5-Point Checklist to Secure Your Store and Prevent Theft

Hire the Best Employees

Your staff is your first line of defense against thieves. Unfortunately, employees and thieves can be one and the same. For both of these reasons, it is vital to hire the best team from the very beginning. Though experience working in a store like yours is essential, the character of the prospective employee is just as important. During the interview, ask questions to gauge the person’s emotional intelligence and moral character. Be sure to contact their references, too. Ask for the contact information of at least three past employers to determine if this person will be a good fit for your company. Above all else, trust your gut on all hiring decisions. If you get a bad feeling from someone, don’t hire them.

Train your Staff

Now that you have the right people on your team, train them to recognize some of the common signs of shoplifters. The following behaviors should serve as red flags to your employees that there could be a thief in their midst:

• Bulky, oversized clothing, especially on warm days
• Large backpacks, bags, and purses
• Generally nervous behavior
• Paying attention to other employees’ behavior
• Large groups of shoppers

Though these behaviors do not guarantee that a person will steal from your business, it is nonetheless good to be aware of them. This way, your staff can always be vigilant for potential theft.

Install Security Cameras

Perhaps the single best way to prevent theft in your retail store is by installing retail store security cameras in Jacksonville. This allows you to keep an eye on your whole store and potentially catch thieves in the act. Plus, new technology practically guarantees clear, high-quality images inside and outside, day and night. Talk to the professional who is putting up the security cameras to determine the best locations to install them in your store.

Utilize Prevention Techniques

In addition to security cameras, you should also invest in other loss prevention tactics. One such technique is putting security tags on clothing, tech, and other high-value items. This is a great way to protect your most valuable stock items. Though these systems are on the expensive side, they provide a great ROI and pay for themselves in no time at all.

Create a Plan

Lastly, you should have a plan in place to handle shoplifters if and when you catch them. Will you contact the police, or will you handle it in-house? No matter what method you decide to choose, it is important to have a step by step procedure in place. Share your plan with all of your employees so they will be prepared if they find themselves with a shoplifter in the retail store. Contact the team at Edge CCTV, Inc. for more information about how you can protect your retail store from shoplifters.