A Hot Topic- Retail Theft Prevention

February 20, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Anti shoplifting was always a hot topic for a fellow manager and I. We used to share stories and exchange thoughts on how to approach certain situations in the workplace. He firmly believed in managing to the small things. If you could manage the little things that went on, the big things would take care of themselves.
I always had a hard time believing him. I spent most of my time running around putting out fires- taking care of the big things, as it were. My retail theft prevention revolved around apprehending the shoplifters who were brazenly taking the large (expensive) items right out the door. I didn’t have “time” to deal with the small little things.
After a while, I began to get frustrated because I felt like I did stop shoplifting in the store, but the thefts kept coming. I knew I needed a new way to stop shoplifting on a more permanent basis.
I decided to try my friend’s advice and focus on the little things. Instead of watching the big items, my checkpoint systems was focused on reducing the shoplifters who were testing the waters by stealing items that easily went unnoticed. I made sure my retail theft prevention sent a clear message that the small items were alarmed and tagged.
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

Anti shoplifting was always a hot topic for a fellow manager and I. We used to share stories and exchange thoughts on how to approach certain situations in the workplace. He firmly believed in managing to the small things. If you could manage the little things that went on, the big things would take care of themselves.

I always had a hard time believing him. I spent most of my time running around putting out fires- taking care of the big things, as it were. My retail theft prevention revolved around apprehending the shoplifters who were brazenly taking the large (expensive) items right out the door. I didn’t have “time” to deal with the small little things.

After a while, I began to get frustrated because I felt like I did stop shoplifting in the store, but the thefts kept coming. I knew I needed a new way to stop shoplifting on a more permanent basis.

I decided to try my friend’s advice and focus on the little things. Instead of watching the big items, my retail theft prevention sent a clear message that the small items were alarmed and tagged.

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

 

Filed Under: antishoplifting Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Return Fraud With The Tags- Alpha Shark Tags

February 20, 2014 by Leave a Comment
I had an employee who was going to start a new job with a different company. She needed business attire but didn’t have the money to completely replace her entire wardrobe. So she came up with a plan to save money and have the clothes she needed. It wasn’t wardrobing, but it was still return fraud.
She started to buy the clothes from our store with her employee discount. They had the regular EAS tags and the Alpha Shark tags. At the purchase, the EAS tags came off, and the Alpha Shark tags stayed on. This was the normal checkout procedure.
Later she would come back to the store with the empty shopping bag. She would walk around the store and put identical items of the clothes she purchased into the bag and then return them with her receipt.
The returns employee never thought otherwise because she had a receipt and the wardrobing tags were still attached. The returns associates were more concerned with wardrobing and forgot that return fraud can still happen even if the wardrobing tags are still attached to the clothing.
It wasn’t after we noticed that she was returning 100% of her purchases that we started to investigate. Sure enough it was a case of return fraud that had been overlooked because we were only focused on wardrobing retail.
Visit the Loss Prevention Store for more information on or to purchase
Wardrobing, Wardrobing Tags, Wardrobing Retail, Alpha Shark Tags,
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 Wardrobing tags, Alpha Shark Tags, Wardrobing, or
Wardrobing Retail contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

I had an employee who was going to start a new job with a different company. She needed business attire but didn’t have the money to completely replace her entire wardrobe. So she came up with a plan to save money and have the clothes she needed. It wasn’t wardrobing, but it was still return fraud.

She started to buy the clothes from our store with her employee discount. They had the regular EAS tags and the Alpha Shark tags. At the purchase, the EAS tags came off, and the Alpha Shark tags stayed on. This was the normal checkout procedure.

Later she would come back to the store with the empty shopping bag. She would walk around the store and put identical items of the clothes she purchased into the bag and then return them with her receipt.

The returns employee never thought otherwise because she had a receipt and the wardrobing tags were still attached. The returns associates were more concerned with wardrobing and forgot that return fraud can still happen even if the wardrobing tags are still attached to the clothing.

