Using data insights to curb retail crime 

Stephen Gray at NBCS looks at the vital importance of data sharing among retailers, particularly as crime rates soar

 

Recent estimates from the 2024 House of Lords inquiry indicate that shoplifting in the UK has become a nationwide economic issue. With 17 million incidents of retail theft recorded annually, costing the sector £2 billion last year, the inquiry highlighted the unacceptable rates of theft and called for urgent improvements in the systems for reporting these crimes.

 

Many retailers still lack effective ways to report in-store crimes and the industry’s limited use of a centralised data system continues to slow down efforts to address these incidents, delaying much-needed improvements in security measures.

 

This article explores the challenges arising from a lack of streamlined reporting and underscores the vital importance of data sharing among retailers, particularly as crime rates soar and the demand for robust in-store protection intensifies.

 

 

The evolution of retail crime

Retail crime is evolving at a rapid pace, with shoplifting extending beyond the economic burden and posing increased safety risks to both shoppers and workers. According to recent data provided by the Union of Shop, Distributive, and Allied Workers (USDAW), 7 out of 10 retail workers have been victims of antisocial behaviour, with rates of threats and assaults linked to the surge in shoplifting. 

 

Shoplifters have been witnessed entering stores to empty whole shelves. When staff members attempt to intervene, they often face violent confrontations and have reported being threatened with various weapons, including syringes. Without adequate protection in place, frontline workers continue to endure significant abuse and violence while trying to serve the public.

 

Organised crime is also fuelling the rise in retail theft, as crime rings increasingly target stores to steal merchandise for resale. This crisis is progressively undermining customer confidence in the safety of retail environments, leaving retail staff feeling unsafe. This phenomenon of increased crime reflects a broader societal shift where shoplifting is being socially normalised.

 

As in-store deterrents fail to keep pace with emerging crime tactics and trends, public attitudes toward theft are shifting, and stealing is becoming more socially acceptable for customers. 

 

Self-checkout kiosks have introduced new loopholes for thieves to exploit, allowing them to bypass the scanning process by leveraging the reduced deterrent effect that human-facing checkouts once provided. This in-store rearrangement, combined with the lack of data-driven systems, has made retailers more vulnerable to rising shoplifting incidents.

 

Addressing in-store losses yields benefits beyond mitigating financial losses; it also provides invaluable results in reducing violence and improving staff morale. External organisations, in collaboration with police forces, have access to large datasets detailing patterns of theft. These insights can help identify criminals before thefts even occur, enabling retailers to protect both their assets and their staff.

 

 

Implications of unreported crime

Underreporting of crime in the retail sector remains a persistent issue. As the retail crime epidemic continues to rise, law enforcement is restricted by limited resources when it comes to developing the levels of intelligence needed to tackle retail crime. However, reporting systems are gradually improving to bridge communicational gaps between police forces and retailers and foster collaboration. Despite these advancements, challenges for retailers persist. 

 

In fact, owners often hesitate when reporting crimes directly to the police in fear of action not being taken swiftly enough against offenders. This is especially relevant for isolated retail stores, which often fail to report crime and share vital intelligence.

 

This phenomenon contributes to unreported crime rates, complicating the accurate assessment of the economic impact of shoplifting and making it difficult to address these issues effectively. Data sharing must improve in order to ensure collaboration and combat reporting scepticism for businesses.

 

Retailers need to be encouraged to report repeat offenders, who pose a greater risk to staff and merchandise. By reporting prolific shoplifters, police forces can respond more efficiently and make use of the actionable intelligence collected over time. Focusing on high-risk individuals can significantly decrease incidents over time and enable adequate allocation of resources to support store owners.

 

Law enforcement authorities should also promote full visibility of reporting systems. Transparency can make a difference for retail owners, particularly those who have fallen victim to persistent offenders and feel discouraged about reporting crimes. Action is needed from both sides. It is crucial for police forces to provide visibility into positive outcomes and keep retailers informed with regular updates.

 

At the same time, retailers should continue reporting and providing accurate data to build strong cases against offenders. By leveraging data and working closely together, intelligence networks, law enforcement and retailers can enhance security measures and mitigate the broader implications of retail crime.

 

 

The significance of data sharing

Data sharing across retailers and law enforcement can provide insights to independent store owners and larger retailers into emerging hot spots and high-risk times, leveraging increased intelligence to mitigate the increasing safety concerns and enabling proactive adjustments of in-store security measures.

 

A centralised data system can also support the development of fortified rehabilitation systems in the UK. Shared intelligence on past incidents helps to identify common triggers of shoplifting behaviour and develop better support for those stuck in a cycle of reoffending. By eradicating the root causes of theft, data sharing can reduce the prevalence of prolific shoplifting.

 

Data is paramount to preventing and resolving retail crimes. Artificial intelligence (AI) makes it easier to process data and identify patterns that might otherwise go unnoticed. Deploying in-store cutting-edge AI to help identify offenders and stolen items, as well as concealed weapons, is just one of the new measures being put in place to protect retail environments. 

 

Retailers are using AI-powered facial recognition technology to identify repeat offenders while AI scans video footage to detect suspicious behaviours in-store. Leveraging data to curb retail crime is key and once collected, it can efficiently be shared to identify nationwide patterns of theft. Collaboration with external partners, leveraging advanced technologies to share retail data with law enforcement, can ensure offenders are brought to justice more swiftly. 

 

Data sharing has been a highly effective strategy to address retail security challenges. Pooled intelligence creates a clearer picture of criminal behaviour on a national level and aids in identifying suspects. Intelligence networks work to effectively link identities to crime, building strong cases for prosecutions and cracking down on organised crime and prolific offending.

 

Sharing data with organisations that work closely with the police enables intelligence to be packaged up and passed on effectively, with the police often lacking the resources to do this internally.

 

 

A safer future for retail

Looking ahead to the future of retail crime prevention, we can also expect greater collaboration among businesses, law enforcement agencies, and crime prevention agencies. This collaboration will provide a fortified intelligence network through which data can be shared.

 

By accessing real-time threat detection data and identifying known shoplifters, businesses will be better equipped to prevent crimes from occurring and keep staff safe. 

 

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Stephen Gray is Head of Data & Intelligence at NBCS

 

Main image courtesy of iStockPhoto.com and AndreyPopov