Retail Crime, Security, and Loss Prevention

An Encyclopedic Reference

Charles A. Sennewald, John H. Christman

• Publisher: Butterworth-Heinemann
• Year: 2011
• ISBN:
  9780080560823
• Topic: Sciences sociales
• Subtopic: Criminologie

Retail Crime, Security, and Loss Prevention is destined to become the "go to" source of crime- and loss prevention- related information in the retail industry. Written and edited by two nationally recognized retail security experts and enhanced with 63 contributions by others who contribute expertise in specialized areas, this book provides over 150 definitions of loss prevention terms, and discusses topics ranging from accident investigations, counterfeit currency, emergency planning, and workplace violence to vendor frauds. No other single work contains such a wealth of retail security information.

The co-authors are Charles "Chuck" Sennewald, CSC, CPP former Director of Security at The Broadway Department Stores, a major division of Carter Hawley Hale Stores, Inc., founder of the IAPSC and author of numerous security industry books, and John Christman, CPP, former VP and Director of Security for Macy's West. They have put in one book a wealth of information, techniques, procedures and source material relative to retail crime and loss prevention which will prove an invaluable reference work for professionals at all levels within the industry.

• Tables, current industry figures, and statistics fully articulate the impact of loss prevention and theft in the retail setting
• Case examples from the authors' own experience illustrate real-world problems and connect theory to practice
• The most complete book available on retail security

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Security and Emergency Communications

CAS, JHC

Perhaps nothing is as important to a security/LP department than the ability of staff to communicate among themselves. This is particularly true because portions of LP’s responsibilities involve actions which may be adversarial and confrontational, as well as involve emergencies, and the ability to contact assistance or relay time-sensitive information is essential. For these reasons, a quick, reliable, and secure method of communication is vital.

Years ago, when security staff (or even earlier, when it was known as the “Protection Department”) were needed on the selling floor, the “bell” system was used to page them. The procedure was as follows: The person needing LP called the store telephone operator and verbally requested LP in a given area of the store. The telephone operator would then cause chime-like “bells” to sound throughout the store. When LP staff heard their designated bell call, they would call the store operator, who would direct them to the area where their services were required. This bell system was also used to contact store managers and other executives, each of which had a distinctive bell call, which was generally a series of sounds in groups of five or fewer bells. For example, LP may have been assigned 5-1 bells, sounding in several distinct series of xxxxx x, xxxxx x, xxxxx x.

In the 1970s, most LP departments converted to portable radios for in-store communications. These battery-operated radios permitted LP agents to be called by the store telephone operator and/or by any other portable radio on the same frequency. Thus, not only were LP agents able to be paged to a given area of the store, but they could also communicate among themselves. “Privacy” channels (frequencies) enabled them to restrict some communications to specific radios so that “outsiders” like telephone operators could not hear their conversations. Each portable radio had at least two rechargeable batteries so that while one was in use, the other could be charging. Most LP agents choose to use the standard “Ten Code” for their transmissions because it saves time and is easily understood.

Later on, security/LP executives who traveled between stores were issued pagers so that they could be contacted at any time their pager was turned on, which by tradition was almost every waking hour (and when emergency conditions existed, any waking or nonwaking hour). Larger stores eventually installed systems whereby a sales associate or other store personnel could call LP agents over their radios simply by dialing a special number on the store phone system.

The advent of so-called trunked radio systems permitted the use of relay towers scattered throughout the state to permit long-distance radio communication with radios of relatively low power. By utilizing additional equipment, retailers were also able to broadcast through this system from telephones by dialing the correct connection code.

Whatever radio system is selected, it is important to provide for powering it and recharging its batteries from both 110VAC power as well as 12VDC power. In emergencies, local power often goes out, and if radios can be powered/recharged only by 110VAC (house current), their life will be limited to available battery life. If, however, there is a converter or other means of plugging into and powering/recharging from 12VDC (automobile cigarette lighter sockets), then the radio can realistically be used as long as there is a vehicle available.

The latest communication devices utilized by security personnel are cell phones and cell phones capable of “walkie-talkie” operation. These phones can almost communicate instantaneously and privately from one coast to the other.

Modern communications prove indispensable during major emergencies. We can attest to the fact that, during the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989, the security radio system, which enabled long-distance communications, proved a godsend. Because both local landline and cellular phone systems, as well as local power, were interrupted, the security department’s radios, with their ability to be powered by vehicle batteries, were the only method of communication available between affected stores.

Security Mirrors

CAS, JHC

The use of convex mirrors as a security tool is perhaps one of the oldest such tools still in use today. Convex mirrors are utilized to permit viewing specific areas of the store or aisles from a distant location without, one hopes, disclosing the fact that such viewing is occurring. In most situations, however, anyone who is knowledgeable about the use of convex mirrors can easily determine if he is under observation. For this reason, these mirrors present a double-edged sword for the store owner: Not only can the owner see a potential shoplifter, but the potential thief can also see that he is under observation.

It has been our experience that while such mirrors are not particularly useful as operational antishoplifting devices, their existence in a store does send the message to potential thieves that the store has at least some degree of security awareness and in this way may serve as a deterrent to shoplifting.

Another mirror used in retailing is the so-called two-way mirror, which allows representatives of the store, i.e., management or a loss prevention professional, to view the selling floor from such areas as stockrooms or a “Trojan horse,” while the opposite or public side of that mirror appears to be no more or less than an actual functional mirror.

A cautionary word about two-way mirrors: During the long history of retail security and loss prevention, there have been instances in which these devices were used in areas with high expectations for privacy, such as fitting rooms and restrooms. Those days have long passed, and two-way mirrors should never be used in those areas today. In most jurisdictions, such use is actually illegal.

Security Surveys

CAS, JHC

Introduction to Security Surveys: A University Bookstore Security Survey

While the trend appears to be for colleges and universities to outsource the operation of their bookstores to companies such as Barnes & Noble, many schools still continue to operate their campus stores. Some universities have ancillary services whose operations fall under the bookstore management. Examples of such ancillary services are Technical Books (e.g., Medical, Legal), Fax and Sales Services, Office Products, Computer Repair Facilities, Vending Operations, Copy Centers, Laundromats, Retail Operations (Clothing, Gifts, and Insignia merchandise), and Food Vending Services. The loss prevention aspects of a college bookstore are generally much like those of any other retail operation, with some aspects which are unique to the college campus environment. We feel the best way to present both a broad picture of the loss prevention aspects of college/university bookstores as well as provide an introduction to security surveys is to reproduce an actual security/loss prevention survey done at a major university (whose name and personnel identities have been disguised). By reviewing the survey, you will gather not only the LP concerns of this venue, but also the format, scope, and details of an actual security survey, which can be adapted and applied to any venue.

CONFIDENTIAL SECURITY SURVEY AND RECOMMENDATIONS

FOR THE STORE

UNIVERSAL UNIVERSITY

MIDDLETON, NY

by

xxxx x. xxxxxxxxx, CPP

Security Consultant

July 2007

CONFIDENTIAL

Copy 1 of 5 CONSULTANT’S REPORT

SECURITY SURVEY FOR THE UNIVERSAL STORE

UNIVERSAL UNIVERSITY

SCOPE

This ...