COURSE OVERVIEW:
Welcome to the Retail Loss Prevention course. This program will equip you with the essential knowledge, investigative techniques, behavioural insights, and operational strategies required to prevent loss, minimise shrinkage, and strengthen asset protection in retail environments. You will examine the history of retail theft, the underlying risks that retailers face, and the various internal and external threats that contribute to profit loss. This course also explores employee-related risks, vendor-related risks, shoplifting behaviours, loss prevention controls, deterrence strategies, and safe incident-handling procedures.
This course begins by examining a brief history of retail theft and the broad range of retail risks, problems, and solutions. You will explore how to control employee error and waste, how to manage under-ringing purchases, and how to prevent the removal of trash containing merchandise. This section also examines how to control merchandise theft, the importance of peer reporting to reduce shrinkage, and methods to control refund fraud. You will further explore how to control embezzlement and employee fraud, including bank deposit rolling, check kiting, lapping schemes, payroll fraud, and travel and expense account fraud. This section concludes with an overview of how to control cash theft.
The next learning area focuses on employee theft, behavioural indicators, and prevention strategies. You will explore the characteristics of a “typical” employee thief, the psychological predictors that may lead employees to steal, and the three factors that commonly contribute to internal theft. This section also examines the six common methods used to screen employee applicants and how to design effective control procedures that reduce opportunity and increase accountability. You will also explore how store or company atmosphere influences theft behaviour and why employee awareness of corporate behaviour standards, training, and reinforcement is essential for reducing internal loss.
A further learning area examines vendor theft and error, including the steps Accounts Payable personnel can take to detect vendor-related discrepancies or fraud. You will explore the different types of shoplifters and how to design loss control programs and procedures. This section covers loss control policies, procedural controls, merchandise controls, and deterrence programs that strengthen in-store and organisational security. You will also explore the factors to consider when evaluating new store sites and how store environmental design can be used for crime control through improved visibility, traffic flow, and deterrence features.
Another learning area focuses on risk identification and operational controls. You will explore how to identify and prioritise loss risks, control fitting and dressing rooms, and apply structured procedures for handling suspected shoplifters. This section examines how to detect possible shoplifters through behavioural cues, how to evaluate and prioritise situations, how to conduct effective surveillance, and how subject actions influence loss prevention decision-making. You will also explore the actions retailers should take, how to decide whether or not to act, how to process incidents, and safe, lawful procedures for detaining suspected shoplifters.
The final learning area reinforces the importance of balancing security, customer service, operational controls, and staff awareness to achieve effective loss prevention outcomes. You will explore how organisational culture, training programs, communication practices, and site design work together to minimise risks while maintaining a positive customer experience. This section emphasises the importance of evidence-based decisions, accountability, and continuous improvement in retail loss prevention.
By the end of this course you will be able to identify sources of retail loss, implement practical controls, recognise behavioural indicators of theft, design and apply loss prevention procedures, evaluate risk environments, respond appropriately to shoplifting incidents, and support a retail culture that reduces shrinkage and protects organisational assets
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
By the end of this course, you will be able to understand:
- A brief history of retail theft
- Retail risks: problems and solutions
- How to control employee error and waste?
- How to control under-ringing purchases?
- How to control the removal of trash with merchandise?
- How to control merchandise theft?
- The importance of peer reporting to reduce shrinkage
- How to control refund fraud?
- How to control embezzlement and employee fraud?
- How to control bank deposit rolling, check kiting, lapping, payroll fraud and travel and expense account fraud?
- How to control cash theft?
- The characteristics of a “typical” employee thief
- The reasons (psychological predictors) why employees steal
- The three factors that tends to result in employee theft
- The six common methods used to screen employee applicants
- How to design control procedures?
- The store/company atmosphere
- The importance of employee awareness of corporate behaviour standards
- The importance of employee awareness of training and reinforcement
- The risks from vendor theft and error
- The steps Accounts Payable personnel can take to detect vendor error or fraud
- The different types of shoplifters
- The programs and procedures for loss control plan
- Loss control policies and procedures
- The procedural and merchandise controls
- The deterrence programs
- The factors that should be considered when new store sites are being evaluated
- How to use store environmental design for crime control?
- How to identify and prioritize loss risks?
- How to control the fitting/dressing room?
- How to handle the shoplifter?
- How to detect possible shoplifters?
- How to evaluate and prioritize the situation and subjects?
- How to surveillance the subject(s)?
- Actions by the subject(s)
- How to decide on acting?
- Actions by the retailer
- How to process the incident?
- How to detain the shoplifter?
COURSE DURATION:
The typical duration of this course is approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.
ASSESSMENT:
A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.
CERTIFICATION:
Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.