Page 66 - Security Today, JulyAugust 2023

ring, coupon fraud, a sweetheart deal, or ‘no sale’ transaction, loss prevention professionals can quickly identify anomalies to detect and prevent shrink. A well-designed solution can identify suspicious transactions among millions of POS transactions. For any business plagued by shrink, POS exceptions tied to video is an absolute necessity. INTERACTIVE REMOTE VIDEO MONITORING Employees cannot be expected to supervise customer misbehav- ior or confront crimes in progress effectively. They are not trained or insured to do so, and such a heavy responsibility is above their pay grade. One of the most effective ways a retail business can protect itself is through an interactive monitoring solution. With live video and two-way audio capabilities, these systems allow trained security staff to see, hear and communicate with employees 24/7. This solution guarantees personnel safety and ensures the premises stay secure. It also provides valuable distance between hostile actors and staff. Virtual guard services allow remote operators to connect to live audio and video feeds and scan the location proactively for any potential threat day or night — just as an on-premises secu- rity guard might do. If there is a threat, a trained, live professional will immediately respond by assessing the situation and intervening with live audio. Where necessary, law enforcement may be called in. VIDEO VERIFIED ALARMS Video verified alarms, which integrate a basic alarm system with video, are another effective solution that can make a stark dif- ference for retailers. Because law enforcement needs to prioritize critical, health-related issues they cannot always respond quickly to commercial burglar alarm signals going into a 911 center. The average response time for law enforcement to respond to a com- mercial burglar alarm is about 26 minutes. For businesses with a history of false alarms, the response time may be much higher. However, a video-verified alarm system that clearly shows an imminent situation will prompt law enforce- ment to move more quickly to the location since they may catch someone in the act. It can also save businesses thousands of dol- lars in false alarm fees. REMOTE RETAIL AUDITS Remote auditing is a powerful tool to combat shrink. It can be used to ensure operations are running as they should be and that em- ployees are following proper procedures. In this case, audit special- ists leverage video surveillance solutions to review cash handling, employee productivity as well as safety compliance and cleanliness. A regular remote audit can help reduce shrink and improve em- ployee productivity by pinpointing key problem areas while delivering actionable insights with visual reporting. Employees who know they are going to be evaluated are much less likely to game the system. LONE WORKER SAFETY Business models have adapted to keep costs under control as sup- ply chain and economic forces have slowed recovery post pandemic. Using more lone workers for opening, closing, third shifts, curbside deliveries and other customer interactions outside of the premises is part of a new normal for retail. While this has helped many organi- zations trim costs, it has also exposed lone workers to greater risks. Most businesses have video security systems in place, but many were not installed with current working conditions in mind. Secu- rity cameras now need to have coverage that extends to curbside delivery areas for example. As before, employing a full-time secu- rity guard is not sustainable for many businesses. When providing realistic options to lone workers, it is important that any solution be simple and robust enough that employees will see the value and choose to use it. It should require no installation or configuration by the user and not rely on a user’s personal mobile device. Having an experienced security professional and law enforce- ment available at the touch of a button can boost morale and give lone workers the confidence to do their jobs without taking on unnecessary risks. Putting in place a lone worker protection strat- egy should be an essential part of a comprehensive retail business security strategy. TAKING A BITE OUT OF ORC The rise in ORC in the United States is attributable to many fac- tors, starting with the reality that no federal law prevents this type of activity, and some states have decriminalized low-level offens- es. Lynda Buel, president of security consulting firm SRMC told CNN that “For the low-level criminal, the benefit far outweighs the risk, since the threshold for a misdemeanor offense is $950 —meaning that a person can steal up to that amount and only be charged with a misdemeanor.” With law enforcement stretched thin, the chances of being apprehended are low. If apprehended, perpetrators can post low bail or signature bond, and charges are often dropped if the mer- chandise value is under felony level. Even if prosecuted and con- victed, perpetrators rarely receive jail time. With the many online platforms available to sell stolen items, the profitability of this crime is substantial. Large ORC crews in some locales have netted in excess of $1M in illicit profits. With such an endemic problem, we need to bring multiple tools to the battle. Technology including AI-based cameras, automatic license plate readers (ALPR) and even facial recognition software can help coordinate efforts and lead to successful prosecution of these repeat offenders. Automated voice-down announcements can convey a constant security presence and increased risk to “boost- ers” to skip that particular business and move on to easier prey. While retail loss prevention specialists face new and evolving threats, there are technology solutions and best practices that can diminish losses by deterring would-be thieves through a more proac- tive and automated response to potential threats. Whether it is internal shrink or organized theft, there are multiple new options available to miti- gate losses while protecting employees. Sean Foley is the senior vice president of Customer Success at Interface Systems. 66 JULY/AUGUST 2023 | SECURITY TODAY RETAIL SECURITY