As the world continues to evolve, so do the threats facing luxury retailers. From organised crime and terrorism, to cyber-attacks, robbery, employee theft, and chancers off the street, the risks are often varied and complex. In order to safeguard their businesses and customers, luxury retailers must prioritise security as a critical aspect of their operations. As one of the UK’s leading luxury security providers, Andy Fairbanks, managing director of UK Protection has a wealth of experience in the luxury retail sector, and explains the innovative and effective security solutions his company has developed to help clients mitigate risk.
At UK Protection, our team of security experts understand the unique challenges facing luxury retailers, and work closely with clients to develop tailored security strategies that meet their specific needs, writes Andy Fairbanks.
From highly trained, manned security personnel and CCTV monitoring, to access control and emergency response planning, UK Protection provides a comprehensive suite of services to keep their clients’ businesses and customers safe.
We hope that this feature will provide readers with valuable insights into the importance of effective security in the luxury retail sector, and highlight the expertise and innovative solutions that UK Protection can offer to support their businesses.
High-end jewellery and watch theft was once the work of fastidious experts. Today, it’s carried out by violent, common criminals in cities and towns all over the United Kingdom.
Luxury boutiques offering high-end watches and jewellery have always been a target for criminals, but the rise in violent robberies within these stores is an increasingly worrying trend with criminals resorting to more aggressive tactics to get their hands on the luxury goods inside.
So, what is causing this increase in violent robberies in luxury stores?
This can be attributed to several factors, including the growing popularity of high-end watches as a status symbol, the ease of selling stolen goods online and locally, store accessibility, and the lack of security measures in place to protect these valuable items.
Additionally, the open layout of these stores can make them vulnerable to theft, despite their luxurious feel. The fine balance between ensuring the store has the best possible security whilst not detracting from the overall client experience and aesthetic feel of the premises can often be challenging.
The Rolex Submariner, for example, is a particularly popular model that is statistically the most stolen watch in the UK. Criminals are attracted to these watches because they can be sold quickly and easily on the black market or online, often for a fraction of their retail value with no questions asked.
Where do stolen watches go?
Criminal gangs are now big business and are often very lucrative. An emerging trend is lottery style auctions operated via encrypted messaging apps such as Telegram & WhatsApp.
People are added to these groups and pay a small fee such as £10 a month to a non-descript bank or PayPal account. This now enters you into a draw to win a Rolex watch.
Inevitably that watch has recently been stolen during a robbery, either from a store or from an unlucky person in the street. Some of these message groups contain up to 5000 people so with a revenue stream of £50,000 a month for one group you can see the motivation of these gangs.
What’s the answer?
Many high-end watch retailers currently do not have adequate security measures in place to prevent theft, making them an easy target for criminals. To combat this, A layered security system is the most effective approach, combining both physical and digital security measures.
- Layer 1: Building Access. Criminals are using open door policies to gain easy unrestricted access. If they can’t get in, they can’t commit a robbery or a snatch. Access control is a useful tool to all doors and also limits access throughout the building.
- Layer 2: Manned Guarding. Having trained security personnel at key locations, at all times, not only acts as a deterrent but allows for threats to be spotted even before criminals enter the building. Allowing time for the doors to be locked and entry refused.
- Layer 3: CCTV. Having good quality cameras throughout the store (both internal and external) can allow CCTV operators, to provide real-time alerts to security personnel on the ground in the event of suspicious activity. They also help the police to identify offenders that often move around nationally to commit crime.
- Layer 4: Secure Display Cases: Secure display cases can prevent the theft of high value items and also provides a visual deterrent.
All four layers should be implemented for maximum security.
Employees should be equipped with the knowledge and skills to identify and report suspicious activity, as well as how to respond in the event of a security incident. Regular training can help employees feel prepared and confident in reducing the risk of violent robberies.
The trend of rising violent robberies within luxury stores is a concerning one and requires immediate action from the industry.
By implementing both physical and digital security measures, increasing awareness among the retail community, working closely with security providers, and investing in staff training programs, retailers can reduce the risk of theft and keep their businesses and customers safe.
PRISM – Proactive, Reactive, Intelligence-Led Security Management
Whilst the increase in violent attacks on bricks and mortar stores is troubling, the rise in customers being targeted after leaving the store is equally worrying.
Between January and July 2021 there were 377 reported watch thefts, according to the Met Police compared to 621 in the same period during 2022 which is a dramatic increase.
A recent attack in London includes a couple who were targeted after leaving a store by a moped rider who threatened them with a machete before being forced to hand over their Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe watches.
Another attack saw a man knocked down by two people on a scooter, who then produced a knife a took his £20,000 Rolex and a Bulgari wedding ring.
Tragically one man was fatally injured in 2021 in what Is believed to have been a robbery gone wrong involving the victim’s £37,000 Patek Philippe watch.
This rise in luxury watch crime has not gone unnoticed by law enforcement agencies.
Police forces across the UK have implemented a range of measures to combat this type of crime, including increasing patrols in areas known to be frequented by criminals and working with watch retailers to improve security measures.
The police have also urged owners of luxury watches to take steps to protect their timepieces and jewellery, such as keeping them in a safe or wearing them discreetly in public.
With the police under-resourced but doing all they can, where does the responsibility for the added protection to the public lie?
Is it the store’s responsibility to help mitigate any risk once customers leave their premises? Should it be local governments who should be doing more or does the sole responsibility lay with the police?
In order to help combat this emerging threat UK Protection have developed PRISM. A team of highly-qualified covert surveillance operatives covering Oxford Street, Regent Street, Bond Street, Knightsbridge and Mayfair.
Whist we are unable to go into too much detail about the logistics of how PRISM works, predominately areas of service include:
- Covert following and intelligence gathering of individuals who are known to initiate criminality
- Notifying you of hostile individuals who may have targeted other clients
- Covert high-value product and cash movements
- Close protection escorts for you and your clients/partners
- Conducting covert, counter, hostile, surveillance operations throughout the West End to give the street teams vital real-time notice of any escalating situation
- Compiling detailed reports with photographic evidence of potential threats and risks to clients and partners, which can be shared with the police and relevant security organisations
- Highly trained in fraud detection and can assist your clients/partners in preventing fraudulent purchases
Whilst this service has been deployed specifically in London’s West End, plans are in development to replicate this service in other retail centres within major cities throughout the UK.
As a security provider to the luxury retail sector, it is our responsibility to help our clients mitigate this risk and keep their businesses and customers safe, both inside and outside of the premises.
At UK Protection, we understand the unique challenges facing luxury retail stores when it comes to security and have developed innovative solutions to help our clients mitigate risk.
From highly trained security personnel and CCTV monitoring to access control and emergency response planning, our comprehensive suite of services is designed to provide clients with the peace of mind they need to focus on their core business activities.
