Retail stores operate on very thin margins and are severely harmed by security incidents like employee theft, burglary, fire, and lawsuits from slips and falls. Therefore, a strong retail security system is an essential investment for all retail store owners.
Theft at the point of sale can occur when customers change price tags, discreetly hide items while paying for others, or commit credit card fraud. Point-of-sale theft methods also include distracting staff while criminal associates shoplift.
Employee theft includes not only the taking of items but also time theft. With security tools like access control and security cameras for retail stores, security personnel and store owners can collect data and evidence on recorded or live video feeds. This allows them to detect employee theft of both items and time. For example, employees who clock each other in before they arrive can be caught on surveillance footage and be replaced or disciplined before the hours stack up.
Retail stores are vulnerable to after-hours and backdoor intruders. These incidents can result in worse financial losses than shoplifting because thieves don't feel the need to be discreet and can move freely throughout closed retail stores, finding cash and the store's highest-value equipment and inventory.
Lawsuits resulting from employee and customer injuries are detrimental to retail stores. Security monitoring systems are therefore used by retail establishments to ensure that safety rules are followed and that all site incidents are documented.
What's more, security camera footage can provide defensive evidence if customers or employees sue after slips and other incidents. Evidence collected by security camera systems of incidents as they unfold may then be used to defend establishments when there is proof of fraud or of other dangerous behaviors on the part of the injured.
Motion and intrusion detection systems make sure that after-hours intruders and people entering unauthorized storage room areas are instantly detected. With smart motion detection, alarms can even greet intruders with smart siren systems and audio recording messages to let them know they are being monitored and that authorities may be on the way.
This deterrence alone can reduce financial losses faced by small businesses like retail stores by attracting the attention of law enforcement.
Alarm systems can be connected with remote monitoring services for constant monitoring. With remote monitoring plans connected with surveillance cameras and motion detection, live security experts will be on hand to differentiate between false alarms and incidents that call for immediate responses from law enforcement.
Security tags on retail items are used to trigger door theft alarms when shoplifters attempt to leave retail establishments with stolen items. Security tags should only be removable at the point of sale, and special tools should be provided at cash register areas for their removal.
Security gates are a form of access control. They separate areas of larger storage rooms with the highest-value items. With security gates, only trusted staff and management can be granted access to expensive inventory.
In addition to stopping internal thieves, security gates can prevent intruders from reaching the inventory they came for.
Security cameras for a retail store deter theft and provide actionable evidence when theft does occur.
IP security cameras with night vision features are highly recommended for retail security because they record footage at higher resolutions than other types of cameras, are able to capture evidence in low-light environments and provide remote access to video footage and management tools.
With the aid of artificial intelligence, IP camera systems can even keep an eye out for behaviors associated with theft, or that appear to break policies. For example, an AI-supported surveillance system may recognize mopping instruments and movements to provide warnings when mopped areas do not have proper signage to warn of slipping risks.
Access control prevents customer and internal theft because these systems require credential authentication before individuals are granted access to secured locations.
In an access control system, an ID badge or other identifier is presented to an access reader. If the ID matches access privileges for the site, the access control system will electronically unlock doors to grant passage.
Access control is an excellent tool for loss prevention. Employees can be granted specific access privileges on a need-to-use basis, and access logs are stored of all entry attempts and exits.
For example, a retail stocker may be granted access to a back room with inventory while being denied access to back rooms where cash and other high-value items may be stored. If the stocker attempts to enter the unauthorized backroom, the access control system will document the attempt.
IP cameras and integrated security systems allow remote monitoring from anywhere with an Internet connection. Remote monitoring is a powerful tool for retail security.
It's used to recognize employee theft—whether of items or of time. It also helps managers to make sure employees are following all safety policies and providing excellent customer care.
Fire alarms provide early warnings of fire so that employees and customers have adequate time for safe evacuations. Not only do fire alarms minimize property damage, but they also save lives. For this reason, regulations for fire alarms require that they be regularly tested and maintained to ensure that they will function as intended in the case of an emergency.
Security systems for retail stores can be integrated to provide maximum security. Integrated systems combine all of the parts of a security system—cameras, access control, intrusion detectors, and fire alarms—into one intercommunicating system that can be managed on a single interface.
To make sure that current and future integrations are possible, every element of your retail security system should be based on open-source software and hardware components. Open-source systems are designed for compatibility with security products from a wide range of manufacturers.
With hardwired security systems that rely on encrypted technologies for data transfers, retail stores are better able to resist damaging security breaches such as cyber-attacks, data thefts, and duplication of access credentials.
Retail security systems prevent and reduce theft through both deterrence and mechanisms for early detection.
Retail security systems improve customer service by ensuring that staff is on-site when they clock in and that they provide appropriate customer service.
By reducing theft, cameras and other security systems also help to keep prices down for customers and ensure that items are available and stocked when needed.
Few retail stores are open 24/7, but with motion detection and security cameras, they can be monitored even after hours.
Parking lots and other areas outside retail stores are common locations for property or violent crimes. Outdoor security cameras discourage people from committing crimes in the first place, and they can even be used to identify perpetrators after they commit crimes inside stores.
Your retail security system can help management to recognize bad employee behavior and poor employee time management. As bad as theft is for business, unproductive employees can lead to even larger financial losses over time by reducing customer satisfaction.
Choose security system components designed on an open platform so they can be easily integrated. A security system that integrates alarms, cameras, and access control devices will provide easy management of all the different systems on one single, easy-to-manage interface.
The best security system for your retail store will be compatible with your point-of-sale (POS) system. By combining security technology with POS systems, you will be able to track customer purchases and discover the identities connected with criminal activities like credit card fraud.
You can trust our team at Mammoth Security to develop and install the right security solutions to protect your retail store. From burglar alarms and access control to cameras and cabling, the expertise you need is just a few clicks away.
Fill out the simple form below to set up a free, zero-obligation site consultation. You’ll meet a friendly member of our team who will survey your property, discuss your security concerns, and begin to develop a security system that’s expertly tailored to your site’s unique layout and needs.
Retail security is important to reduce theft and other bad behaviors that can be extremely costly and result in price increases or drive stores out of business.
Professional installation experts should install retail security systems. Because of high-value or high-quantity inventory, commercial-grade installations are highly recommended.
Security systems very much belong in retail stores and should be professionally installed. By installing security cameras and other security system components, theft and safety violations become rare and are more quickly detected when they do occur.
Wireless
IP Cameras
Wireless cameras are not reliable enough for commercial use yet. Instead, we use purpose-built antennae to connect hardwired cameras on light poles and buildings.
Phone App
For Camera Systems
Watch live or previously recorded footage on any mobile device. Save it to your phone and e-mail it just like any other video or image.
Increased Resolution
Of 4096×2160
4k or 8MP cameras represent the best value at the moment. Depending on your situation, a 30+ megapixel camera can be installed allowing you to read a seat number from the opposite end of a football field.
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