Zones to Protect

How to Protect All Areas of Retail Stores from Theft

When discussing loss prevention in a business setting, it’s important to remember that we’re not talking about just one cut-and-dried solution to combat crime. Businesses come in all shapes and sizes, from big-box stores to convenience stores, from electronics retailers to cannabis dispensaries, and everything in between – and each kind of business organization has its own particular security needs, depending on the location, type of business, and other factors. That said, your security systems mustn’t protect just one area of your building but the entire business. This requires proper surveillance and asset tracking in case a criminal does attempt to steal. To help business owners understand better which areas are most important to monitor, 3SI+Wren developed a framework: The 5 Zones to Protect.

How the 5 Zones Stop ORC

3SI+Wren recognized that while industries may differ, all businesses must properly protect their assets. These different businesses may face many security issues and require one safety measure and a combined and layered approach to ensure protection for staff, customers, and assets like cash. Using this framework, you can identify areas of vulnerability in your store and determine the best way to protect against the various threats you may face.

Our approach is unique because of our secret weapons: GPS trackers and Video Surveillance. Comprehensive security measures, like video surveillance and GPS Tracking, are effective when criminals strike and make their getaway. Cameras record the event (which is helpful for identification and prosecution and trackers operate beyond the confines of the store. 3SI+Wren’s comprehensive security solutions ensure the safety of your employees when robberies occur and help police identify and track criminals after the crime. With this approach, police can recover stolen cash effectively without incident.

How VMS Protects Your Store From Theft

Video management systems (VMS) play a crucial role in safeguarding every corner of a retail store and serve as a powerful deterrent against theft. These systems employ strategically placed cameras that monitor critical areas such as entrances, exits, building perimeter, and other regions. By capturing high-definition video, VMS not only records any suspicious activities but also helps store personnel to identify and address potential threats promptly. The presence of visible cameras alone is a deterrent, dissuading thieves from attempting to steal merchandise or commit other illicit activities within the store premises.

Leverage Video Management Software Platforms

Moreover, the integration of advanced analytics in some VMS enables proactive monitoring, triggering alerts for unusual behavior or patterns, further enhancing the overall security posture of your business environment. Thus, through continuous surveillance and proactive measures, video management systems significantly protect retail stores and prevent theft. Surveill’s Video Management Software Platform enables loss prevention with a 360 view of your business to monitor all areas of your business using one monitor.

How to Secure Your Store and Stop ORC

In addition to VMS platforms, it is also integral to implement different security measures in various zones of your business. This ensures that each area of your business is protected.

Perimeter

The perimeter of your building can also be a point of attack – which is why businesses often employ high-powered external lighting. Other situations, like cash or asset delivery, can also be a target for criminals, which is again why dedicated round-the-clock protection is necessary. One step to protecting the exterior of your business is to add custom camera solutions that can monitor and identify people outside. Complimenting video surveillance are asset tracking solutions that function automatically without staff intervention. This is essential in the heat of the moment when employees in the store are under attack. Comprehensive security protection means employees don’t need to worry about cash and assets. Instead, they can cooperate with the criminals, avoiding violence and staying as safe as possible without escalating the situation. With video surveillance and tracking, the police can also identify and track these criminals.

Entry & Exit

Even during regular hours, entrances and exits are high-traffic areas that can be difficult to monitor. From the staff perspective, they need a secure and direct way to monitor traffic in the entry and exit zones. Setting up Public View Monitors at entry and exit not only allows staff to know who is entering and leaving but also deters customers from committing crimes. By implementing video surveillance, businesses can monitor and record any suspicious activity, providing valuable evidence if an incident occurs. GPS trackers can further enhance security by tracking the movement of goods or individuals, ensuring swift response and recovery. Together, these technologies deter criminal activity, improve safety for employees and customers, and protect valuable assets, ultimately strengthening the overall security infrastructure of your business.

Interior Front

This is where customers are usually present, and it also tends to be high traffic, which means a need for constant protection. Usually, security is in a customer-facing area. However, more is needed. In the case of a criminal stealing, there must be proper security measures to help the police identify and track the criminal to recover the items. In these areas, Video surveillance and GPS solutions can protect your assets – without disrupting employees.

Interior back

This is typically an employee-only area – stockrooms, inventory rooms, back offices – where a business may store cash and other assets. That means the potential gain for a criminal is high, which is why this zone is a key target for burglars and robbers. Sometimes, gaining access involves a criminal coercing an employee; sometimes, employee collusion is a factor, and other times, criminals use the tried-and-true breaking-and-entering method to get in. No matter the process of gaining access, covert security technology like video surveillance and GPS tracking can help foil an attack. Video surveillance allows for close monitoring of employees and anyone who accesses that area. GPS offers Interior Back areas the round-the-clock protection required to track cash if theft occurs.

Community

Public safety is vital for any brand or business. When a criminal leaves your store, the threat continues throughout the community until they are caught. Businesses have historically been unable to act at this point, relying on law enforcement to pursue and apprehend criminals, but GPS tracking can help accelerate that process. With the support of a 24/7 Tracking Center, police can quickly track, locate, and apprehend criminals after the attack. Police can review video footage of the attack to confirm the suspects involved, leading to a 100% conviction rate. Using long-range security measures like GPS and video surveillance creates a safer environment and world.

Start Protecting Your Zones Today!

In conclusion, effective loss prevention strategies vary widely across different types of businesses, each with unique security requirements based on location and business model.