What acts as a strategy for increasing safety and reducing losses from theft in stores?

The correct choice, which is asset protection, specifically refers to the strategies and practices implemented within retail environments to safeguard merchandise, reduce opportunities for theft, and protect the overall assets of the business. This includes physical security measures, surveillance systems, loss prevention techniques, and policies aimed at mitigating shoplifting and employee theft.

By focusing on asset protection, retailers can create a secure shopping environment that deters potential theft while also ensuring that employees are alert and trained to recognize suspicious behavior. Through comprehensive asset protection strategies, stores can decrease loss rates and, ultimately, enhance profitability.

While other options like store layout design can influence the shopping experience and customer flow, and employee engagement can improve morale and commitment, asset protection is specifically tailored to address theft and loss, making it the most direct answer to the question. Supply chain management, while crucial for efficiency and logistics, does not primarily target in-store theft and loss prevention.