Case Studies

Clip as deterrent

by Mark Rowe

Keep a closer eye on personal belongings, as bag theft traditionally increases on the run up to Christmas; some bars, hotels, restaurants, pubs and cafes across the UK are offering customers a solution.

Venues such as The London Bridge Hotel and Sheraton Park Tower Hotel as well as chains such as Park Plaza and Intercontinental are using the Chelsea Clip, pictured, in bar and dining areas where they can be fitted under tables to guard against bag snatchers. Produced by security company Selectamark, it is an injection-moulded nylon hook from which a bag or rucksack can be suspended by its own strap, for preventing opportunist bag theft from public places.

Two hands are needed to remove an item from the clip, making ‘bag snatching’ virtually impossible. It can be fitted to tables, walls, bars, behind lavatory doors – in fact, anywhere a customer may need to secure their belongings; as a woman’s handbag could contain such valuables as cash, beauty products, an iPad mini, iPod and mobile phone.

Luxury department store Harrods uses the Chelsea Clip to deter handbag theft and has them placed under tables in their bar and dining areas. The Clips are also being used to protect customers at the Charlotte Street Hotel in Fitzrovia, central London.

Suitable posters and other display material such as window and menu stickers should always be used with the product as a deterrent to thieves and as a reminder to both customers and staff that the clips are there to be used. The labels, which carry the wording ‘Secure your bag here’ can be placed around the neck of a wine bottle to advertise the clips. One London council had the labels printed in languages besides English so that tourists and visitors to bars and restaurants could be alerted to the risk of bag theft but protected from it at the same time.

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