How To Refuse Service To Suspected Shoplifter

Burglary and vandalism are ongoing security concerns for retail and commercial premises. Crime can too act as a serious barrier to economic development. Direct losses arising from theft, or attacks on belongings and vandalism, can undermine or gamble the viability of many businesses.

bus watch An Garda Síochána's Bureau of Community Engagement runs a number of initiatives and programmes helping businesses protect their bounds, goods, and assets. Retailers looking for further information should download our Retailers Security Information Pack which contains helpful information on the pop 'Business Lookout' scheme, diverse theft reduction and prevention strategies, CCTV, and a Retail Security Guide.

Preventing break-in and vandalism

The physical protection of a retail premises from break-in and vandalism follows the criminal offence prevention principle of 'protect from the perimeter inwards'. Ensuring that premises are well protected and present a loftier run a risk to the prospective offender can reduce the opportunity for burglary. Well-protected premises with good security procedures will deter the criminal from attempting to enter or dissentious the premises. In the event of a robbery, the offender will accept less time available to commit the crime and the chances of being apprehended are increased.

Hither are some deportment retailers or business owners can take to assist prevent crime:

The premises should remain well-illuminated afterward endmost to ensure high visibility and increase the likelihood of intruders being noticed.
Grilles or shutters should be considered to provide a solid barrier around the vanquish of the building to help prevent intruders gaining entry.
Some roll-down grilles provide physical protection whilst nevertheless allowing window shoppers to come across into the premises.
Internal grilles may be fitted which will have a similar level of protection for the premises just leaving the glass windows and/or the doors exposed.
Anti-ram bollards, removable during trading hours, may be used in conjunction with shutters or grilles.
Laminated glass may be used in the windows to increase resistance to attack.
Anti-climb brackets may exist installed on conduits, drainpipes etc., to foreclose intruders gaining access to the roof.
Doors and locks should exist fitted and maintained to recognised security specifications.
Greenbacks Tills, later trading hours, left open and empty - cash amounts held on the premises should be kept to the minimum in proper security greenbacks safes.
Admission to the premises should be restricted during endmost hours and all keys issued should be inspected on a regular basis. A mod access control system should be considered.
An intruder alarm organisation to standard (EN 50131) should be installed and connected to an approved monitoring station to standard (IS 228/97). Panic Attack Buttons - double push type - for persons operating in greenbacks areas should exist included in the systems.
All locks and safes should be to a high security quality with a regulated locking/unlocking system established and responsibility for their opening/closing clearly delegated.
CCTV cameras should be strategically positioned, in line with operational requirements, both within and outside the retail bounds. The positioning of cameras at all public entrance(s), with captured images of persons to recognition standard, should be paramount, as this will be an important factor in mail-incident analysis and the investigation of captured images volition decide their subsequent value for evidential purposes.
Unnecessary boxes, skips or other obstructions should exist removed from the vicinity of the premises – these are potential aids to the burglar and concenter the vandal. Inside stores, displays and appurtenances should be organised to permit for maximum visibility and accountability. Toilets, storerooms and other possible hiding places should be visited when the shop is being locked. If there is a abiding threat of burglary or vandalism at the bounds, or in the vicinity, the utilize of a manned security patrol or in-business firm security may demand to be considered.

Opening and closing procedures

Retail opening and closing times are high-take chances periods in security terms. The number of employees present, their knowledge of access control and security systems and predictable patterns in inflow and departure make this a particularly vulnerable time for criminal activity.

Responsible and designated personnel, preferably two, should be appointed to carry out opening and closing functions. They should attempt to avoid any regular long-term pattern beingness followed, equally this would allow procedures to exist pre-supposed by
The names and contact information for all key holders should be available to the Gardaí.
The cut of extra keys or the use of master keys should not be permitted.
In cases of multi-occupancy premises, an overall security procedure should be agreed among the parties concerned.

