How Retail Gates Can Help Stop Thieves in Their Tracks

Theft is a key concern for retail businesses around the world. Figures from the Global Retail Theft Barometer, published by Inside Retail, reveal that shoplifting and employee theft are the biggest causes of retail shrinkage, which costs Australian retailers nearly $3 billion every year.

Let’s take a look at some trends in retail theft, and how retail security gates can help supermarkets and other retail stores to deter thieves.

Risk factors and trends in retail theft

The Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) states there are a number of risk factors and trends in retail theft. These include:

• Store floorplans with numerous exits and easy-access change rooms can give sticky-fingered shoppers the chance to conceal goods and slip out undetected.
• Stores without security guards or gates have an increased theft risk.
• Teenagers make up a huge chunk of the shoplifting population.
• Catching shoplifters is difficult and rarely happens.
• Background checks and well-communicated anti-theft policies can be useful in cutting down on employee theft.

The role retail security gates can play in deterring theft

According to the AIC, research shows that access control is one of the most effective measures, alongside employee education, for reducing theft within a retail setting. Interestingly, the combined research studies note the impact of standalone CCTV as unclear and suggest it is most effective when implemented as part of a larger multi-faceted approach, while access control showed marked effectiveness on six out of seven occasions.

How Rotech can help

At Rotech, we specialise in access control solutions. Our Ecoport automatic supermarket gate is a functional and reliable access solution for all retail environments, including:

• Supermarkets
• Pharmacies
• Liquor stores
• Automotive and discount stores
• Gymnasiums and sporting venues

The Ecoport is safe, fast and secure, featuring electronic sensing monitors, adjustable microwave radar that allows for fast opening as soon as a person is detected, anti-tampering mechanisms that sound an alert if someone tries to force the gate and can be reset without expert knowledge, and a durable 6mm thick steel housing.

The chrome finish looks polished and attractive and suits all retail settings. You can even add matching barrier rails and posts to guide customers beyond the pay point. Set up couldn’t be simpler. Operating optimisation and testing occurs in our workshop, allowing for an economical installation at your premises.

When it comes to retail theft, the old adage about prevention being better than cure rings true. When shoplifters or thieves aren’t caught, goods aren’t recovered. Restricting access with an automatic gate makes it harder for a thief to abscond – so much harder they might even reconsider pilfering the product in the first place.

The Ecoport automatic supermarket entrance gate is one of many solutions in Rotech’s range of retail security gates. Talk to us about how we can help you reduce the risk of theft in your retail business.