What would you do if you knew you could commit a crime with a minimal penalty? Unfortunately, that’s a real scenario many people face when it comes to shoplifting. Plenty of shoplifting laws don’t require jail time if the stolen merchandise is less than $1,000. Then when you combine the relaxed rules with the opportunity to resell stolen items (turning them into money), business owners are taking a more hands-on approach to protecting their stores.
“We talk to retailers almost every day about their concerns regarding their state’s shoplifting laws. Many of them are looking for cost-effective solutions to combat shoplifters since they can’t rely on legal repercussions to deter thieves from stealing”, said Tim Gates, Senior Vice President of Business Development at Product Protection Solutions (PPS).
As the cost of goods continues to rise, grocery stores become an even larger target. Shoplifters target them because they can quickly resell their products at a much lower cost.
So, when the punishment doesn’t fit the crime, learning the steps you can take towards protecting your merchandise can make all the difference for your business’s success. This article will help educate you on what you can do to prevent theft in grocery stores (or any retail location) with cost-effective solutions.
How Strict Are the Shoplifting Laws in Your State?
Did you know that every state has its own laws on shoplifting punishments? Understanding your state’s laws will help you to learn how much of a hands-on approach you need to take in securing your merchandise. Learn more about how your state handles shoplifters here.
Once you learn how severe or light the punishment for theft is, you can determine how much time and money you need to invest in loss prevention solutions. Additionally, consider reviewing your store’s inventory data to learn the “hot items” for thieves. These products might have unexplained inventory losses, be commonly found on apprehended shoplifters, or be high-demand products (think of OTC cold medicine during the flu season). Read our past article on to find out how to discover the hot merchandise in your store.
Loss Prevention Tools to Prevent Theft in Grocery Stores
A few factors determine how much you should invest in loss prevention solutions depending on how the state punishes thieves. If your state’s laws are strict on shoplifters, you might be able to start with a few fundamental options:
- Signage displaying legal consequences for stealing
- Security mirrors
- Security guard on duty
- EAS system
If shoplifting isn’t considered a “serious crime” unless it’s over $1,000, you’ll want to have a more powerful defense. Consider implementing a series of loss prevention products throughout the store, increasing protection for your most valuable and high-shrink merchandise.
- Alarming devices
- Pint protectors
- Quad wraps
- Safers
- Security caps
- SmartShelf technology
- Stoplocks
Loss prevention devices provide help to protect an item from theft, and it also has many additional benefits.
- Acts as a theft deterrent
- Integrates with RFID EAS systems
- Helps with inventory management
- Reusable for several years
If you want to learn more about your options and how to select the best device for your needs, then read our article on High Quality & Effective Retail Anti-Theft Devices.
