Retailers take anti-theft tips from one of the best in the business

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Retailers have lifted some anti-theft tips from one of the best in the business at an event in Murray Bridge.

Jim Corbett, security manager for Drakes Supermarkets, was the guest speaker at Business Murray Bridge’s breakfast last Wednesday.

He told attendees there were two types of retail crooks.

Opportunists bought a bit and stole a bit, motivated by the cost pressures in their lives.

They targeted everyday items and could usually be deterred with a friendly hello.

More concerning were the serial offenders who targeted specific items and took large volumes of them.

Meat, cheese, Bonds garments, razorblades, batteries and health and beauty products were usually on their hit lists because they could be resold.

“Serial retail crooks are often foot soldiers to drug dealers,” Mr Corbett said.

“Handlers will drive them around, drop them off at stores and send them in to target stock.

“Stock is exchanged for drugs.”

There were things retailers could do to minimise theft, he said, including:

• Install and monitor CCTV cameras
• Install anti-exit barriers
• Have staff at the nearest register facing the entry/exit

Emerging technologies such as facial recognition software might have a role to play in the near future, he predicted, especially if retailers were willing to share data with each other.

But front-line employees were a store’s best security measure.

“You can put as many cameras in your store as you like, you can put as many security people in the store as you like, you can close your store, you can close your gates, but people are your best (asset),” he said.

“Treat them well, because they will give it back to you.”

Beware of credit card fraud

SA Police Sergeant David Brown advised retailers to be mindful about the potential for theft by staff members, and to look out for stolen credit cards.

“Make sure you check the card for any sort of damage: check the strip on the back and make sure it hasn’t been peeled off, make sure that the signature block is okay, make sure it’s in date, make sure that the name might match the person,” he said.

“If a person does hand over a card to you to scan on the screen, don’t hand it back to them until the transaction’s been authorised.

“A lot of times if a card’s been stolen, the bank will stop the card straight away; if you’ve got hold of that card, you can return it back to the bank.”

He advised taking simple measures such as putting up “shoplifting is a crime” posters or “no cash kept on premises” stickers.

Disclosure: The author is a Business Murray Bridge committee member.

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