Retailers are constantly being targeted by criminal activity which often results in lost revenue and costly damages. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) reports over 10,000 shop thefts per day in the UK. Theft by customers has increased by 33% and damages to retailers have increased by 105% in 2019.

With these increases, retail workers are also seeing increased volumes of violence, abuse and robberies on a day-to-day basis. The most concerning thing is that criminal are resorting to violent behaviour to assist with theft and crimes are usually committed by those who are either intoxicated by alcohol or drugs.

As mentioned, retailers face violence, abuse and robberies on a daily basis but they also see a range of crimes including:

Shoplifting:

Shoplifting usually involves the theft of goods from a retailer. It can be committed by an individual or by groups of people.

Checkout fraud

Some customers who come into a store will go to great lengths to avoid paying for items properly. They may swap price stickers, swap barcodes or not pay for all items at the till. This is why all items (especially high-value items) should be security tagged and retail staff should be vigilant.

Money Fraud

Although banks and the Royal Mint have created ways to prevent criminals from stealing cards or counterfeiting money, the are still some who manage this. Retailers should have restrictions and checks in place to avoid this. For example, banknotes should be checked under UV lamps to check their authenticity.

Refund Fraud

Many who return goods which are not good or no longer needed are innocent. However, there are some that try to forge receipts and attempt to return stolen items in the hopes of gaining money or credit.

Moped Gangs

Although this is not frequently seen in Cardiff and other Welsh cities, moped crimes are still a serious problem. In larger cities such as London, there has been an increase in moped gangs targeting high-end stores such as jewellers and electronic stores.

With this range of crimes committed, it can be difficult for retailers to remain both vigilant and run their store. So, how can security officers help?

Security officers can help protect your retail store, employees, customers and products from thieves and other criminals. Shoplifting is one of the most common types of theft within the retail industry and is a real concern. With many customers flocking to our high streets, it can be incredibly difficult for staff to remain vigilant and carry out their job to the best of the abilities.

Having security guards in place gives your staff that extra set of eyes to look out for any suspicious-looking persons or behaviour. But they are also an effective deterrent and can quickly act accordingly if they spot anyone stealing for your store.

If there is a situation that has escalated quickly, security guards can help de-escalate a situation and address any threats and violence before they occur. Controlling crowds during peak times is also important. Officers can control customers to ensure that they are able to shop safely.

Retail staff are not trained well enough to calmly deal with an emergency. Security officers are trained in first aid, fire safety and health and safety and are able to assess and calmly deal with a situation.

Investing in manned guards give your customers and staff peace of mind – knowing that their safety is your top priority. Any suspicious activity can be continuously monitored, and any emergencies are dealt with correctly and swiftly, and tense situations are prevented. This allows your retail staff to get on with their jobs.

If you are a retailer in Cardiff and are looking to employ security staff, then look at our manned guard security services. All of our guards hold full SIA licenses and are fully trained. Hiring security officers puts companies and individuals at an advantage. As officers can provide a physical presence, surveillance and on-going patrols.

If you would like to know more about our services then please contact A&R Security Services on 01656 713950  or visit our website