The holiday season often brings an uptick in retail activity, which can unfortunately lead to increased incidents of theft and other security challenges. Heide Whitney, Safety Manager at Friedman's Home Improvement, shares valuable insights on how retailers can safeguard their stores during this busy period.

Educate and Train Your Employees

Providing staff with training on recognizing suspicious behavior and proper protocols during security incidents is crucial. An informed team can act as the first line of defense, helping to prevent theft and ensure their own safety. Their internal team is also aware of the repeat offenders that come into the store. That way, they are prepared to reach out to a manager for assistance if needed.

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Whitney also encourages staff to greet and welcome customers. 

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Whitney said training your staff on how to handle customer interactions and suspicious activity is crucial, especially during the busy season. Combining this training with Flock Safety’s LPR cameras and deterrence signage has enhanced employee safety.

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Protecting Merchandise 

During the holiday season, it’s important to make sure popular or high-ticket items are highly secured. Whitney recommends locking certain products up or using spider wraps to protect the merchandise. Limiting access to the merchandise helps deter shoplifting. It’s also important to make sure that your parking lot is properly lit and secured. Placing Flock Safety’s LPR cameras around the perimeter of your parking lot not only deters crime, but provides objective evidence if an incident were to occur.

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Collaboration with Law Enforcement 

Whitney said that sharing Flock Safety’s LPR camera data with law enforcement has helped to strengthen that relationship. 

“During the holiday season, during their downtime, you will see officers sitting in our parking lots now doing their paperwork or waiting for a call, and I think that partnership has gotten so much better because of Flock.”  - Heide Whitney, Friedman’s Home Improvement Security Manager

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They’ve also started collaborating with other retailers. She believes it’s important to work with other retailers who may also be facing similar issues.

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Incorporating Security Technology

Whitney said this holiday season, her team has been incorporating Flock Safety’s mobile app features to level up their security strategy. They use the app to enter license plate vehicles of known offenders and share their camera data with law enforcement. This way, law enforcement will be notified if these individuals come onto their property.

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Solved Stories

Whitney said Flock Safety cameras have helped them solve numerous cases, but she recalls two notable cases.

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INCIDENT 1: 

“Two men walked into our store, grabbed a shopping cart, and brazenly filled it with high-end tools before heading straight out the door without paying. But thanks to Flock Safety, we quickly identified their vehicle and license plate, alerting law enforcement with precise details.

Our team stayed safe inside, and police were able to act fast. Just one freeway exit away, they apprehended the suspects and recovered $4,000 worth of stolen merchandise. Both individuals were charged with four felonies, turning a near loss into a major win for our store.”

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INCIDENT 2

“One of our stores was facing an unusual problem: roofing materials kept vanishing. One day, we caught a suspect hiding materials in their vehicle. They paid for what was in the truck bed but not for the items concealed in the cab.

We set up a mobile alert and added the suspect to a hot list, allowing us to track their every visit. With Flock’s tools, we reviewed footage and identified four separate instances of theft, building a strong case. Armed with video evidence and license plate details, we worked with law enforcement to file charges.

Thanks to this collaboration, the suspect was cited without any direct confrontation. Now, we’re headed to court with a rock-solid case—another win made possible by Flock Safety.”

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To learn more about how you can prepare your security coverage for the holidays, check out our full webinar with Heide Whitney here.