What Threats Do Retailers Face Today?

Retail crime has increased and become more violent than at any point in the past decade. The data from the National Retail Federation and FBI makes this clear:

  • Retail stores, restaurants, and public-facing workplaces account for 43% of all active shooter incidents tracked by the FBI over the past five years. That’s more than any other category, including schools and government buildings.

  • Organized retail crime (ORC) networks have evolved and expanded their targets. Operations that once concentrated on flash-mob tactics at big box retailers now increasingly strike pharmacies, convenience stores, pawn shops, and smaller retailers, where they target high-value merchandise like controlled substances, jewelry, electronics, often as part of a larger distribution network.

  • More than half of all retail workers today say they are likely to quit because they are concerned for their safety, according to a recent report from the Loss Prevention Research Council.

Three trends define the current retail security environment, and they inform how we approach every project: 

  • Threats are faster and better coordinated. ORC networks operate in ways that rival professional operations. Reactive security cannot keep up.

  • Physical barriers are the only measure that stops a threat in real-time. Surveillance cameras document. EAS systems deter shoplifting. Physical barriers stop bullets and save lives.

  • Security must work with your operations, not against them. A barrier that employees work around offers no protection. Design that integrates with how your store actually functions is the only way to provide lasting protection. 

Gas stations and convenience stores carry more concentrated security risk than almost any other retail environment. They operate around the clock, handle large amounts of cash, and are frequently staffed by a single employee overnight. Nearly 14% of all U.S. robberies occurred at these locations in 2022, according to FBI data cited in Convenience Store News. 

The Three Layers of an Effective Retail Security System

The retail operations that are best protected combine three layers that form a comprehensive solution for retail security, with each reinforcing the others.

Layer 1: Physical Barriers

Physical barriers are the foundation of retail security. Every other layer — such as cameras, EAS systems, alarms — detects, documents, or deters.

The UL 752 Standard for Bullet-Resisting Equipment is the most common one that verifies material can withstand a specific number of shots from different types of weapons. 

Here’s how protection levels apply to retail environments:

UL LEVEL

WHAT IT STOPS

COMMON RETAIL APPLICATIONS

Level 1

9mm pistol (3 shots)

Gas stations, pharmacies, banks, retail shops

Level 2

.357 Magnum pistol (3 shots)

Gas stations, pharmacies, banks, retail shops

Level 3

.44 Magnum pistol (3 shots)

Schools, police stations, municipal offices

Levels 4–8

Rifle and long-gun rounds

Government, military, elevated-risk facilities

 

For most retail environments, UL 752 Levels 1–3 provide appropriate protection at a practical cost. These are the levels that stop handguns, the most common weapon in retail violence.

A complete physical barrier system for retail typically includes:

For locations that are more concerned about break-ins, SchoolDefender® glass adds a layer of forced-entry resistance to windows and doors at a lower cost without replacing existing frames.

While it is not designed to stop bullets, it resists forced entry more effectively than standard security window film, which only holds broken glass shards together.


Layer 2: Electronic Systems — Surveillance, EAS and Alarms

High-resolution surveillance cameras, electronic article surveillance (EAS) systems, and alarm systems are all instrumental in any comprehensive retail security strategy.

Today’s surveillance systems often include high-definition video, remote access, and facial recognition, which help identify potential threats and provide comprehensive coverage throughout the store.

Emerging technologies like AI-powered analytics are increasingly being integrated into surveillance systems to further enhance threat detection and response. Cameras create legal evidence and deter opportunistic theft when paired with visible physical barriers. EAS tags and detection pedestals reduce inventory loss from low-level shoplifting.

EAS systems can reduce shoplifting, which notify systems and access control measures to ensure rapid response when perimeters are breached.

These systems protect merchandise and create documentation after the fact, but they do not stop a determined attacker in real-time. The most effective retail security programs integrate electronic systems with physical barriers, not in place of them.

Our team regularly collaborates with security integrators handling camera installation, EAS systems, and alarm infrastructure.

Every door, frame, and barrier we design is engineered to accommodate the sensor runs, conduit, and hardware your complete electronic security system requires.


Layer 3: Policies, Employee Training and Security Protocols

The strongest physical barrier in the world provides no protection if an employee props the door open with a doorstop because it’s easier for deliveries. Security measures only work when they’re designed for how your team actually operates — and when your team is trained and accountable for using them correctly.