Cash and security control

Cash has always been a prime target for criminals, and equally such requires detailed security plans for its safe storage and retentiveness on a retail premises. Criminals in search of cash are oft armed with guns, knives or other offensive weapons. In some cases cash robberies have resulted in the loss of life or serious injury.

The greenbacks office of a retail outlet should be situated out of view from public areas and every bit far away every bit possible from entrances/exits.
The office should be access controlled and under CCTV camera surveillance.
The cash room should be of solid construction with security standard doors and windows.
Where windows are fitted; the glazing should conform to recognised quality and security standards.
A high-quality safe should be installed inside the cash room and rag-bolted to a physical floor or chute facility and ideally fitted with a time filibuster locking mechanism. It should accept separate compartments to facilitate prepared lodgements. The opening time of the safe should be varied each day.
For greater security, or in large outlets, a pneumatic tubing system can exist installed to transport cash directly into the safe from the tills.
A Cash Transfer Unit, which facilitates the transfer of cash between the greenbacks office and the Cash in Transit Vehicle, may exist built into an external wall of the cash office.
A double push type PAB (Panic Attack Push button) should be placed on each work position inside the cash office.
The use of electronic interlocking doors should be considered in high turnover outlets.

Lodging greenbacks

A reputable cash-in-transit company should be considered to transport all greenbacks in and out of retail premises. Staff dealing with persons from the cash-in-transit company should never hand over money or open any door until they are completely satisfied that the security collection personnel are genuine - if any incertitude exists they should contact the cash in transit company directly to verify matters.

Where a cash-in-transit company is non a viable option for certain retailers the following safe guidelines employ:

Banking company at the closest institution possible.
Vary the times of banking, the style of transport and the route taken.
Just experienced, responsible members of staff, at least two, should exist tasked with transferring banking company warning and destruct facilities (due east.g. smoke and dye units), should be utilised.
Bank, when possible, during daylight hours.
Adhere to the insurance cash limits for persons transferring lodgements to banks.
Persons transporting cash who become suspicious of other persons, or other activity, should abort their intended arrangements and study to the nearest Garda Station either in person or by telephone to seek communication and assist.

Cash Tills

Cash till points should be sited in an surface area which affords a good view of the store floor.
Till limits should exist prepare and adhered to.
The till should be securely anchored to a solid surface.
A double push type PAB (Panic Attack Push button) should be situated within easy reach of the till.
Tills should be manned at all times and if left, even for a short fourth dimension, should exist locked and the keys removed.
Only experienced staff should operate tills.
Video till security systems which allow purchase verification should be considered where multiple operators employ the aforementioned machine.
A baby-sit in the form of Perspex sheeting, or similar, as a deterrent confronting till snatches should be fitted.
In high risk situations bullet resistant screens may be necessary.

Preventing robbery

Any programme to protect confronting robbery must be designed to secure the prophylactic of employees and customers, reduce the loss and affect the arrest of the criminals. Information technology is therefore almost important that a general plan, known and understood past all staff, is adopted. The staff programme can exist divided into three sections as actions to exist taken before, during, and later a robbery. All employees should be brash as follows:

Action earlier a Robbery:

Provision should exist fabricated for the maximum surveillance of public areas, within and exterior the edifice, by all staff.
Any security organisation which reduces visibility and permits a thief to face up a single employee should exist avoided.
There should be adequate emergency external communication facilities in identify. (Alarm Panic Attack Buttons, curtained phones etc.).
Liaison should be regularly maintained with local Gardaí on methods used by criminals and security procedures reviewed appropriately.
Staff opening and closing the premises should be instructed to be especially vigilant. They should survey the street before inbound or leaving and exist specially suspicious of persons loitering. They should not hold conversations with the door partly to others that all is well past utilize of a simple lawmaking organisation, e.g. raising or lowering a blind, removal of a card from the window, etc.
Annunciate, with suitable posters, the security measures in identify to deflect potential thieves (e.one thousand. timelocked safes, CCTV, alarm systems).
Maintain a package of 'Bait Money' with recorded serial numbers.
The risks should be spread by avoiding having large amounts of cash in one location.

