Loss Prevention

Theft, vandalism, and workplace violence towards associates — ranging from verbal abuse to threats and physical aggression — are all too common in retail, driving stress and burnout among store associates. So much so that a staffer may not want to report the incident or commit to training, instead removing themselves from the situation. It…

Just months ago, the National Retail Federation (NRF) unveiled a study in which retailers reported a 93 percent increase in shoplifting incidents in 2023 compared to 2019. Over the same period, these companies saw a 90 percent increase in dollar loss due to shoplifting. In between, during those COVID-19 years, we’d see stores let shoplifters…

Organized retail crime (ORC) is no longer just a loss prevention issue — it’s a multibillion-dollar crisis affecting consumers, communities, and entire retail organizations. ORC poses a severe financial burden on businesses, directly affecting profitability and operational efficiency. During earnings calls, major retailers such as Target, Walgreens, and Walmart have openly cited ORC as a…

Customer incivility was one of the less favorable — but perhaps most important — topics of conversation at the NRF Big Show in January. The frequency of difficult interactions with shoppers has led to many frontline retail workers feeling unsafe on the job. Case in point: A 2024 survey by Axonify found 40 percent of…

Toothpaste, condoms, makeup and deodorants are among dozens of products under lock and key inside clear cabinets at drugstores like CVS in order to deter thieves from shoplifting. It's become a source of inconvenience — for both customers who have to wait for a salesperson to unlock the cabinet, and for employees to stop what…

As retailers face a troubling increase in theft and violent organized retail crime, many have responded by locking products up. While the intent is understandable — and there's no alternative in some markets or for specific product types — the impact on the customer experience (CX) can arguably result in fewer sales and risk of…

The rising incidences of fraud and theft across the retail industry has been a significant challenge for organizations to deal with. There may not be a simple solution to the problem, yet there are people and organizations taking the lead when it comes to fraud and loss prevention tactics to help stem the tide. During…

This video features a panel discussing how retailers are tackling loss prevention and fraud through technology from Total Retail Tech 2024 in Charlotte, NC. Speakers include Sree Sreedhararaj, Chief Technology Officer, IPSY; Karen Beebe, Chief Technology Officer, Bealls, Inc.; Adam Gunnett, Director, IT and Business Intelligence, Busy Beaver Building Centers; and moderator Sucharita Kodali, Vice…

Today, it’s not uncommon for consumers to expect next-day delivery. Amazon.com's groundbreaking two-day shipping has now evolved into one day or same day. And once you go there with your customers, it’s hard to go back. The repeatedly raised bar of consumer delivery expectations keeps getting higher. To meet this demand, retailers have embraced "dark…

Surveillance systems may help catch thieves in the act but they aren’t guaranteed to stop them, and criminals have grown bolder as a result. According to the National Retail Federation’s 2023 survey, losses from retail theft surged 19 percent to $112.1 billion in 2022, up from $93.9 billion the prior year. Jewelry theft alone recently…