It wasn’t after we noticed that she was returning 100% of her purchases that we started to investigate. Sure enough it was a case of return fraud that had been overlooked because we were only focused on wardrobing retail.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store for more information on or to purchase Wardrobing, Wardrobing Tags, Wardrobing Retail, Alpha Shark Tags,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 Wardrobing tags, Alpha Shark Tags, Wardrobing, or Wardrobing Retail contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: , , ,

How to Kite a Check- Internal Theft

February 20, 2014 by Leave a Comment
When an employee needs to supplement their income between paychecks years ago, they would often float or kite a check. They didn’t really think of it as a form of internal theft because these employees viewed it as a loan of sorts.
Here’s how it worked.
An employee would write a check and get cash. They would not have enough money in their bank account to cover the dollar amount of the check. So the cash they got from the check would get deposited into their account.
Deposits would post faster than it would take the check to clear, however, they still needed to cover the bad check they had written.
They would write a second check and get cash. Then they would deposit that cash into their accounts. This cash would be enough to cover the first check, but not the second. So they would have to do it again, and again…
This would be a way to supplement their account in between paychecks. Once they had their paycheck deposited, the paycheck would cover the bad checks that had been written.
It is rare that we see employee theft investigations for bad checks these days.
What we do see is the same process with deposits. Cash is taken out of a deposit and cash from the next day’s deposit covers it up. They will take the money out of each deposit until they can make up the difference with their paychecks.
Generally we figure out the internal theft because something happens to break the cycle. If an employee falls ill or quits, the money to cover the previous day’s loan is not there and the money shows up missing.
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.

When an employee needs to supplement their income between paychecks years ago, they would often float or kite a check. They didn’t really think of it as a form of internal theft because these employees viewed it as a loan of sorts.

Here’s how it worked.

An employee would write a check and get cash. They would not have enough money in their bank account to cover the dollar amount of the check. So the cash they got from the check would get deposited into their account.

Deposits would post faster than it would take the check to clear, however, they still needed to cover the bad check they had written.

They would write a second check and get cash. Then they would deposit that cash into their accounts. This cash would be enough to cover the first check, but not the second. So they would have to do it again, and again…

This would be a way to supplement their account in between paychecks. Once they had their paycheck deposited, the paycheck would cover the bad checks that had been written.

It is rare that we see employee theft investigations for bad checks these days.

What we do see is the same process with deposits. Cash is taken out of a deposit and cash from the next day’s deposit covers it up. They will take the money out of each deposit until they can make up the difference with their paychecks.

Generally we figure out the internal theft because something happens to break the cycle. If an employee falls ill or quits, the money to cover the previous day’s loan is not there and the money shows up missing.

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: , ,

What Comes Next? – EASy Bottle

February 18, 2014 by

Are you worried about bottle security set up so your employees know that you are watching out for more than just shoplifters? If not, maybe you should rethink a few things.

I was recently asked to do a consultation for a liquor store. They were showing all of the typical signs of theft. Their profits were starting to decrease as their inventory costs were going up inexplicably. They noticed a change in the customers that were coming in, but the sales never seemed to justify their presence.

At the end of my consultation, we had determined that the store had two employees stealing from them. Both employees were passing bottles to their friends and family, a buy one get five free sort of deal. It was several thousands of dollars worth of inventory gone.

When I talked to the owner, he seemed to be happy because the employees would be prosecuted and then he thought he would get all of his money back, not exactly.  I had a conversation with him about what comes next. First they need to be convicted in a court. That could take months. Then they would have to arrange a payment schedule for restitution. It’s not like the employee is just going to write a check for the total amount. Keep in mind, if they serve time, they are not employed and have no way to pay the money back.

We looked more closely at his bottle security and added the EASy Bottle, by Alpha Security, for their bottle locks. Now all of the high dollar liquor that was walking out the door has to have a manager validate the sale and take the bottle locks off.

