In the past, a hotel’s security was limited to locking the main door, with some effort on the windows and doors. Nowadays, hotels need to be prepared for any eventuality that might happen in this digital age. The protection of a hotel’s assets is no longer just about locking and securing the building’s entrances and exits. A luxury hotel needs to take extra steps such as vulnerability assessments, network scans, data encryption, and firewalls for its IT systems. In this blog, we’ll cover some of the best practices to ensure your luxury hotel is up-to-date with the latest security measures and standards.

Provide Exceptional Customer Service

Great customer service is key for any kind of successful business. It can also be the foundation for an effective security plan. Staff should engage with guests from the time they check in to the time they check out. It is easy for staff members to notice a guest who seems out of place or is acting suspiciously when they spend enough time getting to know them.

Restrict Access To The Building During Wee Hours

Security is a major concern for hotels, especially when it comes to the wee hours. Hotel owners have to figure out a way to make sure that their guests can feel safe and at the same time staff are not overworked.

Setting up restricted access is a good security measure during wee hours as it allows hotel staff to control who enters and leaves the hotel. This helps hotels protect their guests from crime at night. Guests also enjoy more privacy, knowing that only staff members are allowed in the hotel building after hours.

Get an In-depth Risk Assessment

Hotel owners and managers are not necessarily security experts. Request for a risk management plan from a reliable private security firm before acquiring equipment or recruiting additional staff. A risk assessment could reveal your most serious security risks and vulnerabilities. The security firm can then recommend the ideal tools, processes, and staff to meet your specific security requirements.

More Comprehensive Check-Ins

You have a right to know who is staying on your property, and one technique to aid with this is to be cautious during the registration and check-in process. Clients should be prepared to provide details such as their date of birth and license plate number when reserving their stay. When guests arrive, staff should be trained to ask for two forms of identification. This is for your safety. Guests should also be asked how many people they’re staying with. This can help limit the risk of inviting too many guests and overrunning a room that is supposed to accommodate one person.

Consider Investing in New Security Technology

If you want to make sure your tech equipment is up-to-date, an experienced security company can help you find the latest technologies that are needed to maintain your system’s integrity. CCTVs, security cameras, access control systems, and other motion-detecting software can help to avert crime. They can detect suspicious behavior before it becomes an issue and also helps to restrict areas so that offenders cannot enter. Videos from security cameras can help law enforcement find the perpetrator after a crime.

The Value of Appearance

Sometimes it’s said that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. But humans tend to sooner than not rely on their first impression when they look at what’s in front of them. Your property is a reflection of your business and this will affect it, so get everything looking good.

If you leave your property without maintaining it, it may attract people with dishonest intentions. There are other ways to make your parking lot or entryway safer. One example is using a high level of light. This discourages crime, as these actions usually happen at night.

Empower And Train Your Employees

Security should be addressed at all new-hire training and regular staff meetings to protect your clients. Training your employees to recognize security threats can go a long way in protecting your guests.

Empowered employees who are feeling enthused and are treated well are also likely to be committed and motivated to work for you. They will feel a sense of commitment because they know that you’re interested in their welfare and career development. They will also take care of themselves, as well as your company, which means a greater sense of ownership over the whole process.

Keep An Eye on Your Business with Surveillance Software

Getting CCTV to monitor your property may not seem like a big deal if nobody’s watching. Recent advances in software have made that problem easy to fix. Simply install the CCTV with surveillance software embedded. Coupled with video monitoring, this enables the system to understand what is happening and react appropriately.

One example is that the system can alert you when there’s a spike in valet parking activity. Other options include using a third party to monitor the area around your hotel. Some systems have voice command capability, where operators can see and alert people approaching from behind.

Use Deadbolts and Secure Key Cards on the Doors

A hotel room lock can be very reassuring for a guest. They are one of the first things they usually notice when entering a hotel room. However, if you’ve been struggling to lock your room’s door for a while now for any reason, in particular, if the locks are old or faulty in any way, then this can create a sense of insecurity that will not be welcomed by guests.