Effective employee training and security protocols for retail environments include:

  • Clear policies for when transaction windows should be closed and when they may be open — especially for operations with variable daytime/evening threat levels
  • Strict cash handling procedures and secure storage protocols that reduce the attractiveness of the location as a robbery target
  • Implementing regular inventory audits to maintain inventory accuracy, detect discrepancies, and deter internal theft
  • Training on identifying suspicious behavior and the correct internal and external reporting process
  • Training on emergency procedures to ensure employees are prepared to respond to incidents effectively
  • Training on the correct internal and external reporting process, emphasizing the importance of reporting incidents promptly to foster a security-conscious culture
  • Regular security drills for robbery scenarios and active threat situations
  • Protocols for opening and closing procedures, including perimeter checks, buddy systems, alarm confirmation
  • Proper care and maintenance instructions for ballistic materials, so the physical investment remains effective long-term

Training employees on security protocols helps them identify potential risks and prepare for incidents, including emergency responses. Regular training sessions keep employees updated on the latest security protocols and techniques, ensuring they are prepared to handle any situation that may arise. Implementing strict cash handling procedures and regular inventory audits can help prevent and detect internal theft and create a secure retail environment.

Physical Security for Convenience Stores

Convenience-Store

Most effective convenience store and gas station security systems center on a bandit barrier: a complete ballistic enclosure protecting the register area that includes glazing, framing, fiberglass counter reinforcement, a transaction window, and a secure employee entry door. The components include:

  • Bullet-resistant glazing, counter to ceiling, rated to UL 752 Level 1–3 — sufficient to stop the handguns most commonly used in retail robberies
  • A transaction window with a talk-thru voice port, so employees can communicate clearly with customers without opening a barrier
  • A currency tray or package passer sized for your store’s transaction items
  • An access-controlled employee entry door, tested to ballistic standards and integrated with your store’s existing security and alarm infrastructure
  • Ballistic fiberglass panels behind the counter, extending protection beyond the glass area

A transaction window is one of the most practical tools for managing the variable threat profile of a 24-hour operation. Employees can use a speak-thru system to talk with customers and a cash tray or package passer to exchange money and products.

Physical Security for Pharmacies

Pharmacy-Windows

Pharmacies have unique security needs that require customized security solutions.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration recently sentenced the leader of a pharmacy burglary ring to 17 years in prison for his role in leading at least 34 burglaries across multiple states and stealing controlled substances with a street value of over $12 million.

Keeping employees safe while protecting controlled substances from theft is critical.

Independent pharmacies often lack the security infrastructure of larger chain operations. They often have a single pharmacist working the dispensing counter and may not have evaluated their physical security infrastructure or protocol in years.

The Three Vulnerability Points in a Pharmacy

When we assess a pharmacy, we consistently find three areas that need to be addressed:

  • The dispensing counter. This is where pharmacists interact with the public and where controlled substances are most accessible. A complete counter upgrade includes UL 752 Level 1–3 bullet-resistant glazing, ballistic fiberglass to reinforce the counter structure and kick space, and a transaction window with voice port and package passer appropriately sized for prescription bags and prescription bottles.
  • The drive-up window. Drive-up transactions are a significant vulnerability in many pharmacies — an exterior-facing opening that handles cash and controlled substances. We replace standard drive-up windows with ballistic transaction windows using glass-clad polycarbonate, with integrated voice ports and package passers sized for prescription hand-off.
  • Controlled substance storage. The back room or storage area for Schedule II–V medications is increasingly targeted directly in ORC raids. A secured, access-controlled room with reinforced door hardware and ballistic or forced-entry-rated walls significantly raises the barrier to a successful theft.

For independent pharmacies operating on tight margins, we design retrofit approaches specifically intended to minimize disruption and manage costs. Most upgrades can be phased by prioritizing the dispensing counter first, then the drive-up window.

We can schedule these upgrades around your operating hours, working overnight or on weekends.

Security for Jewelry Stores and Luxury Retail

jewelry-store-window

Jewelry stores face a distinct threat profile. Smash-and-grab attacks — where criminals break display cases and seize merchandise before staff can respond — are the most common form of loss, and they have escalated sharply in recent years. A single incident can result in six-figure inventory loss, significant property damage, traumatized employees, and insurance claims that reshape premiums for years.

