Staff Editor — Page 100

The New Kid In Town- Bottle Security

March 22, 2014 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

Entering into uncharted territory doesn’t have to mean going into a situation with your eyes closed. As new entrants into the wine selling business, big box stores like mass retail discounters and grocery stores need to be aware as they get into selling wine that there is a potential for theft. If they can manage their resources upfront, they will have a better chance of shutting down potential shoplifters before they even get started honing in on their stores. Bottle Security is an effective way to discourage theft.

Without adequate security, these stores can end up with significant losses. The down side to their entering into uncharted territory is that they have no idea how far the scope of their losses will be. Ultimately they need to figure out what kind of negative financial impact they are up against.

Bottle locks like the EASy Bottle (sold by Alpha Security) are commonly thought of only as protection for liquor bottles. They are, however, also designed to work with wine bottles to provide additional security.

As bottle locks on the wine bottles are implemented for bottle security, the potential for a negative financial impact happens. Shoplifters will no longer have unlimited access to these bottles of wine. If the shoplifters can’t easily steal the bottles, the losses from theft decrease dramatically.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase EASy Bottle bottle locks by Alpha Security and your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system.

For more information on Alpha Security, Bottle Lock, Bottle locks, Bottle Security, EASy Bottle or Liquor Bottle Security and how they can work with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase EASy Bottle bottle locks by Alpha Security and your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system.

Filed Under: Security Tagged With: Alpha Security, bottle lock, bottle locks, bottle security, easy bottle, liquor bottle security

An Effective Reduction- Alpha Jewel Lok

March 22, 2014 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

In order to prevent shoplifting of jewelry and small accessories, retailers have been left with very minimal options. Retail anti theft devices typically are not designed with jewelry in mind. They are designed for clothing and have been adapted for jewelry and accessory usage only because there have not been other options available.

What if there were retail anti theft devices designed specifically for jewelry? What a game changer that would be. Having a product that is specific to the job would increase the effectiveness of the product and lower shrink in the jewelry department.

Well luckily enough, there is such a product- the Alpha Security Alpha Jewel Lok. The biggest win for the Alpha Jewel Lok is that it attaches directly onto the merchandise, not to the packaging (which is the current method used).

There are three types of locks available. There are the loose jewelry solutions, hoop earring solutions and stud jewelry solutions. Each one is designed to work with a specific format of jewelry and accessory. Because the Alpha Jewel Lok is tailored for a specific product, the overall effectiveness to prevent shoplifting is increased.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store for Alpha 2Alarm, Alpha 3Alarm, Alpha Fashion2, Alpha Jewel Lok, Alpha Nano Gate, Alpha Shark Tag, Alpha Spider Wrap and other retail anti-theft devices from Alpha Security to use in conjunction with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system that can help you prevent shoplifting in your business.

For more information on how you can use Alpha Security retail anti-theft devices and your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system to prevent shoplifting contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Alpha Fashion2, Alpha Jewel Lok, Alpha Nano Gate, Alpha Shark Tag, Alpha Spider Wrap, Fashion2, Jewel Lok, Nano Gate, Prevent Shoplifting, Retail Anti Theft Devices, Shark Tag, Spider Wrap

Shoplifting Prevention And Technology

March 20, 2014 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

There are countless instances about people shoplifting; we see them in the news daily. According to the National Association for Shoplifting prevention 1 out of 3 shoplifters are “at risk” of shoplifting again even after getting caught. And although the association declares that shoplifters are individuals struggling with personal conflicts and needs, we rarely see those issues being addressed by authorities. Regardless, shoplifting prevention is a matter of extreme importance in the retail industry, and businesses have to address the issues and the consequences shoplifting causes.

Read more about this topic by following the links below.

The Future of Retail: 6 Ways the Cloud Will Reinvent the Sales Floor

The scope of change in the retail industry is stunning. New web-based, cloud-hosted software-as-a-service solutions are making data available in real time and are poised to unite the digital and physical retail environments, disrupting the retail landscape. Here’s how the needle is moving:

1. Real-time data from the sales floor. Real-time data is available across all channels and will fuel decision-making throughout the retail enterprise — from the C-Suite to the sales floor. Retail management teams can see sales trends develop as they are developing. They can see traffic patterns in real time and be able to see conversion rates at the product level. For example, for apparel retailers — imagine how powerful it would be to know which products are being brought into fitting rooms and then which are converted to sales.

2. Real time data on the sales floor. Perhaps the most powerful impact will be on the sales floor. Retail sales is a difficult job, and it can become tedious and boring. Sales associates can become disengaged, feel isolated and disinterested. As a result, customer service suffers. Making real-time data available on the store floor can change the game.

