Is there a pattern of crime in your area? Years ago, the majority of shoplifters were few and far between but with the rise of the internet and resale sites, the term “shoplifting” has earned itself a more serious name by law enforcement: Organized Retail Crime. ORC does not discriminate between small and large businesses worldwide. In fact, according to a 2015 NRF survey, 97% of retailers say that they have been a victim of Organized Retail Crime within the last year. This is an increase of 9% from the same survey in 2014. What are those results to say is in store for retailers in 2016? Although there are a variety of contributors to the rise of ORC, there are a few things that retailers can do on their own to combat the issue.
How to fight Organized Retail Crime:
- Find a retail security provider that can meet your store’s needs in your demographic. Some companies provide security; other companies like VPG provide power and security for your hottest products. Make sure that you are supplying your store with the product that best suits crime rate in your area. If crime is fairly common in your area, you may want to try high security solutions that guarantee a greater loss prevention
- Always be aware of your surroundings. Pay attention to who comes in and out of your store on a daily basis. An easy way to do this while giving comfort to your shoppers may be with the use of mirrors, domes, and annunciators.
- Get familiar with your community. Do some research. Become aware of the crime rate in your district, especially when it comes to shoplifting. Be mindful and informed with the latest news in your community so you can stay ahead of the criminals. And lastly, get familiar with your local police department. Get acquainted with their procedures for ORC and response time so you can keep your store and personnel safe.
Because shoplifting has become so sophisticated with multiple boosters (thieves) and pre-planned attacks, it is important for retailers to take all of the precautions they can. Our team at VPG is here to help make the first steps in ORC loss prevention easy for you.
Reach out to our support team to find out the first steps in beating Organized Retail Crime in your store.