Greater than half of American retail staff, 57%, are feeling unsafe because the retail trade heads into peak vacation purchasing and plenty of of greater than a thousand retail managers and employees have skilled will increase in varied types of crime this 12 months. Greater than half have reported issues about hostile buyer interactions and retailer theft.
These are findings from Motorola Options’ second annual U.S. Retail Employee Security report primarily based on a survey performed by unbiased analysis market agency Researchscape.
The survey was performed this previous September to gauge retail staff’ views on office security and safety measures, in keeping with a press launch.
“As we method peak purchasing season, it is clear that the retail trade continues to grapple with theft and, at instances, much more violent crimes,” Sharon Hong, vice chairman of Ecosystem Options at Motorola Options, stated within the launch. “Retail staff and managers surveyed consider expertise can play a task in serving to to curb the problem, from deterring theft to de-escalating hostile buyer interactions. Expertise can even concurrently notify everybody, together with 9-1-1, of an emergency, shortly and effectively connecting these in want with these that may assist.”
Further findings within the U.S. report embody:
- Many retail managers and employees surveyed stated they’ve skilled will increase in varied types of crime of their shops previously 12 months. The most typical incidents reported had been petty theft (66%), seize and runs (48%) and hostile buyer interactions (46%). One in ten additionally stated they’ve skilled bodily assaults from clients.
- 65% of retail staff stated they anticipate to be understaffed this vacation season and this impacts how protected they really feel going into peak purchasing. Two out of three respondents (68%) who anticipate their shops to be understaffed stated they do not really feel protected and 50% stated they’re involved for the security of their customers.
- Greater than 20% of these surveyed stated public security personnel comparable to police, EMS and fireplace are being referred to as to their shops at the least as soon as per week, a rise of 16% over 2023. Emergency personnel are referred to as to shops two to a few instances per thirty days for 17% of respondents.
- Respondents pointed to entry management programs (35%), license plate readers (32%), panic buttons (32%) and physique cameras (20%) as measures that make them really feel safer. Few retail staff reported having these safety measures in place. Of these surveyed, 12% stated they’ve entry management programs, 9% have panic buttons, 7% have license plate readers and 6% are utilizing physique cameras.
- Nearly half of respondents stated physique cameras would assist them really feel safer, and a majority stated the expertise may also help shops to higher perceive incidents (66%) and assist investigations (66%). Moreover, 42% stated physique cameras is usually a deterrent to aggressive or felony conduct in shops.
“A number of trade research have proven that retail crime is evolving — it has turn into extra organized, coordinated and, importantly, extra violent,” Cory Lowe, Ph.D., director of analysis on the Loss Prevention Analysis Council, stated within the launch. “Violence is a key concern amongst practically each loss prevention chief we work with, and the altering nature of retail crime is driving them to seek for modern options that may assist preserve folks protected. Security is probably the most elementary factor any enterprise should present their workers and clients — if they cannot preserve folks protected, they cannot preserve them coming again to work or store.”
