Why does perceived need to say something -- anything -- about a topic of moment for one's constituency so often result in products devoid of substance? A retail association's rush to issue "guidelines" on what to do about flash mob looters makes this point. While it is available at http://www.nrf.com/modules.php?name=News&op=viewlive&sp_id=1167, the download is a disappointment to a shopkeeper looking for useful insight into how to prevent loss or mitigate damage at the hands of a flash mob mobilized for mayhem. Instead, eight of the ten pages of the report delve into preambles and refer to a retailer survey -- all interesting matters in a different context -- yet more than a little divergent from the stated point of the "guidance" document. The remaining two pages are equally superficial.
In a show of erudition, this retail group's white paper even eschews mention of "flash mob" on its cover, preferring a title with the more arcane but technically correct "Multiple Offender Crimes" label. At least the subtitle hints at something more useful: Preparing for and Understanding the Impact of their Tactics. Yet it also disappoints, in the end.
The bulk of what purports to be guidance is a statistical compilation of losses followed by references to recent cases of looting by flash mobs. What value does this offer to anyone on the front lines of exposure? Perhaps it is akin to seeing one's shop in the news with pictures of it vandalized or burnt to the ground if one happened to be out of the country and incommunicado at the time of incident. But surely this amounts to telling Noah about the flood. After eight pages of reworking the obvious, what do two pages of "Suggested Guidance and Sample Response Protocol" offer? Nothinhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifg more than worn platitudes along the lines of be a good witness, observe and report, stay alert to any signs of groups converging, keep in close touch with mall security and local law enforcement, follow corporate policy on loss prevention -- the obvious made patronizing by being warmed up, over cooked, and served up as though some special dish never before tasted.
How did this retail "guidance" surface in the first place? A news article(http://apnews.myway.com/article/20110809/D9P0I3AG0.html) took at face value the purported aim of this white paper to offer "steps stores can take to ward off the robberies." A closer examination, indeed any examination, would have revealed that such steps were nowhere to be found.
In security as in any worthy field of endeavor, guidance has to say something useful and relevant. Rewarming platitudes in the zeal to appear topical and responsive is a disservice, not a plus. Flash robbers have nothing to fear from retailers who rely on such"guidance." Isn't that a shame?
- Nick Catrantzos
Subscribe Now
AddThis
Nick Catrantzos + Tom Goff
- All Secure
- NICK CATRANTZOS is the lead author of the All Secure website and is the emeritus security director for a large public organization. He has also managed security aspects of corporate takeovers, response to international hostage situations, and finding and keeping secrets. He has been board certified in security management, licensed as a private investigator, and certified as an incident commander. He worked as a case officer for a discreet branch of public service. He protected stealth technology at Lockheed and, later, as a consulting security director for both Kroll and Control Risks, he assisted executives with workplace violence cases and with protecting VIPs and critical assets globally in volatile areas. Nick's partner, TOM GOFF, was a captain in the Military Police Corps, U.S. Army Reserve and has a law degree from the University of California at Davis. He is a former reporter for Fortune Magazine, was senior editor at New York Magazine and Esquire, and has provided crisis and communications counsel to senior executives at Fortune 500 companies, including Lockheed, ARCO, Microsoft, Nissan, and Sony Pictures.