Smart Places To Put Security Cameras When You Run A Retail Business
When you run a retail business and are concerned about theft, you might try to determine how people are stealing from you. In many cases, shoplifters will take items into the bathroom or changeroom, conceal the items on their person, and then eventually make their way to the exit. Your initial instinct might be to place a closed-circuit security camera in the bathroom or changeroom, but this is unethical and may be illegal in your state. Instead of invading the privacy of the large percentage of your customers who aren't stealing, here are some ideal locations to put your security cameras to ideally catch shoplifters in the act.
Outside The Bathroom Or Changeroom
While you can't put a camera in the bathroom or changeroom of your retail business, there's nothing wrong with putting a camera outside either of these rooms. This location can prove highly valuable. For example, if someone will be putting clothing that hasn't been paid for on under his or her clothes, this camera can provide footage from before and after the act. In the "before" shots, the perpetrator may look thin, but in the "after" shots, he or she could appear heavier as a result of wearing multiple layers of clothing.
In A Secluded Part Of Your Store
If there's a quiet part of the store, it's worthwhile to have a closed-circuit camera filming in this location. A thief may take an item to this location to slip it into his or her pocket or purse, or hide it under his or her clothing. The thief may feel that this location, which is technically out in the open, might be less suspicious than taking something to the bathroom or changeroom. A hidden security camera in this area will capture the crime, while an overt camera may dissuade people from breaking the law in this manner.
At The Front Door
Technically, a shopper who puts an item in his or her pocket or purse hasn't broken the law until he or she leaves your store. This means that it's absolutely critical to have a camera at the front door. Your loss-prevention team, upon identifying someone who appears to be concealing merchandise, can wait until the person walks out without paying. This means that a criminal act has now been committed, and your loss-prevention agents can detain the suspect until the police arrive on the scene to take over the investigation. The footage from your other security cameras will also prove useful at this time.