The Future of Retail Security: Understanding Your Options in the Fight Against Shoplifting

In recent years, retail crime has surged dramatically, leading to significant losses for stores across the US and the UK. Shoplifting, once a desperate act driven by economic hardships like inflation and unemployment, has now morphed into a more casual activity. Alarmingly, even loyal customers have been caught slipping items into their bags, emboldened by the belief that they won’t be caught.

Risks within Aisles

Theft in retail stores primarily occurs in the aisles. Customers pick up items and hide them in bags, purses, or clothing. High-value items like wine bottles are particularly targeted, often hidden under clothing before being smuggled out. With long aisles and shelves stocked full of merchandise, the opportunities for theft are abundant.

Checkout Counter Vulnerabilities

The checkout area is another hotspot for theft, where shoplifters employ a variety of tactics:

• Item Switching: Scanning barcodes of cheaper items while bagging pricier ones.
• Item Stacking: Scanning only the top item in a stack, leaving the ones below unbilled.
• Missed scans: Bagging items without scanning and taking them away without making the payment.
• Item Left Behind: Leaving items on the scanner, in the basket, or the bags and exiting the counter. These items need to be cleared before the next customer arrives at the counter for checkout.
• Cart Pushout: Simply walking out without paying.

CCTV: A Limited Deterrent

CCTV systems are a common security measure, but they require staff to sift through hours of footage to identify theft incidents. This laborious process involves pinpointing the right camera and timeline, then extracting and submitting the footage along with necessary paperwork for police action. For already overburdened staff, balancing this with maintaining stock and customer service is a significant challenge.

Physical Security Measures

In response to rising theft, stores have implemented various physical security enhancements like security tags, boxes, and shelving solutions. Some have installed gates and barriers to protect staff, particularly in high-crime areas. However, despite these efforts, shoplifting continues to rise, prompting a re-evaluation of security strategies.

Exploring Advanced Security Solutions

Before deciding how to tackle shoplifting, retailers must explore all available options. From traditional methods like CCTV and physical security enhancements to cutting-edge technologies, understanding the full spectrum of solutions is crucial.

The AI Revolution in Retail Security

Enter Artificial Intelligence. Visual AI is transforming CCTV security, making it more proactive and efficient. Visual AI solutions that plug into existing CCTV and Video Management Systems (VMS) can now detect suspicious behaviour in real-time.

Weighing the Options

For retailers, the decision to invest in new security measures should be based on a comprehensive understanding of the available technologies. Visual AI systems offer numerous advantages, but they are one part of a broader security strategy. Retailers should consider factors such as cost, compatibility with existing systems, and the potential return on investment.

What’s Next for Retail Security?

The future lies in visual AI systems that are platform and vendor agnostic and compatible with existing surveillance infrastructure. Retailers are seeking cost-effective solutions that offer a quick return on investment. As shoplifting tactics evolve, AI systems can adapt and continue to provide robust security, reducing theft and shrinkage.

Retailers in the UK are leading the charge in adopting visual AI, with this trend expected to spread across Europe and US in the coming months. By embracing these cutting-edge technologies and evaluating all available options, the retail industry is poised to turn the tide in the battle against shoplifting, ensuring safer stores and a seamless shopping experience for genuine customers.

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.