Retail operations use the term ‘shrinkage’ to describe the disappearance of goods. Shrinkage losses are primarily a function of employee theft and shop lifting. Some shrinkage occurs during shipping in the form of damages, but the majority is customer or employee related. A surprising percentage is employee theft. Roving security patrols, usually plain clothes or even a uniform presence is deterrence enough to prevent some theft. But employees know who management and security personnel are and would avoid any criminal activities in their presence.
Anti-Theft Devices & Burglar Deterrents
Security cameras are the primary deterrent and means for addressing theft. Many retail operations have as many surveillance cameras in the warehouse and dock areas as they do on the retail floor. Some theft occurs just because someone wants to own the item, but most stolen items are sold on secondary markets. Small items like watches and jewelry are popular and are easily hidden. Electronics is a primary draw; everybody wants them. Many operations use manifests or shipping invoices to document the transfer of goods. Many of these are now paperless being electronic. Bar codes and embedded RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) chips (the kind that are finding their way on every credit card and debit card) are now being utilized. These small innocuous chips contain about 216 bytes of data or so up to 2 kilobytes. The main data is transmitted to the store by the supplier. The RFID ties the item to the invoice allowing for rapid conformation of shipment and delivery. The data on the RFID is usually just a serial number.
Grocery & Retail Store Surveillance Cameras
Video is the primary means to actually circumvent theft. Ever walk into a neighborhood convenience store and noticed that most of the cameras focus on the behind counter employee activity? Youth gangs flood a store and it is impossible for a single employee to watch all of them. Some are assigned particularly targeted items while most run a distraction. Its common not only to gang members but other groups of people. Video is of primary importance overseas as the western European governments attempt to deal with a plethora of security issues. Many of the problems are terrorist activity orientated. With the propagation of cameras many public common areas are covered with cameras at nearly every angle. Traffic cams are also proliferating in the U.S. and abroad.
Dome Security Cameras
Couple this with simulated camera domes most of us find ourselves starring in numerous video shorts, sometimes to the amusement of security personnel. Ever notice the cameras following an attractive person whether for security and/or entertainment? For the ‘fake’ domes to work they should be the same as the active stations. Most systems have recording capabilities and can handle numerous camera feeds.
Full Body Scanners & Scanning Booths
Another item becoming more common is scanning booths or stalls, nearly a requirement for any government building or airport. Of course weapons are the primary target, but some booths can scan for explosives as well. With the attendant X-ray scanners few of us have any secrets.
Criminal & Civil Private Investigator Services & More in Greater Miami, Sunny Isles, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton & Miami Gardens Florida
Of course all of this security comes at the expense of privacy. These video venues predominate in the open public, areas where there is no expectation of privacy. We have to cautious though of freedoms surrendered for a false feeling of security. For your video and security needs consult an experienced company for consultation. Advanced Private Investigator & Security of Fort Lauderdale Florida can meet all your private investigator and security needs.
