5 Rules to Follow to Prevent Shoplifting

When you own a business, especially a retail store, shoplifting is something you constantly have to worry about. To protect your investment you should hire or take on the role of a loss prevention officer. This employee should follow five specific rules to help cut down on store theft.

Rule #1: Eyes on the Prize

When you or an employee suspects that a person is stealing, you should not stop them unless you see them put an item in their bag. This person must clearly be seen taking an item off of the rack and hiding it on their person. Be careful not to confuse this with someone trying to compare a previously purchased shirt to something in your store.

Rule #2: Item in Hiding

The person in question needs to be seen hiding an item on their person. Whether they stuff the item in a bag or underneath their clothing, it needs to be seen. An employee at the store has to be able to say “the woman has placed a dress shirt from the rack into her bag.”

Rule #3: Never Lose Sight

Shoplifters can oftentimes get nervous about their stealing habits and may remove any stolen merchandise from their person. If you observe someone stealing and then wait for them by the exit, you might not find anything on them by the time they leave. This can get you in serious trouble so make sure to keep a constant eye on the subject.

Rule #4: The Point of No Return

Never stop a suspected shoplifter until they are past the point of purchase. Any shoplifter can easily say that they’re not done shopping yet when confronted. Make sure this person is beyond the cash registers and is making their way towards the exit.

Rule #5: Keep It Outside

When you confront a shoplifter, make sure to do it outside of the store away from other customers. These confrontations can turn ugly quick and you do not want to expose your customers to this type of situation. When speaking with the shoplifter, have another employee contact the police so they can be properly apprehended.

Preventing shoplifting is necessary in order to protect your investment and make the most amount of money possible. In order to watch your shoppers more carefully, make sure you have an up to date surveillance system. To learn more about security cameras, or to schedule a free estimate with Reliable Voice & Data Systems, give us a call at (877) 385-6657.

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