Negligent Security Blamed For Violent Mugging In Retail Store

Case Overview

This case involves a woman who followed a female patron into a retail department store from the parking lot. The woman stalked the patron throughout the store until they reached the paper products aisle in the back corner of the store. The woman then proceeded to beat the female patron and robbed her while she was in the store. The female patron was transported by rescue personnel to the hospital. Although the retail store had cameras to monitor store patrons, it was later discovered that there were no employees monitoring the floor at the time of the incident. A loss prevention and security expert with experience in retail store security was sought to speak about the store’s failure to provide safety to patrons despite a foreseeable risk of criminal activity.

Questions to the Security expert and their responses

Please describe your background in loss prevention and security.

I am certified in loss prevention and have 30+ years of experience in retail safety and security. I have formerly served in various directorial positions at large retailers, and my area of expertise includes asset protection, security, safety, investigations, regulatory compliance, training and development, and general strategic planning. Over the course of my career, I have been in charge of approximately 300 stores and responsible for designing and implementing safety protocol and processes.

What are some preventative measures loss prevention and security employees can use to prevent incidents like this?

In general, loss prevention personnel and store management have a duty to maintain awareness of individuals that may pose a risk to the safety of patrons.

Have you used CCTV to monitor and intervene with suspicious customers?

In the past, I have used CCTV as a means of monitoring and/or recording high-risk areas in a retail and/or grocery environment.

About the expert

This expert has over 30 years of experience in retail safety and security, specializing in asset protection, compliance, and security training and development. He is a certified private investigator, security consultant, and DPS private security manager, and he holds additional certifications in private security level III and IV and in interview and interrogation techniques. This expert is also OSHA trained and certified in occupational safety, and he is an active member of the International Association of Private Security Consultants and the Associated Security Services and Investigators of the State of Texas. He worked at Walmart and Sam's Club for 30 years, where he held numerous positions, including the director of regional loss prevention, the director of security and alarm services, and the senior director of asset protection, safety, and compliance. This expert also served as the executive director of safety services at a church as well as a retail safety. Currently he serves as a security consultant at a private consultancy in Texas.