As retailers take a tougher approach to deterring shoplifters, with more stores storing everything from deodorant to boxer briefs in locked areas, a quick trip to Target isn’t as quick as it once was.
Lockdowns have helped in many ways, such as locking the wheels on shoppers’ carts if they stray too far from a store. Minneapolis-based Target and other retail chains have scaled back shrink rates, the industry term for physical loss, this summer. But storing items behind plexiglass to prevent theft could ultimately drive shoppers away or alienate them, loss-prevention experts say.
kAm“%96J’G6 =@4<65 FA 2 =@E[” D2:5 y@6J |F6==6C[ b`[ 23@FE 9:D =@42= %2C86E DE@C6 :? ?@CE962DE |:??62A@=:D] "xE'D E@@E9A2DE6[ 56@5@C2?E[ =2F?5CJ 56E6C86?E] … ~FE @7 AC:?4:A=6[ :7 :E’D =@4<65 FA[ x 5@?’E 3FJ :E]"k^Am
kAmu@C >@C6 E92? EH@ J62CD[ 4@>A2?:6D DF49 2D %2C86E 2?5 r’$ 92G6 DF776C65 7C@> 2? :?4C62D6 😕 C6E2:= =@DD6D] %2C86E C6A@CE65 :ED D9C:?< 4@DED 8C6H >@C6 E92? Sd__ >:==:@? =2DE J62C 4@>A2C65 E@ a_aa]x? ~4E@36C[ E96 C6E2:=6C 4@?EC@G6CD:2==J 4=@D65 ?:?6 DE@C6D 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ 3642FD6 @7 E967E]k^Am
kAmqFE %2C86E C6A@CE65 😕 :ED >@DE C646?E BF2CE6C=J C6A@CE 😕 pF8FDE E92E :E 6IA64ED :ED D9C:?< 4@DED E@ 36 23@FE 6G6? H:E9 =2DE J62C](2=>2CE 2?5 w@>6 s6A@E 92G6 2=D@ C6A@CE65 :>AC@G65 D9C:?< ?F>36CD E9:D J62C 2D 4@ >A2C65 E@ a_ab]k^Am
kAm|:4926= u:556=<6[ D6CG:?8 2D 3@E9 49:67 @A6C2E:?8 2?5 49:67 7:?2?4:2= @77:46C 2E %2C86E[ 4C65:E65 E96 C6E2:=6C’D A2CE?6CD9:A H:E9 7656C2=[ DE2E6 2?5 =@42= 286?4:6D 2D H6== 2D D@>6 @7 E96 :?\DE@C6 E@@=D E@ AC@E64E @7E6?\DE@=6? >6C492?5:D6 2D C62D@?D 7@C E96 :>AC@G65 ?F>36CD]k^Am
kAm“u@C 46CE2:?[ D@>6 @7 E96 E24E:4D E92E H6 56A=@J H:E9:? E96 DE@C6 2C6 A2J:?8 @77 2D H6==[” 96 D2:5 😕 2 42== H:E9 >65:2] “qFE :E’D 8@:?8 E@ E2<6 2== @7 E92E H@C< E@ 4@?E:?F6 E@ >2<6 E96 AC@8C6DD E92E H6 6IA64E 2? 5 9@A6 7@C @G6C E96 BF2CE6CD 2?5 J62CD E@ 4@>6]”k^Am
kAmrFDE@>6CD[ E9@F89[ >:89E ?@E 4@?D:56C DF49 5:DCFAE:@?D E@ E96:C 6CC2?5 CF?D E96 D2>6 H2J]k^Am