Shoplifting suspect rescued after falling down ravine

ELYRIA — A suspected shoplifter who led police on a chase Saturday night fell down a steep Ford Road ravine and had to be rescued by firefighters.

The man, arrested by police after being lifted about 200 feet up the steep hill in a Stokes basket, suffered a possible broken ankle, said Assistant Elyria Fire Chief James Cawley.

“We splinted him, but he was conscious and talking,” Cawley said.

The suspect, whose name was not available at press time, reportedly took items from the Radio Shack store in the Midway Crossings shopping area off West River Road, said Elyria police Capt. Chris Costantino.

After leaving the store about 7:30 p.m. without paying for merchandise, the man ran toward Ford Road, where he apparently fell down a hillside while being chased by police, Lorain County Metro Parks rangers and Lorain County sheriff’s deputies, Costantino said.

Jim Ziemnik, executive director of metro parks, said rangers told him the man jumped a fence near a mattress store where Midway Boulevard and Ford Road come together.

“He went down the incline,” Ziemnik said. “That’s a steep hill.”

This woman received life in prison for shoplifting

What do you think is a fair punishment for someone who has been caught shoplifting 29 times? Community service, jail time, hands cut off, forcing them to do all their shoplifting at Old Navy?

I ask because the Oklahoma woman pictured above – Cecilia Rodriguez – was sentenced to life in prison for shoplifting. She was caught doing the act 29 times. Her appeal of the sentence was recently denied by the U.S. Supreme Court. That really sucks for her… and for us as taxpayers. We now have to spend $18,000 per year to imprison her because she’s a bad thief. Hopefully she’ll get some thieving tips from fellow inmates while in jail.

The U.S. Supreme Court declined on Monday to review the case of an Oklahoma City woman who received a life sentence in 2009 for shoplifting.

Without comment, the court rejected the appeal of Cecilia Cathleen Rodriguez, whose life sentence was imposed by an Oklahoma County judge because of a long list of previous convictions.

Filed Under: Shoplifting Prevention Tagged With: anti-thefts devices, Loss Prevention Training, Loss Prevention Workshop, mobile POS loss prevention, retail security and monitoring, security devices, surveillance

Safe and Secure- Clothing Alarm

March 20, 2014 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

Cable locking systems are an ideal way to protect runs of clothing like jackets, handbags or suits. The steel cables provide reliable clothing security and the clothing alarm is built into the power system. That means you don’t need to wait for an alarm to go off at the door before you realize that the merchandise is being stolen.

The downside to cable locking systems is that they pose a potential safety hazard. The cables are generally only one size that is quite lengthy to incorporate the maximum amount of merchandise. The power supply frequently needs to be plugged into an outlet to make the clothing alarm operable. The end result can be an unsightly mess of cords and plugs and wires. All of which are difficult to shop around and could be easy to trip over.

Accidents are extremely costly due to the medical expenses involved in addition to the potential longevity of the accident claim. It is very rare that the cost of one accident is less than the costs incurred through multiple shoplifting losses.

By switching to the Alpha Security CableLoks you can continue to use top quality clothing security tags without all of the bulk and potential tripping hazards. By creating a safer environment you are saving yourself thousands of dollars from potential general liability claims.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase Checkpoint Tags, a Clothing Alarm, Clothing Security or Clothing Security Tags to put Security Tags on Clothes and an Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system.

For more information on Checkpoint tags, clothing security, clothing alarm, or clothing security tags how they can work with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system contact us at security tags on clothes or call 1.770.426.0547

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Checkpoint tags, clothing alarm, Clothing Security, clothing security tags, security tags on clothes

Leaps and Bounds

March 20, 2014 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

Technology and human nature amaze me. Looking at the world and seeing the possibilities, information and access available literally, at our fingertips, is quite a phenomenon. Yet there are still innovations that have nothing to do with a computer chip, “the cloud” or an app that can completely change your life. But habits don’t change as easily and therefore you need to continue your quest to prevent shoplifting.

In retail, or any small business for that matter, jewelry is a huge add on item. It is also a huge theft item my nature- or by design. Jewelry is small. It is easily concealed, and can be quite expensive. Jewelry losses sometimes outweigh the profit margins built into these impulse buys.

Alpha Security is a trusted name in retail anti theft devices. This is because they are reliable, and also because they simply work. The Alpha Jewel Lok is an innovation that is a simple lock to disallow product access. You cannot take a piece of jewelry off of a card with an Alpha Jewel Lok attached. The only option is to steal the Alpha Jewel Lok with the jewelry and set the alarm off.

