Retail owners across Canada are grappling with significant financial burdens due to an increase in various retail crimes. These include challenges like shoplifting, inventory losses, theft by employees, and issues stemming from employee negligence. These factors collectively contribute to a pressing security concern in the retail sector.
Despite hundreds of tactics, such as stationing more staff in each aisle and bombarding shopping centers with different types of CCTV cameras, it is still difficult to outwit these cunning shoplifters, who are becoming smarter by the day with booster bags, organized retail crimes, and tag-switching.
This necessitates real-time video surveillance that can detect suspicious behavior before they steal or pick up objects and flee with them.
If you prioritize security to mitigate theft, ensure employee safety, and boost customer satisfaction, this blog is tailor-made for you. It focuses on addressing these critical concerns effectively.
We will discuss the top five advantages of shopping center remote surveillance. But first, for all the newbies out there in the live video surveillance world, let’s find out what video surveillance of shopping centers is:
What is shopping center remote surveillance?
Remote surveillance for shopping centers uses CCTV surveillance cameras topped up with AI capabilities and advanced video analytics to detect suspicious shoplifting behavior.
Live video surveillance enhances retail security by reducing theft and vandalism, enhancing employee productivity, and improving the overall shopping experience!
Features of remote video surveillance to enhance retail security:
CCTV cameras: A retail security system may have different types of CCTV cameras, such as bullet cameras, IP cameras, and dome cameras, installed both indoors and outdoors to eliminate blindspots in surveillance.
Video analytics: CCTV cameras with AI add special detection capabilities to the cameras, such as loitering detection, intrusion detection, slip and fall detection, and mask detection.
They also make video recordings searchable, reducing time and effort for security staff to locate and analyze incidents.
Mobile device alerts: As soon as a security breach is detected, modern retail security cameras offer features like mobile device alerts for real-time monitoring and control of situations.
Remote access: Remote CCTV monitoring offers you remote access to the security of your retail shopping mall via a web portal or an app on your smartphone.
Remotely arm/ disarm: Remote monitoring empowers you to effortlessly activate or deactivate your site’s security from a remote location with just a few clicks.
5 reasons why shopping center video surveillance is important
Reason #1: Real-time shoplifting detection with remote surveillance:
Remote surveillance empowers shopping centers with real-time threat detection capabilities. Shopping centers are gigantic and surveillance blind spots can lead to catastrophic events.
According to Statistics Canada, shoplifting has increased by 31% in the last two years and is still rising.
How shoplifting detection AI solution works:
Remote monitoring uses CCTV surveillance cameras with advanced monitoring systems and artificial intelligence to detect behavioral patterns and actions to detect shoplifting and theft.
When an alarm is triggered, the remote operators stationed at the central hub promptly assess the live video feed. Upon confirmation of shoplifting, the operator broadcasts a message over the store speakers, alerting the store manager or clerk.
In response, a basket may be offered to a potential shoplifter by the sales clerk, encouraging them to place their items in the basket.
This proactive approach facilitates quick responses to potential security threats, thereby ensuring a safer shopping environment for both customers and employees.
For example, serving customers during promotions and peak sales periods can be challenging because it is difficult to keep track of everyone. Some may simply window shop, while others may purchase a large number of items.
In such situations, some people may sneak extra items into their pockets or bags. The shoplifting detection AI solution intelligently distinguishes between normal and suspicious gestures and triggers an alarm at the remote central.
Fun fact: Our AI solution can smartly tell apart an employee restocking shelves from a shoplifter. It recognizes the employee’s uniform, ensuring accurate and intelligent theft detection.
Reason #2: Remote surveillance deters shoplifters/ criminal activities:
The mere presence of remote surveillance on the entrances and aisles acts as a powerful deterrent against criminal activities such as shoplifting and vandalism in shopping centers.
When customers know that their actions are being monitored and recorded, they think twice which significantly reduces the likelihood of crimes within the shopping center premises and even in the parking lots.
Preventing internal theft:
Awareness of monitoring also discourages employees from engaging in internal theft or providing discounts or favors to friends or family.
High-definition cameras with intelligent video analytics help in detecting suspicious activities such as over-the-counter favors by employees via POS oversight.
POS oversight is an AI solution that triggers an alarm if each scanned item does not align with the bill. The remote operators then access the live video feed and intervene by informing the store manager of the situation.