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 

Filed Under: Security Tagged With: , , , , ,

A Little Peer Pressure- Checkpoint tags

February 18, 2014 by Leave a Comment
How do checkpoint tags work against employee theft when they know everything about them? It might seem like it would be the opposite- an anti deterrent, if you will. Employees know all of our secrets; they hold the bag of tricks.
They have a full awareness of how clothing security tags work, where the clothing alarm is, and how to deactivate them. With all of that knowledge and insight, wouldn’t it be easier for the employees to work around the clothing security?
The answer lies with all of the employees having this same knowledge. That means for an employee to go up to a register to deactivate a tag and there are no customers around, or they don’t deactivate a tag and set the alarm off- employees will notice.
Trust me, your employees see more than what they often admit to. They take note when employees are late to work or take longer/ too many breaks.
They know when someone is slacking and when someone is pulling their weight.
They will know when an employee is doing something they shouldn’t.
Even though these employees may not recognize that they are witnessing employee theft, they will recognize something as wrong. It is this peer pressure that is tied to the security tags on clothes that makes this deterrent work.
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

How do checkpoint tags work against employee theft when they know everything about them? It might seem like it would be the opposite- an anti deterrent, if you will. Employees know all of our secrets; they hold the bag of tricks.

They have a full awareness of how clothing security tags work, where the clothing alarm is, and how to deactivate them. With all of that knowledge and insight, wouldn’t it be easier for the employees to work around the clothing security?

The answer lies with all of the employees having this same knowledge. That means for an employee to go up to a register to deactivate a tag and there are no customers around, or they don’t deactivate a tag and set the alarm off- employees will notice.

Trust me, your employees see more than what they often admit to. They take note when employees are late to work or take longer/ too many breaks.

They know when someone is slacking and when someone is pulling their weight.

They will know when an employee is doing something they shouldn’t.
Even though these employees may not recognize that they are witnessing security tags on clothes that makes this deterrent work.

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: , , , ,

Reduce Your Costs – Loss Prevention Seminars

February 18, 2014 by

Many businesses operate just fine without ever attending any sort of loss prevention seminars, or having any type of loss prevention policies in place. Be honest with yourself and ask why you are wondering about loss prevention.

Chances are you are looking for ways to reduce some of the costs you are experiencing. They could also be as simple as wanting to be proactive in eliminating operational errors and decreasing accident frequencies. They could also be as complicated as having an increase in employee theft or shoplifting. Hopefully the shoplifting is not completely out of control before you decide to make changes.
What ever your reasons, the best resource you have is to attend a loss prevention workshop. The information you get from a workshop can start you and your employees on the road to increased store profitability.
Attending a loss prevention workshop will give you some basics that you need to understand the loss prevention training. It also provides an environment that you can ask specific question to help tailor this training to your business’s specific concerns and issues.
Loss prevention seminars are geared toward helping you reduce the extraneous costs in your business. An effective set of loss prevention policies will also help you maintain your lower costs on a long-term basis while making it easier to increase your overall 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 attending any sort of loss prevention seminars, or having any type of loss prevention policies in place. Be honest with yourself and ask why you are wondering about loss prevention.

Chances are you are looking for ways to reduce some of the costs you are experiencing. They could also be as simple as wanting to be proactive in eliminating operational errors and decreasing accident frequencies. They could also be as complicated as having an increase in employee theft or shoplifting. Hopefully the shoplifting is not completely out of control before you decide to make changes.

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

Attending a loss prevention workshop will give you some basics that you need to understand the loss prevention training. It also provides an environment that you can ask specific question to help tailor this training to your business’s specific concerns and issues.

Loss prevention seminars are geared toward helping you reduce the extraneous costs in your business. An effective set of loss prevention policies will also help you maintain your lower costs on a long-term basis while making it easier to increase your overall 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.

