The private security industry is broken into many facets and specialties no different than the medical field or the emergency services field. One of the most diverse and fastest growing areas of this industry is retail security and loss prevention.
Retail security encompasses both uniform and plainclothes officers who provide physical and electronic services in the protection of assets, structures and people while loss prevention agents, long ago called floorwalkers or store detectives spend their efforts concentrating on external and internal theft, fraud, organized crime and the prevention of “shrinkage”.
Topics Covered Include:
- Retail security overview
- Physical and electronic security
- Mall and shopping center security
- Responding to emergencies
- Organized crime
- Private property-trespassing
- Rules vs. Laws
- Shoplifting techniques
- Search authority
- Conflicts and De-escalation techniques
- Crime scene protection and processing
- Organized retail crime
- Vendor violations
- Report writing
- Preparing for court & testimony techniques
- Arrest authority
Typical Tasks
Security officers enforce rules and laws, respond to emergencies, prevent theft and apprehend violators.
Potential Positions
Private public safety officers and loss prevention agents positions are plentiful with big box stores and shopping malls being built on every corner. Boutique and specialty stores also employ both uniform and plainclothes operatives to detect theft and fraud and to protect property and the lives of their customers and staff.
Employment Outlook
The security industry as a whole continues to explode and is scheduled to add large amounts of employees for the foreseeable future.
With this increase there will be broad opportunities for full-time, temporary and part-time work. Virtually all job openings will stem from permanent position openings while some may stem from those who go to different occupations or leave the labor force.
Online/campus program
Prerequisite: None
Program Length: As few as 6 Months
Payment Options Are Available