The threat calculus for jewelry retailers is also different from a convenience store or pharmacy. Armed robbery is a concern, but so is a coordinated attack by multiple individuals targeting specific high-value merchandise in a fast, timed operation. That type of attack requires a layered response — one that addresses both entry and the interior display environment. Guards support these efforts by safeguarding high value items, managing access control, and providing a visible presence to deter theft and enhance overall store security.

Layered Security for Jewelry Retail

A complete jewelry retail security system typically includes:

  • A secure vestibule (mantrap) at the entry. Two sets of interlocking bullet-resistant doors with electronic access control allow staff to screen visitors before granting access to the retail floor. Even if an attacker attempts forced entry, the vestibule provides the time needed for a full lockdown and law enforcement response. For high-end retailers, this is the most important single investment in the system.
  • Bullet-resistant storefront glazing. Exterior windows and doors upgraded to UL 752 Level 1–3 resist both ballistic threats and the forced-entry attempts that precede smash-and-grab operations. Glass-clad polycarbonate is standard for exterior applications.
  • Security window film on display cases. Where full ballistic glazing is not specified for cases — typically in interior environments where the primary concern is smash-and-grab, not ballistic threats — security window film holds glass together when broken. It doesn’t stop bullets, but it significantly delays a thief, most of whom are looking for fast, easy targets. The delay is often sufficient to deter the attempt entirely, and it eliminates the hazard and cleanup of shattered display glass.
  • Access-controlled back-of-house storage. High-value inventory not on active display should be secured in a room with reinforced doors, ballistic or forced-entry-rated walls, and electronic access control.

After a neighboring jeweler was hit by a smash-and-grab attack, one of our customers asked us to assess their space. We replaced their storefront glazing, reinforced their display case area with security window film, and installed a secure vestibule entry with electronic buzz-in control. When that retailer later moved to a new location, we helped them transfer, adapt, and expand the system for the new space. That kind of long-term partnership — designing systems that grow with the business — is what we’re built for.

Planning a Retail Security Upgrade

Physical security upgrades benefit from a clear plan before the first dollar is committed. Consulting with security experts can help develop a tailored security plan that addresses your store’s unique needs.

Here is the framework we use with every retail customer, from a single convenience store to a multi-site pharmacy chain.

Step 1: Define Your Perimeter and Identify Primary Threats

The perimeter you’re securing determines your investment priorities. At a gas station, the secured perimeter is typically the register area. At a jewelry retailer, it may be the entire building, with access controlled at the entry. At a chain pharmacy, it’s often a dedicated dispensing counter plus a secured back room.

Identify potential threats you’re most likely to face: armed robbery, organized retail crime targeting specific merchandise, smash-and-grab entry, or streetside violence. The right combination of materials and barrier design depends entirely on an honest assessment of those threats.

Step 2: Understand Operational Requirements Before Specifying Solutions

A barrier that creates friction in daily operations will be defeated by your own employees. Before recommending any component, we spend time understanding what actually happens at every secured point in the store. What items are exchanged at the transaction window? What is the largest item that needs to pass through? What’s the ambient noise level? Are there regular deliveries that need to be managed at a secured entry?

These details determine whether the security measures you invest in will actually be used — and whether they will still be used five years from now. Getting this right is what separates a system that protects your store for decades from one that gets worked around within months.

Step 3: Match Materials and Protection Levels to Your Specific Situation

For most retail environments, UL 752 Levels 1–3 provide the right level of protection. Level 1 or 2 is appropriate for many convenience store and pharmacy applications. Level 3 is common where a slightly higher level of assurance is needed without the structural and cost requirements of rifle-rated materials.

Material selection also depends on installation location. Glass-clad polycarbonate for exterior-facing openings. Acrylic or laminated polycarbonate for interior applications. The right choice reflects the specific exposure, aesthetics, acoustic requirements, and maintenance profile of each installation point.

Step 4: Design, Engineer and Install With Minimal Disruption

It is crucial to design security solutions specifically tailored to each distinct retail space, taking into account factors like access control systems and the specific needs of the environment.

That’s why every TSS system is custom-designed. No two retail spaces are identical, and off-the-shelf solutions that appear to fit often create gaps in protection or operational friction that undermines the investment.