Enhancing oversight with high-definition cameras AI capabilities:
PTZ cameras with license plate recognition and loitering detection provide complete control over individuals remaining in the shopping mall parking area and the duration of their stay.
You can also determine whether loiterers or wanderers are permitted and for how long. An alarm is triggered if they hang around in an area for longer than permitted.
In such cases, audio intervention can deter them by either issuing warnings or prompting a call to identify themselves by calling the remote monitoring center.
Reason #3: Remote surveillance is a cost-effective security solution:
Remote surveillance offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional security measures. Unlike on-site security personnel, remote surveillance systems can cover vast areas simultaneously, minimizing the need for an extensive physical security presence.
This not only reduces operational costs but also enhances overall security coverage.
Minimizes insurance cost:
Adopting live remote video monitoring can lead to reduced insurance premiums, as it’s an effective crime deterrent for businesses. This not only enhances security but also translates into significant cost savings.
No need for multiple security guards:
Remote security can simultaneously monitor multiple areas, making it a cost-effective solution for large properties compared to hiring multiple security guards.
Saves travel costs due to remote access:
Remote monitoring offers cost-effective management of multiple shopping centers in different cities by eliminating travel expenses.
It allows for convenient access to recorded footage from any location, providing flexibility in overseeing retail operations across distant locations like Toronto or Quebec City. This capability ensures continuous and efficient monitoring of your retail activities from anywhere, at any time.
Fun fact: Did you know that a shoplifting detection AI solution can detect and trigger an alarm if the person consumes an item in the store, for example, eats a chocolate bar without paying!
Reason #4: Remote surveillance offers operational efficiency:
Shopping center remote surveillance goes beyond security concerns and also improves operational efficiency.
By monitoring how many customers enter a particular section of the shopping center, peak shopping hours, and shopping behavior, you can make informed decisions.
Optimize staffing levels:
Remote monitoring offers crowd analysis that will help you identify peak business hours so you can make better decisions regarding the effective deployment of staff during peak hours to enhance customer service.
Arrange merchandise strategically for more sale:
Cameras help in observing customer behavior, identifying trends, and enhancing customer service and transactions.
This provides comprehensive insights into the training requirements for staff to effectively handle and address customer requests.
Additionally, it assists in optimizing the setup of the shopping center to enhance sales performance.
Reduces false alarms:
CCTV surveillance provides clear visual evidence of events, ensuring that authorities are alerted only for valid reasons. This precise oversight minimizes false alarms, often subject to penalties by local authorities.
Reason #5: Remote surveillance offers immediate incident response:
One of the key advantages of remote surveillance is the ability to respond promptly to incidents. This immediate response capability helps prevent incidents from escalating, minimizing potential damage or loss.
Following is a list of some immediate responses by remote monitoring of shopping centers:
Prompt intrusion detection:
In the event of intrusion detection during off-hours, remote operators deal with the triggered alarms and act according to the SOPs, such as notifying on-site security personnel and even communicating directly with potential offenders through audio talk-downs.
Swift gun detection:
Gun detection AI technology is adept at identifying visible firearms, swiftly alerting security centers. Here, vigilant operators review the footage and respond appropriately to the situation.
This advanced approach plays a crucial role in preempting potential incidents, thereby aiding in the prevention of injuries and fatalities through proactive security measures.
Quick response to emergencies:
Older individuals may experience slips and falls, or encounter other medical emergencies, necessitating prompt detection.
CCTV cameras with slip and fall detection capabilities can instantly detect and trigger an alarm; the remote operators can access live video feeds and deal with the situation effectively.
Smoke and fire alarm response:
The implementation of a reliable, protocol-driven security system, equipped with alarms for early detection of fire, smoke, or other fire-related hazards, significantly reduces human error in mall safety.
This monitored surveillance ensures the protection of people within the mall by enabling immediate response to potential fire threats.
Conclusion
Shopping center remote surveillance is important, as it combines real-time shoplifting detection and immediate incident response to ensure a safer shopping experience
Remote security and video surveillance can operate 24/7 without breaks for cost-effective operational efficiency, ensuring continuous monitoring and eliminating the possibility of security gaps.
Remote video monitoring employs advanced video analytics for swift and effective detection of shoplifting, significantly curtailing theft, vandalism, and related incidents.
This approach also plays a key role in minimizing potential damage and business disruptions, enhancing overall security and operational continuity.
Contact us today for a tailored solution for your retail space, be it a department store, shopping center, or other type of retail establishment!
