Criminals are stealing more than ever before. But which products should you protect?
The category of “high risk” items is growing VERY quickly…
Shoplifting is up 18%, with eight million incidents costing retailers more than £1Bn over the last 12 months.
And yet Police prosecutions are down, from 80,000 in 2014 to just 21,000 in 2022!
Retail is under pressure to protect high risk stock like never before. But which products should you protect?
A 2021 report produced by Facewatch, said that packed meat such as steak, lamb, and bacon, nappies, razor blades and deodorant were Britain’s most stolen commodities.
So, when Calpol was identified as the most-stolen item in Tower Hamlets, where 39% of residents are classed as living in poverty, it was clear times were changing.
The Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Lutfur Rahman, explained “Desperation has led to an increase in theft. Shoplifting of essential items and medicine has increased. Theft of essential products for babies is also on the rise.” And that is problematic for retail…
“Self-checkouts were designed to reduce staff numbers,” says Professor Adrian Beck, Emeritus Professor, Department of Criminology, University of Leicester. “…you’ve got fewer people supervising the space and you’ve also introduced this opportunity-rich approach to allowing people to check out themselves. They may scan six items but not scan two items, and these may be part of their typical shop, which is why you see this vast range of different items that now go missing in stores.”
Retailers can just harden the target. BUT BEWARE!
Recent Press coverage shows that dummy coffee jars, “sample” steaks, locked cases with buzzers for alcohol and barcode scans of till receipts needed to leave the store have ALL met with customer disapproval.
That’s why a new approach from the USA, that demonstrably reduces shrink, but stimulates double digit sales increase through greater shelf availability, is capturing the attention of leading UK retailers. It is not for every retail store, but it might be for you…
Please take a moment to watch this brief introductory video (2 mins) and tell us what you think. FREEDOM CASE
And if you would like to talk further, in confidence and without obligation, just click here… info@intrepidgroup.co.uk
“Shoplifting is up 18%, with eight million incidents costing retailers more than £1Bn over the last 12 months.”