Action during a Robbery:

Staff should co-operate with the criminal(s) and avoid sudden or unexpected movements, which the latter may misconstrue every bit an alert signal. Activate any alarm system ONLY if information technology is safe to do then.
Obey. They should do simply what they are told. They should not try to overpower a thief, as there may be others whom they have non seen.
They should detect closely and expect for the unusual: gait, scars, tattoos, earrings etc. and try and make a mental note of the description of the culprits.

Activity later a Robbery:

Preserve. Contact made by the thieves with all surfaces, tills, counters, floors may leave microscopic evidence backside. This may be fingerprints, cloth fibres, and soil residue. About probably information technology will be invisible to the naked eye. Information technology is therefore vital that no cantankerous-contamination takes place past persons unwittingly touching or interfering with the offense scene. Preservation is all-time accomplished by endmost the bounds and cordoning off the surface area the thieves accept
A short written memorandum of all that occurred should be fabricated. Descriptions of the culprits, car registrations and names of customers who may have been present during the robbery should be recorded. This can later be invaluable if a witness is challenged almost the accuracy of his or her observations in any subsequent court example.
Ideally, all customers should remain on the premises until the Gardaí arrive to commence investigations. It is appropriate that media enquiries about the matter exist referred to the Garda Press Role.

Stock Security and Control

Stock security and control within retail and commercial businesses will depend largely upon adept co-ordination betwixt management, staff, security personnel, and store detectives. All staff should receive training or instruction to advise them of the security requirements and procedures for handling of stock. The crime prevention advice offered should include the following:

Only an optimum level of stock should be retained on the premises, and stock requirements and holding procedures reviewed regularly for security purposes.
Responsibility for stock handling should be shared amongst designated staff.
Stock loading areas should, if possible, be located abroad from public areas, streets etc.
The loading and unloading of stock should be supervised and all transactions recorded.
Stock containers should exist sealed and clearly identifiable with security markers.
High value stock within the retail area should exist security tagged, with electronic commodity surveillance systems in place, that are selected, installed and operated according to an approved security standard.
Stock items in the retail surface area should carry a tag displaying the name of the shop and the price of the to be charged and the possibility of the stock existence purchased elsewhere.
High value appurtenances which are hands portable should be kept out of sight at dark.
Displays which cannot exist supervised should be
Open displays, and in particular those of high value goods, should not exist sited almost the entrance/exit
Staff should ensure that client receipts are issued for all transactions.
Where there are large stocks of high value goods, the installation of security grilles or shutters should be considered.
Stock rooms should be secure, and inconspicuous in décor and location within the premises so as non to concenter undue attention.
All stocks should be checked on delivery and rechecked in the storeroom. The movement of all stock should exist recorded and deemed for by designated staff.
Stock requisitions should be checked by some person other than the Issuing Authority.
Spot checks should be carried out on stock levels.
Visitors to the stock surface area should be kept to the minimum for work purposes, and always escorted.
Loading bays and stock rooms should be locked when not beingness actively used.
Stock rooms and stock loading areas should be under abiding CCTV surveillance.
The removal of waste/damaged stock should exist supervised by nominated personnel and carried out by commercial refuse services.
The effectiveness of security systems and crime prevention measures should be regularly evaluated against the rate of stock loss.

Shoplifting

Losses from shoplifting past staff in the retail sector can amount to a considerable percentage of all losses incurred. Good supervision generally helps to deter dishonesty. Retail staff often plow to dishonesty through temptation, or in the belief that they have invented a new manner of theft that tin become undetected.

