Real-Life Crime: Shoplifting in Bristol
Shoplifting: It’s a word we’re all familiar with, but one we perhaps don’t take as seriously as we ought.
Shop theft in Bristol is a very real and very present problem – in fact according to official police statistics, there were 139 reported incident of shoplifting within a mile of central Bristol in the month of August 2012 alone1.
So who suffers as a result of shop theft?
Contrary to popular belief, it isn’t just business owners who suffer as a result of shoplifting. In fact, an incident reported by the BBC in July 2011 shows the other kind of victim criminals looking to burgle shops can cause. According to the report, a 79 year old woman was knocked over and rushed to hospital by shoplifters desperate to flee the scene of the crime2.
Ways to reduce shop theft
The story reported above isn’t all negative however – particularly for shop owners. It is worth noting that the sole reason the shoplifters were fleeing from the scene was down to the diligent efforts of the on-duty Bristol security guard company employed by the shop.
Sometimes CCTV and other security measures simply aren’t enough – it’s been shown that the presence of a security guard either within a shop or at the entrance or exit of the shop can dramatically reduce incidents of shop theft.
Why criminals avoid security guards
When a potential shoplifter sees a CCTV camera, it may be enough to deter them – but at the same time, it isn’t a real enough defence which they see as being a physical prevention from stealing goods. A security guard however sends out a clear message:
If you want to steal here, you’re going to have me to answer to.
This works in many ways, because the would-be criminal has a lot more to think about: Not only do they have to strategically avoid the vision of the cameras or the watchful eye of the shop staff, but they have to outwit and physically avoid a professional who has been trained to spot and prevent people exactly like them.
For a criminal, it’s basic psychology – and it works.
What do the stats say?
It’s now more common for businesses to employ the use of security guards to stand watch in and around their shops. And whether or not this helps according to statistics, we’ll leave you to decide – but considering that late last year (December 2011) statistics showed a reported 161 shopliftings as opposed to the 139 of August this year3, one thing is clear: Something has caused a drop in the number of shopliftings.
Can your Bristol business afford to risk shop theft?