Security Consulting Services: Protect Your Business with Our Expertise

2022-12-19

Meat and cheese products are the top stolen items in grocery retail theft, an increasing trend that we at The Investigators Group have observed first-hand.  As inflation rises, experts say that this correlates to increase in theft. While shoplifting is a crime, it is often thought of as a victimless crime and it competes for the attention from law enforcement with other pressing crimes such as assaults and crimes against persons.  However, theft costs the retailers who in turn must recover those costs, and they do so by increasing their prices. Shoplifting therefore makes us all victims. It is for this reason, and others, that loss prevention is a valuable service.  Loss prevention officers are specially trained to detain shoplifters in a retail environment with a primary function to protect assets and reduce liability.  They operate within company policy and therefore must follow the proper procedure before detaining a suspect.

Loss prevention officers are part of a retailer’s proactive strategy to deter retail theft and protect their profits. For example, if other shoppers witness an apprehension, recovery, and arrest, they will know that the retailer considers shoplifting to be a serious matter.  Law enforcement officers who attend on-site for the arrest provide further visual affirmation that the retailer has implemented a loss prevention program.

Loss prevention officers are also trained to write reports, handle evidence and testify in court.  However, their most valuable skill is not necessarily to pursue the charge and detention.  From a business perspective loss prevention is an effective technique to deter crime.

Retail theft costs everyone and an effective loss prevention management plan should include the use of technology and loss prevention personnel.

 

By Sean Gladney, CEO, The Investigators Group Inc. 
For more information regarding Loss Prevention, you can contact Sean via email at sean@investigators-group.com

The Investigators Group Inc. (IGI) was established in 1995 as a full service private investigation and security firm serving individuals across North America. We serve the legal, insurance and corporate communities as well as individuals through our civil and executive services. IGI provides professional investigation services, fraud investigators, workplace investigations, undercover operations, loss prevention and security services. 

Contact us today so we can provide the appropriate investigative solution for all your needs.

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