Currys unveils its largest ever investment in store safety as shoplifting reaches record high

The electricals giant is also running a nationwide “safety week” for colleagues to learn about the new initiatives to improve safety and encourage them to share their views.

The investment arrives as the British Retail Consortium (BRC) revealed shoplifting incidents have reached 2,000 a day.

Currys is introducing new technologies and safety programmes including upgraded specification public display monitors in high-risk stores, trialling innovative approaches to product security, investment in intelligence collection and analysis, and increased spending on guarding and surveillance.  

Colleague headsets are being trialled across certain stores with the aim to roll these out to all shops by the end of May.

Feedback so far has been positive, with staff reporting being able to instantly talk to peers through the headsets makes them feel safe, especially when they encounter shoplifters.

Currys is partnering with retail crime intelligence and loss prevention platform Auror to implement crime reporting software.

The retailer says the platform “speeds up and improves the accuracy of crime reporting, driving focus on repeat offenders to prevent crime and reduce loss”.

Stores can share information on crimes and offenders which is then matched to other offences across the UK, which guides colleagues about current threats and helps build cases for law enforcement intervention.

This platform is expected to be rolled out in early May.

Product security is also getting a boost in investment, with additional spending on enhancing security on laptop display stands in every Currys store.

New laptop clamps give the retailer better security without disturbing the customer experience.

The new security has been tested and Currys says it has seen “remarkable results in reducing numbers of aggressive thefts”.

Currys chief operating officer Lindsay Haselhurst said: “UK retail crime statistics make for difficult reading, as incidents of shoplifting and aggression against retail workers continue to climb. 

“These are not victimless crimes; the worst cases leave colleagues and customers injured and traumatised. That’s why I’m really pleased to roll out a number of new programmes to increase colleague and product security in our stores and welcome the new Crime and Policing Bill legislation. 

“However, we know there is much more to be done and this must be a collaborative effort with all involved, including local police forces and government.”