Retail and convenience stores are a common target for smash-and-grab or drive-through robberies due to their high-value, easily accessible inventory. These fast, violent attacks often occur in less than a minute, leaving little time for the standard security responses. This challenge makes it imperative for store owners to find solutions that provide immediate protection while actively deterring intruders.
The Impact on Retailers
According to Newsweek, smash-and-grab burglaries are becoming increasingly common as brick-and-mortar stores face a surge in retail crime. These crimes are highly coordinated and usually involve multiple participants who make a quick getaway in awaiting vehicles. Theft of any kind is a major concern for small businesses, which report an increasingly alarming frequency of thefts. In the U.S., for example, more than 50% of stores experience some form of theft on a daily to weekly basis. Smash-and-grabs pose a unique challenge to retailers because of their violent and rapid nature, which has a significant financial and organizational impact, but also a negative effect on the employee and customer experience.
The Limitations of Traditional Security Systems
Traditional security systems, such as alarms and CCTV cameras, have significant limitations and are not designed to intervene during a smash-and-grab event. Alarms can have an emergency button to alert authorities, but their response time is often longer than the duration of the crime itself, leaving the offenders plenty of time to take their stolen goods and clear off. Surveillance cameras, while useful for post-incident investigation, do not actively deter criminals while they are committing the crime. Finally, physical barriers such as security shutters can be breached, and guards may be overwhelmed or arrive too late to prevent the theft.
MyShield: A Game Changer
MyShield offers a revolutionary solution that specifically counters the rapid nature of smash-and-grab attacks. This compact device emits a thick, disorienting smoke, that fills a room within 30 seconds of activation, creating an instant barrier that forces intruders to flee. Unlike traditional security obscuration systems, MyShield operates independently of power or internet connections, ensuring continuous protection even when power and networks have been intentionally cut. The new MyShield Next series can be easily integrated with 3rd party alarm systems or a panic button through wired input allowing store personnel or even remote security agents to deploy the smoke immediately during a break-in without waiting for security services to respond.
In addition, while certainly unpleasant for intruders, MyShield’s smoke is not harmful and it leaves an easy to swipe-off residue, protecting the store’s inventory and environment. This feature is critical to maintaining the integrity of high-value merchandise and ensuring that the store can quickly resume normal operations after an incident. Furthermore, MyShield presents a reduced Total Cost of Ownership compared to its competitors. With lower initial expenses, seamless installation, and minimal maintenance requirements, MyShield emerges as a highly appealing and economical choice tailored for small to medium-sized businesses.
Bottom Line
MyShield’s advanced smoke technology provides retail and convenience stores with an effective, immediate response to smash-and-grab attacks, filling the gap left by traditional security systems. Its portability, independent power source and effective but harmless smoke make it an ideal solution for retailers looking to protect their assets.