They are simple by design, and at the forefront of leading retail anti theft devices technology.

For more information on how you can use Alpha Security retail anti-theft devices and your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system to prevent shoplifting contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

They are simple by design, and at the forefront of leading retail anti theft devices technology.

For more information on how you can use Alpha Security retail anti-theft devices and your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system to prevent shoplifting contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

Employee Theft And Tips To Prevent it

March 19, 2014 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

According to a post by Hirepowerassociates.com, the U. S Chamber of Commerce estimates that 75% of all employees steal at least once, and half of those employees continue to steal repeatedly. The amount each employee steals varies and the reasons they give for stealing are as varied as they come, but the truth is billions of dollars are lost annually due to employee theft and the repercussions they carry do not stop at the business from where they steal, the local economy is hurt, employees and consumers loose income and benefits the business cannot afford to give because of the loss they are experiencing. To read more about this topic follow the links below.

5 Ways To Keep Employees Happy And Engaged In Tough Times

You can’t fool your employees–they know when times are tough. But if you show you care, they’ll stay happier longer.

With the economy at a low point, many people feel trapped in their jobs, seeing dim prospects for better opportunities outside their present situation. On the surface, this may seem like an ideal situation for companies, bringing down turnover costs. But there’s a hidden underside that’s not so positive.

When the economy is in high gear, unhappy employees can easily move on. Now they stay in their jobs, bringing down the productivity level and morale of the organization. To counter this and generate more buy-in from your staff, here are five things you can do.
1. Be consistent and open in your communication
If people are kept in the dark about what’s going on, they will make up their own version and it won’t be a positive one. Instead of avoiding, minimizing or trying to hide a negative situation, tell it like it is. Trust that staff will understand and appreciate being informed. Not disclosing will only breed mistrust, suspicion, and fear.

Candles, heroin and theft a bad combination: Mayfield Heights Police Blotter

MAYFIELD HEIGHTS

Theft, SOM Center Road:

Officers responded to CVS March 2 after an employee said a woman had just left the store after stealing merchandise. The suspect was located in front of Hillcrest Hospital carrying a bag of items from CVS and arrested on suspicion of the theft, valued at $72.46. An officer, working off-duty at the hospital, said the Cleveland Heights woman, 37, had just been discharged after she had been taken to the hospital by the South Euclid fire department after she was arrested for shoplifting at Giant Eagle in that city. While at the station, the woman told an officer she had stolen candles from the store because she needed them to thwart off evil spirits. She also said she had ingested heroin while at the hospital and had a used syringe stuffed up her rectum. She was subsequently returned to the hospital for a psychological evaluation.

Burglary, Mayfair Boulevard:

A boy, 17, said Feb. 27 when he returned home after school he found two back doors to his and his father’s apartment kicked in but nothing was missing from inside the home. He said drawers in his bedroom were open and it appeared someone had gone through them.

Shoplifting suspicions lead to child porn charges in Hallandale Beach

A routine shoplifting arrest evolved into a child pornography case, with the suspect in jail on a whopping $610,000 bond, Broward jail records show.

Nicholas Coffey told police he downloaded the porn using public Wi-Fi at a fast-food restaurant, according to Hallandale Beach Police.

Detectives discovered the images Saturday after Coffey, 24, was stopped as he walked out of Wal-Mart, 2551 E. Hallandale Beach Blvd., with a backpack full of belongings and stolen items, according to the arrest report.

The store’s loss prevention officer watched Coffey push a shopping cart full of merchandise into the Home Goods department, where he loaded the items into a backpack he had gotten from the Sporting Goods department, the report stated.

When Coffey walked past the checkout and out the door, he was taken into custody and held in the security office until police arrived. Officers found an estimated $9,820 worth of electronics in the backpack, including a Garmin GPS, a Samsung Galaxy tablet and an iPod, investigators said.

Filed Under: Shoplifting Prevention Tagged With: anti-thefts devices, Employee Theft, Loss Prevention Seminar, Loss Prevention Training, Loss Prevention Workshop, retail security, retail security and monitoring

An Unexpected Conversion- Anti Shoplifting

March 19, 2014 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

Retail theft prevention isn’t only about anti shoplifting. It is about the message within the community about how your store goes beyond Checkpoint systems. When your retail theft prevention involves the working knowledge of local laws and ordinances, you might find that there are hidden benefits to help stop shoplifting losses in your stores.

