Module 3: Identifying Suspicious Behaviour

Overview

This module will train you to spot suspicious behaviour confidently and professionally, while respecting the law and your duty of care. You’ll learn to read behavioural cues, avoid discriminatory profiling, and sharpen your observation skills to reduce theft and maintain a safe environment for staff and customers.

The ability to identify suspicious activity early—before a crime is committed—is one of the most valuable skills a retail security officer or store detective can develop. This module shows you how to do that fairly, legally, and effectively.

Term	Definition
Suspicious Behaviour	Actions that raise concern due to being unusual, evasive, or consistent with known theft methods.
Customer Profiling	Assessing customer behaviour patterns — must be based on conduct, not appearance or race.
Surveillance	The act of discreetly observing individuals to detect signs of theft or misconduct.
Behavioural Indicators	Observable signs such as nervousness, excessive scanning, or repeated visits to high-risk areas.
Unconscious Bias	Involuntary assumptions that can influence decisions — must be avoided to ensure lawful conduct.
CCTV Monitoring	The use of closed-circuit television to observe, record, and review in-store behaviour lawfully.