Retailers increase security guard protection at their locations as large, organized groups enter stores to protest COVID-19 restrictions.

Most recently, a crowd of protesters entered a shopping center and a grocery store  in Los Angeles and a mall in Phoenix. These types of demonstrations are happening around the country. In almost all cases, pushing, shoving and shouting occurred.

This appears to be a growing trend that puts shoppers and retail workers at risk. When emotions are high, anything can happen. Store employees are usually not equipped with the proper training to handle unruly crowds. It shouldn’t be part of their job description.

Instead, retailers are adding security guards and stationing them inside and outside stores and shopping centers. Our guards monitor who enters a store or center. It doesn’t matter if it’s one person or a large group, if they aren’t complying with local health and safety protocols they aren’t not allowed in. If people disobey restrictions once inside, guards escort them out. When necessary, law enforcement is called.

Typically, retailers enlist the help of security guards to protect against shoplifting and vandalism. We are currently in a unique security situation. Security guard training focuses heavily on communication skills to keep volatile situations from getting out of control. In a majority of cases, talking with individuals is all that’s needed to calm emotions. We’ve found that people mostly want to be heard. They don’t want to cause trouble.

ACS has over 25 years of experience protecting property and people. It maintains $10 million in liability coverage and has earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

To request a quote for store and business protection and other security guard services in California and Arizona, give Access Control Security a call at 877-482-7324 or go to https://accesscontrolsecurity.com/quote-request to get a quote.