WINTER 2021 SEASONAL CRIME jolly careful Tis the season to be Winter brings all sorts of headaches for the busy retailer, but by following some simple steps you can minimise the risk to your business over the festive season Christmas is coming, and with it the very real threat to your business from severe weather conditions, seasonal flu epidemics, and other winter-related issues. You should aim to minimise the risk of disruption to your business should the worstcase scenario happen by building your Business Battle Box now. In addition, any business involved in retail could also be facing increased threats from the very thing it craves an increase in footfall. Stop the scammers Cyber attacks on businesses have risen over the past 12-18 months and continue to increase. We have covered the topic in previous editions of TSBN, but further advice and support is available from Businesses against Scams. Now might well be the time to look at taking some measures to protect your business from threats often associated with increased crowds. It is worth taking a step back and looking at your business and premises as a potential criminal might view it, trying to spot any weaknesses that could be easily exploited, and then following some simple steps to enhance protection: It is worth taking a step back and looking at your business and premises as a potential criminal might view it Credit: Karen Woolley, development manager, Federation of Small Businesses Image: iStock / maroke Staff awareness/training remind staff to be extra vigilant during busy periods. Ensure they are alerted to potential risks and know what to do if they spot something that needs attention. In particular, training on not putting themselves at risk is crucial. Train staff to be observant at all times and to report anything suspicious to their supervisor/business owner. Remember, having welltrained, vigilant staff is one of the best ways of combating shoplifting. Early-warning system have a bell by the till and set up a warning system, such as two rings, if staff think something suspicious is going on. Surveillance staff should be able to see across the shop floor and any customers entering or leaving the premises. This might involve putting your checkout on a platform. Exits ensure you have a single, controlled exit point for customers (as well as fire exits, which should be closed, but accessible if needed in the event of an emergency); the more exits to which customers have access, the more risk it poses. Employing seasonal workers check references carefully before taking staff on over the busy period. Deterrents look at what deterrents can be installed in the premises, such as mirrors and cameras. Think about how easy it would be for a shoplifter to take items unobserved. Signage display large Shoplifters will be prosecuted signs in prominent positions. Vulnerable/desirable stock move your display close to the till point, where it will be most visible to staff. If you supply expensive clothing, try criss-crossing the hangers on the rail to make it more difficult for a thief to grab a large amount and run off. Use dummy display goods/empty boxes for high-risk items. Hiding places think about the hiding places people may bring into shops with them, such as bags, pushchairs, and even umbrellas. Make eye contact if you suspect somebody in the store, make yourself busy near them, smiling, making eye contact and other sales techniques; this can be an effective deterrent. Distraction thefts some shoplifters operate in groups and use distraction; for example, complaining loudly or asking to see the manager, so that others are free to operate. Operate a ban system ban persistent offenders from entering your premises. Seek assistance from your local police community support officers. CCTV if you have CCTV fitted, give it a thorough test to ensure it is working properly so that, should you experience a crime, you are able to provide as much evidence to the police as possible. Card fraud Trust your instincts! At a time when many retail premises are more busy than usual, those intending to commit card fraud may feel more confident that their activity wont be noticed. If you are not using a chip and PIN system, but relying on signatures, take the time to double check and ask for supporting ID. If you do experience an incident of card fraud, report it to Action Fraud immediately on: 0300 123 2040. For further information, please contact your local Trading Standards Service