Across the retail and restaurant industry, crime is becoming a problem that can’t be ignored.

With parking lots becoming hotspots for nefarious activity and organized retail crime reaching a staggering $112.1 billion in losses across the country, businesses are faced with daunting decisions: endanger their customers and staff or close up shop?

Here are just a few recent headlines of businesses having to make these difficult decisions.

Citing crime, In-N-Out announces closure of Oakland restaurant

After repeated instances of theft in their parking lots, endangering customers and staff, In-N-Out decided to close their Oakland restaurant. According to the article, “...since 2019, police have recorded 1,335 incidents in and around the fast food restaurant, more than any other location in Oakland. Most of the reported incidents were car break-ins targeting visitors coming through Oakland International Airport.”

While police regularly patrolled the area, customers reported that thieves, often armed with weapons, would strike as soon as they left the premises. In their statement on the store closure, In-N-Out remarked, “Despite taking repeated steps to create safer conditions, our customers and associates are regularly victimized by car break-ins, property damage, theft, and armed robberies.”

One City and Three Retailers Tried to Fight Shoplifting. The Stores Closed Anyway.

According to a recent report by The Wall Street Journal, efforts to combat shoplifting in Portland, Oregon, have fallen short despite concerted attempts.

Major retailers such as Target, Nike, and REI were all grappling with significant upticks in theft and organized retail crime, posing risks to both customers and employees.

Despite attempted efforts to thwart criminal activity, all three retailers made the difficult decision to shutter their Portland stores in 2023. 

REI cited the store experiencing its highest theft rates in two decades as a driving force behind closing its doors. Similarly, Nike made their decision after experiencing “rapid escalation in retail theft,” and Target found that “levels of theft and organized retail crime harmed staff and customers’ safety.“

Store That Inspired 'Toy Story' Closing Amid San Francisco 'Violence'

"A historic toy store that helped inspire Pixar's Toy Story franchise in San Francisco is to close after 75 years because of 'perils and violence.' Jeffrey's Toys is due to shut in a matter of weeks, citing local crime, inflation and the 'demise of retail across the world.' "

If this pattern of crime continues or worsens, it will only be a matter of time before more retailers, restaurants, grocery stores, pharmacies, and other businesses begin to shutter their doors in response.

According to a 2020 study, roughly 6% of the U.S. population is living in a food desert, meaning that a supermarket is more than 1 mile away in an urban area or more than 10 miles away in a rural area. If businesses, including grocery stores, were to close due to crime, even more communities would be at risk for food insecurity. Similarly, pharmacies could become less accessible in certain areas, making it increasingly difficult to obtain necessities such as medication. 

If crime continues to force businesses to close their doors in neighborhoods with rising crime levels, the impact on certain communities could be significant. The problem goes beyond mere convenience to threatening community members’ ability to safely and easily obtain essentials such as food, gas, and medicine. 

In addition to creating a barrier for individuals to obtain essentials, additional store and business closures could have a significant economic impact on communities. With each store closure, more employees would be left jobless, lessening the overall number of job opportunities in the area and creating economic strain.

For stores that are able to keep their doors open, guaranteeing a safe shopping or dining experience would become increasingly difficult. With the threat of burglaries and break-ins constantly looming over patrons, shoppers are likely to change their behaviors to adjust to the realities of crime.

So, how can restaurants, retailers, and other businesses address crime, prevent additional store closures, and shape a safer experience for their customers? In addition to community-led initiatives and partnerships with elected officials, initiating technology-driven security measures is a pivotal first step. 

Here’s How to Keep Your Doors Open While Protecting Your Customers and Employees

While physical patrols can’t cover every inch of your property, leveraging a combination of technology allows you to keep a pulse on the happenings in and around the premises. Consider layering tools to prevent and deter crime effectively on your property.

Deploying License Plate Recognition (LPR) Cameras to Create a Virtual Gate

Implementing LPR cameras strategically around the perimeter of your storefront or restaurant is a proactive way to prevent crime and ensure you are aware of visitors at any given time. These cameras serve as vital tools in crime investigation, providing essential insights to in-house security and local law enforcement regarding repeat offenders or organized crime networks.

Flock Safety Falcon® LPR cameras not only catalog vehicles entering and exiting the area but also provide real-time alerts to in-house security and law enforcement (if you so choose) when vehicles of concern enter the premises. This ensures swift intervention in potential threats. 

For instance, one Fortune 500 big-box retailer’s Alabama storefront significantly enhanced its case closure rate to 97% by leveraging Flock Safety Falcon® LPR cameras to identify suspects, mitigating retail shrink impacts effectively.

Employing LPR cameras as your first line of defense enables proactive crime mitigation in and around your restaurant or storefront, empowering you to intercept threats before escalation occurs.

Utilizing Live Video to Gain Situational Awareness

While you likely have video cameras incorporated in some capacity on your property, it’s essential to periodically assess their effectiveness to ensure optimal performance. Ensure your cameras are placed strategically both in and around the exterior of your building, including the parking lots, and consider how they integrate with your overall security system.

Flock Safety Condor offers a subscription-based live and recorded video solution that seamlessly integrates with Flock LPR cameras. By layering these tools, you are better equipped to provide law enforcement with the detailed context necessary to begin a swift investigation if a crime occurs on your property.

Equipping Employees with Body-Worn Cameras (BWCs)

Introducing body-worn cameras (BWCs) for security staff and employees adds another layer of technology to your security framework. According to a study highlighted in Loss Prevention Magazine, “The use of BWCs was associated with a reduction in the number of violent and verbal abuse incidents by about 45 percent.”

BWCs serve as both a crime deterrent, making potential bad actors reconsider their actions, and a valuable source of context if an incident does occur. Moreover, they offer reassurance to employees by demonstrating your commitment to their safety and well-being.

Address Gun-Related Crime with Audio Detection

Cited as a driving factor in In-N-Out’s decision to shutter their store, armed robberies are a serious concern when it comes to the safety of staff and customers. Audio detection is a potentially life-saving layer of technology to consider adding to your security plan.

Flock Safety Raven® audio detection device is designed to alert in-house security and law enforcement in less than 60 seconds when a gunshot is detected, improving your ability to prevent gun-related crimes. When layered with the Flock Safety Falcon® LPR suite, Raven can help narrow down vehicles in the vicinity at the time of the shooting, making it easier to find fleeing suspects with these powerful combinations of proactive safety technology.

By harnessing technology to amplify the effectiveness of your security efforts, you not only strengthen your defenses against potential threats but also gain crucial situational awareness to promptly address any incidents that may arise. Embracing these technologies will help to ensure the safety of your customers and employees and, ultimately, the longevity of your business.