A large part of loss prevention is deterrence. Creating an environment that tells thieves "You’re not welcome" is the first and most important part of protecting your store. With all shop theft, it is important that you take a strong, consistent stand against thieves.

Your loss prevention plans need to go deeper than simply warding off external thieves. Retailers of all sizes need to be wary of vendor theft and employee theft.

With some clever thinking and diligence, retailers can stave off most of the opportunists and better protect themselves from professional thieves and dishonest employees.

In this article, you'll learn about:

• What does a thief look like
• Foil crooks with a smile
• Confronting shoplifters
• Countering return fraud
• Securing your store
• Low–tech deterrence measures
• Fighting the inside job
• Vendor theft