Abuse and violence against retailers dramatically increased during lockdown, much of it as a result of shops enforcing social distancing measures. As if stores didn’t have enough to contend with, there was notable displacement of offenders who normally hit the high street heading to supermarkets to reap their ill-gotten gains, says Maxine Fraser, MD of the Stirling-based Retailers Against Crime (RAC), the membership body that gathers and sends out business crime info.
She added: “We will support the rejuvenation of the high street under what may be a very challenging trading environment following lockdown.” She predicted that retail crime may ‘increase significantly with visits from all types of offenders including those that use crime to fund their lifestyle, who will no doubt be running low on funds. These extremely experienced offenders will certainly take advantage of security officers enforcing social distancing measures, plus the majority will be wearing masks to conceal their identity. It is absolutely vital that staff in stores are aware of current offenders including those who may travel.’
Hence RAC will provide crime prevention briefings online to allow members to ‘catch up’ with crime trends while their stores have been closed. RAC’s new crime intelligence platform SentrySIS, will also be available free to members, she added.
On a more personal note Maxine said that she was ‘humbled’ during lockdown by the staff in local stores that remained open for essentials. Maxine is noted in retail crime circles for her stress – including in TV documentary exposures of such crime – on its links to serious and organised crime, by thieves who fund their lifestyle with crime – it’s their ‘job’ – besides those who steal to feed their addiction whether that’s alcohol or illegal drugs.
According to RAC’s latest statistics, as of June, the most targeted items by shop thieves were Food/Drink (Non-Alcoholic), Alcohol and Groceries.
This comes from RAC’s newsletter for July. Speaking likewise was RAC’s chair, Jim McFedries, Head of Profit Protection at Scotmid Co-Op. He recalled ‘temporary store closures, ever changing guidelines to follow, product availability problems, staffing challenges, the list goes on’. He added: “Unfortunately what we haven’t seen a change in is the amount of crime committed on the high street with even fewer open doors.”
He said that opportunist and prolific offenders have taken advantage of mask-wearing to conceal their identity, when someone wearing a mask is the ‘new norm’. “We have had an increase in violence towards colleagues ranging from verbal abuse to actual physical violence in a bid to get away with stock in hand.”
The newsletter also features RAC partners, such as the police in Scotland and Northern Ireland, trading standards and the Scottish Business Resilience Centre, as featured in the December 2019 print edition of Professional Security magazine in its report on RAC’s annual conference in Glasgow. Visit www.RetailersAgainstCrime.org.
Pictured during that conference are RAC staff and Jim McFedries, centre. From left, Natasa Wilson, Stephanie Karte, Maxine Fraser and Gemma Sellar.
