As UK retail crime continues to accelerate, retailers must have the correct loss prevention solutions that deter theft, says an industry expert, citing a recent report highlighting rapid crime levels and its impact on the economy.
A recent report from the think tank Police Exchange revealed that rapid crime levels are costing the UK economy £250bn a year.
Highlights from the report state that mass shoplifting and other crimes are hitting businesses, the public sector and individuals, with an economic cost of £170bn a year, or 6.5 per cent of the gross domestic product.
Thieves continue to terrorise retail staff, snatching high-priced goods, including joints of meat, alcohol and baby powder, whilst throwing verbal abuse at those around them, with an influx of people sweeping items into bags.
According to Harrison Retail, thieves are deterred from sweeping products in-store with effective loss-prevention solutions.
Daryl Bedford, Manager Director at Harrison Retail, said, ”UK retail crime continues to accelerate, and retailers must have the correct loss prevention solutions to enable their customers to interact with products and deter theft.
"Loss prevention solutions such as gravity risers and shelf pusher systems stop thieves from sweeping products physically, forcing them to take a product one at a time.
“The primary cause of stock shrinkage for UK retailers is shoplifting. Retailers can deploy innovative fixtures and systems to limit thieves’ accessibility to high-value merchandise, deterring them from visiting stores and reducing stock loss.
"Limited shelf access with dispensers is the way forward for retailers in their fight against shoplifters. These are designed to limit access to products, meaning the customer can only retrieve a product through a small opening at the front of a shelving unit, preventing multiple products from being taken at once.“
Harrison Retail will offer a live demonstration of its loss prevention solutions at Retail Risk 2025. In the immersion zone at the show, Harrison will showcase its loss prevention solutions in a temporary mock-up shop.
The solutions on show will include Gravity Risers, FSDU Surrounds, Dispensers for chocolate, medicine and scent booster capsules and slow-moving Shelf Pusher systems.
“Amid the cost-of-living crisis in the UK, shoplifting has continued to worsen, and retailers must safeguard their stock and staff. Loss prevention solutions such as Gravity Risers could be the difference between a loss of £1,000 and £100.
"Blockers are enough to deter shoplifters from targeting retail stores due to the inability to sweep stock”, concluded Bedford.