No member of staff should be allowed to procedure his/her own purchases, or those of relatives.
The times and method of staff purchases must be strictly authorised, controlled and subject field to examination.
Staff cloakroom facilities should be provided nearly the staff entrance and employees should not be allowed take handbags/bags onto the selling floors.
If a staff uniform is provided it must be worn.
Supervisors should regularly cheque purchases awaiting customer drove to ensure that they are bona fide sales, thus discouraging staff/customer mcollusion thefts.
Regular just frequent spot checks at cash points are essential and "No Sale" recordings should be examined.
Examination purchases should exist made by management or security personnel to ensure adherence to company security policy.
Senior management should outline to staff the position regarding current stock shrinkages. This will tend to create security awareness and deter dishonesty.
At that place should be a policy of reporting to the Gardaí all cases where staff are involved in dishonesty.

Preventing customer theft

Loss through customer theft is accepted as a fact of business life for some retailers, merely nevertheless making information technology difficult for the customer or the professional shoplifter to accept goods can greatly reduce this trouble. The common causes of shoplifting include poorly trained staff, poor direction, bad store layout, no security personnel on duty, and inadequate/lack of internal security such CCTV, alarms, mirrors, or security tagging.

Methods of Shoplifting

Common methods of shoplifting include:

Palming: Stealing small-scale items and concealing them in the palm of the mitt.

Switching Prices: Putting cost tags from low cost goods onto more expensive goods.

Steaming: A large gang enters a shop, intimidates, threatens or distracts staff in gild to steal large quantities of appurtenances before running off. It can be unsafe to tackle these people, as they are likely to resort to violence.

Staff Collusion: Staff working in conjunction with the thieves by turning a blind eye to theft or colluding in the

Other methods can be the use of belts, special pockets in the inside lining of coats, wearing baggy apparel, brief cases, shopping bags, prams, and children'south buggies for concealment purposes. The professional person shoplifter will try to overcome electronic security devices by removing tags in changing rooms, by stealing a de-tagger from the shop or using foil-lined bags. Attentive staff are the best asset in shoplifting prevention. Staff should be encouraged to exist observant, and fabricated conscious of the chance of customer theft. Also often this is left to security staff alone. Well-trained, alert staff can forestall a large proportion of theft.

Staff should exist trained to recognise thieves, as the thief volition always exist watching staff or looking around the shop rather than at the products.
They should know what to do if they run into a customer acting suspiciously; making a client aware that he/she has been noticed volition often be sufficient.
Staff should use normal sales approach such as "Tin can I aid you?" or make themselves decorated near a suspect.
If a theft has already occurred, staff should proceed the suspect under observation and alert other staff, security and phone call the Gardaí.

CCTV cameras volition deter some thieves and can help to prosecute the more than daring ones. The cameras should be highly visible with alarm signs on display. A camera should monitor the entrances to the shop to record thieves entering. Recordings may go bear witness and must be kept nether lock and cardinal in an advisable

Dealing with a Shoplifter

When a staff member or a fellow member of security detects a case of shoplifting he/she should act as follows:

The doubtable should exist kept in sight at all times.
The staff member should be admittedly sure that a theft has taken place and that the suspect has the particular stolen in their possession.
It may be necessary to allow the suspect leave the shop to confirm that a theft has taken place. The doubtable should not exist approached until he/she passes the terminal cash point and heads for the exit.
At this phase, the suspect should be approached, asked if they have forgotten to pay for the item(due south) subject of the suspected theft and asked to come back into the shop to an interview room away from the view of other customers or staff.
If possible two staff members should be involved in the procedure at this stage. The suspect should exist given an opportunity to explicate and produce the items involved. The staff member has no power of search and should call the Gardaí at this time.
The staff fellow member should tape details of the incident, and the date and time in their notebook. When the Gardaí arrive at the scene they will and then take accuse and may arrest the offender if an offence is disclosed.
All retailers should have a policy of prosecuting all identified shoplifters. It is i of the just deterrents available to them.

For further information on how to protect your business organization, check out An Garda Síochána's Retail Security Guide.