15/02/22

How Crime Effects Retail Businesses

No matter the nature of your business, the threat of crime is always present. Criminal activity can negatively influence both a business’ reputation and turnover.

When it comes to small businesses, the potential effects of crime are even scarier, with many areas of the high-street already struggling, crime should be the last thing on any business owners mind.

Alpha Omega Security can help close the gap between the police force and the general public with services such as manned guarding and CCTV monitoring.

Crime in the retail sector

According to the 2020 Crime Survey, in 2020 there was an average of 424 violent or abusive incidents per day towards retail workers, which is an increase of 9% from the previous year. In addition, over £1 billion was lost to crime in the sector, with customer theft making up £770 million of these losses.

Effects on staff

Due to the increasingly high volume of violent or abusive incidents against retail staff, many employees are afraid to work. Attacks have been known to involve knives, machetes, needles and firearms to cause harm and intimidate workers. This can cause an increase in staff absences and shortages in the workforce.

In addition, employees that see the lack of consequences suffered by thieves in stores may be encouraged to steal themselves. This in-turn could produce a laid-back approach from staff towards preventing crime in the store.

Damage to Property

The loss of goods from theft is not the only cost to businesses that are victims of crime. Repairing broken windows and shutters also require a lot of money to repair and could mean the shop has to be shut while these repairs are taking place, exacerbating the cost to the business.

Criminal damage to properties, such as graffiti, can also cost the business time and money to remove. Further to this, graffiti may create a bad impression to customers and decrease footfall for the business.

Protect your business with Alpha Omega

We provide a wide range of high quality, professional security services to help businesses in the retail sector deal with crime. From Manned Guarding to Alarm Response we have a range of services that are tailored to your specific needs and budget.