Issue link: https://resources.genetec.com/i/1448874
Finally, social media platforms offer near-total anonymity for users, and all operate on mobile devices that offer the ability to create and administer private groups that block outside content searches. Identifying and infiltrating these groups online isn't simple. Privacy laws—as well as the social media company's own published standards—usually preclude assisting law enforcement without a court order. Although most possess algorithms that could be of assistance in alerting law enforcement of a planned event targeting a specific store or mall. If you're in an area with a high felony theft threshold, it can be difficult to get the police involved in investigating and prosecuting brazen retail theft. If you can prove that the theft from your store is not an isolated incident, but just one of the multiple companies hit by the same group of thieves, the value of the stolen goods will be significantly higher reaching felony theft levels. Doing this isn't easy, but modern security software can help by making it easier to cooperate and share evidence. An evidence management system such as Genetec Clearance makes it easy to share video files that are too large to email and ensures the chain of custody is documented. The platform can take video from any manufacturer and convert it to a format that can be shared and saved via browser. Unlimited cloud evidence storage allows authorized users to securely build large cases against organized retail crime organizations that can be easily shared with law enforcement and prosecutors. Some major retail chains have dedicated organized retail crime teams who use security software technology to identify similar theft patterns across different stores. These predictive analytics can suggest potential locations and times of an ORC gang's next target. Technology can also identify repeat perpetrators as well as the vehicles used in the thefts. When security data is siloed in different systems, it can be hard to see how the pieces of the puzzle fit together. To make it easier for the loss prevention team to spot theft patterns and identify persons of interest, choose a unified security software solution that makes it easy to cross-reference data from video cameras, analytics, license plate recognition, and evidence sharing within a single interface. Collaboration Is Key Ultimately, there are few strategies for retailers to proactively prevent brazen retail theft. Armed security guards can deter a potential flash mob theft but this may not be the image most retailers want to convey to consumers. Likewise, defensive merchandising can remove high-value products from easy theft, but at the cost of potential sales to valued customers. The best long-term strategy is to methodically gather evidence to indict on felony level charges. The need to collaborate with other retailers and law enforcement, and get these criminal organizations off the street, has never been higher.