- Asset Protection Officer
- Loss Prevention Agent
- In-house Detective or Investigator
"Employed to deter and detect theft in retail outlets and commercial businesses. The term "Store Detective" is no longer frequently used in the retail industry. More common terms today with major retailers are Loss Prevention Agent, Detective or Investigator and Asset Protection Officer or Investigator. Special Officer, once common, is now rarely used, as few jurisdictions still allow it.
" . . . (in-house) detectives may be self-employed on a contract basis but most are employees of the retailer (because of insurance protection), of a security firm with an outsourcing arrangement with the retailer, or of an agency with a similar agreement.
"The job may involve patrolling stores in the role of an ordinary shopper, watching for shoplifters. The detective follows any shopper behaving suspiciously, and keeps records of such observations.
"The key difference between a store detective and a security guard is that the former's role is covert. If they observe an individual stealing, they may prevent them from leaving the store until the merchandise is returned. Otherwise, they have no law-enforcement powers not available to private citizens and cannot search or arrest suspects (although they may place offenders under Citizen's arrest in jurisdictions which permit it).
"Most stores require their detectives to have stable work histories and no criminal record. Common backgrounds include the armed services, rescue services, and security.
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Store_detective