Providing security features like upgrading room keys and putting in deadbolts takes a bit more money, but it’s worth it if it means it can provide you and your guests with a safe environment. Luxury hotels and resorts typically have guests with more money to spend when they travel. Having a safe in the room is another way to alleviate concerns and provide extra security.

Sense of Ownership

Employees are more inclined to take care of their property when they have the chance. This leads to enhanced security. One way to promote the mentality is by providing profit sharing. If employees see waste or even theft, they’re more likely to say something about it. Employees are the ears and eyes of the hotel and often spot what regular guests miss.

Monitor Parking Lots

In crowded, busy spaces like hotels and malls, the parking lot can be a hotbed for crime. Many employees are concerned about vandalism and theft, especially when they’re working late at night. In uncontrolled parking lots, it is common for non-guests to park their cars or camp overnight. Controlling access to garages and parking lots, as well as setting up security cameras, can help hotel owners avoid several security threats.

Emergency Response Plan

Preparing your staff beforehand with information about a potential emergency is important to keep people calm and prepared. It’s a good idea to meet as regularly as possible with police and emergency services, so you can have your communication strategy sorted out without too much difficulty. By doing this, you’ll give your staff the chance to think through and prepare themselves for an emergency. This will result in a team that is calm, informed, and ready to take action.

Install A Video Surveillance System with Active Monitoring and Facial Recognition Technology

Most businesses nowadays have a video surveillance system to document any staff activity in and around sensitive areas like the front desk and cash register. However, new technology enables another level of monitoring and ensures you have accurate data coming in.

With video surveillance software, owners of hotels can match transactions with video footage and identify suspicious activity quickly. In this way, instead of wasting hours on end watching the footage to find illicit actions, owners can work more effectively to prevent crime.

Electricity

A routine inspection of your electrical equipment is essential since your power supply could pose a security risk. Because your company is always running, your systems are prone to wear, tear, degradation, and overloading. This report, which should be completed by a licensed electrician, will confirm that your electrical devices in every room are suited for their intended use.

Schedule routine checkups. By doing this, you’ll make sure you’re minimizing the chance of fires, electrical shocks, and incidents, which will in turn reduce workplace accidents.

Increased Employee Empowerment

Employees that feel empowered will be capable of addressing hotel security and safety issues immediately and frequently more effectively. Have a tip hotline number where staff can call in anonymously to report fraudulent activities or risks to the welfare of guests or other staff. Additionally, put in place an order system that prioritizes reports from employees who detect anything suspicious or risky on the premises.

Gas Safety

Like your power supply, gas safety is an important factor. Regular inspections of your company’s gas supply and related appliances are recommended. Even though an appliance is located far from the visitors’ rooms but still services guest facilities, it is a smart idea to schedule yearly gas safety tests for it.

The secret to a successful workforce is thorough training in all facets of your operation, including safety. Staff should receive rigorous training on how to operate all gas appliances, including how to identify any evident problems visually. This includes any broken piping or connections.

Alarm systems for carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide leaks are essential. These sensors can indicate any danger and aid in the prevention of disasters. When concentrations are unsafe, they should sound an audible alert and be capable of turning off your supply of gas instantly.

Your Personnel

Conduct drug testing and criminal record checks during the recruitment process. Once the candidate has been hired, then you should illustrate what controls you have in place. Knowing that surveillance mechanisms have already been set up will deter employees from committing opportune crimes.

Although it could be appealing to merge tasks, cut staff, and save money on wages, property managers might end up paying the price in the long term. Make sure at least two individuals sign off on crucial procedures, such as carrying cash bags. Additionally, property managers could use independent, off-site inspectors to avoid hiring more staff.

Employee Dress Code

Perhaps obvious, but wearing staff attire is a crucial security precaution. It not only makes your company appear polished and sophisticated, but it also makes it apparent to your visitors who they may ask questions of and also who is permitted in which parts of the premises.

Knowing who the staff members are in the guest areas is critical. That’s because the staff’s constant patrolling of the locations demonstrates that your business places a high priority on the welfare of its clients.

