We've all seen videos lately of smash-and-grab thieves targeting stores -retail theft is getting much more attention now than in the past, and many stores are struggling to stop it.
Linda Johansen-James, the founder of International Retail Group, which helps retail stores in all aspects of their operations, told KNX news chief correspondent Charles Feldman store owners need to get back to basics.
"The first thing is to hire more staff really to make sure their stores are completely staffed, really be aware of the people that are in the stores, installing security cameras, making sure that you're putting up signs that say, we're gonna go to the fullest extent of the law to prosecute you if you're caught stealing," she said.
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Johansen-James also suggests stores make sure they don't have as much merchandise out, and what they do have out should be within view of staff, particularly the more expensive items.
While she agrees these suggestions have been around for a long time, "We got a little lax over, you know, during COVID, so we need to implement some of those things again," especially when it comes to staffing.
With L.A. ranked as the retail theft capital of the country, how big is the problem really, and what can be done to solve it? Join us for our live KNX News Town Hall, Smash and Grab, Stealing the Season, on Dec. 12.
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"When you're looking at some of the big box retailers, they're really short of staff, and so it's hard to find people when you're walking around -
so it's really easy to steal," Johansen-James said.
As for law enforcement, Johansen-James said it's a "double-edged sword."
"It's really tough when you call and say that you've had theft at your store to get immediate results. Not that the police don't want to show up, they do, but as you know, there's a limit that anything less than $980 they're not prosecuting." Johansen-James says this limitation leaves many clients refraining from reporting the theft.
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