Shoplifters of Baby Formula Inspire Design of First Line™ Security Cabinets for Retailers

Drug cartels, black market businesses, and shoplifters are growing nation-wide every day, but who thought theft prevention would be birthed in the baby aisles of your local grocery?

A major retailer like Wal-Mart and Kroger, and others have reported losses by the millions in baby formula theft. This has become a national concern for the retail industry. Baby formula, a high-priced item typically selling between $10 to $30 a can is stolen as frequent as over-the-counter drugs and is sold on the black market at a reduced price or used to make drugs.

According to a study by the National Retail Federation, a growing number of thief rings are specializing in shoplifting infant formula, personal-care products and over-the counter drugs.

The National Association for Shoplifting Prevention reported that more than $13 billion worth of goods are stolen from retailers each year. Shoplifters steal from all types of stores including department stores, specialty shops, supermarkets, drug stores, discounters, music stores, convenient stores, and thrift shops.

"Retailers must fight back with discretion," said Patrick Barkdoll, R&D of Southern Imperial, Inc., manufacturer of new First Line Security Cabinets. "With the rise in retail theft, security measures must be in place to protect assets," said Barkdoll.

Baby formula has recently been the favorite of shoplifters, mostly because of its steady demand, high cost and large profit margin. In many areas, law enforcement view baby formula theft as petty, therefore fueling the problem of prevention.

Shoplifting prevention is an ongoing concern for most retailers. With the profiles of shoplifters ranging from amateur to professional, large and small, old and young, male or female, and of all ethnic backgrounds, crude methods have been implemented to deter those with sticky fingers.

Many technological advances in the prevention of shoplifting have been used throughout the years. For example, closed circuit television cameras with monitoring have been employed in some extreme situations. Technology such as electronic article surveillance (EAS) is used to deter shoplifters. Others prefer securing expensive items like perfume, cosmetics, digital items and tools in locked enclosures.

As theft continues to increase, retailers are implementing these prevention methods but are feeling the backlash from its honest consumers. "One retailer has taken a 15%-20% loss in sales by maneuvering and taking its baby formula off the shelf,” said Barkdoll. "To prevent theft, secure but non-threatening methods should be implemented to accommodate and solve retail problems."

We've designed and manufactured our new First Line Security Cabinet for retail theft prevention. Inspired by the baby formula crisis, Southern Imperial developed a contemporary, non-offensive, clear modular security cabinet, which can be mounted on pegboards, tables or P.O.P. displays. The security cabinets can be custom ordered to accommodate any retailer's merchandising efforts. "Prevention and accessibility are a tough methodology, but effective discretion is always preferred. Today's security measures should not be so obtrusive,” said Barkdoll.

With the overburden of the courts and police concerning shoplifting, retailers are equally fighting to lessen the problem. "Cost-effective prevention measures should be implemented in order to maintain comfortable retail cost for consumers,” said Barkdoll. National theft reports have shown failure in prevention can costs communities lost dollars in sales taxes and eventually hurt children and families.