Watch Out for Social Engineering

Cyberattacks do not always happen online. The risk of physical and social infiltration of hotel systems is high. Employees need to be aware of network access, passwords, as well as the security systems of computers.

The beginning of many huge hacking operations could involve a pers tricking an employee into revealing a password. Passwords should be changed every 3 months. Employees need to also keep an eye on the physical entry points to the computer servers on the property. Conduct frequent patrols to check for intruders in staff-only parts of the premises.

Online Data Security

Physical safety is only one aspect of security. Cyberattacks are increasingly focusing on hotels. You could minimize online cybersecurity risks and safeguard the security of records and folders by staying abreast with your platforms and constantly updating them. Making data backups a routine can help you rule out the possibility of losing or irreparably damaging your files.

Daily use of a cloud storage service is advised, followed by weekly system backups, quarterly system backups, and finally annual backups. Password encryption for your company’s devices is just as crucial as it would be for your phone. To prevent breaches, reset your passwords frequently and ensure they are changed whenever a member of staff leaves.

Sync Up the IT and Security Divisions

Do not put a barrier between your business’s information technology (IT) and security teams. Given how important cybersecurity is to both sectors, the two need to join forces.

Clearly define the relationship between the two departments; they ought to be aware of where one team’s responsibilities end and the second begins. Some hotels put the two divisions under a single budget and manager to strengthen their cooperation. Additionally, there should be regular security briefings between the two divisions, perhaps even once every week.

Recruit Experienced Security Personnel

Many times, hotel owners decide to work with private security firms to help keep their clients, staff, and properties safe. Security officers that have received thorough training will be fully aware of your security risks. They are adept at identifying criminal activity before it occurs and dealing authoritatively with suspicious people.

What are the Advantages of Boosting Security Measures for Luxury Hotels?

A hotel must make a large investment in equipment installation and employee training. The advantages are enormous, though, and extend not only to the hoteliers but also to the travel agencies, business clients, and the MICE industry.

First of all, a hotel that maintains a high degree of security gives clients peace of mind. Customers who can unwind and feel relaxed will feel protected, which will increase their likelihood of becoming devoted customers and recommending your services to others.

Therefore, increasing security is a strategy to cultivate customers’ confidence in the hotel and provide the flawless service sought in luxury hotels. Travel companies and agencies will also pick reputable and secured hotel facilities for several reasons. These businesses show that they are capable of changing to meet the demands of visitors, who are increasingly concerned about security. Choosing partners who adhere to strict security requirements, on a more fundamental level, guarantees a higher level of security.

Firms and travel companies occasionally find themselves legally directly implicated in the case of an accident due to the duty of reasonable care they have to their customers. They, therefore, have a strong incentive to engage with accommodation facilities to implement the appropriate risk-reduction measures.

A hotel that exhibits a high level of safety will stand out from the competition. Travel organizations and agencies will choose hotels that devote their resources to security as part of their due diligence and duty of reasonable care over hotels that don’t.

Making investments in a hotel’s security might give hotels a competitive advantage in the industry. Along with the hotel’s setting, amenities, and infrastructure, safety and security are distinguishing elements in the overall luxury hotel industry. Security is now included when calculating ROI (return on investment). Sales are likely to go up as a result, as vendors and corporate partners will become more eager to work with reputable and secure businesses

Hotel owners should spend some time reviewing their present security measures as the peak travel months come up. It is important to check employee training guides to ensure they possess the most recent details on hotel safety procedures. Last but not least, think about working with a security guard firm to get trained and experienced professionals who are adept at keeping your customers and business safe.

Chicago does have a great deal to offer its citizens. The suburbs of Chicago remain one of the most desirable places to reside in Illinois. Unfortunately, the metropolis still has a high rate of crime according to recent data, and this has led many residents to become concerned about their safety. People who want to avoid becoming the target of burglars or criminals have started to invest in private security services to protect themselves, their families, and their properties as best as they can.