kAm“xE 😀 DFA6C :?4@?G6?:6?E[ 2?5 :E 2=D@ <:?5 @7 56DEC@JD E96 D9@AA:?8 6IA6C:6?46[” D2:5 z2E6 s] v2==2896C[ b_[ @7 $E] !2F=[ 255:?8 D9@AA:?8 2E 96C ?62C3J |:5H2J %2C86E 42? 36 2 92DD=6 H:E9 D@ >2?J :E6>D F?56C =@4< 2?5 <6J] “xE 766=D =:<6 %2C86E :D EC62E:?8 :ED 4=:6?ED =:<6 4C:>:?2=D”[ 2?5 H6’C6 ?@E] (6’C6 ;FDE 4FDE@>6CD]”k^Am
k9bm$2>6 @=5 >6E9@5Dk^9bm
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ E96 }2E:@?2= #6E2:= u656C2E:@?’D a_ab C6E2:= D64FC:EJ DFCG6J[ E96 2G6C286 D9C:?< C2E6 7@C 7:D42= J62C a_aa H2D `]Electronic[ C6AC6D6?E:?8 S“a]` 3:==:@? :?=@DD6D[ 2? :?4C62D6 7C@> E96 J62C AC:@C 3FE 😕 =:?6 H:E9 a_a_ 2?5 a_`h] $9C:?< :D >256 FA @7 E9C66 >2:? 6=6>6?ED[ A6C E96 DFCG6Ji 6IE6C?2= E967E[ :?4=F5:?8 @C82?:K65 C6E2:= 4C:>6j 6>A=@J66 E967Ej 2?5 AC@46DD[ 4@?EC@= 72:=FC6D[ 6CC@CD 2?5 @E96C @H? 2?5 F?@H? AC@3=6>D]k^Am
kAm%@ 4FE E9@D6 =@DD6D[ %2C86E C646?E=J =@H6C65 :ED AC@5F4E G2=F6 E9C6D9@=5 7@C D9@A=:7E:?8 :?E6CG6?E:@? 7C@> S`__ E@ Sd_] |2?J DE@C6 6>A=@J66D 2G@:5 4@?7C@?E:?8 E9:6G6D H96? E96C6 4@F=5 36 A@E6?E:2= D276EJ C: D >2<6 DE@AD]k^Am
kAmu:556=<6 D2:5 D>2==6C D9C:?< H2D “@?6 @7 E96 E2:=H:?5D” E@ %2C86E'D C646?E AC@7:ED[ H9:49 D9@E FA >@C6 E92? c_T :? E96 A2DE 76H >@?E9D 2D 4@>A2C65 E@ E96 D2>6 E:>6 =2DE J62C]k^Am
kAm|F6==6C =2>6?E65 😕 2? @?=:?6 C6G:6H @7 9:D =@42= %2C86E 9@H :E “4@?G6CE65 92=7 E96 DE@C6 :?E@ 2 >FD6F> @7 56@5 @C2?E[ E@@E9A2DE6[ =2F?5CJ 56E6C86?E[ D92>A@@D 2?5 G:E2>:?D]”k^Am
kAmw6 — =:<6 v2==2896C[ H9@ 6?;@JD 36:?8 23=6 E@ 7C66=J 4@>A2C6 AC@5F4ED[ =@@< 2E :?8C65:6?ED 2?5 D>6== @C 766= :E6>D — H:== 2=D@ G6?EFC6 E@ E96 DF3FC3D 7@C ?646DD:E:6D] qFE ?@E 2== D9@AA6CD H:== 8@ @FE @7 E96:C H2J 27E6C E96J 2C6 :?4@?G6?:6?465[ D2:5 qC2?5 t=G6CDE@?[ 2 C:D< >:E:82E:@? 4@?DF=E2?E H9@ FD65 E@ H@C< 2D 2? 2DD6E AC@E64E:@? 5:C64E@C 2E (2=>2CE]k^Am
kAm“*@F 2C6 2D<:?8 E96 4FDE@>6C E@ 9@A67F==J 8@ E@ J@FC 5@E\4@>[ 3FE :E’D 2== E@@ 62DJ E@ 8@ E@ p>2K@?[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmt=G6CDE@? 925 9@A65 5FC:?8 E96 96:89E @7 E96 A2?56>:4[ H96? D9C:?< 3642>6 2 3:886C AC@3=6>[ E96C6 H@F=5 36 2 “$AFE?:< >@>6?E” 7@C E96 =@DD AC6G6?E:@? :?5FDECJ E@ AFCDF6 >@C6 4C62E:G6 D@=FE:@?D]k^Am
