NCJ Number
79719
Editor(s)
L Daykin
Date Published
1981
Length
228 pages
Annotation
Designed for retail employees and private entrepreneurs, this text analyzes crimes against retail business such as shoplifting and warehouse loss, outlines prevention techniques, and explores the latest developments in security equipment.
Abstract
An introduction emphasizes that all employees in today's high volume, self-service retail stores need security training and offers guidelines for establishing a security program. The discussion of employee theft covers motivation, identifies primary areas where internal theft can strike, and outlines prevention approaches such as pre-employment screening. Targets and methods of shoplifters are examined, as are observation techniques, decisions whether to prosecute offenders, and preventive maintenance. The text comments that apprehension and interviewing of suspected criminals must be handled with extreme caution since security departments are not official law enforcement agencies and can be sued for false arrest. Rules are suggested regarding the acquisition of positive evidence, approaching suspected shoplifters, apprehending suspects, interviewing, and courtroom appearances. An examination of bad check and credit card problems considers employee training for proper check and credit card approval as well as monitoring services and equipment. Methods for assessing a store's security needs to prevent robbery and burglary are reviewed, and types of alarm systems are described. Following a list of antirobbery and burglary procedures, a code of conduct for employees during robberies is detailed. Also covered are warehouse loss, theft during shipping, and security controls in truck dispatching. An overview of security hardware systems considers the newest developments in several areas, including alarms, closed circuit television, locking systems, and visual deterrents. Many examples cited in the text are drawn from the retail grocery industry. Photographs, diagrams, footnotes, and an index are provided. The appendixes contain 1979 statistics on shoplifting and a summary of shoplifting laws in eight States.