Crime Prevention Seminar
2011
Robert C. Devine
Executive Officer
Stoughton Police Department
Crime Prevention Triangle
Break-Ins and Burglary



Reduce opportunities
 Doors and locks
 Windows
 Exterior entrances
Increase risk of being caught
 Lighting
 Alarms
 Surveillance
Reduce expected rewards
 Property marking
 Target removal
Beware of Re-victimization
1.
Inform other businesses in the area of what
happened because they are also at risk.
2.
Keep an eye out for suspicious behavior.
3.
Follow a routine to make sure the building is
properly secured.
4.
Notify the police of the incident.
Police “Text a tip”
5.
Employee Theft

Don’t hire thieves in the first place
 Always perform background checks
 Consider dishonesty tests
 Interview more than once
Theft at Point of Sale






Cash registers are vulnerable areas in many stores. Dishonest employees can
steal from you quite easily unless you know the signs and how to prevent this
kind of theft.
1) Watch out for loose change, match sticks, or bits of paper with markings on
them around the cash register area. These are often used by cashiers to help
them remember the amount of extra money in the till that is to be pocketed
later. For example, a nickel means five dollars, a penny one dollar, and so on.
When questioned about the loose change, the cashier can simply say a
customer forgot her change. Match sticks or bits of paper can be dismissed by
cashiers as trash.
2) Be extra suspicious of cashiers who keep a small calculator close to the cash
register.
3) Make sure customers can see the amount rung up on the cash register. If the
display is turned away from their view or is covered, this could mean the
cashier is under-ringing purchases in order to pocket the money later.
4) Look out for an excessive number of "NO SALES." These can be used as a
way of opening up the cash drawer when there is no one around to take out
money and pocket it.
5) Also watch out for an excessive number of "VOIDS." This could mean the
cashier is canceling sales that actually occurred in order to pocket that amount
of money.
Refunds




1. People steal merchandise from the business and then
return them for a refund (either to the business from
where they took the item, or to any other participating
stores).
2. Staff members keep the receipts from previous sales
and use them to process refunds later on (usually cash,
but sometimes credit card).
3. People buy merchandise at sale prices and then
return them for a full-priced refund at a later date.
4. People buy products or merchandise from the
business, use them, and then return them for a refund.
Sales Floor
Wander around, apparently aimlessly?
 Go into the staff lounge area when it isn't
their assigned break time?
 Socialize with employees in other areas
when they are supposed to be working?
 Bring their bags or purses out into the sales
area?

Robbery




Late Hours
 If a business is open late there is a wider range of time
in which it could be robbed.
 Late at night there are fewer people around, so a robber
has less chance of being identified or caught.
One Clerk
 Businesses with only one clerk are at a greater risk for
robbery, especially at night
Cash or Valuable Merchandise
 The most desirable target for a robber is cash.
 A business with large amounts of cash around is a
desirable target.
If the business sells products that are valuable and can
easily be resold then they are also a likely target
Robbery Prevention












Take extra precautions when opening and
closing a business
Don’t make drops part of a routine
Watch for suspicious “customers”
Greet all customers
Encourage non-cash transactions
Maintain as little cash on site as possible
Use a drop safe
Hang signs detailing that very little cash is
in registers
Do NOT obstruct view into the store with
posters, etc.
Keep business well lit
Place register in strategic position, elevate
if possible
Use one entry and exit
Shoplifting
DressHeavy clothes in summer
No coat in winter
Worn clothes
No shoes
Be very wary of
Act-
Come in pairs
Take quick glances
Little interest in items asked about
Nervous, flushed
Hold quick conversations with others
MoveLeave area of store quickly
Walk funny (hands down, etc.)
Walk behind sales counter
Move quickly to fitting rooms
Carryare carrying wrinkled or dirty bags
take a lot of garments into the fitting room
are carrying a large open purse
are carrying cash in their hands
Shoplifting
Watch more carefully
DressBaggy clothes
ActDon’t seem to know what they want
MoveWalking in an unusual way
Have a baby stroller
Roaming aimlessly
Go into bathroom
CarryBags, bundles, boxes, coat over arm,
briefcase, newspaper, arm in sling
Shoplifting
Don’t worry so much about
DressDressed for weather
Tight fitting clothing
ActPaying attention to nothing but
merchandise
Come in alone and ask for help
MoveCarryAren’t carrying anything
Remember

Look at how people dress, act, and move,
and what they carry,
NOT their age, sex, or skin color
What Employees can do
DOs
•Be friendly and helpful to
customers
•Keep displays and work
areas tidy
•Pick up fallen clothing and
hangers often
•Keep the fitting rooms
locked (or monitor them very
closely)
•Check the fitting rooms
often for clothing, hangers,
and ripped-off price tags
DON'Ts
•Spend a lot of time talking
to other employees and not
paying attention to the
customers
•Attempt to catch a shoplifter
after he or she has left the
store (unless you are specially
trained for this)
Crime Prevention Through
Environmental Design








As mentioned, make things visible (lighting,
obstructions)
Cut back shrubs, use only short thorny types
Find blind spots in your business and compensate
for them (cameras, mirrors)
Make sure your equipment is effective (banks, low
cameras)
Elevation
Shelves that can be seen over
Keep expensive merchandise at the back of the
store
One way in and out / vestibules
Scams
Always changing
 Phishing
 ID Theft
 Theft of Internet services
 Pranks
 Latest

If Victimized





Call PD Immediately
Try to observe
anything (description,
vehicle, etc.)
Plate numbers key
Use your equipment
Don’t be hero, be a
good live witness