Preventing Retail Theft: Holiday Season Best Practices
Why the Holidays Increase Organized Retail Crime and Store Theft
For retailers, the holidays bring record foot traffic, higher sales volumes and a rise in theft. Seasonal crowds and temporary staff can create an environment that fosters organized retail crime (ORC) and opportunistic theft. According to a study by the National Retail Federation (NRF), shoplifting incidents increased by 93% in 2023 compared to pre-COVID levels, averaging 177 incidents per day across the industry, with certain sectors experiencing over 1,000 incidents daily.
Temporary hires and extended store hours can make it harder to maintain strong retail security and consistent loss prevention practices. During this peak holiday season period, effective protection depends on a layered security strategy, combining human presence and technology to deter theft and protect your assets when they’re most vulnerable.
Retailers face multiple compounding challenges during the holiday rush:
- Higher foot traffic creates more blind spots and distraction opportunities for shoplifters.
- Seasonal staffing brings in new, often inexperienced workers who may not recognize suspicious behaviors.
- Increased inventory from high-value electronics to easily concealed accessories tempts both internal and external theft.
- Extended hours and store closures on major holidays create coverage gaps that organized groups can exploit.
- Cargo and supply chain vulnerabilities also increase, with loaded trucks and crowded docks providing targets for theft.
To stay ahead, loss prevention teams must anticipate these seasonal variables and strengthen every layer of protection, from the store to the parking lot.
Plan Ahead for Peak Season Security
Talk to a Protos expert today to build a proactive security strategy that keeps your seasonal operations efficient and secure.
The Cost of Holiday Theft: Retail Loss Prevention at Stake
Seasonal Hiring and Security Gaps: Protecting Retail Operations During Peak Season
It’s predicted that retailers will hire between 400,000 and 500,000 seasonal employees during November and December 2025 to meet unprecedented consumer demand (NRF). These workers play an essential role in managing increased foot traffic, fulfilling online orders, restocking shelves and supporting distribution center operations. However, this rapid influx of short-term staff introduces significant security challenges for both retail locations and supply chain facilities during the busiest shopping period of the year.
Unlike permanent employees, seasonal hires often go through shorter onboarding programs due to time constraints and urgent staffing needs.
Balancing Security and Customer Experience in Busy Retail Stores
Over 65% of retailers expect to be understaffed this holiday season, conditions that shoppers can feel the moment they walk in (Motorola Solutions second annual U.S. Retail Worker Safety Report). Less coverage changes how security shows up on the floor: more locked cases, bag checks, cordoned aisles and long waits for someone with a key. Instead of reassurance, these cues often signal that “something isn’t safe here.”
Strategic security touring – regular, visible patrols by trained staff or officers – can counter these effects. Touring replaces reactive signals of control with a proactive, reassuring presence. A circulating patrol not only deters potential offenders but also reassures shoppers and employees that someone is watching over the environment. This visibility helps restore balance and signals safety without signaling threat.
Protect What Matters Most This Holiday Season
Strengthen your retail loss prevention strategy with Protos Security. Contact a security expert today.
Why Security Officers are Essential During Peak Shopping Periods
Even in an era of advanced cameras and analytics, the most effective theft deterrent remains human presence. Trained, visible security officers signal vigilance and immediately discourage criminal activity.
Visible Deterrence Against Theft
Protos has a national network of security officers, and their presence alone can deter organized theft groups from targeting potential victims. Uniformed officers send a clear signal to shoplifters, organized theft groups and cargo thieves that your site is secure and actively monitored.
In addition, proactive patrols and guard tours ensure that every area of the store receives consistent coverage. Guard touring systems can log patrol times and routes, creating verifiable data that supports both compliance and operational reporting.
Crowd Management and Customer Safety
Officers manage long lines, high-traffic entrances and congested checkout areas, helping maintain a safe shopping environment. Trained to de-escalate conflicts, they protect employees and customers while minimizing disruptions during peak hours.
After-Hours Protection
While sales may stop when doors close, theft risks don’t. Holiday closures, such as Christmas Day or New Year’s, are prime opportunities for break-ins, vandalism and inventory theft. Protos recommends maintaining on-site or mobile patrol presence even when stores are closed, ensuring that high-value merchandise and cash rooms remain protected.
For clients with distributed footprints, remote video monitoring and integrated store alarm systems add an extra layer of assurance. Combining these with security officers ensures incidents are addressed immediately, not hours later when staff returns.
Remote Monitoring Solutions for Retail Theft Prevention
Remote monitoring combines video analytics and real-time alerts to detect, verify and escalate threats instantly, even when security officers aren’t physically present. This technology provides visibility, enabling retailers and distribution centers to secure retail locations during the busiest shopping period of the year.
24/7 Video Surveillance
Continuous video monitoring provides around-the-clock oversight of critical areas such as gates, loading docks, storage yards and warehouse perimeters. By maintaining constant visibility, organizations can identify vulnerabilities and potential threats before they result in losses. This level of surveillance also supports incident investigations and helps ensure compliance with safety and security protocols.
Holiday Coverage for Retail Stores
Retail environments face heightened security challenges during holiday seasons when stores often close for extended periods or operate on modified schedules. Enhanced monitoring during these times helps protect customer-facing inventory, backroom stock and high-demand products. Security measures are especially critical during store closures, extended hours and overnight operations when staffing levels are reduced, ensuring assets remain safeguarded even with minimal on-site personnel.
Enhance Your Holiday Security with Remote Monitoring
Stay ahead of organized retail theft and after-hours risks with 24/7 visibility across store locations.
The Power of Strategic Guard Touring in Retail Loss Prevention
Regular, visible patrols by trained security officers change the in-store experience. Rather than relying on reactive security measures, strategic touring projects a proactive, reassuring presence. A circulating officer not only discourages potential offenders but also communicates to shoppers and employees alike that the space is being actively monitored and cared for.
This visibility restores a sense of balance, signaling safety without signaling threat. The result is an environment that feels secure, not restrictive. When enhanced by tools such as randomized patrol routes or mobile incident alerts, guard touring programs elevate both perception and performance.
Strengthening Retail Operations with Proven Anti-Theft Strategies
Retailers that implement clear, repeatable in-store procedures dramatically reduce both opportunity and temptation for theft. A well-organized store layout, informed employees and controlled inventory processes form the backbone of a successful retail loss prevention strategy.
Store Layout and Merchandising
Simple layout adjustments can reduce opportunities for theft. Keep high-value or small, concealable items in areas with high visibility. Maintain clear sightlines to exits, avoid overcrowded racks and ensure cameras aren’t obstructed by holiday decorations or signage.
Employee Training and Awareness
Frontline staff are an extension of your security team. Seasonal onboarding should include brief, practical training on recognizing suspicious activity, handling incidents safely and reporting immediately. Reinforce these reminders throughout the season with short meetings at shift changes.
Inventory and POS Controls
Regular cycle counts and transaction audits are essential during the holidays. Automated reporting tools can flag refund abuse, excessive overrides or discrepancies between POS data and stock counts. Together, these controls help prevent internal theft which is a major component of retail shrink.
Secure Your Holiday Season: Partner with Protos Security
Protos Security helps leading retailers nationwide deploy a layered approach that consists of combining professional security officers, advanced monitoring and proven retail theft solutions tailored for seasonal demands.
As the holiday season approaches, now is the time to evaluate your current security program.
