US Retail Store Detectives: An Analysis of Their Focus, Selection and Training

Abstract

This study analyses the responses of 40 US retail companies to a survey regarding the focus, selection, training and performance rating of their store detectives. Most retailers currently assign their store agents to patrol for shop thieves, to audit store asset protection initiatives and to create loss prevention awareness among all store staff. New store detectives are selected primarily on ethical and decisionmaking criteria. The use of force was the highest-ranked training topic. Finally, over 66 per cent of participants indicated that civil liability concerns had caused them to change their store detective training programmes.