Clare Gardaí are urging shop owners in this county to take steps to ensure they don’t fall victim to thefts.
It comes as incidents of thefts from shops has risen 4% year on year in this county in the space of a year.
Last week alone saw two shops in Sixmilebridge fall victim to distraction thefts, where a group of people entered and some of them distracted the shop assistants while others stole items from the store room.
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Clare’s Crime Prevention Officers Sergeant Tríona O’Rourke has a few simple tips for shop owners to bear in mind.
Security Tips
- Greet every customer that enters the store. This lets the customer know you are aware of their presence.
- Design the store lay out so customers must pass the register area and staff to exit the store. Never leave the register unlocked or unattended. Do not display merchandise near the store exits.
- Use mirrors to eliminate blind spots in corners that might hide shoplifters. Maintain adequate lighting in all areas of the store.
- Place small and or expensive items in locked cabinets or behind the counter. Dressing rooms should be watched at all times.
- Helping Hand – approach the suspicious person and ask if he / she is finding everything okay. Mention that you’ll be nearby should he / she need your help – make the shoplifter feel watched.
- Stay Focused – don’t allow customers to distract the cashier while another person is being checked out.
Night time security
- Link the electric lights to the intruder alarm so that when an out of hours activation occurs, the lights come on illuminating the interior and providing better images on the CCTV system.
- Store the CCTV recorder in a secure manner to prevent its easy removal.
- Ensure no large sums of money are kept overnight on the premises.
- Install an insurance rated safe and employ time locking mechanisms to alleviate the need for a key holder.