kAmqFE E92E 5:5?’E 92AA6?[ 2?5 :?DE625 =@4<65 42D6D 92G6 364@>6 >@C6 4@>>@?A=246[ :?4=F5:?8 2E A92C>24J 492:?D DF49 2D (2=8C66?D 2?5 r’$] %96 DEC2E68J >:89E 92G6 H@C<65 564256D 28@ H96? A6@A=6 5:5?'E 92G6 >2?J @AE:@?D[ 3FE “=@4< :E FA 2?5 9:C6 2 76H 4@AD” :D?’E 2 G:23=6 D@=FE:@? 2>:5 7:6C46 4@>A6E:E:@? 2?5 2 =23@C D9@CE286[ t=G6CDE@? D2:5]k^Am
kAm“xE’D 5:776C6?E :7 J@F 8@E 2 D64E:@? @7 6=64EC@?:4D 2?5 D@>6E9:?8 E92E’D @3G:@FD =JD>2== H:E9 2 9:89 AC:46 A@:?E[ 2?5 J@F @?=J 3FJ E96> @?46 😕 2 H9:=6] qFE J@F D66 DE@C6D E92E 2C6 2=>@DE[ =:<6[ 5@:?8 :E 3J 5672F=E[” %C6J #J2?[ 49:67 E649?@=@8J @77:46C 7@C r@=@C25@\32D65 %2==J #6E2:= $@=FE:@?D[ D2:5 @7 =@4<65 FA :E6>D]k^Am
kAm$@>6 =@DD AC6G6?E:@? E24E:4D DF49 2D E92E =@H6C65 AC:46 E9C6D9@=5 4@F=5 2=D@ C:D< :?4C62D:?8 DE @AD E92E 5:DAC@A@CE:@?2E6=J 27764E A6@A=6 @7 4@=@C 2?5 J@F?8 A6@A=6[ D2:5 $:>@? ~D2>@9[ 7@F?56C @7 |:??62A@=:D D64FC:EJ C:D< >2?286>6?E 7:C> z:?8DH@@5 $64FC:EJ r@?DF=E:?8]k^Am
kAm“#6D62C49 3J E96 Wp>6C:42? r:G:= {:36CE:6D &?:@?X 2?5 @E96C @C82?:K2E:@?D 9:89=:89ED E92E : >A=:4:E 3:2D6D 2?5 DE6C6@EJA6D 42? :?7=F6?46 E96 564:D:@?D @7 2DD6E AC@E64E:@? @77:46CD[ =625:?8 E@ C24:2= AC@7:=:?8[” ~D2>@9 D2:5 😕 2? 6>2:=] “@C :?DE2?46[ DEF5:6D D9@H E92E q=24< 2?5 w:DA2?:4 D9@AA6CD 2C6 >@C6 =:<6=J E@ 36 DFDA64E65 @7 D9@A=:7E:?8 2?5 DF3;64E65 E@ :?4C62D65 D4CFE:?J 4@>A2C65 E@ E96:C H9:E6 4@F?E6CA2CED]”k^Am
kAm~G6C2==[ 2?E:\E967E A@=:4:6D[ 6G6? H@C<6CD ;FDE D42??:?8 4FDE@>6CD’ C646:AED H96? E96J 6I:E E96 DE@C6[ 42? 92G6 ?682E:G6 ADJ49@=@8:42= 67764ED[ $E24J %@CC6D[ 2 D@4:@=@8J AC@76DD@C 2E E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 r2=:7@C?:2[ $2? uC2?4:D4@[ HC@E6 😕 2 {@D p?86=6D %:>6D 4@=F>? =2DE J62C]k^Am
kAm“p 8C@46CJ CF? D9@F=5?’E 766= =:<6 G:D:E:?8 2 AC:D@?[” D96 HC@E6] 「… r@>A2?:6D 4=2:> E96 ?6H D64FC:EJ >62DFC6D >2<6 4FDE@>6CD 766= D276C[ 3FE E96J C:D< >@=5:?8 FD :?E@ >@C6 2?I:@FD[ DFDA:4:@FD A6@A=6]”k^Am
k9bmx??@G2E:@? ?66565k^9bm
kAms6DA:E6 E96D6 :?4C62D65 >62DFC6D[ %2C86E D2:5 :ED 4FDE@>6C =@J2=EJ D4@C6D 92G6 :>AC@G65[ H:E9 7665324< @? :?E6C24E:@?D 2E 4964<@FE 36:?8 E96 DEC@?86DE :E 92D D66? 😕 J62CD]k^Am