Our in-house team of engineers designs each system to your exact specifications. Our skilled craftsmen fabricate every component in our U.S. facilities. Our factory-trained installation crews travel nationwide and regularly complete installations overnight and on weekends to avoid business disruption. For multi-location operators, we maintain design consistency across every site even when floor plans vary.

Most retail projects move from design approval to ship-ready in 4–6 weeks. We’ll tell you exactly what to expect — and we’ll deliver on it.

FAQs

Is bulletproof glass actually bulletproof?

No material is truly bulletproof — including the materials we manufacture. The precise industry term is bullet-resistant. It means the material has been independently tested to stop specific rounds under specific conditions defined by the UL 752 standard. A window rated to UL 752 Level 1 stopped three shots from a 9mm pistol in testing. That is not a guarantee of performance against every possible round under every possible condition. It is a meaningful, verified baseline — and it is the standard we use for every product we build. Selecting the right level for your specific threat profile is one of the most important decisions in any security project, and it’s a decision we help our customers make clearly.

What’s the difference between security window film and bullet-resistant glass?

Security window film is a polyester laminate applied to existing glass. It holds glass shards together if the glass is broken, delaying forced entry and preventing injury from flying glass. It does not stop bullets and does not meet ballistic standards. Bullet-resistant glazing — acrylic, polycarbonate, or glass-clad polycarbonate — is a structural material tested and rated to stop specific ballistic threats. For areas where people are present and ballistic threats are a concern, bullet-resistant glazing is the correct specification. For exterior windows or display cases where the primary concern is smash-and-grab or vandalism rather than a direct ballistic threat, security window film may be appropriate. We help customers make this distinction clearly on every project, because the wrong choice creates a false sense of security.

What UL 752 level does my store need?

For most retail environments — convenience stores, gas stations, pharmacies, jewelry stores, pawn shops — UL 752 Levels 1–3 are appropriate. These levels stop handguns, which are the most common weapon used in retail robbery and violence. Levels 4 and above are rated for rifle rounds, are significantly more costly, and typically require structural reinforcement to support the additional weight and thickness. Unless your threat profile includes a specific and credible rifle threat, levels above 3 are rarely necessary in retail applications. We recommend the level that actually fits your situation — not the highest level we can sell you.

Can existing storefronts be retrofitted, or does this only apply to new construction?

The majority of TSS retail work involves retrofitting existing spaces, not new construction. Retrofits are more complex — existing framing, structural loads, and building code requirements all factor into the design — but our engineers have extensive experience designing systems that work within existing infrastructure. We’ve retrofitted single-window check-cashing counters and multi-door secure vestibules in operating buildings. We can assess your existing space and tell you exactly what a retrofit would involve before any commitment is made.

How long does installation take, and will it disrupt my retail operations?

Most retail projects move from design approval to ship-ready in 4–6 weeks. Installation timelines vary by project scope, but we regularly complete installations overnight and on weekends specifically to avoid business disruption. For multi-location rollouts, we sequence installation across sites to keep your operations running. We walk through the installation plan in detail before we start — no surprises, no downtime you didn’t plan for.

As an architect, when should I involve TSS in a retail security project?

As early as possible; ideally, during schematic design. Early involvement ensures that ballistic and forced-entry specifications are fully integrated into the architectural design rather than accommodated after decisions have already constrained options. It also allows TSS engineers to coordinate framing, structural requirements, door hardware, and access control infrastructure with the rest of the design team before those systems are finalized. We provide CAD files, product specifications, UL test documentation, and ASTM references for all project deliverables. Early consultations are at no cost.

Ready To Protect Your Store?

You already know your business is worth protecting — and you know your employees deserve to feel safe at work. The retailers and operators who act on that knowledge proactively are better protected, better staffed, and more operationally resilient than those who wait.

At Total Security Solutions, we’ve completed more than 30,000 security installations nationwide, including thousands in the retail industry ranging  from single small shops to multi-site national chains. We do everything in-house: design, engineering, fabrication, and installation. Our ballistic experts invest time in understanding your specific threats, your operational requirements, and your budget before recommending anything.

If you need help planning your project, download our Retail Security Planning Checklist or schedule a consultation with our team. 

 

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