CCTV Systems for Retail Security

Any retail business owner understands the problems of loss and shrinkage. Losses due to shoplifting, employee theft and employee mishandling can put a major dent in your bottom line.  Some retailers report losing up to 10 percent of their profits to shrinkage. While many retailers put the losses down to the cost of doing business, savvy business owners understand that CCTV systems and other security measures can shrink the shrinkage.

How CCTV Systems Improve Store Security

There are obvious benefits to using a CCTV system to help manage security in your store, as well as a few that are not as clear cut. If you’re deciding whether to install a surveillance camera in your retail space, these are a few of the considerations you should be taking into account.

In general, you have to count on your eyes and the eyes of your clerks to spot shoplifters, but there are often corners and out of the way spots that you can’t see at all times. A properly positioned CCTV camera puts eyes in places that you can’t generally see from behind the counter and allows you to serve your customers without compromising your store’s security.

While properly positioned mirrors can offer you part of the advantages of a surveillance camera, the mirror has one serious drawback. It can’t record what it sees. The recording can provide evidence in a court case if you choose to prosecute a shoplifter, but its usefulness extends further than that if you take the time to look over the surveillance tapes or files. Even with CCTV cameras, you might miss suspicious activity while you’re serving another customer. The retained tape, disk or file allows you to take a second look and alerts you to “customers” that need closer supervision.

No one likes to believe that his employees are stealing from him, but loss to employee theft is a major cause of shrinkage. In addition to theft, retail stores often lose profits to employees who aren’t paying attention, who make mistakes and who mishandle merchandise that later spoils. CCTV systems can be set up to allow you to observe your employees’ behavior when you’re out of sight or out of the store. Keep in mind that employee surveillance can also be used to exonerate your employees of wrong-doing, especially if a customer charges your store with misbehavior.

If you’re considering CCTV systems to enhance your store’s security, be sure to check out the newest advances in surveillance technology before you make your decision. You’ll be surprised how much security you can afford.