Retail Theft Is a Growing Problem—Is Your Store Secure?
Retailers across the nation are feeling the impact of rising theft, from shoplifting and organized retail crime (ORC) to internal shrinkage caused by employee theft. According to industry reports, retail crime costs American businesses tens of billions of dollars every year, with employee theft alone accounting for nearly a third of all inventory losses. Preventing retail theft with access control is more urgent now than ever before.
The Risks You Face as a Retailer
For the small and mid-sized businesses of the Mountain West, even small losses can hit hard—not just financially, but emotionally as well. A security breach could cost you thousands, sending ripples through employee satisfaction, customer perception, and your own sense of confidence in the workplace.
Security breaches take many forms, including:
- High-value merchandise vanishing from stockrooms, putting a serious dent in your profits and your inventory stock.
- Unapproved discounts at the register, costing you money on numerous transactions at the point of sale.
- Unauthorized personnel trespassing after hours, leaving you scrambling to find the weak point in your security strategy.
Without proper preparations, risks like these are always looming, threatening serious ramifications for your profitability, operational stability, and even employee safety.
Many stores opt for reactive security measures like reviewing camera footage after a theft occurs, but these measures won’t do much to protect your profits. With modern security solutions like advanced access control, retailers can proactively prevent theft before it happens.
The Power of Access Control in Retail Security
Access control systems allow retailers to take control of who enters their stores, stockrooms, and cash-handling areas. When used correctly, they can be expected to substantially reduce shrink, increase accountability, and strengthen store security around the clock. When combined with surveillance, alarms, and other systems, access control offers real-time protection against both internal and external crime.
Here at PEAK Alarm, we specialize in tailoring access control solutions to address the unique needs of Mountain West retailers. With decades of experience securing businesses just like yours, we understand the challenges you face—and we know how to solve them. To help you better protect your store, here are seven expert-backed strategies for preventing retail theft with access control.
How to Prevent Retail Theft With Access Control:
1. Secure All Entry Points With Electronic Access
Traditional keys can be easily lost, copied, or stolen—and changing your locks may not always be an option. Here’s our first pro tip: Upgrade to electronic keycards, PIN codes, or mobile credentials to better control who enters your store and when. If credentials are compromised, you can simply revoke permissions, and with remote-accessible smart locks, you can lock or unlock your doors from anywhere.
2. Limit Access to Stockrooms and Cash-Handling Areas
According to recent studies, employee theft accounts for nearly one-third of all retail shrink in the United States, occurring most often in areas with limited supervision. To combat this, leverage access control to limit entry to inventory storage, offices, and safes to employees who really need it. For situations with high-value merchandise and sensitive data, consider biometric authentication (fingerprint or facial recognition) for an uncompromising approach to your security.
3. Integrate Access Control With Video Surveillance
Though access control alone can substantially improve security by limiting entry, its full potential comes out when paired with other security devices, such as strategically placed surveillance cameras. By linking your access logs with recorded footage, you can visually verify who entered sensitive areas and investigate when you suspect credentials have been compromised. Your surveillance can be further improved with motion-triggered alerts, which allow you to track and respond to trespassing events in real time.
4. Implement Time-Based Access Permissions
When you stop to think about it, you’ll likely find there are very few situations in which an employee would need 24/7 access to all areas of your store. Retail store owners can implement scheduled access credentials to ensure staff, vendors, and maintenance workers can only enter specific locations during designated hours. This can go a long way toward preventing unauthorized after-hours entry, reducing opportunities for both planned and opportunistic internal theft.
5. Track and Audit Employee Access Regularly
Modern access control systems create detailed digital logs of who enters restricted areas and when—the most secure businesses make use of this feature. Regularly reviewing these logs allows you to spot patterns, flag suspicious behavior, and reinforce accountability among your team. In the event of a theft or policy violation, you’ll likely have the evidence you need to support professional investigations.
6. Use Temporary Permissions for Visitors
In the same way that time-based access credentials can be used to limit opportunities for retail theft, temporary permissions can be invaluable for store security as well. Vendors, delivery personnel, and maintenance workers often need temporary access to certain areas of your store. So, rather than handing out permanent keys or sharing employee credentials, use temporary digital access codes that automatically expire after a set period. This allows you to safely admit visitors of all kinds without risking compromised security.
7. Choose Your System Strategically
Finally, remember that not all access control systems are created equal—and that’s a good thing for your business. Different access control technologies offer different levels of security, different price points, and different degrees of scalability. Choosing the right one for your store is crucial. Here are a few distinguishing factors:
- Keycards and PIN codes are cost-effective and easy to implement.
- Mobile credentials are secure, convenient, and highly scalable.
- Biometric authentication ensures advanced, air-tight access control.
When selecting an access control system for your store, consider your specific security threats, budget, operational needs, and any plans for the future you may have. And, when in doubt, consult with your local experts on the most effective means of preventing retail theft with access control.
Take Control of Your Retail Security With PEAK Alarm
Though retail theft is a continual threat, the right access control system can significantly reduce your losses, protect your profits, and strengthen your security for the long haul. At PEAK Alarm, we specialize in helping Mountain West retailers prevent theft before it happens. Don’t wait until shrink impacts your bottom line—get in touch to start preventing retail theft with access control.
Protect what matters most to you. Contact PEAK Alarm today.