by Shane Henson — December 18, 2013—Retail Net-Alert recently announced that two major retailers, Macys and h.h.gregg, have adopted the company’s organized retail crime network notification system as part of their efforts to combat theft.
Retail Net-Alert is a subsidiary of Atlanta-based Strickland Security & Safety Solutions, and its flagship product of the same name uses a mobile application and encrypted database to improve the defenses of retail businesses against organized retail crime (ORC).
ORC refers to professional shoplifting, cargo theft, retail crime and other organized crime occurring in retail environments. According to Retail Net-Alert, the FBI estimates that ORC costs businesses an estimated $30 billion a year, with more than 94 percent of retailers becoming victims of such crime in the past 12 months. Such criminal events are increasingly brazen and violent, and show no sign of decline despite heightened security measures, says the company.
At the core of the Retail Net-Alert system is the mobile application that runs on any modern smartphone. The application features an easy-to-use interface for fast and accurate communication between teams and individuals, and integrates voice broadcasts and facial recognition capabilities to quickly react to criminal activities as they occur.
“We are thrilled to have both Macys and h.h.gregg on the team,” said Rob Strickland, president of Strickland Security & Safety Solutions. “The best method to combat the multibillion-dollar ORC problem is to take a collaborative approach that factors in people and technology and provides timely communication and information to key stakeholders.”
Apart from clothing and electronics chains, Retail Net-Alert is currently being tested in other markets and industries, including grocery and drug store chains.
“Our strategy is to work with the grocery and drug retailers in the near future to demonstrate that our awareness and notification system can make a difference to the safety of their employees and safeguard of their products,” Strickland says.
