This article is brought to you by Retail Technology Review: Retail Technology Innovations Preventing Shoplifters.
By Jackie Ross, freelance writer.
Loss prevention, or the act of preventing shoplifting, attracts more than 4 billion dollars per year in investments. Traditionally, brick-and-mortar retailers might use security guards, guards dressed as shoppers, locked glass cases, as well as security video monitoring in an attempt to block shoplifting in progress.
Attaching and chaining items, attaching magnetic sensors, and mirrors, and forbidding bags from entering premises were all part of inventory loss prevention. But all these procedures can negatively impact the shopper experience causing some shoppers to abandon purchasing products.
Still, thieves are clever and are rarely caught, claiming that they are only spotted once out of every 48 times they steal. Fortunately, technological advancements are succeeding where human efforts at loss prevention are failing.
Typical shoplifting methods include stashing untagged merchandise inside bags, clothing, or purses. Although salespeople at registers or clients at self-checkouts may “pass off” or not scan items, and customers may place labels from less expensive items on costly items to pay less which are other forms of theft. Today advanced technology is aiding physical security measures in preventing shoplifting and theft without negatively affecting the shopping experience.
EAS – Electronic Article Surveillance System
Known as the “tag and alarm system”, EAS is considered by experts to be practically unbeatable. EAS tagging alerts the store personnel that an article is being removed from the store without authorization. It can be used on items of all sizes and uses an electronic tag, an electronic antenna, and a detacher or deactivator once an item has been properly purchased. These special tags or adhesive labels are attached to products for sale. The tags are deactivated or removed when the item is purchased so that the customer can pass by a surveillance antenna without a problem. If the tags are not deactivated or removed, alarms sound as one passes the antenna at store exits.
Detection systems may be mounted on walls or door frames, cover checkout lane zones, or have pedestal systems installed at doors.
RFID Loss Prevention Labels
RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification. This is a system that transfers a digital ID from an RFID tag and a detector reader that uses electromagnetic waves. Each RFID tag has a unique digital identity, so each tagged product has this as well. RFID labels can be read at a distance as close as a few inches to as far as 60 feet. RFID systems not only detect items passing the antenna but will verify if the item has been paid for or not. Retailers are alerted as RFID feeds info through software into IT systems.
Facial Recognition Software
The technology that uses facial recognition also maintains a large database of verified shoplifters, ex-employees, retail criminals, and anyone else that may pose a risk to retail commerce. Shoplifters are captured on video during a crime or once they are apprehended and included in the database. Facial recognition algorithms can then recognize potential criminals by matching the face to the database, The system then alerts store security personnel should the offender return to the store. These systems never forget a face.
Video Monitoring with Analytic Software
This specific software when applied to video footage picks up on suspicious behavior permitting retailers to use video monitoring more effectively. This kind of software can recognize an attempt to conceal items, those exiting without paying for products or even identify cashiers who behave dishonestly at the register.
Smart Retail Displays
Displays are designed with technology that sets off alarms if merchandise is removed. Generally used for high-value items or items considered at risk for high rates of theft, they will alert personnel that an item has been taken from the display. Alarms may be connected.
Wheel-Locking Cart Systems
Underground wires are installed around stores to impede shopping carts from exiting the premises. The wheels of the shopping cart will lock so that it can no longer move. This prevents carts with unpaid items from leaving the store. These systems are used to stop push-out theft substituting a store employee that may check receipts at the door.
Mobile Sales Points
Some retailers may opt to eliminate traditional cash registers and checkout counters or aisles. By using a mobile sale point, an employee can ring up a sale from any point in the store. With this method, employees are freer to move around and control activities on the sales floor meaning shoplifting will be more difficult.
Self-Checkout Security Tags
As more retailers opt for self-checkout options, more companies are developing RFID security tags that will unlock automatically as soon as an item has been paid for. This eliminates the need for deactivators or detachers for removing security tags and facilitates and speeds up self-checkout.
Preventing Shoplifting with Technology
Using technology to prevent shoplifting and loss is a winning strategy for retailers. Effective loss prevention stops costly inventory from disappearing and can reduce the need for expensive security personnel. It’s an investment that pays for itself almost immediately. Anti-theft technologies are advancing rapidly and the appetite for them is as well.
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