Retail security leaders deal with challenges ranging from loss prevention to supply chain disruptions. Security incidents targeting the retail sector can be prevented by a security strategy involving video surveillance.

An e-book from IDIS, "Utilizing Video Technology to Overcome Challenges in North American Brick-and-Mortar Retail," identified uses for video surveillance and analytics in retail organizations. According to the e-book, violence and retail shrink are two security challenges that video surveillance can help prevent or reduce.

Violence prevention with security cameras

The uptick in gun violence in the United States has had a large effect on the retail sector. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Active Shooter Incidents in the United States in 2021 report, areas of commerce were the most common location type for active shooter incidents, with over half of active shooter incidents taking place in retail locations.

Surveillance can help identify violent offenders post-incident and contribute to prevention efforts before an incident takes place. Aside from the deterrence factor that security cameras can provide an organization, video surveillance technologies like body-worn cameras and public address (PA) integrations can help security teams and law enforcement respond to an incident.

According to the e-book, video analytics like crowd detection can help reduce interactions that could lead to a violent incident. 

Surveillance aids retail shrink reduction

In addition to violence prevention, retail security leaders must focus on preventing loss and mitigating retail shrink. According to the e-book, retail shrink challenges such as return fraud, insider threats and self-checkout fraud present business risks to retail organizations.

Covert security cameras can help surveil high-value items that are at higher risk of theft, says the e-book. An overt surveillance strategy can also help deter theft and retail fraud.

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