Key Takeaways
- Employee Training: Recognize and deter shoplifting tactics.
- Seasonal Staff: Train thoroughly for increased security.
- Strategic Surveillance: Position cameras near key areas.
- Customer Engagement: Use customer service as a retail theft deterrence.
- Tailored Security: Adapt strategies to fit your store.
The holiday season brings joy, celebration, and, unfortunately, an increase in retail crime. As festive shoppers flood the aisles, retailers face heightened security challenges. Strong security practices are crucial, not only to protect assets but also to secure a safe shopping environment.
"During the holiday shopping season, most retailers don't have a one-to-one ratio between employees and customers," explains Pinkerton Director Matt Klock, a specialist in retail security. "Often, associates juggle multiple customers while others manage long lines at the cash registers. With the sheer number of people, there's potential for missed incidents."
Matt Klock emphasizes the importance of a tailored approach to security: "Every retail business is going to have a different security posture during the holidays. Do they bring in retail loss prevention officers, hire a uniformed guard as a deterrent, or educate their employees in customer service? The goal is to deter theft and crime at the store. Effective security starts with employee training."
Holiday Season Retail Security Tips and Strategies
Employee Training and Hiring
A well-trained staff is your first line of defense in "hardening the target" or making the retail store less attractive or harder to exploit by would-be criminals. Training should focus on recognizing red flags and potential shoplifting tactics early — such as classic diversions, where distractions are used to facilitate theft, or ducking behind shelves and racks.
"When you notice someone with shifting eyes, constantly looking at cameras or searching for employees, it's a red flag. It signals they might be up to no good,” said Matt.
Other tactics include unusual behavior, such as individuals dressed inappropriately for the weather — oversized winter coats on an unseasonably warm day — or those carrying empty bags, especially from other retail stores.
“Those are key indicators that someone is going to put something in those bags or in those coats and try to walk out of the store,” he said.
And those baby strollers, Matt said in the retail industry they call them “shopping carts.”
“Surprisingly, people often use strollers as a ruse, pretending to push around a baby when, in fact, there's no baby inside. The stroller becomes a tool to conceal merchandise, with items hidden at the bottom or even where the baby would typically sit, often covered by blankets or a sun visor.
“In all these scenarios, customer service shines as a deterrent. Simply engaging with these shoppers—asking, 'How are you doing? Can I help you?'—is telling. If they genuinely need help, they'll ask for assistance. But if their intent is questionable, they'll likely avoid eye contact, ignore you, and move away. By maintaining a presence, you either assist a genuine customer or deter a potential shoplifter. For retail clients, it's a simple yet effective strategy,” Matt said.
Seasonal Employees
The holiday rush often requires hiring seasonal employees, who may be new to the retail environment. These team members need thorough training in both customer service and security protocols.
In some retail settings, there are strategically stationed staff at exits, checking receipts or ensuring tags are removed to prevent alarms from sounding. This is part of hardening the target—making the retail store a difficult target.
“If hiring a customer service or retail loss prevention officer is within budget, it's ideal. But for smaller retailers without that budget, training existing and temporary staff in effective customer service becomes crucial,” he said.
Regular refreshers for all employees on potential threats and store policies can be a strong defense against holiday-related crimes.
Monitoring and Surveillance
Strategic surveillance is key to comprehensive security.
"In a bustling store, capturing everything is tough," says Matt. "Employees might overlook store-wide activities, increasing the risk of undetected incidents."
Investing in high-quality surveillance systems and positioning them strategically—near entrances, exits, and high-value areas—is essential. Active monitoring by trained staff, especially during peak hours, adds a vital layer of protection and strengthens store defenses.
Retail Risk Management
As the holidays approach, both excitement and security challenges come to the forefront. Prioritizing effective training, harnessing technology, and implementing strategic surveillance allows retailers to create a safe shopping environment. Employees, when well-trained, become invaluable assets in deterring crime. By reducing risks, retailers not only protect their goods but also foster customer trust, embodying the notion that a secure store is a successful store.
FAQ's
1. How to prevent retail theft during holidays?
It's all about training your team to spot those sneaky shoplifting tactics and ramping up surveillance during peak shopping hours.
2. What’s the secret to retail security during busy shopping seasons?
Think trained staff, smart surveillance, and engaged customer service specialists. Together, they can foster effective holiday retail security.
3. How can I protect assets during the holidays?
By tailoring security measures for your location, hiring specialists, training employees, and leveraging technology. It's all about staying ahead of the game.
4. How do you create a safe shopping environment?
Enhancing surveillance, ensuring staff are trained in spotting suspicious behaviors, and promoting a strong customer service culture are effective strategies to create a safe shopping environment.
5. What’s the trick to stopping shoplifting in stores?
The strategy lies in spotting those red flags, engaging your customers, and keeping a keen eye through robust surveillance systems.
