MEDIA RELEASE PR37934
Report Suggests Economic Downturn May be Changing the Face of Retail Crime
BANGALORE, Jan. 25 /PRNewswire-Asia-AsiaNet/ --
Employee Theft Has Morphed With Retailers Increasingly Concerned About Workers Stealing More Cash and
Less Merchandise
A new study shows the down economy may be changing the face of retail crime. The report, sponsored in
part by ADT and its Sensormatic Retail Solutions group, suggests that employees are stealing less
merchandise while shoplifting or theft by consumers and gangs is on the rise.
The online survey of 83 small-to-large multi-national retailers was conducted by Retail Systems Research
(RSR) and is titled "Loss Prevention 2010: Retailers Battling Shrink in Tough Times."
"Traditionally employee theft has been the largest portion of the retail crime pie and it still is, but we believe
we are seeing a shift in employee theft as retailers get better at spotting it," said Kelvin Lam, Vice President of
Retail and Security Products, ADT Security, Asia Pacific. "At the same time, the economy is reducing the
number of employees in the stores and creating more opportunities for shoplifting and gangs."
Retailers were asked to name their top three sources of theft. In 2009, 68 percent named employee theft of
merchandise as one of their top concerns - down 12 percent from the previous year. At the same time, 62
percent of retailers listed shoplifting by customers as a top concern, compared with 52 percent in 2008. While
employee theft of cash is a smaller portion of retail crime than merchandise theft by employees, customers
and gangs, it has become of increasing concern to retailers. More than 45 percent listed theft of cash by
employees as one of the top three concerns, which is 13 percent more than in 2008.
According to Lam, retailers have gotten better at identifying employee theft. Still, the economy presents
more opportunities for shoplifters because in addition to there being fewer watchful employees on the store
floor, there are more opportunities to resell discounted stolen items online or at flea markets to bargain-hungry
consumers.
The good news for retailers is that new anti-theft technologies like point-of-sale and analytic software are
working to help reduce theft of all kinds, said Lam.
"Deterrence is the name of the game in retail theft and today's technologies are making employees think
twice," said Lam. "We are continuing to work with our retail customers to help them maximize and add
technologies like cameras, video analytics and anti-theft tags to target shoplifters and organized retail
criminals."
According to Lam, there are also solutions available for employee theft of cash that include new and more
extensive data collection and analysis of transactions.
The "Loss Prevention 2010" report shows that loss prevention remains a focus for retailers. In 2009, more
than 68 percent said limiting retail theft had increased as a priority compared with 57 percent in 2008. The
most successful retailers, with sales out-performing their competitors, were even more likely to indicate an
increased priority for reducing retail crime.
About ADT Security Services
ADT Security Services, a Tyco International company, is the world's largest provider of electronic security
services to more than seven million commercial, government and residential customers worldwide. ADT's total
security solutions include intrusion, fire protection, closed circuit television, access control, critical condition
monitoring, electronic article surveillance, radio frequency identification (RFID) and integrated systems. ADT's
About the Sensormatic Retail Solutions Portfolio
The industry-leading Sensormatic Retail Solutions portfolio offers vital loss prevention and operational
improvement technologies and solutions. Backed by more than 1,500 patents, the Sensormatic solutions
portfolio is sold through ADT and authorized business partners around the world. From the front of the store
through the entire retail supply chain, Sensormatic solutions help keep losses lower - and profits higher.
Today, over 80 percent of world's top 200 retailers that use EAS rely on Sensormatic solutions, which include
EAS, source-tagging, data analytics and in-store, item-level intelligence applications. Sensormatic forward-
thinking solutions also include dual EAS-RFID technology that provides item-level security and visibility in an
About Retail Systems Research
Retail Systems Research ("RSR") is the only research company run by retailers for the retail industry. RSR
provides insight into business and technology challenges facing the retail industry ecosystem, and thought
leadership and advice on navigating these challenges for specific companies and the industry at large. For
Media Contact:
ADT Security
Shee Liang Mey
Manager, Communications, Asia Pacific
Tel: +65-6389-8241
Email: lmshee@tycoint.com
SOURCE ADT Security Services
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