Career: Retail Loss Prevention

Answer 1

Job Responsibilities

Retail loss prevention staff is responsible for protecting store merchandise and ensuring the safety of employees, vendors, and customers. Loss prevention personnel conduct surveillance by walking through the stores or observing the store with a video system. Their presence minimizes employee and customer theft. They are responsible for apprehending shoplifting suspects, filling out and maintaining incident reports, ensuring evidence is safely labeled and secure, and may also be required totestify in court. Loss prevention staff may also be required to check the store for safety hazard, obtain information, and maintain records when injuries occur in the store. Often security staff will take photographs of the scene of the accident and make sure they are safely kept as evidence. Sometimes loss prevention staff is responsible for checking safety equipment and reporting incidents to management. Some retail loss prevention specialists working at the corporate level may help design floor layout to help minimize theft.

Education and Skills

Retail loss prevention jobs do not have particular educational requirements. Often a background in criminal justice is preferable and may make it easier to find employment. On-the-job training may teach general knowledge of high theft merchandise and appropriate procedure for apprehending thieves or documenting an accident. Sometimes new loss prevention officrs will receive training froma more senior loss prevention staff. Some schools provide loss prevention training and certificates, which teach general information about surveillance, apprehending clients, maintaining reports, and other information pertaining to loss prevention duties. Introductory training certificates are approximately $500 for the course, but are normally not required to get a job in the field. Loss prevention officers should be observant, pay attention to detail, be excellent communicators and be able to blend into a crowd.

Work Environment

Loss prevention staff may have traditional retail hours, including holidays, weekends, and evenings. Often loss prevention staff assists in opening and closing the store. They are usually present during peak shopping times.

Salary and Additional Opportunities

Salary fluctuates depending on the required duties, hours, and retail establishment. Recent entrants to the field average around $22.000 - $34,000, but experienced loss prevention managers can make an income of $45,000 or more.