Like many other chains of convenience stores, retailer Jacksons Stores suffers huge problems with shop theft – predominantly in those north eastern towns where drug use is rife. The company has attempted to fight back by installing digital video recorders at many of its known 'trouble spot' outlets, but has the move been a success? And if so, why?
Jacksons Stores is an established convenience retailer with a chain of 106 outlets spread across the north east. Having stores in locations that are handy for local shoppers, however, also provides a readily-available target for thieves.

In line with recent research findings (such as those outlined in 'Daylight robbery', SMT, February 2002, pp18-20), the crime that's perpetrated is predominantly drugs-related, with around 80% of shop theft offences committed by habitual addicts.

"We're 'convenient' for the drug addict," said Dave Thompson – until recently the head of security at Jacksons. "In some areas the drugs are so cheap that they only have to steal around £20 worth of bacon to pay for enough heroin to last them the night."

Where larger stores have more staff on duty, convenience stores might only have two or three members of staff working during the evening. And with opening hours usually from 7.00 am right through to 11.00 pm in most outlets, this creates a pretty big theft window.

Bid to 'go digital'
In an on-going strategy to reduce crime, Jacksons Stores recently made the decision to install digital video recorders during its upgrade of existing surveillance set-ups. The reasoning? To provide improved evidence to the police and assist with criminal prosecutions. Nearly 40 digital video recorders (DVRs) have now been installed at different locations, and a dedicated system procured for the company's distribution centre.

"We don't entertain VCRs or multiplexers anymore," added Thompson, who spent around five years looking into digital systems from the time they first started to appear on the market. "In terms of quality, the DVRs we've installed offer us four times better quality recordings than we were getting from a brand new VCR multiplexer system.

"We put an average of 15 cameras on each DVR, and record around three frames per second per camera. We were achieving nothing like that with the multiplexer and VCR system. With video there would be a 'jumpy' movement. However, the Octar DVRs we procured offer genuinely flowing movement, which means that you can capture much more evidence. More importantly, the end user is able to provide continuity of evidence for both the police and the Crown Prosecution Service."

In the past, if a member of the Jacksons' management team wanted to be light-fingered, they could easily have stopped the CCTV video cassette recorder(s) on site, taken money from the tills and then switched the recorder(s) back on again. Situations like that would have made it impossible for Dave Thompson to conduct any investigations, as staff could merely have stated the video systems had stopped working.

The police are no longer interested in turning up and looking at a figure jumping around on a time-lapse VCR. What they want to see are clear images they can really use, because at the end of the day it’s the Courts that are now demanding far better quali

However, the Visimetrics digital system records on a continual basis and cannot be turned off (unless it's unplugged at the socket).

Each of the new DVRs – installed by John Moore Security Ltd – is linked to an alarm relay output that will trigger if it stops recording. The alarm signal is then sent back to a central station and an engineer from John Moore will be sent to site to take the necessary corrective action. Each DVR is watched over by a CCTV camera. This not only fulfils Data Protection Act requirements, but also provides evidence to show if a member of staff has tried to switch off the recorder. The security team is also alerted immediately if the units stop working due to a possible fault with the system.

The end result: is digital working?
The new recording regime is having a good effect both internally and externally. If there has been an internal theft, it takes a matter of minutes for security officers to review the camera footage, assess the situation and decide what action to take. According to Thompson, to date Jacksons has not been forced into installing covert cameras in any of the stores that boast a digital recorder.

Jacksons Stores' policy is to prosecute either staff or thieves caught shoplifting or stealing from the tills. Continued Thompson: "Whenever we experience an external theft, if it's over a certain value we automatically call the police. If an area manager is investigating a possible incident, for example, the digital recordings can be reviewed at the store where the incident has occurred or the manager can save the recording onto a CD then post it on to the head of security."

"Alternatively," added Thompson, "the captured digital images may be viewed remotely from head office where all of the Octar systems are networked."

The 'Stock Watch' Board
Interestingly, Thompson also maintains a 'Stock Watch' Board whereby images of past offenders are pinned up to warn members of staff to look out for them in future. "For Data Protection reasons, any security manager that instigates this system must ensure that the Board is located in a 'staff only' area."

As an ex-police officer, Thompson knows only too well what's required when it comes to CCTV evidence. He feels that the digital system he's procured not only makes Jacksons Stores a harder target for would-be thieves, but also the recordings provide quality evidence for the police. "The police are no longer interested in turning up and looking at a figure jumping around on a time-lapse VCR," stressed Thompson. "What they want to see are clear images they can use, because at the end of the day it's the Courts that are now demanding far better quality CCTV evidence in all cases."

Thompson believes that retail security managers will find they receive a much more positive response from the local Boys in Blue when they have taken the time, trouble and expense to install a quality CCTV system.

Source

SMT