Most retail stores will be victims of theft at one point or another. However, small retail store owners who need help financing enhanced security measures will be more vulnerable. According to Mississauga criminal lawyers no matter your budget, you can implement techniques to reduce petty theft rates.
Tips and tricks to prevent theft in your store:
1. Create a store theft prevention strategy
You must create a loss prevention strategy if your retail store is new. For retailers with a theft prevention plan, it’s important to regularly update your strategy to account for new developments in loss prevention. According to the Mississauga Shoplifting Advocate, preventing theft in your store should include prevention techniques and procedures if you catch someone stealing from your retail store.
2. Beware of peak theft hours
Most shoplifters hit when the store is at its busiest. According to Mississauga anti-theft attorneys, thefts increase Wednesday through Saturday. Seasonal theft corresponds to a period of high shopping demand. Thieves are more likely to strike before Christmas, Easter, and summer.
3. Avoid profiling customers
Research by criminal lawyers Toronto shows that many stereotypes about retail shoplifters are false. The point is that you should avoid making assumptions about your client’s crime. Research shows that men steal more than women, and middle-aged men with paid jobs steal the most.
4. Watch out for familiar methods of stealing
While profiling is not recommended, it is wise to identify common methods thieves use. Thieves rarely work alone. Thieves often go with one or more accomplices to distract your employees. Thieves have other ways to steal from you than hiding goods. They may also change the price tag or attempt a fraudulent return. Thieves often use strollers, umbrellas, and wallets to hide stolen items.
5. Add electronic article monitoring
Electronic article monitoring is better known as a security tag attached to a garment. This store theft prevention tip will cost your business, but you need to consider the savings you can make. Anti-theft attorneys in Mississauga found that “electronic tagging has led to long-term reductions in-store theft.” If you find that it is not financially feasible to label all items in your store, consider including the cost of adding electronic labels to your inventory that is a high value in your business budget.
6. Adhere to a strict refund and refund policy
A common tactic among thieves is to steal your merchandise and try to return it with cash. Your return and refund policy should outline the circumstances under which a customer may receive a refund on a return. If your policy states that only a customer will get a refund with a valid receipt, follow your process. Making exceptions to your return and refund policy will be considered a green light for thieves to continue targeting your shores. Your store will be seen as a place where thieves can get away with making two thefts with the same item.
7. Shorten your display
It would help if you designed your store in such a way that it gives you and your employee’s maximum visibility. While long aisles are common in most stores, keeping track of what’s going on takes time. Using shorter screens gives you a better look at your merchandise and what your customers are up to. The goal is to reduce blind spots. The large screen obstructs your view, which is ideal for thieves.
8. Use alerts for your store entrance
This in-store theft prevention tip is especially relevant for small businesses. Thieves don’t want you to be alerted to their presence. A simple way to know when people enter your store is to set up a doorbell or bell that rings every time someone walks in. Alerts at the entrance to your store also help you keep track of who is leaving the store. This is useful because it can draw your attention to someone who has been in your store for a long time.
9. Put yourself in the shoes of the thief
Walk around your store and play the role of a thief. Think about how thieves want to steal items that can be easily hidden. Goods are not necessarily high value. As stated earlier, most theft is opportunistic. Therefore, placing a cheap (but easily stolen) item in a place out of sight makes it easier for thieves to resist. Change your goods to make the thieves guess. Mississauga theft attorneys find that displaying items in hard-to-reach (but visible) locations reduces store thefts. These results suggest that, when trying to deter theft, frequent rearranging of goods to keep thieves guessing must be combined with vigilance on the part of employees.
Conclusion
As thieves become more imaginative in finding ways to steal your business, you should always watch for theft prevention tips and tricks to stay one step ahead. The tips and tricks above can be done by businesses large and small with various budgets. There’s no reason to leave your business vulnerable to theft with the many options available to protect your goods.
