Cameras In Stores: What Do They Actually See?

Security cameras are an essential part of loss prevention in retail stores, helping to deter theft and shoplifting, as well as providing valuable footage in the event of a crime. They also offer constant surveillance, even when the store is closed, which is beneficial as retail stores are often targeted outside of working hours. In addition to security, store cameras can also be used to improve customer service and staffing, as well as to optimise the layout and design of the store.

Preventing theft and shrinkage

Theft and shrinkage are primary concerns for retail store owners, and security cameras are an essential part of loss prevention. Security cameras can help to deter theft and shoplifting, both by customers and employees, and provide evidence in the event of an incident.

Deterring Shoplifting

The presence of security cameras will make potential thieves much less likely to steal. If they do go ahead, the cameras will provide footage of the thief, allowing security staff to take swift action. This footage can also be used to identify and prosecute the thief if they are not caught at the scene.

Preventing Internal Theft

Statistics show that employee theft made up 35.8% of inventory shrinkage in 2015. Security cameras will deter staff from stealing and can provide evidence if this does occur.

Monitoring the Sales Floor

The sales floor is an obvious place to install security cameras to deter and capture evidence of theft. However, cameras can also help to reduce operational shrink and improve customer service standards.

Point of Sale (POS)

The point of sale is where most theft occurs, whether it be POS employee theft or gift card scams. Security cameras are essential to monitor this high-risk location.

Constant surveillance

One of the key benefits of installing security cameras in retail stores is constant surveillance. With a security IP camera, you can monitor your store 24/7, even when it's closed or you're not around. This is especially useful as retail stores are often targeted by thieves after working hours, assuming they have a lower chance of getting caught. A security camera with night vision can provide constant surveillance of your store, even during closed hours, and if any criminal activity is detected, the authorities can be notified immediately.

The latest technology in retail security cameras includes fisheye cameras, also known as 360 cameras. These cameras offer a 360° by 180° view, making them perfect for monitoring large, open areas like the produce section of a grocery store. While the image may appear distorted, modern technology can stretch out the view to give you an immersive look at what's happening. This type of camera is an excellent choice for comprehensive surveillance.

To achieve constant surveillance, it's crucial to have complete camera coverage of your entire premises. This means installing cameras in all key areas, including the shipping and receiving area, sales floor, parking lot, stockroom, and point of sale. By strategically placing cameras in these locations, you can effectively deter and detect criminal activities.

Additionally, security cameras with advanced features such as automated camera health checks can ensure that your cameras are always online, unobstructed, and recording. This way, you can be confident that your store is under constant surveillance, and you'll be alerted if there are any issues with the cameras.

With constant surveillance provided by security cameras, retail store owners can not only protect their businesses from theft and shrinkage of inventory but also enhance customer service, improve staff scheduling, and optimise the layout and design of their stores.

Preventing internal theft

Internal theft, or shrinkage, is a costly issue for businesses, with losses reaching nearly $100 billion each year. It is a growing problem, with 58% of loss prevention teams reporting that it has become more of a priority in the last five years.

Employee theft is three times more costly than shoplifting, and it is often a recurring issue. Staff have special access to inventory, back rooms, and payment information, and they are consistently in the business to target it repeatedly.

Using Smart Security Cameras to Prevent Internal Theft

Smart security cameras have made it easier for retailers to detect fraud, gather evidence, and prevent employee theft. These are some of the features that can be leveraged to prevent internal theft:

• Powerful video analytics: AI video analytics can automatically process and analyze large amounts of data, recognizing and indexing different types of activity. This makes reviewing and investigating footage much faster and more efficient.
• Intelligent search filters: Features such as facial recognition, color search, and license plate recognition allow retailers to quickly pinpoint specific activities and complete investigations promptly.
• Remote access: Cloud-based systems enable retailers to view footage and investigate incidents from anywhere, at any time, without the need for onsite security guards to monitor video feeds.
• High-resolution footage: Modern security cameras provide crystal clear video quality, capturing fine details within a scene to provide a fuller context of what is occurring.