Current Crime Statistics

 The law enforcement agencies have been defunded, demoralized, and neutralized by extremist prosecutors along with woke legislators, and as a result, violent crime is on the rise. In response to this, citizens have begun to take matters into their own hands.

Taking matters into their hands can be seen during riots, but it could also occur in a more organized, intentional way. This happens when entire communities in some cities have hired private security guards to help safeguard their properties and loved ones. Taking such actions could seem far-fetched, but looking at the figures from crime studies across the country, anyone can have a clear picture of why many neighborhoods are doing this.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control, 2020 saw the highest rate of homicide spike in current history. This corresponds to data by the FBI. Murder rates increased by 29% between 2019 and 2020, breaking the previous high of 12.7 percent set between 1967 and 1968.

According to other studies by Neighborhood Scout, Chicago had 23,449 violent crimes reported and that was a violent crime rate of 8.70 per 1,100 residents, one of the highest in the country. This ratio is high even when compared to the likelihood of becoming a victim of an aggravated crime in the United States itself.

The most widespread crime is theft or burglary from an automobile. Some people leave their car doors open, allowing burglars to easily gain access, take valuable possessions, and flee before being spotted. Personal theft is the second most prevalent crime, which encompasses any crime that does not include getting into a structure or vehicle.

In Los Angeles, a huge percentage of robberies are “crimes of opportunity.” When thieves see an opportunity to take something fast and make away with it without getting spotted, they seize it.

Rising Feelings of Vulnerability and Why People are Seeking Out Alternatives

In recent years, there has been an inherent sense of unease and worry about daily security and safety — a sense that lawlessness, disorderliness, and contempt for the legal system are on the rise. Day after day, people across the country follow the news reports and witness something that fuels their common angst.

Citizens see video surveillance of homeowners being assaulted on their doorsteps and relieved of their belongings on numerous occasions. They see package thefts, vehicle robberies, and widespread violence in their neighborhoods daily. Most of these are caught on home security cameras and broadcast to the public.

Robberies aren’t just happening in people’s homes. Robberies in retail stores have also caught people’s attention. The recent crime phenomenon is referred to as smash-and-grab robberies, in which scores of people scramble into local retailers and get away with merchandise. Across the country, individuals enjoying a meal in outdoor spaces in high-end residences in Los Angeles as well as the suburban areas of Orange County, in California, have been ambushed and burgled.

There’s also the country’s sudden and unexplained increase in homicides. Even though Chicago has received a lot of attention for this, people are dying in unprecedented numbers in regions like Tucson, Albuquerque, and Austin. These are mostly cities where anyone would not consider criminal acts to be out of hand.

A general sense of justice that’s not being administered adds to people’s worries. A thief is apprehended and given a citation. Some jurisdictions have made car robbery a misdemeanor. Victims of crime as well as the general public are left to wonder whether committing a crime has no repercussions.

We can all concur that ensuring the security and safety of the citizens is among the most essential purposes of government. The burden of directing these efforts falls primarily on the law enforcement departments.

Dwindling Police Department Resources

 Policing in today’s world is a difficult task. It necessitates a high level of foresight, agility, versatility, risk-taking, and dedication. In regards to the challenges associated with combating crime and trying to make communities safer, police departments have faced significant budget cuts, limiting their resources.

Law enforcement officers have been impeded by low productivity, depleted ranks, as well as recruiting problems. And in certain communities, agencies have also been working to rebuild the trust of the citizens. Often, these are the neighborhoods where individuals feel most unsafe and insecure.

Several local police departments are finding it hard to offer basic services to the citizens as a direct consequence of police personnel cutbacks. Each community can no longer provide a comprehensive menu of public services. This assertion is supported by the reality that, as per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, police departments will expand by only 41,400 job positions, or about 5% of the 780,000 currently employed.

The police’s incapability to offer excellent services to communities, combined with an increasing feeling of vulnerability among the people, has led some neighborhoods to look for other alternatives for their security.

To complement local police departments, many neighborhoods have already started to hire private security. Companies in the private sector are less expensive and more driven by customer service. In reaction to soaring crime levels and police personnel cuts in some regions, many communities have resorted to private security to guard their neighborhoods.

