How Retailers Can Stay Ahead of Crime with a Layered Security Strategy

SUMMARY: 

• Layered security is key to reducing theft and organized retail crime.
• Deterrence and detection work best when supported by real-time technology.
• Mobile surveillance units simplify disruption, documentation, and data analysis.
• Partnerships and diversion programs help tackle root causes of crime.

Kevin McCallister in the classic 1990 film, Home Alone, had a problem. Two determined burglars were coming for his house, and his family was thousands of miles away. Many kids in his position would have panicked, but Kevin got creative. By the time Harry and Marv—also known as the Wet Bandits—made their move, Kevin had turned the house into a fortress protected by decoys, alarms, and booby traps. 

While Kevin’s tactics were a bit unconventional—swinging paint cans, tarantulas, and heated doorknobs aren’t exactly considered best practice in the security industry—the concept of layered defense is exactly what the Loss Prevention Research Council (LPRC) recommends.

Here’s how you can build your own layered defense strategy. 

1. Start with Visible Deterrents

Anyone who works in security will agree that the best fight is the one that never happens. Criminals look for easy wins; if your store signals that it’s anything but an easy target, most will move on.

How retailers can deter crime:

• Position mobile surveillance units or visible cameras in high-visibility areas like parking lots.
• Use clear signage that communicates active surveillance.
• Improve exterior lighting to eliminate dark, opportunistic spaces.
• Reduce anonymity by managing traffic flow and creating open sight lines.

2. Detect Threats in Real Time

Deterrence is powerful, but some criminals will still try their luck. That’s why your next layer should be detection. 

How retailers can keep an eye on their property around the clock:

• Choose mobile surveillance units that provide live, remote-accessible video streaming. 
• Use AI-powered analytics to filter out false alarms and alert you of real threats. 
• Set up automatic alerts that notify security teams and/or local law enforcement the moment suspicious activity is detected.

3. Disrupt Problems

Detecting a crime in real time allows you to act on it quickly and prevent it from escalating. 

How retailers can shut down unwanted behavior: 

• Use two-way audio on surveillance units to issue live voice-down warnings. Systems that leverage agentic AI can even trigger personalized warnings that call attention to specific people or behaviors. 
• Activate sirens or flashing lights remotely to startle bad actors. 
• Establish clear escalation protocols so that when human intervention is necessary, everyone knows their role. 

4. Document Everything

Even with the best defense, incidents will happen. Documentation gives you the proof you need for investigations, insurance claims, and prosecutions. Without the right tools, this step can eat up hours as teams manually scrub through footage. 

How retailers can streamline documentation:

• Use forensic search tools to pull key footage in minutes instead of hours.
• Store video in the cloud for secure, on-demand access.

5. Analyze and Improve

Every incident is an opportunity to learn. Data from mobile surveillance units can reveal patterns that help you stay ahead of threats and use your resources more effectively.

How retailers can put surveillance data to work:

• Identify when and where incidents happen most.
• Move mobile surveillance units to identified hotspots.
• Use incident data to coach and train associates on what works in the field.

6. Address the Root Cause

If you want lasting change, you have to focus on why crime happens in the first place. Many repeat offenders deal with bigger problems like addiction or lack of resources. Retailers can make a difference by working with police and community programs to reduce these risks. Sharing information helps everyone see the full picture and find real solutions. Sometimes that means supporting programs that connect offenders to treatment or job resources instead of sending them back to jail. 

Layer Your Defenses with LVT

A layered defense strategy only works if every layer is strong and connected. Our mobile surveillance units are an end-to-end security solution designed to help you deter, detect, disrupt, document, and analyze in real time. With features like AI-powered alerts, two-way audio, forensic search, and more, retailers can respond faster, work smarter, and stay ahead of threats.

Want to learn more about layered security? Watch this webinar where we discuss the 6D Loss Prevention Framework with the Loss Prevention Research Council and other industry experts.