Social Media Drives a 'Flash Rob' Crime Wave
Social media is a game-changer for small business owners. It provides an excellent platform to build brand-awareness, interact with existing customers and create new business opportunities.
Unfortunately, in addition to the great marketing boost it gives businesses, it has also introduced a new type of crime which is alarming the small business community: Flash Robs.
Flash rob participants use social media to organize groups to descend on stores and steal merchandise. The large group creates enough havoc that they are able to grab thousands of dollars of goods before they retreat.
Recently, a group of 40 boys hit a suburban Philadelphia Sears store and made off with thousands of dollars in goods including sneakers, socks, and anything else they could snatch.
That's just what small business owners need in this economy -- something else to worry about. As if things aren’t tough enough, here we are faced with a new criminal phenomenon that the authorities are just beginning to study.
The number of flash rob incidents appears to be on the increase. In July, the National Retail Federation found 79 percent of retailers reported being victims of a multi-offender crime -- 10 percent being classified as a flash rob. And many experts believe we’ll be seeing more of this activity during the coming holiday season.
To protect your small business from becoming a victim of a flash rob, here are some steps to consider.
Monitor Social Media. Pay attention to social media activity and watch for indications your retail outlet may be a target. Because Twitter is a popular platform for organizing these flash robs, you can use tools such as Tweet Deck to track mentions of your business.
Stay Alert. Watch for large gatherings of people, particularly young people, near the entrance or just inside your business. If your team becomes concerned, call the police or alert your security staff.
Merchandise Location. Don’t locate merchandise that’s easy to carry just inside the door. This makes your business a prime target for grab-and-run attacks.
Protect Employees and Customers. Make sure you put the safety of your employees and your customers first if you should get hit by a flash rob attack. Don’t put anyone in harms way.
Call 911. Immediately call 911 to report flash rob activity. Fast action will make it easier to catch the criminals.
Security Measures. Video surveillance cameras can help identify the flash rob criminals, but not all small businesses can afford such security measures. Something as simple as a strategically-placed panic alarm could result in the authorities arriving on the scene much more quickly.
Take Note of Details. Should you be hit by a flash rob, pay attention the types of items they take, what they are wearing, their ages and any vehicles that might be involved.
The National Retail Federation offers more information on handling multi-offender and flash rob incidents. Also, some cities are considering laws that will make it a crime to summon a flash-rob gang using social media.
Clearly, there is a lot to learn. But in the meantime, take proactive measures to keep your small business safe.
