If you own a retail store or commercial business, keeping track of assets, revenue and cash flow are crucial to your daily operations. One of the major threats to commercial businesses is theft. While many business owners fear theft from customers in the form of merchandise, employee theft is one of the most rampant and damaging occurrences in all types of businesses.
Employee theft can be tricky to combat, which is why business owners need to implement a strategy dedicated to identifying and stopping it as soon as possible. To help you prevent loss, here are some tips for improving retail store security in Fort Myers, FL:
- Check references and backgrounds: When hiring new employees, it’s a good idea to call provided references to get a feel for the potential employee’s work ethic, responsibility, and trustworthiness. If past employers say the new hire had a problem with theft, you should steer clear. Not only that, but you should run background checks on new hires to ensure they don’t have a history of theft or other concerning illegal activity. Hiring employees you can trust puts your business on the right foot.
- Install security cameras: Security cameras are a good idea for both monitoring the activity in your store and preventing theft. Make sure employees know about the cameras to deter them from stealing items or cash. If they know they are being watched, they will be less likely to steal.
- Lock up valuables and limit access: When employees of all levels have access to some of the most tempting items, like large sums of cash or valuable merchandise, it’s only a matter of time before something will go missing. Limit access to these items, so only managers or long-term employees you trust are able to unlock them.
- Implement accountability policies: Maintain good records and implement policies for checking inventory and cash levels daily to help you keep track of assets in your store. If your employees know that you don’t check on your items or cash regularly, it’ll be much easier for them to get away with theft.
- Provide a way for employees to report fraud: Chances are, at least one of your employees has witnessed their coworkers stealing from your business. However, if you don’t have a good way for those employees to come forward without fear of retaliation or conflict, they might not ever let you know. Implement a system for employees to report fraud securely, and then make sure you have a policy for investigating it thoroughly.
- Hire a security guard: Sometimes, even the most high-tech security systems and policies can’t stop you and your business from being victims of theft. Your last resort may be to hire a security guard from a commercial security service in Fort Myers, FL. Having a uniformed presence in the store will help deter both customers and employees from doing things they shouldn’t.
If you’re looking to improve your retail store security in Fort Myers, FL and cut down on employee theft, contact the diverse team of security officers at American Pride Security Services. We’ve offered security and protection services for over a decade, from security surveys and consultations to uniformed officers at all types of locations. Get in touch to learn more!
Running a business is hard work. Since you’ve invested a lot of time and money in your business, you must do what you can to protect it. Here are six tips to help you enhance your retail store security in Fort Myers, FL:
- Install a security system: Large retail chains are not the only stores that can benefit from security camera installation. Today, many small retailers are investing in video surveillance to ensure the safety of their staff and customers and to protect their inventory from vandals and shoplifters. The great thing about modern-day security cameras is that they can be big and obvious or placed discreetly up in store corners. You can pick according to your preference.
- Hire a security guard: You might consider hiring on-site security guards for day and/or night patrol of your business. Choose from armed and unarmed security officers depending on your type of business. For example, banks and high-end jewelry stores may want armed guards, while strip malls and hotels might prefer unarmed. Having a visible security presence could make all the difference for the safety of your business.
- Lock up merchandise: Consider investing in display cases that lock to house expensive or small items you have for sale. Customers can still see them, but cannot touch them without the assistance of an employee. You might also only put out a few items at a time and leave the rest behind closed doors or locked in an inventory safe.
- Post your shoplifting policy: It’s a good idea to be very clear about your business’ shoplifting policy. This can be done by posting your shoplifting policy around your shop to warn would-be thieves that you will not hesitate to take action against them, prosecuting them to the fullest extent of the law. Your posted notices should work well as a strong deterrent against crime.
- Always be on alert: You and your employees need to be aware and alert all the time to keep your retail store safe and secure—especially during opening and closing. You might even consider having training sessions for your staff. You should also be especially alert when trucks arrive with new inventory and are careful not to display expensive and/or small merchandise where shoplifters can easily pocket it.
- Learn to identify shoplifters: Another good idea is for retail shop owners to learn how to identify potential shoplifters in their store. It’s a helpful skill that pairs well with surveillance systems and can help a great deal in retail loss prevention. Because security cameras can only see so much, you and your employees will need to be able to spot a shoplifter both in person and on camera. Learning to watch for certain behavioral shifts in customers—such as tensing up, nervousness, shiftiness or loitering—helps employees be more alert to shoplifting. Also, be wary of people who gravitate toward hard-to-see or poorly monitored areas.
Do you need to improve your retail store security in Fort Myers, FL? Call American Pride Security Services today to learn how our highly trained security professionals can protect you and your business!
As a brick and mortar retail business, you likely have a security system and cameras in place to protect your inventory. However, the alarm you set at the end of every workday and having visible cameras are not the only preventative measures you can take against would-be robbers. This is where hiring a security guard for your business could be of big help. Unfortunately, some business owners see security guards as an unnecessary expense. However, depending on what type of industry you are in and the area where your store is located, they may actually be more than worth it.
Are you still not sure if a security guard is right for you? Here are five reasons to consider investing in professional security guard services in Fort Myers, FL for your retail establishment:
- Crime deterrent: While placing security cameras and alarm placards in plain sight might make a person reconsider committing a crime, having a security guard patrolling the property may just scare them away for good. This is because a good security guard has the training to detect suspicious activity and is able to prevent criminal acts before they happen. Even better, the combination of business security cameras and visible security guards is an extremely effective crime deterrent.
- Stop robberies and crimes: Many reputable security guard services in Fort Myers, FL train their personnel in weapons use and oftentimes hand-to-hand combat. Thanks to this kind of training, a security guard could potentially stop a robbery or another type of crime in progress. Due to safety or liability, a client or the security company may forbid the security guard from confronting a criminal. In this case, they understand they are to contact the proper authorities immediately and take safe, appropriate measures to stop the situation from escalating.
- Versatility: Most professional security guards are trained to provide additional services, instead of merely being present at your business. Depending on the agreement a client has with the security service company, your security guard could take on other duties, including monitoring the security cameras, standing guard in restricted areas, providing extra backup to drivers during product deliveries and protecting the property after hours.
- Help with customer service: Did you know that hiring a security guard can improve your retail business’ customer service? Your customers will look at your security guard as a trusted individual, so they may ask for guidance around your store or to be walked through a dark parking lot.
- Peace of mind: When security guards are around, you are bound to feel safer. Business owners and employees can focus on their work better knowing someone is there to protect them—especially if you sell expensive items that are appetizing to criminals. Also, your customers will get the impression that their safety is important to you. This provides peace of mind for everyone.
To learn more about what professional security guard services in Fort Myers, FL can do for your business, call the experts at American Pride Security Services. We will be happy to answer all your questions or get services started for you as soon as possible!
