To combat organized retail crime, businesses must implement proactive measures designed to deter such acts and mitigate their impact. By detecting suspicious behavior and taking swift action, you can significantly reduce the losses associated with organized retail crime.
Organized retail crime in the United States costs businesses billions annually and severely disrupts their day-to-day operations. Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Houston are the top US cities most affected by organized retail crime. However, all businesses nationwide are susceptible to being targeted.
Discover more about organized retail crime and learn how to effectively address this threat with the help of a reliable security service provider and strategically implemented security solutions.
What Is Organized Retail Crime?
Organized Retail Crime (ORC) refers to the coordinated efforts of two or more individuals to strategically steal retail merchandise with the aim of reselling it for profit. These crimes are often characterized by large-scale operations and typically involve the support of criminal enterprises.
What Is the Difference Between Organized Retail Crime and Shoplifting?
While shoplifting is often impulsive, organized retail crime involves planning and is usually more sophisticated. Shoplifting also typically refers to an individual stealing items for personal gain. On the other hand, organized crime often involves multiple criminals working together to target stores, steal goods, and resell them. However, organized crime can still involve shoplifting, among other types of theft and fraud.
Examples of Organized Retail Crime
Common examples of organized retail crime include:
- Smash and grab attacks – Criminals will show up at a pre-planned location to break into stores using force, such as smashing windows or kicking in doors.
- Price tag switching – Price tags are removed from items and placed on others to enable individuals to purchase them at a lower cost than their actual value.
- Gift card/coupon fraud – Coupon fraud involves creating counterfeit coupons to obtain discounts or free merchandise. Gift card fraud occurs when criminals use stolen credit card information to purchase gift cards.
- Cargo theft – Criminals target goods shipments and interfere during their transit to steal large quantities of merchandise.
- Organized distractions – Groups of criminals create disturbances and distractions in stores to divert the attention of employees and security personnel, allowing others to shoplift undetected.
How to Prevent Organized Retail Crime
Consider these strategies to defend against organized retail crime and protect your business from subsequent financial losses.
1. Stay up to Date With Organized Crime Developments
Organized retail crime groups are regularly refining their strategies and developing new tactics to deceive and capitalize on victims. Staying informed regarding these evolving threats allows businesses to adapt their security measures accordingly and stay one step ahead of criminals.
Building relationships with local law enforcement agencies, participating in community crime prevention programs, and hiring security services will help businesses remain updated and receive valuable insights to aid them when implementing and adjusting their security strategies.
2. Offer Extensive Employee Training
Employees can help fight organized retail crime while still focusing on their main job duties. They shouldn’t confront thieves directly, but training can raise awareness and teach safe, effective responses to reduce crime risks.
Through training, employees can learn how to recognize the signs of organized retail crime, such as behavior patterns, suspicious activities, and common criminal tactics. This knowledge enables them to be more vigilant and proactive in identifying potential threats without putting themselves at risk.
Businesses can also teach employees non-confrontational techniques to deter theft. This can include customer service strategies like greeting customers as they enter, offering assistance, and maintaining a visible presence throughout the store. Informing employees how to communicate with law enforcement can also be beneficial during investigations and help to ensure perpetrators are caught and apprehended.
Training can be completed through written resources, lectures, educational videos, and drills to allow employees to retain all valuable information.
3. Employ Security Guards
Security guards can patrol business premises, among other duties, to identify suspicious activity, respond to security threats, and reduce the occurrence of organized retail theft. This security measure is the most effective at deterring criminal acts, as perpetrators can be apprehended rather than just detected.
Security guards can be armed or unarmed, depending on each business’s needs. Armed guards are suitable in premises with high levels of crime, but businesses risk making customers and employees feel uneasy due to the presence of dangerous weapons.
On the other hand, unarmed guards can de-escalate conflicts peacefully, but may not be a powerful enough deterrent for businesses suffering from repeat attacks from organized crime groups.
Businesses should carefully assess the advantages and disadvantages of each option before making a decision. The number of employed guards should also be considered, as larger premises will require more personnel to ensure blind spots and unprotected areas are minimized.
