Overview

Retailers go to great lengths to protect their merchandise from theft, whether it is chocolate bars or designer coats. You only have to look around a department store to see just how much equipment is used for security. The cost of theft is a constant concern, causing a loss of revenue for store owners and increased prices for the consumer.

It is estimated that retail theft amounts to a loss to retailers of approximately 2–3% of their sales. This can result in a 25% loss in profit to the store.

Reducing the number of thefts in your store is crucial to its operation and profitability. As an employee you can help by understanding effective store security and the policies and procedures assigned to you.

This section looks at the various types of security equipment and discusses the importance of regular monitoring and servicing the security equipment.

In this unit you will learn how to:

• Maintain store security systems
• Deal with potentially unsecured situations.