Shoplifting, till theft and break-ins outside trading hours are the main security concerns for most NSW retailers. None of it needs an elaborate system — the basics done properly cover most of what goes wrong.
Where cameras actually help
Cameras placed well do most of the work: covering the entrance, the till, and anywhere stock is stored or displayed near an exit. A camera doesn’t stop someone shoplifting on its own, but it’s a real deterrent when it’s visible, and it gives you footage to hand to police if something does go missing. High-value or easily concealed stock near the door is usually the first place worth covering.
A shopping centre tenancy has slightly different needs to a standalone store — centre management usually covers the common areas and car park, so your own cameras only need to worry about what’s inside your tenancy. If you’re in a strip shop or freestanding store, the footpath and car park out front become your responsibility too.
- Entrance and exit — who’s coming and going
- Till area — covers both customer disputes and staff handling of cash
- Stockroom and back door — where after-hours break-ins and internal theft both tend to happen
Store layout and visibility
Simple things make a difference before you even add cameras: clear sightlines from the till to the rest of the store, mirrors in blind corners, and keeping high-value stock where staff can actually see it rather than tucked out of view. None of this costs much, and it works alongside cameras rather than replacing them.
Alarms for after-hours protection
A door/window sensor and motion detector combination covers the store outside trading hours, with an app notification if it triggers. We don’t offer back-to-base monitoring on our systems — you get the alert, and it’s on you (or whoever’s on call) to respond.
Staff safety
A till area that staff can be seen from, and a camera covering it, helps if there’s ever a dispute or an incident with a customer. For stores that want it, a discreet panic button at the counter can trigger an alert the same way a motion sensor does. Working alone or closing up by yourself is when staff tend to feel least secure — a camera covering the till and a clear view of the entrance from the counter make a real difference there, even without anything more elaborate.
Rules around surveillance footage
If your cameras cover areas where staff work — the till, the stockroom, not just the shop floor — the Workplace Surveillance Act 2005 (NSW) applies: cameras need to be clearly visible, with signage at each entrance, and staff need written notice at least 14 days before surveillance starts (new staff need notice before they start). Keep access to footage limited to staff who actually need it.
Costs
Cost depends on the number of cameras, whether you need alarm coverage too, and how the site’s wired already. A single shopfront is a straightforward job; a store with multiple rooms or a warehouse out back costs more to cover properly. If you’re fitting out a new lease, it’s worth getting cabling run before the shopfitters finish — retrofitting cameras after walls and ceilings are closed up usually costs more than doing it during the fit-out.
How Saint George Group can help
We’re a licensed NSW security installer (NSW master licence ML000111327). For a straightforward camera and alarm setup, our CCTV system covers most single-shopfront stores, or get a CCTV and alarms quote if you need something tailored to a bigger site. If your store’s part of a larger business with multiple sites or back-office areas, our general business security guide covers access control as well.
Quick answers
Will cameras alone stop shoplifting? Not on their own, but a visible camera is a real deterrent, and it gives you something to show police if something’s taken.
Do you monitor the alarm for us? No — alerts come through the app, not a back-to-base monitoring centre.
Good retail security isn’t about having the most cameras — it’s about covering the entrance, the till and the stockroom properly, and making sure someone actually sees the alert when the alarm goes off.