4. Install Security Technology
Security technology can be installed throughout business premises to deter organized retail crime and aid law enforcement in identifying and apprehending criminals.
Security Cameras
Mounted security cameras around the inside and outside of the premises ensure that any criminal acts are recorded, which can be used as evidence to support legal investigations. Organized crime groups are also less likely to target retail establishments with surveillance as they do not want their identities to be revealed.
Intrusion Detection Systems
Intrusion detection systems positioned throughout the premises promptly identify unauthorized access or suspicious activities. These systems trigger alarms, send notifications to security personnel or law enforcement, and provide real-time alerts, enabling immediate response to threats related to organized retail crime.
Access Control Systems
Installing access control systems at the entrances to sensitive areas in a retail establishment, such as storage rooms and offices, helps businesses control who can enter and exit these areas. Organized retail crime groups may attempt to infiltrate these spaces to steal merchandise, sensitive information, or cash reserves, so safeguarding them is critical.
Security personnel can manage access control systems and instantly alter permissions, allowing authorized employees to access secure areas whenever needed.
5. Publicize Security Strategies
Increasing awareness of implemented security measures can further deter organized crime and reduce the vulnerability of a business’s premises. This approach not only discourages potential criminals from committing crimes but also reinforces a sense of safety among customers and employees.
Businesses can showcase their security by displaying systems and signs that highlight active safety measures. Warning signs may alert criminals that they’re being watched or that consequences will follow, pushing them to leave instead of acting.
6. Improve Visibility
Organized retail crime groups can capitalize on poor visibility in stores and perform illegal acts undetected. A store with limited visibility may be disorganized or cluttered, making it difficult for staff to keep track of customers and merchandise. Shelving, displays, or insufficient lighting could create blind spots. These enable criminals to coordinate their actions to steal merchandise and leave the store without being caught.
Businesses can avoid this by thoughtfully rearranging their store layouts. Strategically organizing merchandise, shelves, and aisles can improve a store’s visibility. This will make it easier for employees and security personnel to identify any suspicious activities. Bright lights and reflective surfaces such as mirrors offer additional visibility, particularly around corners or in areas with minimal natural light.
Optimizing a store’s layout can also improve inventory management efficiency and maximize sales opportunities, further benefiting businesses.
Important Considerations When Combating Organized Retail Crime
When implementing security strategies and best practices to prevent and address organized retail crime, it’s important to take several factors into account, including:
Customer Experiences
While a strong crime defense system can reduce theft and other criminal acts, it can also negatively impact businesses’ customer experiences.
When stores use security measures, like locked displays for valuables, customers may face friction while shopping. Too many physical security measures, such as a large number of guards, can also make shoppers uneasy and discourage return visits.
Businesses must balance integrating strong defense systems to protect against organized crime and ensuring their premises remain welcoming and pleasant to visit. The lack of such balance could lead to lower customer satisfaction, foot traffic, and sales.
Business Expenses
Before allocating resources toward preventing organized retail crime, businesses must carefully assess their budgets. Various security solutions can significantly impact an organization’s finances. Hiring security guards or renting surveillance systems comes with ongoing costs.
Businesses need to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of different security measures, considering both the initial investment and the long-term maintenance expenses. This can include technology upgrades, system expansions, employee training, and security personnel deployment.
Employee Workload
Well-trained employees can positively contribute to a business’s security strategy. But, any extra workloads may decrease their satisfaction, distract them from other duties, and prompt them to seek employment elsewhere.
To prevent this, businesses can avoid overburdening staff with excessive tasks and hire additional security personnel to manage security responsibilities. This approach helps maintain a balanced workload for employees, allowing them to focus on their standard duties without becoming overwhelmed.
Successfully Combat Organized Retail Crime With American Security Force
With the help of the American Security Force, you can prevent organized crime through reliable and effective security services.
Our highly trained guards can conduct patrols on your premises to address any security concerns. At the same time, our surveillance cameras and intrusion detection systems can deter criminal acts and enhance overall safety throughout your retail establishment.
Talk to us today to improve your defense against the threat of organized retail crime with a tailored security strategy.
