Organized retail crime is a growing problem. Since the coronavirus pandemic began, brazen daylight robberies have become more frequent, and, shop owners say, more violent.
In an August 2021 report from the National Retail Foundation, 70% of retailers said organized retail theft is increasing, and two-thirds reported that the perpetrators are more aggressive than before. Retailers cited COVID-19, police staffing shortages, changes in prosecuting guidelines and the growth of online marketplaces as top reasons behind the increase.
One popular tactic is the “smash-and-grab” robbery, in which thieves smash barriers, like windows and jewelry cases, grab all the valuables they can and make a quick getaway. Alarms don’t scare them. They also have no concern for the customers or staff who might see them — unless they get in the way.
It isn’t just merchandise they target either. Criminals are using stolen vehicles to drive through the front of convenience stores, then chaining up and hauling away ATM machines full of cash.
Smash-and-grab thefts happen both in broad daylight and at night after the store has closed. Smash-and-grab robberies may be a crime of opportunity or a sophisticated operation by experienced thieves. You can be sure what the criminals’ motivation is though: monetization of stolen property.
What can retailers do to protect employees, customers and merchandise from this kind of theft?
- Develop a standard operating procedure in the event this occurs
Just like a fire safety plan, having a standard operating procedure to respond in the event of a smash-and-grab helps employees know what to do, where to go and the protocols to follow if your store is hit. Make sure staff knows they should not do anything to put themselves in harm’s way; their safety, and that of the customers, is the top priority.
Include in your plan:
– A designated space away from the areas of the store that are most likely to be targeted.
– Instructions on where to find and how to activate panic buttons.
– What to do after a smash-and-grab event (call 911, take a headcount, provide first aid if needed, console customers, etc.).
- Adapt your security system to deter robbery and make it easier for staff to call for help
Some security features that can be helpful to add include:
– Panic buttons in strategic locations or adjacent to fire alarms that trigger video monitoring, alerts, audible and visual alarms or even body-worn cameras (this can all be set up within a unified security software solution).
– Siren or pre-recorded message to let employees and customers know there is a potentially dangerous event in progress and law enforcement has been contacted.
– Motion detectors that trigger strobe lights and sirens for off-hours.
– Glass-break sensors and exterior motion detection to trigger intrusion systems.
– A video management system that allows for notifications and video push, so that security teams, third-party monitoring companies or even local law enforcement can be alerted and see the crime in progress.
- Harden targets to make theft more difficult or less profitable
Another potential tactic to take is to make it harder for thieves by making security more visible and valuable items more difficult or time-consuming to steal.
Target hardening options include:
– Installing ballistic glass that won’t shatter on impact or pull-down metal shutters to cover windows when the store is closed.
– Set up a tangle wire perimeter, a slinky-like coiled wire barrier that is a visual deterrent and hinders getaways on foot.
– Hire uniformed security or off-duty police to protect stores while shoppers are there.
– Merchandise higher ticket items at the back in the store, so that thieves must travel farther to get products and to exit.
– Keep minimal high-ticket items on the floor for display; keep extra stock in a locked storeroom.
- Gather evidence to help prosecutors convict the perpetrators of organized retail crime
At the end of the day, the only way to stop smash-and-grab theft is to arrest and convict prolific offenders. Retailers need to ensure they do their part to gather evidence, and share it in a way that is admissible in court, to help prosecutors go after the ringleaders of organized retail crimes.
Additional tools to catch and prosecute organized retail crimes:
– Use GPS trackers on specific products to trace their path.
– Choose a video management system with easy, cloud-based evidence-sharing, so that video files can be quickly and securely shared with partners, law enforcement and prosecutors. The system should provide full audit tracking to preserve the chain of custody and ensure it is admissible in court.
– Participate in a community camera registry program, if available in your community, to make it easier for local law enforcement to gather evidence related to neighborhood crimes.
- Pull it all together with a unified security software solution
You can invest in alarms, strobes, cameras, GPS trackers, video surveillance, glass-break sensors and panic buttons, but if all these devices are controlled by different software solutions, it can be time-consuming, expensive and complicated to manage. That’s why it’s important to look for a unified security solution that allows you to monitor and control video management, access control, intrusion systems and evidence-sharing. An open architecture platform will enable adding new security solutions in the future — all managed through a single pane of glass.
Not only are unified physical security solutions easier to manage, because there’s only one piece of software to learn and monitor, they also reduce investigation time spent building cases.
When you compile together data from multiple sources, you can more easily begin the process of identifying, tracking and eventually seeing organized retail crime gangs prosecuted.
Scott Thomas is Genetec’s national director of sales for signature brands in the United States. He and his team are responsible for sales to the retail, financial, hospitality, gaming and cannabis vertical markets via Genetec’s network of system integration partners.