Filed Under: Seminar Tagged With: , , , , ,

Red Means Stop- Alpha Shark Tag

February 18, 2014 by Leave a Comment
The Alpha Security Alpha Shark Tag is a small plastic tag that attaches to the front of a garment in a very conspicuous place. By design, these retail anti theft devices are designed to be a deterrent against customers who want to “wardrobe” an item. That means the consumer intends to buy a piece of clothing with the sole intent on wearing it once and then returning the item with a receipt for a full refund.
To prevent wardrobing, the store posts a visible return policy stating that the Alpha Shark Tag must be present and undamaged for a full refund to occur. If the customer tries to remove the tag, they will not be able to return the item without visible damage to the tag. 
Additionally, an unsuspecting shoplifter might bypass such an item because they assume the tags are also designed as a retail anti theft device. Just like certain items found in nature, the red color of the Alpha Shark Tag means stop. It can prevent shoplifting because the red color can be spotted far enough away from the clothing that the shoplifter might think it is another visual deterrent.
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 

The Alpha Security Alpha Shark Tag is a small plastic tag that attaches to the front of a garment in a very conspicuous place. By design, these retail anti theft devices are designed to be a deterrent against customers who want to “wardrobe” an item. That means the consumer intends to buy a piece of clothing with the sole intent on wearing it once and then returning the item with a receipt for a full refund.

To prevent wardrobing, the store posts a visible return policy stating that the Alpha Shark Tag must be present and undamaged for a full refund to occur. If the customer tries to remove the tag, they will not be able to return the item without visible damage to the tag. 

Additionally, an unsuspecting shoplifter might bypass such an item because they assume the tags are also designed as a retail anti theft device. Just like certain items found in nature, the red color of the Alpha Shark Tag means stop. It can prevent shoplifting because the red color can be spotted far enough away from the clothing that the shoplifter might think it is another visual deterrent.

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: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Internal Housekeeping – Employee Background Check

February 16, 2014 by

Having an employee referral program has many benefits for an employer. Amongst those benefits is access to an applicant pool that might have previously been untapped. However, if those employee referrals are from employees who are foreign nationals, it is imperative to conduct pre-employment screening.

Let me make it clear that there is absolutely nothing wrong with hiring employees who are not natural citizens. It is simply a reality that there are some illegal immigrants who steal or borrow social security numbers to gain employment here in the States. Conducting a background check that involves a social security number trace could be beneficial to your hiring process.

No matter what an applicant says or shows you for proof, it is still the responsibility of the employer not to hire illegal immigrants. A background check can help you to sort out the truth. If the trace shows something that seems suspicious like multiple employments in multiple states, or just simultaneous employments, you might need further research on this applicant.

Having background check experts run social security traces is a good way to run an accurate background check. These background check experts will have a better chance of determining if something is suspicious, and how to proceed further.

They will also know how to legally handle the situation if the applicant is using a stolen social security number. Law enforcement will need to be involved in any identity theft situations, even if the owner of the social security number’s credit or finances were not involved.

To purchase Pre-Employment Screening Services or for more information on background check experts, background checks, criminal background checks, employee background checks or pre employment screening contact us at the background check company or call 1.770.426.0547

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , ,

Keeping Up With The Technology- Prevent Retail Theft

February 15, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Before the widespread use of retail theft devices like Checkpoint labels and Checkpoint  tags, inventory shrink losses skyrocketed out of control. After the implementation of retail theft devices, some retailers saw inventory shrink numbers decrease by up to eighty percent!
That is a significant reduction. Imagine any retailer, or small business that has an eighty percent turnaround to their bottom line profits. Those results are astounding.
To be able to make such an enormous impact from the simple addition of retail theft devices is a huge win. As small business owners, we all look to find ways to create those positive impacts on our businesses. It’s nice to be able to find a proven way to change our world for the better.
Looking at the world and seeing the information and products available literally, at our fingertips, it is quite a phenomenon. All of these wonderful new gadgets and gizmos designed just to prevent retail theft. By keeping up with the current technology, we can maintain enormous success with inventory control
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

Before the widespread use of retail theft devices like Checkpoint labels and Checkpoint  tags, inventory shrink losses skyrocketed out of control. After the implementation of retail theft devices, some retailers saw inventory shrink numbers decrease by up to eighty percent!

That is a significant reduction. Imagine any retailer, or small business that has an eighty percent turnaround to their bottom line profits. Those results are astounding.