Although not every neighborhood has the financial means to hire personal security, there’s also another less expensive option. To improve the police-to-citizen ratio, the local government should promote and help fund the recruitment of reserve law enforcement officers, who serve willingly and without pay. A reserve officer, like a full-time law enforcement officer, executes general police duties such as street patrol, inquests, report writing, as well as traffic control.

Departments  can consider hiring dozens of reserve police to take care of what is known as low-level offenses and releasing regular law enforcement to respond to more severe crimes since they don’t necessitate the expensive benefits and wages that arise with full-time service. The supplemental officers can go a long way toward addressing the statewide spike in crime.

How Private Security Services Can Help Neighborhoods

Because of the reliability and sense of security that a security company can provide businesses and people, the private security market is fast expanding. Patrols by private security agents are being used more and more to deter criminals and protect life and property, with anticipations set to rise. Private security personnel in the United States have been found to exceed the number of public law enforcement officers by approximately 400,000. Often police officers, on the other hand, work in the private industry, which is acceptable in many states. In the Chicago area, for instance, top companies for private community security employ off-duty as well as recently retired police officers.

Considering the social upheaval that has erupted across the country in recent years, private security patrol officers provide a degree of receptiveness to their clients that far outweighs public services like police departments or emergency services. By hiring a private or neighborhood security team, you could significantly lower your risks of being subjected to criminal acts—a risk that seems to be significantly greater in Chicago.

The most ideal security companies should be able to collaborate with police and other public authorities to guarantee that correspondence is efficient and reliable in the event of a crime. Due to the huge amount of private security firms, there are significant differences in their performance and skills. Choosing a high-quality security company is critical for service users in Los Angeles as well as other incredibly sensitive environments.

Individual property owners, business owners, and neighborhoods are increasingly considering investing in private patrols, and they should look for four defining qualities. A good security service company needs to be able to focus on providing highly qualified personnel, quick response periods, a consistent presence to prevent crime and react appropriately to customers 24/7/365, and also the capacity to respond during a crime or threat.

 Private Security Guards are Highly Trained or Have Police Experience

The efficiency with which private security officers can defend your society or property is one of the main reasons why people continue to invest in them. Only the most reputable patrol companies offer off-duty law enforcement officers or ex-police officers who are better equipped to respond to emergencies. Security firms that hire a significant percentage of off-duty and former police officers typically provide superior security for their clients.

Private Security Patrols are Often Able to Respond More Quickly Than Police Departments

 Since top security companies can respond to both emergencies as well as non-emergencies quicker than public law enforcement departments, private security services are increasingly becoming popular. Leading security companies have rapid deployment resources needed to respond quickly to their customers’ needs, even if they don’t meet the criteria for being emergency for public law enforcement response, such as protecting a delicate package delivery while you are away. Private security agencies should also collaborate with local police officers, fire departments, as well as medical emergency service providers. This value of additional help is essential for a successful private security company.

Private Security is Always Present, Which Deters Crime

A further reason why community members and neighborhoods are investing in private security guards would be the deterrent effect they will have on criminal activity in the region. Crime statistics have been rising by 20-40percent in Los Angeles, depending on the type of offense. Active security forces can effectively deter criminals in communities and offer additional peace of mind to communities and families. The most ideal security firms offer on-call security operations 24 hours a day, seven days a week when applied in combination with regular public services. When a security company’s staff are off-duty police officers, patrol teams could be armed and capable of intervening or proactively preventing serious offenses from happening.

Off-Duty Police Officers Hired Privately Can Arrest Crime Suspects. Non-sworn officers can detain offenders.

If the security company hired is made up of off-duty or even former cops, they are capable of making arrests following citizen arrest provisions and have the expertise to make the arrests safely. That’s an important element of private security since it effectively turns your provider into a devoted law enforcement company. The important piece that helps make private security with public service partnerships synonymous or effective is the cumulative connection with on-duty public agencies.

