CVS Shoplifting Policy (Warning: Must Read)
A leading healthcare retailer, CVS stocks a variety of products in its stores, including high-priced pharmaceuticals, making it an attractive destination for pickpockets.
So what is CVS doing to prevent all the financial damage from shoplifting? What is CVS’s shoplifting policy? Here’s what I found out through research!
CVS Shoplifting Policy
CVS has several protocols in place to prevent shoplifting, such as CCTV monitoring, locked cabinets, and coordinators (regular employees) as part of loss prevention. CVS also has security personnel in-store to prevent theft and an asset protection team working off-site. Shoplifting is either banned or reported to the police.
Want to know more about CVS’s asset protection measures, whether employees are allowed to intervene to stop thieves, and whether CVS catches thieves, read on!
Does CVS have asset protection?
CVS has several asset protection measures in place to protect its inventory and employees from potential shoplifting incidents.
Hire asset protection personnel to work offsite and monitor each store to prevent serious losses and money or product mishaps.
This staff member regularly visits CVS stores to review the implementation of its protocols and, when necessary, works closely with law enforcement to protect CVS.
In addition, CVS staff managers and leaders will develop policies and protocols for each individual store to prevent and deter theft.
They will customize each method and method for a specific CVS store to best help protect their assets.
Does CVS have CCTV?
Like other large retail companies, CVS stores are equipped with CCTV video surveillance to deter, prevent and, if necessary, capture shoplifting.
In the event of shoplifting, CVS managers must monitor and review video footage in order to identify suspects and report the incident to police.
With video surveillance, CVS can provide evidence to police in the event of shoplifting.
Is CVS secure?
CVS has multiple security officers at most stores to help deter theft and prevent incidents of shoplifting.
In stores with high rates of shoplifting, they will have uniformed security guards to monitor customers and assist with loss prevention protocols.
In addition to security personnel, CVS also has staff called coordinators, who are day-to-day field workers who wear CVS uniforms and work on the sales floor to become more involved in preventing shoplifting.
CVS Coordinators will monitor stores for potential incidents of theft and work with CVS managers to identify shoplifting trends to better combat them.
In addition, CVS Coordinators will help customers access locked items and protected products to better control them and prevent theft or shoplifting.
Can CVS employees stop you from shoplifting?
Like many other retail employees, CVS employees are strictly advised not to put themselves at risk to prevent shoplifting.
This means that CVS employees, including coordinators, may not arrest, physically engage in or pursue a suspect at a CVS store because doing so would put employees at risk.
However, CVS personnel are permitted and encouraged to follow and approach shoplifters, make their presence known, and inform them that CCTV and security are present to prevent theft.
Note that CVS managers will make the final decision on what to do with caught shoplifters, whether banning them or reporting them to local law enforcement.
Does CVS Track Thieves?
If you are caught shoplifting or carrying a firearm, CVS may have your records on file.
This will either ban you from CVS premises or the entire chain, or report you to the police as part of a more important record.
Does CVS have anti-theft measures?
In addition to security and loss prevention methods, CVS employs a variety of theft prevention measures for its in-store products.
For example, products deemed popular or of high value are equipped with security tags to prevent theft.
CVS also has locked shelves that customers can only access by asking a CVS member (usually a coordinator) to open them, which helps protect products.
In addition to this, CVS has a number of internal security measures in place for its employees to prevent theft. This includes checking the luggage of CVS members and conducting regular on-site counts and checks for cash.
Can you get arrested for shoplifting from CVS?
At CVS, if you are caught shoplifting at CVS, the individual store manager will have the final say on what to do.
If it is the first charge for a small commodity, CVS may be very lenient and directly prohibit you from entering the store.
However, CVS may also contact law enforcement and follow state guidelines regarding shoplifting and theft, which is their right to do so.
By contacting law enforcement, CVS can charge you with misdemeanor, felony larceny, or possession of stolen property, depending on what you stole from a CVS store.
Ultimately, if you are caught shoplifting at CVS, they will most likely try to prosecute you and you will be apprehended by law enforcement.
To learn more, you can also check out our related posts on Dollar General’s shoplifting policy, Does Dollar General prosecute shoplifters, Best Buy’s shoplifting policy, and how Walmart tracks shoplifting.
in conclusion
Because of the handling of high-risk and high-value items such as pharmaceuticals, CVS has several loss prevention and asset protection measures in place to deter shoplifting and prosecute those involved in incidents.
All CVS stores have CCTV cameras, security guards and locked cabinets, meaning pickpockets are more difficult to pull off. Additionally, CVS has evidence against would-be shoplifters, allowing them to contact law enforcement if necessary.
