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Training academy arms retail businesses against crime

With the alarming increase in theft-related crime in South Africa, retail business leaders are going back to school to learn how to deal with it. The Loss Prevention Training Academy, in Roodepoort, Johannesburg, trains managers and staff in minimising the costs of crime on businesses. The academy also aims to help these businesses maximise the chances of offenders being prosecuted.

"It is the only academy of its kind in South Africa and already the demand for attendance has been overwhelming," says Ros Neilson, training manager at Employers' Mutual Protection Services (EMPS).

Ros Nielson, training manager of EMPS

The academy offers workshop courses that cover various areas of concern for the South African retailer. Courses deal with the proactive management of retail security systems; the containment of employee theft; the safeguarding of merchandise; prevention of till-point losses; deterrence of shoplifters; armed robbery survival skills; the legal elements necessary in deterrence and conviction of suspects.

Neilson believes that diminishing personal value systems, a poor judicial system and corruption, are threatening to become the norm in the country. The course's content is therefore aimed at the reduction of crime through awareness and proactive management of available security measures.

A 2002 National Retail Security Survey on the 'Sources of Shrinkage' revealed that employee dishonesty and theft are highly prevalent, and on the rise. Administrative and paper error accounted for 15% of loss, with supplier theft and fraud at 5%. The big threats to the industry are represented by shoplifting at 32% and employee theft at a huge 48%.

The constantly changing methodology of criminals and the infiltration of syndicates as employees, also sharpen the threat posed by the average employee in the retail industry. This is leading to major financial losses, often causing loss of employment due to retrenchment or closure of outlets, thus intensifying an already vicious circle.

Franchise operations have been identified as another major business sector to have fallen victim to the activities of dishonest employees and crime bosses. This is largely due to the fact that franchise owners spend most of their time running their businesses. "This leaves them little time to properly manage the loss security systems they have in place," says Neilson.

To date, a number of retailers and franchise operations such as Pick 'n Pay Hypermarkets, Cell C, OK Foods and McDonalds have attended and benefited from the workshops. "I never realised how many aspects affect security in my store. "After attending the Retail Security Management Workshop I now know how much more management can actually implement to reduce shrinkage and proactively tighten security measures in our store," says Herman Steyn of OK Foods, Nylstroom.

Designed and established by EMPS (a division of the Lodge Group of companies), the academy has proven itself successful in many instances. "We recognise that crime prevention is a collective effort and through the retail security management workshops we aim to assist in chipping away at the massive crime iceberg which is a growing threat in this country," concludes Neilson.

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