Resources 

Monitored crime trends and effective criminal risk mitigation tools as part of an industry-wide collaborative effort to combat retail crime.

Examined various components of retailers’ safety programs, including program participants, lagging and leading indicators, program management, and key performance metrics.

Focused on steps taken by retailers to mitigate risk associated with the performance of rooftop work by employees and third-party contractors.

Examined solicited information from retailers regarding, among other things, dedicated AP/LP supply chain teams, reporting structure and the most challenging AP/LP-related issues occurring in distribution centers (DCs).

Examined retailers methodologies for conducting inventory counts inside retail locations and distribution centers and audit practices used to verify the accuracy of inventory counts.

Examined retail overnight burglary activity over the past two years. For purposes of these survey results, “overnight burglary” refers to the attempt or commission of a facility break-in while the retail location is closed.

Examined the various regulatory compliance audits conducted by retailers, how often audits are completed and the audit criteria used to validate compliance. For purposes of the survey, “regulatory compliance” refers to ordinances, regulations and laws enforced by outside agencies against retailers, including but not limited to Department of Labor, OSHA, Department of Weights and Measures and fire marshals.

Examined the various methods retailers are using to combat the growing problem of ORC. Among other tools, the survey solicited information regarding GPS tracking devices, covert buys of stolen product, social networking sites, confidential informants, mobile surveillances and target interviews. The survey also examined the components of corporate policies governing retailers’ use of these investigative tools.

Examined such things as the primary causes of general liability (GL) claims/incidents, inspections to identify potentially hazardous conditions on the sales floor, the most effective methods for identifying spills/liquids on the sales floor, GL frequency and the allocation process by which stores are charged-back for claims/incidents.

Provided information regarding how the merchandise inventory accounting function operates within their respective retail environments. Specifically, the survey examined such things as the role of merchandise inventory accounting departments in monitoring controls over physical inventory, inventory accounting adjustments, controls for ensuring inventory unit integrity and reliability of financial general ledgers, inventory relief assumption and valuation methods, physical inventory counts, cycle counts and more.

Described various aspects of distribution center (DC) audit processes. Specifically, the survey examined such things as DC selection criteria, audit preparation and training, audit focus areas, standards for performance, updating audit questions and more.

Reported measured or perceived changes in crimes perpetrated against retailers over the past six months and shared leading practices for minimizing business risks.

Reviewed recent regulatory activity inside retail locations, the frequency with which citations are being issued, the subject of citations and the associated penalties, and negotiations with regulatory agencies.

Reviewed the policies and practices surrounding drug screening in the workplace.

Focused on various components of retailers' online business, including: online fraud controls, losses, in-house fraud teams, and customer pick-up and delivery.

Examined various aspects of the store audit function within retail companies including demographics, reporting structure and responsibilities of in-house audit teams, audit tools and accountability for failed audits.

Examined the use of internal mechanisms for reporting real or perceived safety hazards inside retail locations.

Reported the measured or perceived changes in crimes against retailers over the last six months.

Examined the audit practices of the internal and operational audits performed in retail stores and observed the role of loss prevention departments in impacting auditing practices.

Examined issues regarding shrink and theft as they are related to self checkout areas in a store and looked at the loss prevention methods and procedures in place at the self checkout area.

Reported measured or perceived changes in crimes against retailers over the last four months.

Examined the protective procedures and requirements retailers have instituted during their supply chain and logistics processes to shield their inventory and ensure safety.

Examined total shrink of perishables data as it pertains to the grocery departments.

Examined the observations, actions and reactions of retailers since the start of the existing economic downturn to the current time, with considerable emphasis on the economy’s impact on the retail environment through criminal actions and behavior.

Compared the salaries and benefits of loss prevention divisions against similar positions in other regions of the US. Loss prevention management may also use this information to assist with talent recruitment and retention.

Reviewed safety policies in retail settings as it pertains to firearms.

Examined drug screening administration, the extensiveness of background checks for various positions and use of psychological and personality screens. Focused on store associate, store manager, distribution center and district/regional positions.

Compared shoplifting policies for adult and juvenile suspects. Benchmarked if/how handcuffs are used to detain shoplifters, handcuff and force training, guidelines for detaining and processing, trespassing, civil demand and prosecution policies.

Reviewed in-store policies regarding service animals.

Examined the organizational structure of the Loss Prevention Department.

Examined retailers’ corporate policies and procedures governing customers’ possession of firearms inside retail locations.

Obtained information regarding customer claims related to store frontage layout.

Provided insight into various operational issues including cost of third-party security, estimated losses, hours of operation and tender mix.

RILA and Seyfarth Shaw LLP advised businesses how to eliminate workplace conditions that could lead to OSHA citations and how to comply with current OSHA standards.

RILA, KPMG LLP, and three leading retailers reviewed the 2011 RILA Store Operational Audit and Loss Prevention Resource Guide and discussed the significant developments in the area of retail store operational audits over the past five years.

Mike Draper, CFI, Market Investigations Senior Manager at J.C. Penney, and John Hawthorne, Senior Manager of Loss Prevention - Distribution at Publix Super Markets, offered tips for maximizing the effectiveness of your ORC investigative teams.

Chuck Bryant, Director of Security & Investigative Operations at AutoZone, and Officer Jason Redding of the Memphis Police Department took participants through an active shooting incident and shared valuable insight into how to best prepare for and respond to an active shooter in the workplace.

Michael Sanders, Shrinkage Control Analyst, J.C. Penney Company, Inc., presented on how retailers can develop their own effective shrink analytics, just by using Excel and relevant data.

National Retail Systems' Director of Corporate Security, John Tabor, presented on how retailers can prevent supply chain losses that attribute to more than tens of millions of dollars in the United States every year!