Benefits of Smart Security Cameras in Preventing Internal Theft

• Save time and improve ROI: Smart security cameras reduce the time and labor required to review and investigate footage, allowing retailers to resolve incidents quickly and improve their chances of recovering assets and minimizing losses.
• Recover assets and prevent future theft: By quickly identifying internal fraud, retailers can recover missing cash and assets, stop sources of shrinkage, and prevent future losses.
• Protect your business from liability: Smart security cameras provide solid evidence of wrongdoing, ensuring legal footing for termination or pressing charges. They also allow for the secure sharing of timestamped video evidence with law enforcement or other relevant parties.

Best Practices for Protecting Security Cameras from Theft and Vandalism

• Install cameras out of reach: Place cameras at least nine feet above the ground, or higher if the location is susceptible to good lighting.
• Use vandal-resistant housing: Cameras with heavy-duty metal or reinforced plastic housings can protect against damage, with high IK ratings ideal for areas prone to vandalism.
• Secure wiring: Bury or protect wires in conduit to make it harder for thieves to find and cut data transmission cables.
• Implement tamper alarms: Use features that send instant alerts if cameras are moved or vandalized.
• Install motion-activated lights: Sudden illumination can deter potential vandals or thieves.
• Utilize dummy cameras: Install fake cameras to act as a decoy and confuse potential thieves, while real cameras continue to monitor the area.
• Password protection: Ensure camera feeds are password-protected to prevent unauthorized access to live feeds and stored footage.
• Regular maintenance and monitoring: Regularly check cameras to ensure they are functioning properly and have not been tampered with.

Improving customer service

Security cameras in retail stores can be a powerful tool to improve customer service. Here are some ways in which security cameras can help enhance the customer experience:

Deterring Theft and Improving Security

The presence of security cameras can help prevent theft and create a safer environment for customers. By deterring shoplifting and employee theft, security cameras ensure that customers feel secure and protected during their visit. This sense of security can lead to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Monitoring Customer Service Interactions

Security cameras allow managers to supervise employee interactions with customers. This enables them to identify any inappropriate behaviour or issues with customer service and take appropriate action. Whether it's addressing a customer's complaint or commending an employee for excellent service, security cameras provide valuable footage to assess customer service quality.

Optimizing Staffing Levels

By analysing security camera footage, retailers can identify busy and slow periods in their stores. This information helps in scheduling the right number of employees at the right times. Adequate staffing ensures that customers receive prompt assistance and enhances their overall shopping experience.

Enhancing Store Layout and Design

Security cameras can capture customer patterns and behaviours, providing insights to optimise the store layout. Retailers can analyse the footage to understand the flow of shoppers and make adjustments to the floor plan. This can include placing popular items in easily accessible areas and arranging merchandise to encourage impulse purchases, ultimately improving the customer's in-store experience.

Understanding Customer Behaviour

Security cameras, combined with analytics tools, can provide valuable data on customer behaviour. By analysing this data, retailers can gain insights into customer preferences, traffic patterns, and busy hours. This information helps retailers make data-driven decisions to improve customer service, such as optimising staffing levels, tailoring sales strategies, and enhancing the overall customer experience.

In summary, security cameras in retail stores offer significant benefits beyond loss prevention. By leveraging the capabilities of security cameras and their footage, retailers can enhance customer service, improve operational efficiency, and ultimately increase customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Better staffing

One of the key benefits of installing security cameras in retail stores is that they can help retailers ensure their stores are properly staffed. The footage from security cameras can be used to identify busy periods in the store, where there is a high volume of customers. This, in turn, allows managers to schedule enough employees to ensure all customer needs are met. Likewise, security camera footage can also be used to identify quieter periods, where fewer staff are needed, reducing the need to pay workers when their assistance is not necessary.

In addition to this, security cameras can also help retailers to improve customer service standards. Footage can be reviewed to check that staff are following guidelines and delivering adequate service to customers. If a customer complains about the service they have received, the footage can be used to assess the claim and prove that the complaint was warranted. Similarly, if inappropriate actions are noticed, managers can take appropriate action to educate or even terminate the employee.

Security cameras can also be used to monitor staff compliance with health and safety regulations. For example, retailers can use the footage to check that emergency exits are not blocked, which could result in significant fines if not adhered to.

Overall, security cameras in retail stores can be a valuable tool for ensuring proper staffing and improving customer service, as well as reducing costs and increasing revenue.

Frequently asked questions