Private security companies across the country offer security and patrolling services for individuals and neighborhoods, aiming to outperform public security services. If you are planning on hiring private security services, you should ensure that your service provider has the necessary expertise and best customer service, since not all private security firms are built equal. Safety officers and patrols need to be well trained and prepared to respond to emergencies and also non-emergency situations. The security patrol should ideally function as an extension of law enforcement agencies, trained, informed, armed, and able to help de-escalate security concerns.

The security of your home and neighborhood is crucial, and with no security service providers, it can seem as if the sense of security is elusive. When security officers are hired to patrol your neighborhood, they can traverse the entire region to guarantee that everything is in order. They are extremely responsive, and dedicated, and will provide customized security solutions to meet your demands. The mere sight of security officers approaching your property would deter burglars from invading your property since they do not want to be caught.

Security is a constant concern for every business unit. Any lapse in security impacts the store’s profits. These lapses, according to the National Retail Federation, account for a retail shrinkage of $100 billion. Loss prevention thus becomes a necessary conversation.

By increasing your security, you can significantly reduce your store’s losses due to security lapses. Below are some approaches you can adopt to address vulnerable areas in the store’s security policies and systems.

1.    a) Assess the Security Measures in Place and Familiarize Yourself with Potential Security Threats

Increasing your store’s security starts with assessing the current security system. The review should highlight the security system’s strong points, focusing on improving the vulnerable areas. Thus, you can know which areas to address to tighten your security.

Retail stores face two threats: physical and digital threats.

Physical Threats

Physical threats include breaches and theft cases during and outside operating hours.

It is crucial to ascertain the physical security measures to deter outsiders from accessing the store when it is closed. Doing so is especially useful if your store’s location is in an area prone to break-ins or if there has been a recent increase in reported burglary cases.

Further, you need to physically assess the store areas prone to shoplifting and internal theft. First, determine which products are susceptible to theft. Then probe whether the identified products are stolen off the shelves or whether your employees take the products from the store.

After the assessment, address the security breaches by revamping your stock-taking policies and employing additional accountability measures when staff handles inventory. As for products susceptible to shoplifting or burglaries, consider shifting them from hard-to-see areas to easily viewable shelves. Alternatively, installing additional cameras or insisting on staff patrolling are some of the solutions you can consider.

Digital Threats

Digital threats are often overlooked and result in significant losses if undetected for an extended period. These threats occur through cyber break-ins, namely website hacking, card skimming, customer data breaches, and secret taps in your network.

Ensure that your store’s security hardware and software are compliant. Additionally, the systems should meet the latest security standards, especially for the equipment handling payments and customer data.

Pay particular attention to your websites. Hackers target websites primarily because of the recent surge in ecommerce. Websites handle significant traffic and hold important customer and payment data. Invest in PCI-compliant PCI-compliant payment processing systems. Additionally, insist on EMV (Europay, Mastercard, and Visa) or chip payments.

As for the customer data on websites, a good rule of thumb is to delete data you do not use. For information valuable to the business, invest in the latest data security software that detects, contains, prevents, and eliminates hackers’ attempts to access the data.

1.    b) Hire the Right Staff

Your security investments are only effective with the right employees. The right hires refrain from sabotaging your efforts but enforce your retail security policies.

Staff members impact the business’ security concerns directly and indirectly. Some employees sabotage or exploit security gaps to make away with store products. In other situations, an employee’s struggles, like alcohol or substance abuse, risk causing losses, for example, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs or being unable to work because of being high.

Conducting a background check helps. The screening details the employee’s criminal history and informs your choice. For example, you will not hire an individual who has been arrested and served time for credit card fraud.

The information is not only helpful in rejecting applicants. You can also use it to determine what roles to assign the new hire. For example, an individual who struggles with alcohol and substance abuse is not an ideal fit for a security control room operator. The post requires alertness, which the employee could lack should he/she relapse.

Background checks also establish the employee’s residence and past employment. This information helps formulate an employee’s profile.

1.    c) Invest in Adequate Training for Your Employees and Communication Strategies

Security strategies and policies should incorporate safety and compliance issues. Your employee should be acquainted with the store’s security policies. You should document and distribute the security procedures and guidelines when hiring, updating, or changing your policies: Put simply, you should communicate your policies effectively.

