Interface Shares Best Practices to Fight Retail Crime

According to the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) latest National Retail Security Survey, retail crime represented $112.1 billion in losses in 2022. To bring attention to this crucial issue, October 26 has been designated as ‘Fight Retail Crime Day’. In support of the NRF’s initiative, Interface Systems offers retailers best practices to fight retail crime.  

As retail crime continues to evolve in scope and sophistication, so do retailers’ prevention efforts. When asked about resource allocation to address today’s risks, more than half (53%) of NRF survey respondents said they have increased their technology and software solution budgets in the past year. “Retailers are piloting and implementing a number of loss prevention practices to deter, prevent, and mitigate these substantial losses,” Loss Prevention Research Council Director Read Hayes said. “In addition to enhancing traditional security measures, many are also allocating resources to innovative emerging technologies for future prevention.”

Virtual Security Guards to Protect Premises
As incidents of violence continue to rise, an increasing number of retailers are focused on protecting their staff by adopting a 'hands-off' policy when it comes to dealing with shoplifters. In fact, 41% of respondents indicated that their employees are not permitted to stop or apprehend shoplifters in any way. Consequently, a substantial 46% of retailers have responded to this situation by ramping up their reliance on third-party security solutions.

Retailers can rely on remote security professionals who utilize security cameras, speakers, and microphones installed at the stores to offer discreet, always-on surveillance without putting store associates at risk. These services allow trained security professionals to identify threats such as argumentative customers, loiterers at the store’s perimeter, or those intent on committing theft.

Should a security event happen, they can issue an immediate audio warning, interact directly with store employees to guide them, or call law enforcement. The support of virtual guard services can ensure rapid response and boost employee morale without negatively affecting the customer experience or cutting into operating margins.  

AI-enabled Cameras to Proactively Identify Threats
The key to minimizing loss or ensuring recovery is accurate and real-time detection of security events such as theft or burglary. While intrusion alarms with video verification work well, AI-enabled cameras can become powerful assets in minimizing loss by triggering real-time alerts.  

These cameras can help security teams keep a watchful eye on product shelves, track the movement of products across camera zones throughout the store, and detect known perpetrators walking into the store. When integrated with point-of-sale (POS) systems, they further enhance tracking capabilities, flagging unscanned items at manned checkout counters or self-checkout stations for investigation. They can also be used to analyze traffic patterns to optimize store layout and optimize merchandising.  

Intelligent Automated Voice-Down Systems to Deter Crime
Fighting crime at the store perimeter is as important as protecting the inside. Parking lots, alleyways, and loading docks can be magnets for nefarious activities, including vandalism and loitering. These areas represent some of the toughest challenges facing loss prevention and asset protection teams. It is almost impossible to have a continuous security presence everywhere.  

However, AI-enabled cameras integrated with pre-recorded voice-downs can act as an intelligent sentry that’s always on the watch. The system works autonomously by accurately detecting people or vehicles and triggering a series of calibrated voice-downs that can effectively convey security presence and impending response by law enforcement.  

Autonomous voice-down systems have the capability to proactively deter loitering, vandalism, or other undesirable activities. These voice-down announcements can include messages such as “Attention, loitering is strictly prohibited in this area” or “This store is equipped with advanced surveillance systems. Think twice before committing a crime.” Voice-downs serve to establish a continuous security presence, thereby increasing the perceived risk for criminals.  

Intelligent voice-down solutions can be integrated with strobes, lights, access control systems, alarm systems, and remote command centers to trigger proactive security measures or alert staff and remote security professionals monitoring the site.  

“Violence and theft continue to impact consumers, retailers, workers, and the communities they serve at unprecedented levels, said Sean Foley, SVP of Customer Success at Interface Systems. We applaud the NRF’s initiative to unite the retail industry in the fight against rising retail crime. At Interface, we have made it our mission to bring together best-of-breed technologies augmented with our U.S.-based remote monitoring professionals to tackle a wide range of security threats. With the right balance of solutions, retailers can protect their assets, customers, and employees without sacrificing margins and the shopping experience.”

Featured

  • Allegion, Comfort Technologies Implement Mobile Credentials at the Artisan Apartment Homes in Florida

    Artisan Apartment Homes, a luxury apartment complex in Dunedin, Florida, recently transitioned from mechanical keys to electronic locks and centralized system software with support from Allegion US, a leading provider of security solutions, technology and services, and Florida-based Comfort Technologies, which specializes in deploying multifamily access control, IoT devices and software management solutions. Read Now

  • Mall of America Deploys AI-Powered Analytics to Enhance Parking Intelligence

    Mall of America®, the largest shopping and entertainment complex in North America, announced an expansion of its ongoing partnership with Axis Communications to deploy cutting-edge car-counting video analytics across more than a dozen locations. With this expansion, Mall of America (MOA) has boosted operational efficiency, improved safety and security, and enabled more informed decision-making around employee scheduling and streamlining transportation for large events. Read Now

  • Security Industry Association Launches New “askSIA” AI Tool

    The Security Industry Association (SIA) has unveiled a brand-new SIA member benefit – askSIA, a conversational AI agent designed to help users get the most out of their SIA membership, easily access SIA resources and find the latest information on SIA’s training and courses, reports and publications, events, certification offerings and more. SIA members can easily find askSIA by visiting the SIA homepage or looking for the askSIA icon in the top left of webpages. Read Now

    • Industry Events
  • Industry Embraces Mobile Access, Biometrics and AI

    A combination of evolving workplace dynamics, technology innovation and new user expectations is changing how people enter and interact with physical spaces. Access control is at the heart of these changes. Combined with biometrics and AI, mobile access control has become increasingly crucial for deploying entry solutions that are seamless, secure and adaptive to user needs. Read Now

  • Sustainable Video Solution Delivered for Landmark City of London Office Development

    An advanced, end-to-end video solution from IDIS, with a focus on reducing waste and costs, has helped a major office development in the City of London align its security with sustainability objectives. Read Now

New Products

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

  • 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.