduce the number of possible exits. Use one or two primary exits; extra exits can be converted to "emergency only."
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Station employees at entrances and exits. Have your employees match receipts with merchandise as customers leave the store.
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Position registers near exits so that employees can attend to customers while watching for suspicious activity.
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Use anti-theft merchandise tags that only employees can remove. Shoplifters will be less inclined to steal if they know a tag will sound an alarm.
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Tips & Warnings
Avoid accusations without proof.
Encourage employees to walk about the store frequently.
Keep expensive merchandise away from exits.
Avoid physical confrontations; call the police instead.
References
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