Retailers using undercover officers to prevent Christmas shoplifting 14 December 2022

This Christmas the risk to retailers’ margins from theft is greater than ever before. The escalated threat results from three factors:

• Organised retail crime
• Cost of living provoked shoplifting
• Shoplifting not being prioritised by the police

The most common items stolen during this period include clothing, jewellery, accessories, small toys and electronic items such as tablets and smartphones. Experts say gangs and semi-professional thieves are responsible for stealing high value items. Cost of living provoked shoplifting tends to focus on low value items they feel they can get away with.

Organised retail crime is a common occurrence, with gangs regularly on the lookout for stores with poor security practices. This demonstrates the importance for retail businesses of all sizes to have effective security that prevents and deters systemic shoplifting offences.

One very effective deterrent is the deployment of security officers. The mere presence of a security officer disincentives’ crime such as shoplifting. If a would-be shoplifter enters a store and sees an officer, they may be put off.

At ESG Security we offer an ‘undercover’ loss prevention service, providing security officers in plain clothes who fit in seamlessly with the general public. These officers proactively patrol the store, looking to identify shoplifters, and then discreetly following them to confirm their belief. A citizens arrest is then made by these officers at the appropriate time.

ESG Security is experienced in providing this type of security for Christmas and other busy periods. Our security officers are well-trained in retail security, loss prevention and assisting store staff with handling a suspected shoplifter.

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