As 2025 begins to enter full-swing, crime statistics from the previous year help set the tone for businesses looking to improve security outcomes. Retail and commercial businesses and properties have continued to face the challenges of both organized retail theft and asset protection in an environment of increased thefts. In this Arrest of the Month video, our live video monitoring caught a blatant building supply theft attempt in action.
Just before midnight, ECAM security specialists observing a southern Nevada building supply business spotted an intruder trespassing on the property. The suspect had climbed a perimeter wall and gained entrance to the supply yard. Alarms were immediately activated and local police dispatchers contacted. Minutes later, the police arrived and took the suspect into custody.
Retail and Building Supply Thefts Remained on the Rise in 2024
In December of 2024, the National Retail Federation (NRF) released their study “The Impact of Retail Theft & Violence 2024,” conducted in collaboration with the Loss Prevention Research Council. The findings revealed the escalating challenges of retail theft and violence since the pre-COVID era. Retailers witnessed a sharp 93% rise in the average number of shoplifting incidents annually in 2023 compared to 2019, along with a 90% surge in the financial losses attributed to these crimes.
According to a report from the Council on Criminal Justice, all but one type of crime decreased in the first six months of 2024: Shoplifting. In fact, there was a 24% rise in shoplifting incidents in the first half of the year, while every other type of crime dropped.
Theft is an issue across the retail sector, but when it comes to building supplies and construction equipment, there’s an estimated annual loss of around $1 billion according to the National Equipment Register (NER) and National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB).
With this as the backdrop for commercial businesses looking to secure their properties, protect their assets, as well as staff and clients- proactive, preventative security measures that can facilitate fast responses are more critical than ever.
Proactive Surveillance Security Solutions for Theft Prevention
At the cutting edge of North American security technology, ECAM delivers a sophisticated blend of AI-powered surveillance and human expertise with our live video monitoring. Unlike traditional reactive systems that respond only after a break-in, our approach anticipates and can help prevent security breaches before they happen and can allow for faster responses when an incident occurs.
Theft prevention is even more critical than ever before as incidents continue to rise across the US and Canada. Our trained security professionals maintain continuous remote surveillance of your property’s critical areas through advanced monitoring systems. When suspicious activity is spotted, our operators can immediately address potential intruders through live audio communication – often stopping crimes before they begin.
We’ve also streamlined the typically cumbersome process of video review. Our dedicated team analyzes footage and creates concise incident reports, integrating police data when available. This comprehensive approach not only saves valuable time but also strengthens law enforcement cooperation through detailed video evidence.
By combining cutting-edge technology with human intelligence, we offer more than security – we provide peace of mind through proactive threat prevention and management.
Interested in learning more about our commercial and retail property security solutions? Contact us today to schedule a demo or discuss your security needs.