kAm“(9:=6 C6E2:= E967E C6>2:?D 2 492==6?8:?8 :DDF6 7@C E96 :?5FDECJ[ %2C86E 4@?E:?F6D E@ >2<6 >62?:?87F= AC@8C6DD E@ 255C6DD E96 :DDF6 E9C@F89 E96 24E:@?D H6 92G6 E2<6? 😕 @FC DE@C6D 2?5 E96 677@CED 7C@> A@=:4J>2<6CD 2?5 4@>>F?:E:6D 2C@F?5 E96 4@F?ECJ[” %2C86E DA@<6D>2? y@6 &?86C D2:5 😕 2 DE2E6>6?E] “~FC AC:@C:EJ C6>2:?D 6?DFC:?8 E96 D276EJ @7 E96 E62> 2?5 8F6DED[ H9:=6 >2:?E2:?:?8 E96 A@D:E:G6 6IA6C:6?46 %2C86E D9@AA6CD 6IA64E]”k^Am
kAmx7 2 C6E2:=6C 😀 8@:?8 E@ 4@?E:?F6 E@ FD6 =@4<65 42D6D[ E96C6 2C6 H2JD E@ >2<6 E96 AC@46DD =6DD 4F>36CD@>6 E@ 4FDE@>6CD[ D2:5 y6??:76C u282?[ 2 C6E2:= 4@?DF=E:?8 A2CE?6C @7 tC?DE U2>Aj *@F?8] #6E2:=6CD 42? ECJ 255:?8 DE277 E@ >2<6 C6DA@?D:G6?6DD 36EE6C 2?5 :?EC@5F46 62D:6C H2JD 7@C 4FDE@>6CD E@ 2=6CE H@C<6CD E96J ?665 96=A[ DF49 2D E9C@F89 E96 DE@C6’D >@3:=6 2AA[ u282? D2:5] ~C C6E2:=6CD 4@F=5 C6H2C5 E96:C >@DE =@J2= 4FDE@>6CD H:E9 36:?8 23=6 E@ F?=@4< E96 423:?6ED E96>D6=G6D E9C@F89 E96 2AA[ D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmpD 7@C =@DD AC6G6?E:@? DE277[ C6E2:=6CD ?665 E@ :>A=6>6?E C:8@C@FD EC2:?:?8 E92E 7@4FD6D @? F?4@?D4:@FD 3:2D 2?5 4@?5F4E C68F=2C 2F5:ED E@ :56?E:7J 2?J A2EE6C?D @7 5:D4C:>:?2E:@?[ ~D2>@9 D2:5] s2E2 2?2=JE:4D 42? 96=A 6?DFC6 DE@AD 2C6 @3;64E:G6]k^Am
kAm#25:@ 7C6BF6?4J :56?E:7:42E:@? W#uxsX E28D 42? 96=A EC24< AC@5F4ED =:<6 4=@E96D :? C62= E:>6]%2C86E FD6D #uxs E649?@=@8J 7@C 46CE2:? AC@5F4ED[ 3FE :E 😀 ?@E H:56DAC625]k^Am
Ummm…J2?[ @7 %2==J[ 56G6=@A65 2? 2?E:\E967E DJDE6> 😕 H9:49 DE@C6D A=246 AC@3=6> AC@5F4ED @? D6?D@C A25D @? D96=G6D[ 2?5 E96D6 2=6CE DE277 H96? D@>6@?6 😀 C6>@G:?8 2 =2C86 BF2?E:EJ @7 AC@5F4ED] p 4FDE@>6C D6CG:46 C6AC6D6?E2E:G6 42? E96? C6DA@?5 😕 2 ?@?4@?7C@?E2E:@?2= >2??6C]k^Am
kAm$>2CE D96=7 E649?@=@8J — 4FCC6?E=J 😕 5CF8DE@C6D[ >2DD >6C492?ED 2?5 8C@46CJ DE@C6D — 96=AD C6E2:= H@C<6CD ?@E 92G6 E@ 7@4FD D@ >F49 @? 42E49:?8 E9:6G6D]k^Am
kAm “%96J 5@ H92E E96J 5@ 36DE”[ H9:49 😀 D6==[” D2:5 %2==J’D 49:67 C6G6?F6 @77:46C[ $62? #J2?] “%96J 5@?’E H2?EE@ 36 D64FC:EJ 8F2C5D]”k^Am
kAmU4@AJjk6>ma_ac %96 |:??6D@E2 $E2C %C:3F?6]’:D:E 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^DE2CEC:3F?6]4@>QmDE2CEC:3F?6]4@ >k^2m]s:DEC:3FE65 3J %C:3F?6 r@?E6?E p86?4J[ {{r]k^6>mk^Am
