PC Andrew Whitlie, prevention, intervention and partnerships team member at Edinburgh police, gave me some advice on tackling crime in pharmacies. Above all, he advised, staff who find themselves in a situation where a crime is occurring should not try to be heroes, but should instead keep the "person on side" and "keep the dialogue going".

Here are his other top tips:

• Use the crime prevention expertise of the police and consult them before doing a refit, as they "offer impartial advice that's cost effective"
• Keep shoplifters' favourite items behind the counter and use locked cabinets to store high-value goods, such as jewellery, watches, perfumes and razor blades
• The consultation room can be a "trapping point". It should never have a lockable door and should be easy to exit – perhaps located behind a sliding door or a partition
• Have a panic button and a pre-arranged set-up with colleagues, in case you need help
• Think about sightlines – don't have stock piled too high, which could conceal someone behind a shelving unit
• Filling the shop window with advertising "can be a hindrance", as it can block views in and out of the premises and impair CCTV footage
• Raised dispensaries are helpful, as they allow staff to have a view onto the shop floor.

 Staff who find themselves in a situation where a crime is occurring should not try to be heroes, but should instead keep the "person on side" and "keep the dialogue going"