I think the main purpose of store security guards is to protect staff, not goods. And they're more a theatrical deterrent than anything else; at least, the stor

I think the main purpose of store security guards is to protect staff, not goods. And they're more a theatrical deterrent than anything else; at least, the store guards around here are unarmed, over 50, and don't look fit. They seem to spend most of their time doomscrolling on their phone. The fact is, the self-service supermarket retail model is a compromise; a self-service store can sell more goods with less staff, at the cost of "shrinkage". That is, shoplifting is the cost of doing business, and business is still more profitable than the old-fashioned model of keeping goods behind a manned counter.