In 2021, Ben Dugan, a current asset protection executive at CVS Health and the former president of advocacy group the Coalition of Law Enforcement and Retail, told the U.S. Senate these sophisticated syndicates are responsible for billions in annual losses.
His testimony underscored how online marketplaces drove the surge in retail theft and pushed legislators for federal intervention to combat ORC.
Congress passed the Inform Act in June 2023. The legislation mandates transparency measures for online marketplaces in an effort to deter criminals from acquiring stolen, counterfeit, or unsafe items and selling them on those platforms. While this legislation and an increased push for special state ORC task forces from Illinois to Washington are helping, addressing the issue remains a top priority in store—and in the parking lot—for business owners.
The 2023 Mid-Year Organized Retail Report, published by D&D Daily and retail crime intelligence platform Auror, revealed that more needs to be done because:
- ORC cases increased 18% over the same period in 2022
- The dollar amount increased 131%
- The top 15 cases alone totaled $180 million, including an $86 million theft in Los Angeles, $3.5 million in a Kent, Washington pawn shop scheme, and $2.6 million in luxury watches in Staten Island, New York
“Everything points to a continuing increase in retail crime,” Cory Lowe, a senior research scientist at the Loss Prevention Research Council told Investors Business Daily.
Strategies once used to thwart petty theft now must combat organized retail crime—and fast. Using business security camera systems, like LiveView Technologies’ remote surveillance system, is one effective way to prevent ORC. Here are some additional retail security systems, strategies, and tactics that business leaders can employ:
1. IDENTIFY AND EXPAND EFFECTIVE TACTICS
Determine what current tactics work and consider how to implement them more broadly.
2. DEPLOY MOBILE BUSINESS SECURITY CAMERA SYSTEMS
Place an LVT Unit in parking lots and other external areas to monitor potential ORC activities outside the store.
“Crooks seek the path of least resistance which is why an ounce of prevention is truly worth a pound of the cure,” said retired asset protection leader Mike Lamb about LVT. “The bad guys see it, get it, and ultimately fear it.”
3. INSTALL SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS WITH REAL-TIME MONITORING CAPABILITIES
LVT’s real-time video monitoring and advanced surveillance software send alerts when activity is detected and attention is required, providing the ability to:
- Set up custom security triggers
- Receive real-time notifications
- Access live footage instantly
These alerts allow users to respond to any suspicious activities or potential ORC incidents immediately.
4. IMPLEMENT INNOVATIVE PARKING LOT CAMERA TECHNOLOGIES
Innovative parking lot camera surveillance technologies, like LVT Units, facial recognition monitors, and automated license plate readers, help security teams hone in on—and deter—perpetrators while collecting data that can preempt future ORC incidents.
5. USE DATA ANALYTICS AND AI
Leverage data analytics and AI-powered analytics capabilities, like those embedded in the LVT Platform, to analyze patterns and predict potential ORC activities. This detailed information can help in identifying high-risk areas and times, and allocate resources accordingly.
“Every bit of research shows that a small portion of the offending population is responsible for the majority of incidents,” Cory Lowe also told Investors Business Daily. He pointed to an example where a retailer’s case management system reported that 10% of the known offenders were responsible for 90% of their losses.
6. INTEGRATE BUSINESS SECURITY CAMERA SYSTEMS WITH OTHER SECURITY SYSTEMS
Connecting LVT’s surveillance systems with existing security alarms, access control, point-of-sale systems, and case databases provides asset protection professionals with real-time information when every minute counts. Integrating these technologies creates a comprehensive security network, one that not only detects and responds to ORC events fast—it also helps asset protection leaders prioritize people’s safety.
7. COLLABORATE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT
Retailers who implement a wide range of parking lot security measures, like mobile surveillance units, become strategic partners with the police. Collaborative efforts, like sharing surveillance video and crime tracking data, provide vital evidence for law enforcement. It also shows police departments how seriously a retailer takes the issue, understands their responsibility, wants to help solve the crime, and respects the police forces’ limited resources.
These partnerships allow retailers to share useful information so that police can maximize their resources for ORC investigations and prosecutions. When police only have to respond to the most important incidents, investigators can focus their efforts on providing valuable insights that will help solve the retailer’s crime.
8. TRAIN EMPLOYEES ON LOSS PREVENTION TACTICS
Empower employees to become part of the loss prevention strategy. Train them to use the store’s surveillance systems and fully understand what constitutes suspicious activity or potential ORC incidents.
9. SCHEDULE REGULAR SECURITY ASSESSMENTS
Level up security strategies by conducting continuous security plan assessments. Regularly analyzing specific incidents and their contributing factors helps security professionals predict future issues and mitigate those risks.
In the event an ORC incident happens, these investigative steps will also help law enforcement respond safely, swiftly, and efficiently.
10. MAKE IT KNOWN A BUSINESS SECURITY CAMERA SYSTEM IS WATCHING
When customers and employees know there’s a surveillance camera nearby, they feel safer. When a potential bad actor sees a business security camera, they are more likely to look elsewhere to commit a crime. Physical surveillance measures in plain view can deter ORC incidents, and installing LVT Units to combat ORC reduces high-risk crimes by 62% and decreases grab-and-go-thefts by 69%.
Our customers trust LVT to deter would-be criminals, defend their sites against bad actors, and help law enforcement investigate and prosecute crimes. Ready to learn more? Contact our team today for a demo.
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