Retail Security


Retail security is an indispensible element that allows the retail industry to continue to operate and be a vital cog in this countries commerce. Have you ever noticed just how much security within the retail sector has increased? Two or three decades ago only a few retail store had a store detective and even fewer store had any kind or surveillance or security equipment.

retail securityOver the years retail related crime has increased, not only simple petty theft and shop lifting but serious crimes such as armed robbery have increased dramatically. Retail security has become critical in fighting crime and preventing loss of life as well as preventing serious loss in retail revenue. A drastic loss or decline in retail revenue can have very serious consequences that can very negatively affect the economy as well as employment levels.

More About Retail Security

To understand retail security one needs to first understand the factors that threaten the retail industry in general and as a whole. The most obvious threat to retail security is the one that almost every single person is most aware of, petty theft otherwise known as shop lifting. Shop lifting is not considered by many to be a serious crime, however when one combines the total of all small time shop lifting one will be shocked. Shop lifting costs retail companies billions in revenue every year.

The result of shop lifting is known within the retail industry as stock shrinkage and this can have some very negative repercussions. One of the most severe of these is a retail company loosing too much revenue through theft and having to reduce its work staff. Even more sever is a retail company having to close down all together. So one can see why it is so important that petty theft or shop lifting be stamped out as much as possible.

Retail security has become very sophisticated and involves many different components, from the physical presence of uniformed security staff patrolling stores to cctv camera surveillance and electronic security tags that are linked to scanners or sensors at the entry and exit points in all retail stores.