Subject: Stealing from charity shops
My local Oxfam shop has stuck 'stealing is wrong' messages on the shelves to try and deter would-be thieves from pinching their stock. They say that many are homeless / addicts so don't respond. Does anyone have any tips for reducing stealing in a busy city-centre charity shop?
When i was working in Retail Comms & PR for a major charity, I sent out many local press releases that got some great results.
Some were for CCTV systems - we had quite a few secondhand ones donated across the country from local businesses that had upgraded and were lookign to get rid of still-functioning equipment.
The other plea that had some good results was for a 'shop walker' volunteer. I worded it mainly that we were looking for someone with security/police experience who would be able to just be 'on show' to deter thieves. We had success with this a few times, and usually got in retired men who wanted to help out, but didn't want to do 'shop work'.
The other great side to this was that we got the story into the local papers, so if potential thieves saw it, they knew that we were on the case, and didn't necessarily know the outcome, and often the managers felt that even the thought that we COULD have installed some kind of security that they couldn't see was a deterrent!
I have also just read somewhere about a sign in an unnamed charity shop which states: "Please don't steal it -if you really can't afford it we will kit you out with something we cannot sell - ask a member of staff"
Making your volunteer staff more obvious on the shop floor could help? Get them to wear the same bright branded t-shirts rather than fading into the background and looking like everyone else. It might be a cheap / fun way of showing that there are people watching.
Another suggection via Twitter from The Charity Retail Association "chatty staff really help too".
Stumbled upon this thread and wondered how (if any) the CCTV systems across the shops were working for you guys? I am a consultant and work with some smaller shops, we have had mixed results so just out of interest wondered if CCTV cameras worked in charity shops?
Regards
Dave
