If you need to protect your business, there are many security options from which you can choose. Naturally, each option has its pros and cons, so what you choose will ultimately depend upon your specific needs as well as your budget.
Obviously, a security guard is the most expensive option. Generally speaking, only larger businesses with a lot of revenue can afford a security guard. This is an hourly employee with specialized skills, so they are usually not cheap. It may be the best option if your business is in a high-crime area or operates late at night, but it won’t make sense for businesses with a smaller budget.
On the opposite end of the spectrum is a security convex mirror. These mirrors allow greater visibility around a smaller store, or several can be placed in strategic areas around larger stores. They discourage shoplifting and other criminal activity by making potential perpetrators feel watched. Since convex mirrors are made of durable materials and don’t involve any kind of technology, they are inexpensive and last for many years. This might be your best bet if you have a small business and your main concern is preventing shoplifting.
Some businesses employ the use of security cameras. However, the downfall of these devices is that they don’t do much to catch shoplifters unless you have someone watching the replay. Naturally, that involves hiring someone specifically for that purpose, so this is going to hit your budget pretty hard. Security cameras have helped solve many crimes after they have been committed, so they are great to have in businesses that are open late or are located in dangerous neighborhoods. However, unless you have someone watching the replay who can go into the store and arrest criminals as they commit the act, they actually don’t work as well for preventing shoplifting as you might think. Most shoplifters are fairly adept at choosing places within the store that are outside the camera angles anyway.
Anti-theft devices on products are attached to clothing are a more high-tech way of preventing inventory loss. Of course, these systems are much more expensive and sometimes fail, meaning they need to be repaired. For many businesses, however, they serve their purpose well since there is no need to hire a separate employee just to watch a camera.