Page 88 - Security Today, July/August 2018

Integrate to Save
Loss prevention and improvement is on the business owner’s mind
BTy Dan Reese
here are many aspects to consider when developing a retail security strategy, including loss prevention, phys- ical security, asset protection, risk management, and IT. All of these areas could be the responsibility of just a few people working to secure a handful of stores or
each of these areas could be entirely separate departments, as is often the case for major retailers with locations throughout the country.
Regardless of the size of the retailer, there are many different technologies that can be used within a retail store to improve secu- rity and loss prevention, yet none should be used in a silo. There are tremendous benefits to integrating security technologies and com- munications systems together, including enhancing overall safety and security, reducing shrink and improving operations.
As the existing security infrastructure is evaluated and plans for the future are developed, the team responsible should consider some of the following questions: Are there areas of the store that require greater security? Are there notifications or other technologies that could improve the efficiency of personnel and the safety of shoppers? Are there other departments within the organization that could bene- fit from the data gathered by the security technology? Understanding
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current pain points within the stores and how integrated security so- lutions can address these is the key to implementing the best solution. Here are a few “hot spots” within a typical retail store that easily
demonstrate the power of integrated solutions.
Point of sale terminals. Whether it’s loss through sweethearting or
other fraud, point of sale terminals present a significant shrink risk for retailers. Integrated systems enhance security at these locations. Video recording of HD or megapixel cameras integrated with point of sale data makes it easy to locate video associated with transactions and exception reporting. This allows for visual verification of each transaction when needed.
Other risks like robbery not only result in loss, but also impact the safety of employees and shoppers alike. Panic buttons or bill trap sensors connected to the intrusion detection system ensure silent alarms are issued when employees are at risk. When the intrusion detection system is integrated with the video system, pressing a panic button or pulling the bill from the sensor can automatically trigger a video snapshot to be sent to the monitoring station to provide verifi- cation of the alarm and more information for law enforcement when they are dispatched.
LOSS PREVENTION
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