Despite the rise of e-commerce stores, shopping centers continue to retain customers and preserve their relevance as a part of a multi-billion dollar industry.
However, shopping centers face unique security challenges due to their high traffic, large premises, and abundant merchandise. That’s why shopping centers must adopt reliable security solutions to protect their premises and all individuals within them. Opting for professional retail security services is among the most effective approaches to ensure complete protection for customers, employees, and business assets.
Join us as we discuss the best practices, top strategies, and key considerations of shopping center security solutions to discover how to enhance your premise’s security infrastructure and ensure a safe experience for staff and customers.
The Security Risks of Shopping Centers
The most common security risks that shopping centers face include the following:
- Shoplifting: Costing shopping centers billions of dollars every year, shoplifting is a prevalent crime that can result in decreased profits and store closures.
- Armed robbery: A significantly more serious crime is armed robbery, which can endanger employees and customers while leaving a lasting, negative impact on the shopping center.
- Property damage: Vandalism and other forms of property damage can target shopping centers’ parking lot areas, storefronts, and food courts to cause disruption and lead to additional expenses for owners.
- Assault: Altercations, including fights, harassment, and employee assault, can stem from customer disputes and quickly escalate, leading to injuries and potential lawsuits for businesses.
- Public Disturbances: Special events and holiday periods can result in large shopping center crowds that can endanger customers and employees. The consumption of alcohol or illegal substances can also cause public disturbances.
- Emergency situations: Fires, earthquakes, power outages, medical emergencies, and similar situations can jeopardize the safety of all employees and customers if not handled effectively.
Top Shopping Center Security Solutions
Shopping centers remain catalysts for economic growth, offering a diverse mix of retail, entertainment, and social opportunities. Robust security systems can deter the crimes and mitigate the impact of security risks such businesses are typically exposed to. The optimal security solutions will consist of several interconnected components to ensure comprehensive coverage of the premises.
We recommend that you consider these options when planning and implementing security measures for your shopping center.
Surveillance Systems
Surveillance systems based on security cameras can be strategically installed throughout the shopping center, including in stores, entrances and exits, food courts, corridors, and other high-traffic areas to identify suspicious activity and allow for a quick response to security risks.
Cameras are equipped with features such as PTZ (Pan-tilt-zoom), facial recognition, object tracking, and motion detection to enhance their effectiveness in monitoring security threats in real time. All footage can be stored in the cloud and accessed remotely via desktop or mobile devices to allow authorized personnel to view live streams, play back recordings, and receive alerts regarding security incidents.
Security cameras can also aid shopping centers in legal proceedings by capturing high-quality video evidence that can be used to resolve disputes, prosecute offenders, and hold individuals accountable for criminal activities. Crime will also likely reduce due to the presence of security cameras, as potential offenders would be deterred by the knowledge that their actions are being recorded and monitored.
Access Control
Implementing access control systems, such as electronic keypads, card readers, and biometric scanners, allows businesses to regulate entry and exit points, ensuring that no unauthorized individuals gain access to sensitive areas. Such systems can be particularly useful in shopping centers with a high number of customers and employees.
With electronic access control systems, shopping centers can immediately alter the access privileges of every individual in response to quickly changing circumstances, such as staff turnover or during special events. Through a centralized interface, personnel can manage who has access to specific locations and what times they’re able to gain access, among other customizable parameters.
Electronic access control can also help maintain order during emergency situations, as security personnel can use the systems to lock down specific areas and control traffic flow.
Security Guards
As a powerful crime deterrent, security guards are a highly impactful addition to a shopping center’s security strategy. Guards can be stationed at the premise’s main entrance, outside storefronts, in parking lots, around loading docks, and in food courts to quickly respond to threats.
The presence of security guards can make customers feel much safer when shopping, which can positively impact their experience in the shopping center. Would-be criminals will also be discouraged from engaging in crimes when in the vicinity of unarmed or armed guards.
When security incidents do occur, security guards will be on-site to intervene and engage in de-escalation techniques or apprehend criminals. Security guards are also trained and licensed to administer first aid treatments such as CPR until medical help arrives. In the case of other emergencies, security guards can engage in evacuation procedures to maintain order and manage crowds, ensuring the safety of everyone in the shopping center.
