5 tips to prevent theft in your store or business

[seonajmulislam00]

The future will be digital, but it will not be completely detached from the physical. Although forecasts point to an increasing technological dependence of retail , businesses will remain anchored to their premises and stores.

For this reason, associations and groups continue to give great importance to the scourge of shoplifters . That is, the most traditional thefts that occur in grocery stores, supermarkets and other local retail establishments.

According to the study 'Retail Security in Europe' by Crime&Tech , companies in the sector on the continent lose around 2.542 billion euros a year due to losses and theft.

In summer alone, more than 25% of these thefts, equivalent to 635 million euros expropriated, have accumulated . Has COVID weakened this threat? The reality is that it has not. Asedas and CEOE estimate that losses in 2020 were close to 1.8 billion euros .

For all these reasons, today at MÁSMÓVIL Negocios we want to indonesia number data review the most useful recommendations from experts when it comes to reinforcing the security of a store or premises .

How to find out who stole something from me
You may also be interested in: “ Tips for responding to a price war ”

The nature of the problem
Although the collective imagination portrays theft as a marginal activity of occasional and unprofessional criminals, the reality is that the problem is much more stratified .

As Kantar points out , globalisation is taking a step back. “ Local consumer brands are growing 50% faster than international ones , contributing 72% of market growth .”

It is the perfect breeding ground for criminal organisations dedicated solely and exclusively to exploiting the weaknesses of the growing number of local businesses; businesses that are more exposed to theft and less digitalised in security systems.

" Thefts are [usually] carried out by organised gangs looking for high-value products , such as bottles of alcohol or quality sausages, and which find an easy outlet on the black market ," states the report "Positioning on multi-repeat theft in commerce in Spain . "

This is a problem that cannot be addressed by law. The Criminal Code does not include deterrent offenses for thefts if they do not exceed 400 euros . This turns the threat into a trickle of losses that is almost imperceptible for businesses.

" Some accept paying fines as a fee or a cost for having this profession, while others do not pay the fines and look for ways to avoid paying until the penalty expires ," the employers' document states.

The most frequent thefts are small electronic products , and overall losses increase exponentially depending on the number of hours the store is open.

However, in the opposite direction, the damage caused by a robbery is more associated with the amount stolen as the size and turnover of the store decreases.

What, who and how is stolen?
In order to respond to robberies, it is necessary to know the profile of the offender . This is because the security needs will not be identical for a supermarket like Mercadona as for a small clothing store.

In this sense, the Crime&Tech study includes the type of product that accumulates the most thefts depending on the type of establishment. The list is shown from most to least, in order of quantity and probability.

Electronics : mobile phones and accessories, video games and software, gadgets.
Textile : accessories, sweaters, pants.
Food : alcoholic beverages and soft drinks, cheeses and meats, chocolates and sweets.
Hardware and DIY : automatic tools, screws and screwdrivers, home accessories.
Who commits the crimes? There are two clear trends: the occasional thief and the organised gangs. Each is governed by its own methods and preferences.

Individual thieves : These are usually customers who give in to certain temptations and who tend to be motivated by some kind of frustration. They are common at self-checkout counters in supermarkets.
Gangs of two or three people : They are well equipped with hammers, bags and jammers, operate with a solid structure and are skilled at appearances and deception.
However, the criminals are not limited to customers. Many stores are faced with cases of internal theft by disgruntled employees seeking to do economic or reputational damage to the store.