Controlling retail theft with CCTV domes, CCTV public view monitors, and protective containers: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Theft crimes injure individuals and businesses while distorting their routine activities. US retail theft losses are now estimated at over $16 billion annually causing retail crime prevention practitioners to deploy situational crime prevention measures alongside routine precautions. However, field practitioners lack theoretically grounded experimental research to more accurately assess asset protection method efficacy. This article describes the results of a 47 store location randomized controlled trial (RCT) of three situational crime prevention treatments (in-aisle closed-circuit television (CCTV) public view monitors, in-aisle CCTV domes, polycarbonate protective keeper or safer boxes). The treatments’ contextual mechanisms of action (MOA) are also described to further evaluate their effectiveness while providing insight for practical process adjustment. The study provided positive evidence of the three treatments’ MOA impacts on existing opportunity structures, as well as their real-world efficacy.