In some states, a felony charge can happen with as little as two hundred dollars. For others, it can be anywhere from five hundred to a thousand dollars. Knowing this information is essential to your retail theft prevention. Additionally, you may be able to include the taxes on the item when you charge a shoplifter. If that is the case (check your local jurisdictions first) then you may be able to increase the severity of the charges.

For example: In one state that I worked, where five hundred dollars in losses was considered felony level theft, we had a very desirable item that was frequently stolen. The cost of this item was four hundred and ninety-five dollars. After conferring with local prosecutors, we discovered we could include the dollar amount of sales tax with the dollar value of the merchandise and it would then exceed the five hundred dollar mark. This converted the shoplifter’s charges from a misdemeanor theft to a felony.

It wasn’t long before the criminal community discovered this change. Shoplifting incidents were greatly reduced at our store as a result.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase Anti-Shoplifting devices and your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system from Checkpoint Systems to stop shoplifting in your store.

For more information on Anti-Shoplifting, Checkpoint Labels, a Checkpoint Security System, Checkpoint Security Tags, Checkpoint Systems, or Checkpoint Tags and how they can work with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system contact us at Retail theft prevention to Stop Shoplifting in your store or call 1.770.426.0547

It wasn’t long before the criminal community discovered this change. Shoplifting incidents were greatly reduced at our store as a result.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase Anti-Shoplifting devices and your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system from Checkpoint Systems to stop shoplifting in your store.

Filed Under: antishoplifting Tagged With: Anti-Shoplifting, Checkpoint labels, checkpoint security system, Checkpoint security tags, checkpoint systems, Checkpoint tags, retail theft prevention, stop shoplifting

Do I Have To? – Loss Prevention Training

March 19, 2014 by Staff Editor

There is only one question that really matters. From the time we are young to the time we are adults, we only want to know one thing- Do we have to do something? This time the question is- do we have to have Loss Prevention Training?

I have always found that having an honest and candid answer is the best way to approach any question. In this case, the answer is NO. No you do not need to have loss prevention training in your stores or businesses.

Many business operate just fine without ever having attended a loss prevention workshop, or having any sort of loss prevention policies in place. If you are even asking the question though, be honest and ask yourself why you are wondering about loss prevention.

Chances are you are looking for ways to reduce some of the costs you are experiencing. It could be as complicated as having an increase in shoplifting or employee theft. It could also be as simple as wanting to be proactive in eliminating operational errors and decreasing accident frequencies.

What ever your reasons, the best resource you have is to attend a loss prevention seminar. The information you get from a seminar can start you and your employees on the road to increased store profitability.

For more information on Loss Prevention Seminars, Loss Prevention Training, or Loss Prevention Workshop contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta Georgia

Visit the Loss Prevention Systems website for more information on Retail Employee Theft and Retail Shoplifting problems and view the Retail Loss Prevention Seminars, Retail Loss Prevention Training and Retail Loss Prevention Workshop we offer to help with your Employee Theft and Shoplifting problems.

Many businesses operate just fine without ever having attended a loss prevention workshop, or having any sort of loss prevention policies in place. If you are even asking the question though, be honest and ask yourself why you are wondering about loss prevention.

For more information on Loss Prevention Seminars, Loss Prevention Training, or Loss Prevention Workshop contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta Georgia

Visit the Loss Prevention Systems for more information on Retail Employee Theft and Retail Shoplifting problems and view the Retail Loss Prevention Seminars, Retail Loss Prevention Training and Retail Loss Prevention Workshop we offer to help with your Employee Theft and Shoplifting problems.

Filed Under: Seminar Tagged With: Employee Theft, Loss Prevention Seminar, Loss Prevention Seminars, Loss Prevention Training, Loss Prevention Workshop, shoplifting

Where Credit is Due- Internal Theft

March 18, 2014 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

A customer who purchases an item, loses or throws out their receipt and later needs to return that item are commonly given a store credit/ merchandise credit. Most customers are generally ok with this because they will either be replacing the item they are returning, or will have other shopping they can do at our store. Employees who complete a return without a receipt are given a store credit also. This can lead to a whole new end game for internal theft.

During an internal theft case, an employee will conduct a fraudulent return. They will be issued a store credit because a no receipt return was done. There is no receipt because there was never a sale to begin with (which is why it is a fraudulent return). The employee will then use the credit to purchase more items.

Frequently they will use their employee discount along with this credit. This can be because they don’t want the cashier to suspect anything when they make their purchase so they use their discount. It can also be out of greed. If they got the store credit for free, why not make it go even further by using the employee discount to get more merchandise even cheaper.

