Retail stores suffer greatly from loss prevention - that includes both petty criminal theft, and employee theft combined. One way to discourage theft and loss is through video surveillance installation. Not only does department store video surveillance discourage general loss, it also helps to catch the perpetrators for prosecution and remuneration of losses.

There are many benefits to video surveillance installation, which will be explained later, but there are some drawbacks you should consider.

• Vandalism: Employees and/or criminals who tamper with the cameras can cause problems in so far as gaps in recording, or damage to the system. Backups should be in place to compensate for such circumstances.
• Privacy issues: some local laws prevent video surveillance installation in dressing rooms, and some allow it only if a loss prevention employee of a certain gender is monitoring it (e.g., a female employee for a women's dressing room). Break rooms, bathrooms, and dressing rooms will likely need special loss prevention measures other than video cameras.

The below list demonstrates that there are many more advantages than disadvantages when it comes to video surveillance installation.

• Discourage shrinkage from employees and trespassers. Loss prevention is an enormous issue in retail, and security cameras help discourage employee theft, as well as letting potential thieves know they are being watched. Many crimes are crimes of opportunity, and department store video surveillance makes opportunity scarce.
• 24-hour, remote monitoring with department store video surveillance can help reduce the opportunity to break into the store after hours.
• Monitoring customer support activities can give managers a chance to see if employees are treating customers properly, such as greeting a customer in a friendly and welcoming manner, and making sure that sales are closed in a timely manner.
• Monitor consumer behavior and determine employee schedules accordingly: By watching for rises and lulls in customer visits, management can get a better idea on when to keep the most staff on hand, and when a skeleton crew would be adequate.
• Digital recall and advanced search features to further investigations: Digital recording and network recording allow for greater amounts of data to be stored. Additionally, advanced search features allow you to go back to specific dates and times, and allow for zooming in, camera panning, and other helpful features.

When you're trying to determine the best type and setup for video surveillance installation in a retail setting, consider the following questions:

• What is the annual amount of inventory shrinkage?
• Has employee theft been a problem for your store?
• How has shoplifting affected your store?
• What are the current security measures in the store, and how will surveillance cameras enhance or replace those measures?
• Does your store have problems with crime in the parking lot, such as thefts or break ins?
• What is the neighborhood like surrounding your store?

Knowing the answers to these questions can help you with video surveillance installation and setup. Cameras at entrances and exits, and other strategic places can assist with discouraging theft, protect employees, monitor suspicious behavior, and improve overall security for your store.