11 Tips to Boost Your Store Security

Retail industry statistics show that in-store traffic has been slightly down since 2014, and sales have been flat. This means you have to work harder than ever to market your establishment. But will success bring increased concerns about shrinkage? Odds are, there will be folks among those additional shoppers who are in your store for all the wrong reasons. So, along with boosting traffic, you also need to boost store security.

Whether your store is a tiny boutique or a major multi-department operation, there are ways to boost store security that will fit your layout, your type of merchandise, and your budget. Low-tech options are easy to implement, but technology is essential to truly boost store security.

1. Display items that are likely theft targets where you can easily see them.
2. Use locking display cases for highly valuable merchandise.
3. Look for the best possible employees, and conduct background checks before you hire anyone.
4. Greet every new customer, and let them know you’re on the floor to assist them. This improves the experience for good customers, and sounds a bit of a warning for bad ones.
5. Train employees to keep an eye on shoppers and recognize “fishy” behavior.
6. Restock displays and keep everything in its place, so you can see if something is missing.
7. Reduce return fraud by posting your return policy. Requiring receipts can help make legitimate returns as easy as possible but foil bogus efforts.
8. Regularly audit your sales data, looking for inconsistencies or suspicious patterns. Random audits can reinforce the fact that you’re paying attention.
9. Industry experts say you really cannot do without some level of technology-based security measures these days. That may include traditional surveillance cameras, electronic merchandise tags, or special security packaging. If you use cameras, aim one at your cash register to discourage employee theft.
10. Cameras can be a deterrent, but analyzing the video can show you where people are spending the most time in your store and why. Comparing sales data to foot traffic can help you uncover discrepancies.
11. One innovative solution is package lockers. They are designed with clear doors that provide at-a-glance visibility. They lock with a 4-digit combination, which is set by the user, or with an RFID code that requires a card. You can use them in several ways:

• Install lockers near your entrance, where shoppers can use them to store bags and packages containing previous purchases as well as a jacket or other personal belongings. Shopping is easier when they don’t have to haul these things around your store, and you eliminate an easy shoplifting technique.
• Install them in your back room as employee lockers, to support tidiness and prevent internal theft.
• Install them for store purchases which customers have paid for online. They receive a code when they complete their purchase, then they can swing by your store to pick up their items. They get their purchase sooner, and the process is hands-free for your employees. 

Industry experts say the type of technology you choose to boost store security should address past experiences such as break-ins or missing merchandise. Ask your security expert to conduct a walk-through with you to help identify specific security weaknesses.