That is were the paper trail of the employee theft investigation begins. We track employee purchases and can also track a merchandise credit’s history. When we see an employee with the credit but no corresponding purchase history, we know something is not right.

For more information on employee theft, employee theft investigation or internal theft contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta Georgia

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase CCTV Systems that can help you stop Employee Theft and Internal Theft problems and help with your Employee Theft Investigation.

For more information on employee theft, employee theft investigation or internal theft contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta Georgia

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase CCTV Systems that can help you stop Employee Theft and Internal Theft problems and help with your Employee Theft Investigation.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: employee theft, employee theft investigation, internal theft

Loss Prevention Tips And Security

March 17, 2014 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

Employee theft is an increasing problem for the retail owner, or big retail stores in the United States and around the globe. The economic conditions of recent years have many employees struggling to support their families and make those conditions excellent excuses for stealing from their employees. Many of the programs that a retail store can implement are lacking, or non -existent. Loyalty programs that offer employees privileges are no longer used, and supervision and security for the work force is negligent. Billions of dollars are lost each year due to employee and shoplifting crime, are you doing the right security for your business? Read more about this by following the links.

7 Steps for the Strongest Retail Loss Prevention System

In the retail industry, theft leads to billions of dollars in lost revenue each year. If you own a shop, it is vital that you develop an integrated plan for loss prevention to avoid becoming a victim. To ensure your plan is effective, make sure it takes into account the seven expert suggestions detailed below.

1. Have Obvious Security

If you want to catch thieves, hiding all of your security measures might be the best strategy, but if you want to deter thieves, you need to make your store appear well defended. While cameras, mirrors and window bars will not stop all thieves, people are much less likely to steal from a store they perceive to be monitored. According to studies, cameras and dummy camera domes are particularly effective for this purpose.

2. Protect Against Internal Theft

Internal theft by employees represents the most significant single component of white-collar crime annually according to the Institute for Financial Crime Prevention. It costs companies billions of dollars each year, yet most store owners do little to prevent theft by their employees.
Minimize your chances of internal loss by investing in access control that is auditable, keeping cash locked in a safe, and only allowing necessary employees access to cash handling areas.

Mature retail loss prevention

The first instances of dedicated loss prevention, or ‘security’ programs being used by retailers dates backs to the early 20th century where there was largely a culture of secrecy aligned to them. This was primarily due to their core objective of ‘catching’ dishonest employees or customers.

For many retailers, limited change in terms of evolution or maturity within their Loss Prevention program has taken place since the start of 20th century. Many retailer’s Loss Prevention programs are still focused on the issues of theft, either by staff or customers, as their sole contribution to their organisation’s efforts to reduce the impact of shrinkage on their profit.

This arguably is in direct contrast to the wider retail industry which has evolved dramatically, particularly during the last 20 years. For example, core functional areas such as Human Resources, IT, Merchandising, Marketing and Supply Chain have all matured in their approaches thereby broadening their value propositions to retailing. More importantly, they have seen that they had to operate outside their traditional thinking and approaches to truly support Retailers. What that said, for a few fortunate Retailers, significant maturing has taken place in their Loss Prevention programs since the start of the 21st century and this maturing has resulted in significant improvements within their shrinkage.

Shoplifter lawsuit highlights retail dilemma

Sometimes it’s better to just let things go.

That could be the mantra for overprotective retail clerks and loss-prevention agents everywhere following a lawsuit in Santa Rosa civil court by a would-be shoplifter who was badly injured when he was tackled by a grocery store manager.

The clash happened July 13, 2011 when plaintiff Johnny Ramirez was stealing a bottle of rum from the Rohnert Park Raley’s, according to a tentative ruling from Sonoma County Superior Court Judge Arthur Wick.

Ramirez tucked the glass bottle into his waistband and ran out the door, only to be stopped by manager Shea Carpenter, who tackled him to the asphalt, Wick wrote.

The bottle broke when he hit the ground, causing injury that required emergency surgery. Ramirez later sued the grocery chain and the manager for monetary damages.

He argued Carpenter acted with negligence because he was aware of the fact that the bottle was in his waistband and could break if he tackled him. Under the law, negligent behavior warrants higher punitive damages.

This week, Judge Wick said there were no grounds for Ramirez to seek punitive damages from the store. But he said Carpenter could be held liable because he knew the consequences of his actions and failed to avoid them.

Filed Under: Shoplifting Prevention Tagged With: anti-thefts devices, Employee Theft, Loss Prevention Seminar, mobile POS loss prevention, retail security and monitoring, Shoplifting Prevention, surveillance