A store’s security system is effective if the employee’s regular training is relevant, understandable, and relatable. Proper training builds on the store’s success. Further, this approach also reinforces the store’s lasting safety and security culture.

Here are a few suggestions you can use to communicate your safety and security strategies and policies effectively.

Post Guidelines at Key Areas Around Your Store

Reminders are an effective way to communicate store policies. Print out the policies and post them at target locations where your staff frequent or at their workstations, for example, the changing rooms, the area behind the counter, and the stockroom. This approach helps the printed-out security measures remain in everyone’s mind, which helps implement them.

Demonstration Accompanying Verbal Communication

The fastest and easiest way to communicate the store’s procedures is by incorporating verbal communication with demonstrations. Information retention is highest when demonstration accompanies oral information.

You can regularly have the experienced staff demonstrate to their team some of the procedures and what is expected of them. For example, one of the policies could be how to handle unusually large fraudulent credit card purchases. The experienced team member could demonstrate to the other employees what signs to look out for in antsy customers and with multiple credit cards. In most cases, these individuals aim to make purchases with stolen or fraudulent credit cards.

Bring in Professionals

You can occasionally bring in professionals to assist your internal compliance team and train your staff on loss prevention and retail security. Professionals make it their business to stay updated with the security challenges in the retail space, the latest technology and techniques to address the security concerns, and the security challenges retail owners and managers should be aware of.

Professional training goes a long way toward reinforcing the security policies you adopt.

1.    d) Invest in the Right Security Equipment

Human input has a limit. Even with an adequately trained team, there is a need to bolster the team’s input with the right tools. The loss prevention solutions worth considering include the following:

Security Cameras

Security cameras are advantageous since you can monitor your store in real-time or review footage when needed. They serve as a deterrent against criminal or inappropriate behavior. Should incidents occur, the video footage protects you and your employees from liability. You can only access these benefits with the right camera placed in highly-trafficked or critical areas.

When choosing the right CCTV system, take note of the following features.

• Video resolution — Go for a camera with a video resolution of at least 1080p. You can quickly identify an individual’s facial features, actions, and clothing thanks to high-resolution cameras’ video clarity.
• Field of view — Cameras with a field of view of at least 130 degrees offer a wider visual field. Thus, you do not need extra cameras to capture an area one camera can cover.
• Frame rate — Frame rate refers to the frequency the camera displays consecutive images. Cameras with a frame rate of at least 15 fps (frames per second) offer decent video resolution.
• Night vision — Insist on cameras that record footage in darkness. Any activity at night outside your store helps formulate your security approach.
• Storage — Invest in cameras that store video footage for a long time. You can buy cameras with a local storage capacity of at least 32GB. This capacity helps retain at least a week’s-worth of surveillance footage. Alternatively, you can go for CCTV systems with cloud storage. They retain recordings for periods longer than one week.
• Additional features — Some cameras are fitted with motion detection features that notify you when a person, car, animal, or other objects are detected. Further, some systems come with a mobile application that allows convenient access to your store’s surveillance.

Scanners and Barcode Labels

Scanners and barcode systems are an asset in inventory management. You can easily track products shipped to your store and those bought by customers. Therefore, knowing what product is in stock and the quantity available is easily identifiable in real time.

Using scanners and barcode labels also ensures that the products are correctly captured and accounted for.

RFID or Security Tags

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags are tracking systems utilizing intelligent barcodes to identify items. Though more expensive than security tags, this technology is better for inventory management.

Security tags are an option if you are on a budget. However, you should install sensors at your store to detect active tags.

Additionally, RFIDs are also used in keycards. Keycards restrict access to specific areas to authorized personnel. Further, the keycards are useful since you can trace who accessed specific areas of the store at what time since the system registers the staff member’s name and the time the keycard was used.

Burglar Alarms

The right burglary system prevents burglary attempts, offers added security should an attempt succeed, and sends a distress signal to the authorities for action.

