While inventory shrink is still an issue in the retail industry, this year’s statistics indicate loss prevention efforts have been paying off.

As a loss prevention leader, you’re certainly familiar with all the main terms surrounding inventory security. And if there are other employees working in your store’s loss prevention division, they probably know these terms as well. But members of the LP team aren’t the only team members who need to be up on their inventory security lingo: There are certain key terms that all other store employees need to know as well.

For all the benefits of the summer months, there is one big drawback for retailers: As the temperatures increase, so do shoplifting incidents. As loss prevention professionals know, crime tends to surge in the summer, and shoplifting is no exception to this trend. Kids are on summer break, people are out of their homes and merchandise is displayed at storefronts everywhere. These factors add up to a ripe season for shoplifting.

When it comes to stores preventing theft, having a robust inventory protection strategy in place is absolutely vital. But there’s one central element of a great retail theft prevention strategy that is sometimes overlooked: making sure employees across the board are prepared.