Effective Theft Prevention Strategies for Businesses

Preventing theft is always easier said than done. There are a multitude of methods, ideas, disciplines, and theories on how to best prevent one of the oldest sins in the book. The primary problem with theft is that, to a large degree, it is so prevalent and common that it almost becomes expected and easy to replicate, and people feel justified in doing so. 

What I mean by justified is that a lot of times, people who are caught pilfering are not even aware that what they are doing is wrong. Most times, they have seen others do it so casually and openly that in their mind, it must not be a big deal. Additionally, people are exceptional at making excuses for themselves internally and acting upon them without much remorse. The excuses can range from feeling that they don’t get paid enough, believing that their co-workers are costing them money by making mistakes, having a negative experience with a customer or manager, or experiencing a life event that triggers survival mode. None of these reasons are right for the cause, but you would be amazed at what people can talk themselves into. 

Behavior Behind Theft 

Now, the interesting part of theft is that it is almost always a learned behavior. It’s extremely rare for someone to exhibit dishonesty without having been exposed to it elsewhere. There is a very sad and dark part of theft that stems from family upbringing. A child seeing their parents, close family, or siblings steal with no remorse will simply be at a disadvantage in life. That child will grow up thinking those actions were warranted. The sad part of it all is that even if that child grows old and knows stealing is wrong, they will likely steal because it brings an emotional connection to their family. There are some strong psychological themes here. In essence, someone thinks, “I am so disconnected from my past and family, there are parts I’d like to remember and feel,” and sadly enough, those parts can be nefarious actions such as theft. 

Dealing with Internal Theft 

So, how do we stop all this? Well, there is hope out there, and most of it comes from acting quickly. Like a virus, catch it in the beginning so that it will not spread. In a workplace environment, if employees are stealing internally, you want to find the dishonest employee right away. It will send a message to the rest of the company that such behavior is not tolerated. In addition, there won’t be enough time for that bad apple to infect the rest of the organization. There will always be thieves, but it’s the honest employees walking a fine line that we hope never cross over to the dark side. Removing the bad example early on helps them stay on the right path. 

Dealing with External Theft 

 What about external theft, such as shoplifting? Well, same theory here as well. Find dishonest people early, make an example, and let the neighborhood (and world) know you’re not an easy target. Take a convenience store, for example, which often experiences a high rate of shoplifting. Usually, the thieves come from the same area, and many of them know each other. You catch one person at first, bar them from coming back, and let others know. Pretty soon, that convenience store will have a reputation for catching thieves, and reputation matters. 

Tips for Preventing Theft 

There is a lot to digest here, so let’s break it down into simple bullet points of what can be done: 

• If internal, be proactive! When employees are proactively monitored, they are aware someone is always watching. 

• If external, be deterrent! Warning labels, cameras, and attentive staff will always help. 

• Did we mention cameras?!? You need cameras, and decent ones at that. Prioritize a system that offers integration with your registers and can be viewed remotely from any machine (not just a phone). 

• What you do for one, you do for all. Have consistent discipline and consequences for anyone caught stealing. 

• Create a culture where theft will not be tolerated, and everyone is held to the same standard of ethics and morals. This is easier said than done, as management can become complacent over time. However, morals and ethics should never be questioned. Believe us, the bad apples will see themselves out. 

• Alarms and locks. That might sound elementary to say out loud, however, the number of businesses and companies that don’t lock their doors or have an alarm system is astounding. 

• Pretend it’s your house. Would you want any of these malicious actions to take place at your house? The same shouldn’t be tolerated at your place of work. 

• Cameras, just in case you already forgot, but you need cameras! 

• Ensure a designated person/team/company is appointed. There’s no easy way around this; you need a person or company in place who is responsible for watching your cameras and doing investigations on your behalf. 

• Establish strong policies. From employee handbooks to strict guidelines, clear and firm language needs to be in place and signed off by everyone when they start. 

• Have a response plan in place. When things unexpectedly go wrong or something such as a robbery takes place, having a plan in place that can be followed through is important. Think of it as crisis management. 

Preventing internal and external theft requires a proactive approach that combines effective monitoring, clear policies, and response plans. Having a good video surveillance system is essential to deter potential theft along with providing clear evidence if theft does occur. By utilizing the tips above, you can have peace of mind knowing that your business is well protected.