To be able to make such an enormous impact from the simple addition of retail theft devices is a huge win. As small business owners, we all look to find ways to create those positive impacts on our businesses. It’s nice to be able to find a proven way to change our world for the better.

Looking at the world and seeing the information and products available literally, at our fingertips, it is quite a phenomenon. All of these wonderful new gadgets and gizmos designed just to prevent retail theft. By keeping up with the current technology, we can maintain enormous success with inventory control.

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

 

Filed Under: antishoplifting Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Electronic Article Surveillance

February 14, 2014 by Leave a Comment

theft (10)The early experimentation with electronic article surveillance (EAS) began with the prerecorded entertainment industry around the 1980’s.  The implementation of EAS in stores with high shrinkage if well implemented gave extraordinary results. The shrinkage rates were reduced from 40 t0 50% in one year, thus gave the explosive growth of the installation of EAS. After 20 years of developing better EAS, retailers are still fighting against organized shoplifting.

Please read more about this topic by following the links below.

What is source tagging ?

What is source tagging ?
As its name implies, source tagging is the embedding of disposable RF security labels at either the point of manufacture or packaging. Source tagging has been highly successful in the packaged products industry, and retailers, such as discount giant Target, are starting to use it for merchandise such as earrings, apparel, shoes, batteries, videocassettes, audiotapes, computer software, sporting goods and electronics. (Retailers’ interest in source tagging has increased as shoplifters have gotten around anti-shoplifting tags applied to the outside of packages by removing the product and leaving the empty box on the shelf!)

The newest source tags are paper-thin and easily integrated into automated production processes. These tags are applied in primary packaging (or within or on the product itself — for example, incorporated into woven garment tags) and under labels on bottles. Checkpoint experts say their two-dimensional source tags can be invisibly embedded between layers of thin paper stock or cardboard on standard blister packages. These invisible tags, which are deactivated by the clerk with a verifier that needs no physical contact with the tag to work, are especially effective at addressing employee theft and represent a hot topic in retail security today.

EAS Source Tagging 20-Plus Years of Innovation

Every so often, a simple idea catches the imagination, fervor, and engagement of a group of people and is developed into a successful practice that revolutionizes a business. Electronic article surveillance (EAS) source tagging is definitely one of those.

This story commemorates the evolution of source tagging with The Home Depot USA’s 1994 signing and execution of the world’s first contracts committing to the protection of merchandise with a disposable EAS label procured and affixed directly on the merchandise solely by consumer-products manufacturers or their packagers, rather than by in-store labor. That year about 70 million EAS labels were purchased by a few brave consumer-products companies who had been persuaded to participate by Home Depot’s senior merchandisers, operations, and loss prevention management. Almost simultaneously, BJ’s Wholesale Club completed the same process.

These rollouts, and those following closely thereafter, were the culmination of years of oscillating momentum shifts, frenzied product development, cutthroat competition, legal battles, moral suasion, testing and re-testing, apathy, and resistance. The sweat, tears, and eventual cheers wrought significant changes in the way loss prevention practitioners battled shoplifters. More importantly, source tagging stimulated profitable cross-functional cooperation among business partners that flourishes in retail to this day.

Tough times trigger shoplifting epidemic as organised gangs steal valuable goods to order

Britain’s retailers are experiencing an epidemic of shoplifting, fuelled by the economic downturn and organised crime gangs stealing valuable merchandise to order by travelling large distances to major shopping centres.

Theft from shops climbed to a nine-year high last year and the value of goods taken in each incident increased by nearly two thirds as retailers face a £511 million annual bill for criminality targeting their businesses, including rising online fraud and robbery.

The British Retail Consortium’s annual crime survey also exposes a lack of confidence in police to tackle theft from shops with more than 90 per cent of all shoplifting offences going unreported by store and prosecution rates of fraudsters considered “woeful”.

The sharp increase in theft by customers, which accounts for 82 per cent of all crime against stores, coincides with evidence of an increase in so-called “poverty crime” with food and alcohol being stolen in areas of high deprivation.

Filed Under: Shoplifting Prevention Tagged With: , , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »