In 3 different shops in inner Melbourne this week I heard stories of increased shoplifting.
The first is a premium food outlet. They have their meat now in a locked cabinet. They were having hundreds of dollars worth stolen and while their CCTV helped the police with an arrest, they felt they had to take that action.
Another was a charity shop. A staffer there said that it felt like theft had increased 5-fold.
The third was a premium card and gift shop on the high street. The owner is so upset that it’s making them re-think their plans for the business.
Okay, three stories does not make it a trend. But, in each case they said it was noticeably up this year compared to recent years.
I mention it today because several newsagents raised it with me last month, too … that they felt theft had increased in their shops.
I wonder if it is a trend, and if so, how retailers will react. Sure we can post CCTV photos and the like. But thinking about the premium food shop – putting meat – steaks, sausages, chicken behind a locked see-through door … do we consider that? It feels utterly impractical.
Of course, the first step is to accurately measure theft, through the regular processes around cards and magazines. Those processes indicate theft without extra work. And, for other product categories, a regular spot stock count check could be helpful.
Knowing if we have a problem is the start of finding a solution.
Many retailers do not engage with processes available to them to identify theft. I think it’s because if they don’t have the evidence, it’s not happening. But, of course, it is happening … in every shop. The only think in question is how much?
Without a doubt.
I’m in country New South Wales in a town that sees plenty of people pass through and here it is on the increase. It was the main topic at our retail business owner forum a few weeks ago. In my case it has changed what I do in my shop in terms of counting stock and where the cameras are targeting.
My magazine discrepancy averages 5,000 a year a year and in terms of products in the shop theft costs somewhere close to 20,000. That’s what I can measure at least. It is increasing.