According to the Association of Convenience Stores’ Crime Report, there were estimated to be 970,000 incidents of shoplifting during 2022.
This demonstrates the difficulties that many stores face in preventing incidents of theft. There are, however, a number of solutions which can help to deter shoplifters, one of which is optimising your store’s layout.
In this blog, we discuss how adjusting the layout of your store and the stock within it can help to achieve a reduction in incidents of theft.
Increase visibility in your store to improve retail security
One of the most effective ways to reduce shoplifting is to make it difficult for criminals to hide stolen goods. You can achieve this by adjusting the layout of the store so that it is more open and visible.
Retailers should consider removing tall displays that can block the view of the store. It’s also a good idea to think about placing high-value items in well-lit areas where they can be easily seen.
Additionally, security mirrors are an excellent way of improving visibility in areas that may be less easy to observe, where shoplifters may be most likely to operate.
Optimise product placement to maximise retail security
Another way to reduce incidents of customer theft is to use product placement to create an environment that is less conducive to shoplifting.
For example, you could place items that are frequently stolen, such as electronics or cosmetics, near the front of the store or cash registers. This would make them more visible to store employees, making it more likely that incidents of attempted theft would not go unnoticed.
This said, placing high-value items near the front of the store can also mean that the amount of time that a shoplifter takes to walk in, steal an item, and leave without anyone spotting them, is reduced.
The team here at T Class Security are experts in weighing up the pros and cons of product placement and the benefits of various store layouts.
Each retail premises is unique in its needs, and we will take many factors into account when helping you to decide on the best solutions to reduce incidents of theft within your store.
Ideal placement of retail security guards
Retail security guards are also an essential component in reducing shoplifting. They are experienced in identifying the most likely areas for shoplifting to take place, and they can be trained to recognise suspicious behaviour. They can also act as a visual deterrent to would-be shoplifters, as their presence in the store sends a clear message that the store is being closely monitored.
The ideal placement of retail security guards in a store depends on the layout and design of the store, as well as the specific security needs of the business.
However, there are a few key areas where security guards should be placed to maximise their effectiveness in deterring crime and protecting the store and its customers.
Entrances and exits: Security guards should be positioned at all entrances and exits to monitor who is entering and leaving the store, and to deter shoplifters from attempting to steal items as they leave.
At T Class Security, all our retail security guards are highly trained in customer service. Positioning our security staff at the entrances to your store also means that they will be able to greet your customers and deal with any enquiries.
High-value items: Security guards should be placed near high-value items, such as electronics, jewellery, or designer clothing, to deter shoplifters from attempting to steal these items.
Blind spots: Retail security guards should be positioned in areas of the store where visibility is limited, such as near tall displays or in corners of the store, to deter shoplifters from hiding stolen items in these areas.
Cash registers: Security guards should be positioned near cash registers not only to deter theft, but also to help to protect employees and customers from potential violence.
Customer service areas: Retail security guards should be situated near customer service areas, such as returns desks or fitting rooms. This will help to deter shoplifters from attempting to steal items in these areas, and allow the security guards to intervene in any suspicious behaviour.
It’s also important to note that the placement of retail security guards should be reviewed and adjusted regularly. Monitoring and optimising your retail security in this way will ensure that your security guards are in the most effective positions to deter crime and protect the store and its customers.
How T Class Security can help to optimise your store’s layout
T Class Security can help to optimise the layout of your retail store to reduce shoplifting in several ways:
Conducting a risk assessment: We can conduct a thorough risk assessment of your retail store to identify the most likely areas for shoplifting to take place. We will also identify areas where visibility is limited and recommend adjustments to the layout to improve visibility.
Recommending product placement: We can recommend strategic product placement to create an environment that is less conducive to shoplifting.
Implementing security measures: Our experienced team can recommend and implement additional security measures such as security tags, CCTV cameras, and security mirrors to protect high-value items and improve visibility in areas where shoplifters may be most likely to hide.
We can also provide highly trained retail security guards to monitor your store and keep your staff, stock, and customers safe. Our risk assessment will enable us to recommend the best placements for retail security guards, and regular routes they should walk around your store for maximum impact.
Providing ongoing support: When you choose T Class Security to provide retail security guards for your store, we will provide ongoing support. The continuous monitoring that we provide may mean that we suggest further adjustments to the layout of your store as needed, as well as the placement of the products within it. This will help to ensure that the layout of the store is always optimised to reduce incidents of shoplifting.
Get in touch
If you’d like advice on optimising the layout of your UK store and the products within it to reduce incidents of shoplifting, contact the knowledgeable team at T Class Security today.
Our highly skilled retail security guards have the experience and training required to identify the most likely areas for shoplifting to take place, and they are committed to providing excellent customer service.
For more information, give us a call on 020 3794 8182. Alternatively, you can send us a message using our online contact form and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
