CCTV Surveillance Systems And Crime Prevention In Retail Business: A Case of Mt Darwin Urban Retail Businesses .

Author

Chari, Innocent

Title

CCTV Surveillance Systems And Crime Prevention In Retail Business: A Case of Mt Darwin Urban Retail Businesses .

Abstract

Retail business crime has been a concern globally with various strategies such as CCTV Surveillance systems being implemented to address the challenge. This study evaluates the opportunities for CCTV use in preventing retail business crime in Mount Darwin town, Zimbabwe. The study used the descriptive case study design. The sample of 52 constituting, police officers, retail employees and retail owners was selected using purposive and simple random sampling techniques. Interview guide and the questionnaire were used for data collection. Data was presented in form of graphs, tables and pie charts using the SPSS. The study identified, shoplifting, employee embezzlement and theft, return fraud, burglary and vandalism as prevalent crimes in retail businesses. The study highlights, increased retail crime, deterrence and detection, enhanced proactive response to emergencies, provision of visual evidence during legal proceedings and increased retail crime reporting as main opportunities for implementing CCTV surveillance systems in retail businesses. The study highlighted, poor location and placement of CCTV cameras, lack of skilled personnel, power outages and lack of electricity back up, equipment failure, vandalism and tempering as main challenges hindering implementation of CCTV for retail business crime prevention. Strategic location and placement of cameras, adequate staffing and employee training and complementing CCTV surveillance systems with electronic article surveillance were identified key strategies to prevent retail theft.

Date

June 2025

Publisher

BUSE

Keywords

CCTV

Surveillance Systems

Crime

Retail

Supervisor

Dr Chikomba