Shoplifting is a bitter pill for community pharmacies

Much has been said and written about the billions of pounds that the grocery retail industry is losing to shoplifting each year. However, a recent BBC report on theft in community pharmacies shows how the crime is quickly spreading across the retail sector. The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) states that a vast majority of pharmacies (87%) reported intimidation towards workers with 22% stating that staff were subjected to physical assault.

No fear of getting caught

Industry bodies such as the British Retail Consortium have reported that thieves are getting emboldened as they seem to get away easily. The lack of appropriate police response and with very few being brought to justice has also led to retailers not reporting incidents of theft.

According to the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) crime report, convenience stores recorded over 6.2 million incidents of shoplifting in 2024. The report states that only 36% of crime incidents were reported to the police by retailers over the last year – figures related to shop theft incidents are much lesser.

Increased security measures

The Independent Pharmacies Association (IPA), which represents small community pharmacy chains, found that thieves are not focused only on expensive items – they grab whatever they can get hold of, and act as if it is well within their rights to do so. In response, pharmacies have started introducing body cameras, panic buttons, security shutters, CCTVs, and private security guards to check the trend.

Visual AI as an antidote for shoplifting

Visual AI, which uses algorithms and machine learning techniques to analyse and process visual information, allows computers to recognize and identify objects, people, and patterns within images and videos. Visual AI can analyse video feeds from CCTV cameras installed in the store and identify suspicious actions of customers such as concealment of items or attempting to leave the store without making a payment.

SAI Group’s visual AI protects retail networks

SAI Group’s visual AI platform currently assists store networks of 3 of the top 5 retail chains in the UK. Here are some of the key benefits offered by SAI Group’s visual AI platform:

• Instant detection of aisle theft: Instantly detect when customers conceal items in their clothing or bags.
• Seamless Self-Checkout (SCO) integration: Compatible with a range of self-checkout systems for straightforward multi-vendor integration.
• Subtle but powerful: Delivers real-time prompts to the SCO monitor, enabling customers to correct errors on their own, without the involvement of the store staff.
• Instant non-payment detection: Instantly identify when customers avoid payments at the SCO.
• Empowered store staff: Keeps the store staff informed by sending notifications on the store’s hand-held terminals.
• Violence detection: Utilizes AI to detect incidents of violence within the store and sends alerts directly to the security operations centre so that resources can be mobilized appropriately.
• Legally admissible evidence: Automatically extracts and stores the video footage of incidents detected, thus enabling the store staff to report theft more easily and efficiently.

About SAI

As a leader in computer vision technology, SAI Group delivers cutting-edge, multi-modal AI solutions into retail environments. Using a unique platform approach, its technology uses existing camera systems to target losses, increase store safety, and underpin operational efficiencies.

All solutions are built from the ground up to ensure the highest levels of security and data protection, respecting the privacy expectations of the public and operating to stringent ethical standards while delivering substantial value to our clients. Globally, SAI monitors millions of transactions per day, protecting the revenues from tens of millions of product sales and hundreds of millions of customer interactions. Its models also accurately identify anti-social behaviour, aggression and violence, helping to de-escalate situations with real-time interfaces to security officers and operations centres.