Private businesses get more sophisticated with security

ORLANDO, Fla. — Security and asset protection teams for private businesses like Target are stepping up security and they’re actually solving crimes and helping law enforcement.

Stores are watching shoppers and criminals more closely, according to retired Secret Service agent Jim Glendinning.

Target is one of the biggest retailers in the country and it prides itself on being one of the most advanced when it comes to asset protection.

“The larger stores have capabilities of giving us detailed reports of when they entered the stores, what they took or bought -- photographs of these people,” said Glendinning.

They’re looking out for more than just shoplifters.

In November, WFTV reported when Target tipped off the Secret Service about Charlie Bryant and Sandrina Taylor. They’re accused of hitting stores across central Florida with counterfeit $100 bills.

Investigators said they would buy something with the bogus cash, then return it a few days later at a different Target store and get real money in return.

Target actually has its own forensic lab. Investigators do video and image analysis, latent fingerprinting and computer forensics.

Target told WFTV it’s even assisted law enforcement agencies that need extra resources in solving crimes like homicides.

“They’re quite professional and very, very effective. They have to be because of the nature of their stores,” Glendinning said.

Local law enforcement told WFTV many of the big department stores are very good at keeping a close eye on criminals and they said it’s very important for them to have a good working relationship with the security teams.

WFTV