NCJ Number
169886
Date Published
1995
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This booklet provides information about crimes committed against retailers and offers practical advice about what retailers can do to deter and prevent robberies on their premises.
Abstract
Crime statistics for England and Wales indicated the number of robberies, including those committed against retailers, totaled 57,845 in 1993. There were 6 robberies for every 100 retail premises and about 14,400 robberies of retailers. The average loss was about 1,287 pounds per incident. Most robberies took place in metropolitan areas; more than 4 of 10 robberies occurred in London's Metropolitan Police District, and London retail outlets accounted for 45 percent of all commercial robberies. Police forces are becoming increasingly concerned about the frequency of robberies committed against the same retailers. Retail robberies are categorized as violent till snatches, organized robberies, and attacks on cash in transit. To deter robbery, retailers should train staff in reporting suspicious circumstances, handling cash, limiting the impact of a robbery, and using a checksheet and should remove the target (cash and stock). Specific measures should be implemented to make it more difficult for the robber, most of which focus on protecting cash. 4 references and 2 figures