It is no secret that retail theft has been a growing issue in major cities across the country. To keep its retail locations safe, Apple recently spent a large amount of money on extra security. A new report reveals that the tech giant paid the San Francisco police department roughly 1.2 million dollars. This money went toward hiring off-duty officers to stand guard outside its local stores.
The company hires off-duty officers to stop retail theft
Many major retailers are struggling to address organized retail theft. To combat this problem, the tech brand leveraged a city program that allows private businesses to hire local police officers for extra security shifts.
These officers wear their official uniforms and stand outside the glass doors of the retail shops. Having a real police presence acts as a strong visual warning to anyone thinking about stealing expensive phones or computers. The strategy helps the brand protect both its employees and the physical items sitting on the display tables.
The security program costs a large amount of daily cash
Hiring trained law enforcement officials for private security does not come cheap. Records show that the company paid an incredibly high hourly rate to secure its locations. The 1.2 million dollar bill covered a specific span of time, proving just how much money the brand is willing to spend to maintain order.
While private security guards are cheaper, they usually cannot make arrests or carry the same authority as real officers. By spending the extra cash to hire actual city police, the tech giant ensures that any trouble at its stores gets handled quickly and officially.
