Burglary, theft, motor vehicle theft and robbery are four of the seven crimes that increased in number of offenses in Chicago from 2007 to 2008, according to figures provided by the Chicago Police Department. The three other crimes that also increased are murder, violent crimes and property crimes.
The numbers are staggering and although 2009 figures are not available, hard economic times coupled with a smaller Chicago police force may contribute to higher retail crime numbers this holiday season. Uniformed retail security officers provide a strong deterrent for retail theft. Here are five reasons why your business should hire a security guard firm to protect your assets:
1-Theft and shoplifting deterred by security officers. There were more than 112,000 burglaries and thefts in Chicago in 2008 and nearly 8,500 were committed in December alone! Visible security officers will prompt criminals to find another location to commit a crime.
2-Uniformed security roaming parking area protects customers and their vehicle. Of the nearly 19,000 motor vehicle thefts reported in Chicago in 2008, about 1,200 of them occurred in December. Retail parking lots are not only great targets for motor vehicle thefts because of the coming and going of customers, but merchandise in the vehicles provide an added incentive for criminals to target your parking lot.
3-Holiday shopping season brings criminals who target shoppers by theft of purses. Though Americans in general have become more aware to keep their belongings close to them while shopping, a uniformed police officer will help create a safer, more relaxed environment for your shoppers to enjoy.
4-Holiday shopping season draws pickpockets, which would be deterred by security presence. Men and women alike are prone to criminals during the holiday season. Pickpockets have mastered the art of removing valuables without a victim noticing until it is too late.
5-Uniformed security officers deter all crime against client and customer and reassures customers of a safe shopping environment. As a society, more and more people are becoming desperate for a quick fix. As the economy continues to slide, crime in unprotected areas has become a popular area for criminals to target.
Below is our source for the statistics in this blog. Before your business becomes next year’s statistics, hire Chicago’s premiere security firm – Intellex Security – for the sake and safety of your customers this holiday season. Contact us by calling (773) 735-6666.
Theft is a major concern for any retailer, whether you’re in the city or not.
We have identified the top four characteristics of shoplifters to look out for in an effort to prevent businesses from being a statistic in what grew to a $9.6 billion shoplifting industry in 2009, according to the National Retail Federation.
1)Professional Shoplifter. These types of people are a severe threat to businesses. These people treat shoplifting as a job. They use planned methods and are well connected with fencing operations and attorneys.
2)Drug users. They are also severe threats to businesses. They seek any way to find a source of income to supply for a very expensive habit, so they turn to shoplifting. Usually fences merchandise for 10-20 percent of value or returns for a refund.
3)Amateur shoplifters. These people are less severe of a threat to businesses. These individuals may not present a severe threat to businesses, but the cumulative effect can be damaging. Statistically, this category is largest in number.
4)Thrill seeker. These individuals provide a moderate threat to business owners. They usually act in a gesture of defiance or as a result of peer pressure to do something daring.
Intellex Security has spent 20 years defining preventative measures in theft and loss prevention. Call us today at (773) 735-6666 to begin your new loss prevention plan.
Business owners who are more efficient with their money and wise with their decisions are succeeding in this economy.
More and more businesses – such as department stores, retail outlets, construction companies and more – are outsourcing security guard services with trusted security guard companies as a way to continue protecting their assets in a more affordable way. In fact, 70 percent of America’s largest companies report that one of their most important concerns is finding and retaining a quality contract security company.
Here are five reasons why outsourcing your security guard need is better than having an in-house service:
1)Lowering your cost. It’s elementary. Five guards from an experienced and trusted security firm, like Intellex Security, will cost less in the big picture than hiring five guards of your own. Much of it has to do with health and liability insurance reasons.
2)An outsourced firm administers the personnel. If a department store, construction company or other business needs a security guard staff, there are administrative duties linked to that responsibility, as well. When you outsource the service, the stresses of hiring and scheduling a staff are relinquished to the firm.
3)Requires no union involvement. A trusted security firm’s staff is highly trained and highly qualified to provide the services needed without having to negotiate internally with unions.
4)Provides staffing flexibility. A strong security guard company, like Intellex, is able to provide services around the clock at the times that are most important to you.
5)Impartially performs security duties. Hiring an outside firm will eliminate any accusations of bias or favoritism. We are hired to do a job and our only concerns are to do the job right and to your liking.
If you are looking for security guard services in Chicago or the collar counties, be sure to contact Intellex Security at (773) 735-6666.