Alarm Systems
Intrusion detection systems in shopping centers can identify suspicious activity, crimes, or unauthorized access throughout the premises. Upon detection, integrated alarm systems promptly alert security personnel, enabling immediate response to minimize damage and prevent situations from escalating into major security incidents.
This security solution is most effective when combined with other measures, such as surveillance equipment, security guard patrols, and access control systems.
How to Implement Effective Shopping Center Security Solutions
Follow this guide to learn how to protect all assets, tenants, employees, and customers in your shopping center.
1. Assess Risks
The first stage is conducting a risk assessment to identify your shopping center’s most critical safety concerns and security vulnerabilities. This should include analyzing current security solutions to determine gaps in surveillance coverage, insufficient access control points, and inadequate emergency response procedures.
A security service provider such as American Security Force can conduct this risk assessment on your behalf, considering key factors such as your premise’s layout, surrounding environment, and previous security incidents. After completing the assessment, a custom strategy that addresses your shopping center’s specific requirements and concerns can be defined.
2. Choose Security Solutions
Through the custom strategy, various security solutions can be chosen to address the identified safety concerns and security vulnerabilities. As mentioned, a combination of different security measures is ideal for providing well-rounded protection of the premises.
For instance, alarms can be linked to electronic access control systems to detect unauthorized access attempts and trigger immediate alerts to security personnel.
Guards can also monitor surveillance footage in real-time and coordinate with each other to respond promptly to any suspicious activity or security breaches. Similarly, when guards collaborate with law enforcement, they can use recorded security footage to support their statements and ensure appropriate action is taken.
When devising a security strategy, businesses need to determine the allocation of various measures, such as the number of guards to hire or the quantity and placement of surveillance cameras.
They must also consider their budget to ensure the chosen security measures are financially feasible. Many security solutions require ongoing expenses, such as the maintenance of technology and personnel salaries, and this must be accounted for when allocating resources.
3. Install and Maintain
After all decisions have been made, you can proceed with the installation of security systems. Depending on the type of system, this can take between a few days to several weeks. It’s essential to ensure that the installation is carried out by qualified professionals who will adhere to relevant laws, manufacturer specifications, and industry standards.
Once installed, security systems should receive periodic maintenance to make sure they remain in optimal condition. This includes routine inspections, testing, and servicing to identify and address any issues.
Similarly, security guards must complete an onboarding process during which they become familiar with the specific policies, procedures, and layout of the shopping center premises. During this process, newly employed guards may also be provided with uniforms, badges, or equipment.
4. Make adjustments
It’s important to regularly review newly implemented security strategies through recorded security incidents, feedback from security personnel, and stakeholder input.
Based on the findings of these reviews, adjustments can be made to security protocols, procedures, and systems. This may include updating security policies, enhancing training programs for security personnel, implementing new security technology, or reallocating resources to address evolving threats.
Key Considerations for Shopping Center Security
We advise you to consider these key factors when implementing shopping center security solutions.
Customer Privacy
When installing surveillance systems, shopping centers must consider customers’ privacy and ensure compliance with relevant regulations to avoid potential fines or other legal consequences resulting from privacy violations.
Shopping centers should clearly communicate the presence of surveillance cameras to customers through signs and easily accessible privacy policies. Cameras should not be positioned in sensitive areas such as restrooms, changing rooms, or other areas where individuals expect privacy.
It’s also important to limit the collection and use of customer data solely for security purposes.
Emergency Response Procedures
Emergency response procedures are crucial aspects of shopping center security that require careful planning and implementation. Businesses should establish comprehensive emergency response protocols to handle different emergencies, including fires, medical situations, natural disasters, and security threats such as active shooters and terrorist attacks.
For effective emergency response, all staff members, including tenants and security personnel, should conduct regular drills to simulate various scenarios and ensure everyone understands their roles and responsibilities. Shopping centers must also develop detailed evacuation plans that outline routes, assembly points, and procedures for assisting individuals with disabilities.
It’s highly recommended that these plans are regularly reviewed and updated to account for shopping center changes, such as layout adjustments or new tenant occupancies, to ensure the protection of everyone on the premises during emergencies.
Shop for Elite Security Solutions at American Security Force
At American Security Force, we provide premier and custom security solutions to protect your shopping center. From risk assessments to system installation, we’ll handle every aspect of your security strategy to ensure the safety of everyone on your premises.
Find out more about our available services here, and get in touch with us today to begin your journey towards a safer and more secure shopping experience for your customers.
