Shopstealing Prevention Tips

As most shopstealing (theft) offences are opportunistic crimes, there are various steps that can be taken to reduce theft. By initiating few or all of the following suggestions, business owners can reduce the opportunities for shopstealers.

• Acknowledge all of your customers;
• Adequately light all selling areas;
• Always face your customers, especially when using the telephone;
• Always put merchandise away promptly and do not leave merchandise lying around unnecessarily;
• Always secure keys on the person or in a secure area. Do not leave keys on the counter or desk;
• Arrange store layouts for ease of supervising customers and stock;
• Count the day's takings behind a locked office door and not in full view of the general public;
• Empty the cash drawer regularly to ensure the minimum amount of cash is present at any time;
• Ensure that price tickets are fixed securely to merchandise (where used);
• Have a rapid and unobtrusive system to alert supervisors;
• Implement procedures to count the number of items being taken in and out of change rooms;
• Keep cash drawer closed between transactions. Do not leave your cash register unattended;
• Keep customers in view at all times;
• Move attractive and expensive merchandise away from exits or shop corners, etc. place them in the middle of the merchandise area, raised areas or near the point of sale;
• Place the cash drawer in a position that cannot be reached by customers at the counter. Either place the cash drawer under the counter or erect a partition between the counter and the cash register;
• Serve children as quickly as possible;
• Spend the maximum amount of time on the shop floor assisting customers, as opposed to being behind the counter;
• The sales area should never be left unattended;
• Use common sense, be vigilant and watchful;
• Use one way entrance and one way exit flow systems in self service units;
• Watch merchandise near the edges of tables or counters;
• Watch out for customers who do not appear to have a deliberate purpose to purchase items;
• Watch out for diversions;
• Watch out for overcrowding around the cash register area, particularly by school children;
• Ensure that that the business owner and employees are familiar with stock on display.

Identifying an offender

If you do identify an offender, please use the Offender Description form available in (PDF, 212KB) format. The form can be used to assist you in recording details about offenders that have absconded.