Identifying & Preventing Shoplifters

Shoplifting.....whether you know it or not, people are shoplifting everywhere. There are several methods for shoplifting. The most common is hiding items in a purse, in pockets, in purchased items, and in strollers. Some other methods include: grabbing something and running out of the store, switching price labels, fake returns, etc.

Shoplifters.....there is no common profile for a shoplifter. There are shoplifters all around the world ranging from different ages and race, but there are signs that could help you spot a shoplifter. Retailers should pay very close attention to suspicious people that show the following characteristics:

• Wears baggy and heavy clothing (jackets/coats) when not needed
• Always watching the employees 
• Enters the store periodically, but never buys anything
• Takes a handful of items into the dressing room and leaving with the room nothing 
• Seem to look nervous and looking around to see if anyone is watching them
• A big group entering the store at the same time to distract the employees

How to prevent shoplifting? There are several ways you can reduce shoplifting from happening with using store design and customer service:

• Video cameras 
• Security tags on the products
• Register in the front of the store 
• Angled ceiling mirrors surrounding the store 
• Signs that say "SHOPLIFTERS WILL BE PROSECUTED"
• Stay alert, be attentive and focus on customers
• Have an employee stationed in the fitting rooms and counting items that go in and out

The best way to handle a situation with shoplifters would be to not let them out of your sight and to call security and let security take care of it.