As a deterrent, a burglary system could come with safety lock features. For example, you can only access the premises if you are buzzed in. Other systems let you access the premises and lock you in. You can only go out of the store if you are buzzed out. This feature prevents easy access to thieves since they require the staff member to grant them access to the facility.

Some systems will also have keypad security as an added feature. Anyone accessing the store can only gain entry to the premises if they input the security code on the security keypad. Alternatively, the individual could access the store but should key in the access code if the keypad is located inside the store. Failure to which the alarm goes off and alerts the security personnel and authorities of a possible break-in.

Additionally, the alarm systems come equipped with a distress call feature. A staff member needs only to press the panic button, and an alarm is sent out for the police officers or other security personnel to respond. Most of these are silent alarms. Once activated, the distress call is sent out without alerting the offender.

Troubleshoot Your Systems Regularly

Troubleshooting the existing system to identify its vulnerabilities is part of ensuring you have the right tools. This exercise is especially useful in payment processing, staff management, and POS systems.

Troubleshooting exercises are helpful for the following:

• Pinpointing data breaches.
• Risk monitoring.
• Identifying existing permissions — System access is based on an employee’s role. You will, therefore, ascertain whether the access matches an employee’s position and whether the access to the system reflects any employee changes made, for example, ensuring that employees relieved of their duties do not have access to the system.

1.    e) Conducting Loss Prevention Audits

Loss prevention (LP) audits objectively assess the store’s operating procedures and internal controls. The audits aim at evaluating the effectiveness of the store’s policies and their impact on the overall profitability and management of the store.

Each store has an LP tailored to address its specific concerns. Tailor your LP checklist and have your manager check the degree of compliance with the store’s security policies. Common points that should be on the audit checklist include the following:

• The keys to the Point of Sale (POS) machines are secured in the designated location.
• The security system, hardware, and software operate as required.
• Access to particular areas in the store is only granted to personnel, for example, the stockroom.
• All items have an RFID or security tag. Further, the barcode scanners and readers are fully functioning.
• The store’s policies are adequately distributed on the premise and are readable.
• Only authorized staff members can handle high-risk tasks and transactions on the POS.
• Every team member understands the store’s policies on voiding transactions, issuing refunds, and customer interactions.

1.    f) Having an Appropriate Disciplinary Approach

When all the security measures are in place, and your staff fails to adhere to the policies, it is crucial to take appropriate disciplinary actions.

Disciplining can vary depending on the degree of non-compliance. Most acts of misconduct are errors in judgment or carelessness. These require simple actions ranging from a warning to docking the worker’s pay to compensate for the loss. Grave offenses like participating in a robbery attempt or planning a robbery could require legal action over and above firing the offender.

The discipline approach aims to inform your staff members of possible consequences for their negligence because they bear responsibility for the losses.

1.    g) Hiring Professional Security Personnel

Store security extends beyond manning entry points and deterring or dealing with robbery attempts. Hiring a professional team gives you access to professional protection services, internal control services, and emergency response services in one package.

Store owners who have hired professional security teams can tap into the expertise of individuals who operate within the security industry, for example, off-duty police officers. Hiring these individuals is also a financial benefit since the new hire is an outsourced asset and does not come with the costs associated with new hires. Some costs include welfare costs, training costs, fringe benefits, bonuses, and purchase expenses for security tools like guns. All these expenses are covered by the company you outsourced the security function to, which is the security personnel’s employer.

1.    h) Change the Store’s Layout

A store plan could either maximize security or increase the potential for theft owing to its numerous blind spots. It is necessary to utilize the floor space efficiently to maximize returns. However, you also must consider security as part of a store’s efficiency.

There are two approaches to a store’s plan.

Should you decide to retain the floor plan with the blind spots, you will incur the added cost of installing additional cameras. Alternatively, you will need to hire more staff to patrol these sections.

The second option is changing the store’s plan. With this approach, you maximize accessibility and the spaces to make them easily visible from vantage points for your staff. With this option, you do not necessarily require additional cameras or employees.