Retailers Brace For Increased Shoplifting This Holiday Season

  • Nov 24, 2008

With the busiest retail shopping day of the year just less than a week away, retailers and shoppers are hoping for an enjoyable holiday season. But the nation’s weakened economy has many law enforcement officials forecasting increased shoplifting and theft -- crimes that could lead to lower profits for retailers and higher prices and limited selection for consumers.

Adding to the problem are fewer security and sales associates on the lookout for suspicious shoppers. Because of this, retailers are expected to rely heavily on sophisticated anti-theft technology, such as tags and smart cameras, to help catch and deter shoplifters.

According to a recent National Retail Security Survey conducted by the University of Florida, with a funding grant from ADT Security Services, retailers lost almost $12 billion to the 27 million shoplifters who stole merchandise from them in 2007. This loss was down from 2006 as retailers strengthened their use of anti-shoplifting technology and training, but the anticipated swell of shoplifting this holiday season will require an even greater use of electronic loss prevention tools.

“Many retailers are bracing for more shoplifting this season and will be counting on technology to help control theft, particularly as many stores have had to cut back on staff due to the slowing economy,” said Ed Wolfe, a veteran loss prevention executive formerly with Neiman Marcus and The Home Depot.

There will be a new and different type of shoplifter this holiday season, predicts Richard Mangan, a criminology professor at Florida Atlantic University and former DEA special agent.

“Clearly, shoplifting is going to be a bigger problem than in years past. Times of financial stress could drive individuals who normally would not consider shoplifting, to reconsider attempting this crime,” Mangan said.

Helping catch the crooks will be advances in anti-theft technology. Anti-theft solutions include tags which are placed inside clothing, makeup and even food packaging, along with intelligent cameras that can be programmed to recognize missing items, movement in a restricted area and other events. Digital recording is another effective tool giving retailers more flexibility in monitoring live and recorded video events from remote monitoring sites.

Lee Pernice, an ADT retail expert, said shoplifting affects every consumer.

“Shoplifting results in higher prices for everyone and can impact the amount and variety of goods retailers have available,” she said.

Shoplifting can also be a concern to parents. The National Association for Shoplifting Prevention (NASP) is a non-profit organization which specializes in working with parents to help discuss the impact of shoplifting with their children.

“Consumers play a major role in shoplifting awareness and prevention and this includes talking to their children about how shoplifting negatively affects not only stores, but family and friends as well,” said Caroline Kochman, NASP’s executive director.

Featured

  • From Surveillance to Intelligence

    Years ago, it would have been significantly more expensive to run an analytic like that — requiring a custom-built solution with burdensome infrastructure demands — but modern edge devices have made it accessible to everyone. It also saves time, which is a critical factor if a missing child is involved. Video compression technology has played a critical role as well. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in video coding standards — including H.263, MPEG formats, and H.264—alongside compression optimization technologies developed by IP video manufacturers to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. The open-source AV1 codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media—a consortium including Google, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and others — is already the preferred decoder for cloud-based applications, and is quickly becoming the standard for video compression of all types. Read Now

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

  • Survey: 48 Percent of Worshippers Feel Less Safe Attending In-Person Services

    Almost half (48%) of those who attend religious services say they feel less safe attending in-person due to rising acts of violence at places of worship. In fact, 39% report these safety concerns have led them to change how often they attend in-person services, according to new research from Verkada conducted online by The Harris Poll among 1,123 U.S. adults who attend a religious service or event at least once a month. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.

  • 4K Video Decoder

    3xLOGIC’s VH-DECODER-4K is perfect for use in organizations of all sizes in diverse vertical sectors such as retail, leisure and hospitality, education and commercial premises.

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.