Seasonal Crime Prevention

1. Seasonal Crime Prevention Helpful Advice and Tips

2. How To Discourage Theft Before It Happens. • Thieves don’t want the attention of staff – start with good customer service and staff training. • Suspicious customer? – GREET them. • Hello, “How can I help you.” • Do you need a basket? • Are you looking for something in particular? • Eye contact-make sure they see you looking at them. • Alert colleagues to suspicious individuals.

3. Business Opening and Closing Procedures • Vulnerable when opening especially in the dark. • Have external lighting on timer if possible. • Avoid sole worker/key situations. • Before closing, check all rooms, especially toilet cubicles. • Ensure cash drawers empty or locked away in safe. • Remove high value items to secure rooms/areas. • Lock all windows regardless of size. • Don’t forget to lock spare keys away. • Set the alarm!

4. Dealing With Cash and Card Security • Check all notes, use U/V pen on high value notes. • Check the look, holograms and metal strip, all visible when held up to light. • Check the feel of the paper, tumble drier effect, poor ink • Doubts? Check against bank issued note, call for assistance, return to customer and refuse to accept. • Check card signatures against name and gender. • Customer to sign in your presence. • Suspect fraudulent? ask for assistance and retain card. • Empty tills on a regular basis, use counter safes if fitted.

5. At The Point Of Sale • The till area is one of the most vulnerable areas of your business. • Ask customers to declare all items, check baskets and trolleys are really empty. E.g. No empty boxes/bags foil lined bags. • Be wary of baby buggies and possible contents. • Scan items individually, don’t get rushed by customer. • Check for switching of price tags. • Note swapping, beware “Ringing the Change”. • Consider the “Looker” visits often, never seems to pay.

6. Dealing With Deliveries and People • Check identity of visitors and book them in/out. • Keep delivery doors locked and alarmed. • If open do not leave unattended, tie keys to belt. • Never leave people unescorted on premises. • Don’t leave stock against doors, easy to remove. • Lock internal access doors during opening hours, particularly to goods storage areas and offices. • Never leave deliveries to the untrained. • Check invoices and returns paperwork carefully.

7. Physical Security Of the premises and Contents • Are your alarms and cameras serviced and working? • Opening/Closing procedures adequate? sufficient staff? • Open after 6pm? Consider personal safety for staff. • Adequate lighting to entry and exit door no blind spots. • Cash storage area, keep secure and lockable. • Banking procedures, vary time and route, carry alarm. • High value goods, keep under separate security. • Tills to be screened and locked when not in use. • No cash to be left in tills overnight.

8. How to make stock more secure • Keep it tidy, make it hard for the thief to conceal. • Avoid dark corners or blind spots – use convex mirrors. • Check stock regular, have you really sold the items? • Site displays and fixtures carefully, don’t obscure vision. • Keep window posters to a minimum, thieves don’t like to be seen. • Do a stock risk assessment, involve staff in suggesting ways to prevent loss and improving stock security. • Check deliveries carefully against invoiced items.

9. Dealing with Mr and Mrs Angry • People get stressed and may take it out on you! • Good sales and service defuses things quickly, remember, “How can I help you?” remain polite. • Don’t get rushed, take time, politely refuse - cash scams. • Watch for diversion behaviour, two or more, creating scene. • Hangers on not buying but looking at staff, creating unease. • Drink/Drug related complainers, harder to reason with, be wary of self protection, safe distances (four feet minimum). • If unsure, ask for colleague to be nearby. • Finally, if possible try to compromise, they win, you win.

10. Responding To Threats-Seeing the Signs. • Take verbal threats seriously • Foul language, ask to stop or you won’t sort problem. • Watch NVC’s, red face,eyeballing,facial tension and gestures, aggressive stance and posture, agitation. • Avoid making things worse, defuse if possible. • Remember your personal safety. • Know how to raise the alarm, • Distance yourself from the aggressor.