Staff Editor — Page 221

Prevent Shoplifting: How to keep merchandise from getting out he door.

January 15, 2012 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

One of the most challenging goals of any loss prevention program is figuring out how to keep the merchandise in the store. The loss prevention departments in some stores are limited in how much they can see at one time. This creates the need for a subsequent detection and deterrence method. Many loss prevention departments choose to utilize retail anti theft devices.

These devices include; security tags, clothing alarms and security labels. These products provide protection for the merchandise that loss prevention is unable to see. In my many years of working in the loss prevention field I have seen the positive effects of utilizing retail anti theft devices to help prevent shoplifting.

The best way to prevent shoplifting is to focus on eliminating easy targets. These easy targets would be the merchandise in the store that does not have a retail anti theft device either attached to it or integrated into the packaging, if the store has an RF security system. Shoplifters count on being able to be inconspicuous as they steal from you.

Retailers must remove the shoplifter’s ability to blend among their honest customers. It is hard for a shoplifter to be inconspicuous when they are trying to improperly remove a security tag from unpaid for merchandise and when they try and exit the store while a clothing alarm is sounding. Getting all the attention is what shoplifters are trying not to do. The use of anti theft devices forces shoplifters to rethink their plans.

Keeping unpaid for merchandise in the store is the goal of every retailer. This goal is made easier by adding retail anti theft devices to your merchandise protection program. If a retailer is serious about making a profit off the merchandise they sell, they have to prevent shoplifting in their stores. This is an imperative task that all retailers must take on.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store for retail anti theft devices that can help you prevent shoplifting in your business.

For more information on how you can use retail anti theft devices to prevent shoplifting contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Prevent Shoplifting, Retail Anti Theft Devices

Stop Shoplifting: No “Soft Shoe” Dance!

January 15, 2012 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

One of the toughest cases we had when I worked at a large clothing retailer involved a ring of shoe thieves who not only stole but also conducted fraudulent refunds of the stolen product. The strategy to stop shoplifting depends on the type of retailer and the type of product sold at that store. In this case the retailer was caught flat footed since they did not employ any type of anti shoplifting devices in the shoe department. Basically the only tools we had to work with was a two way mirror over the shoe aisle and walking the floor to observe any potential theft. When the thefts occurred and went unnoticed the thieves struck more often with aggressive boldness. A meeting with the store management team to promote floor awareness brought about several questions as to employing newer technology to stop shoplifting. One suggestion was to use an EAS company called Checkpoint. They used RF technology via rf security labels and rf security tags. The main issue was to figure out whether to use the Checkpoint security tags or the checkpoint labels or both.

An rf label is a sturdy sticker with rf technology that can be attached to flat surfaces and hidden so as to not alert a would be thief. The checkpoint labels could be used on women’s dress shoes since there is really no where to attach checkpoint security tags. A rf label could be placed on the bottom of the shoe or inside the shoe. Using the RF labels in this fashion was the first step in our strategy to stop this ring of thieves. A decision was made to place the checkpoint labels on the bottom of every “right” footed women’s dress shoe. One additional step was taken for the very expensive women’s shoes and that was to place a lanyard though the loop or strap at the end of the shoe and attach checkpoint security tags. This was in addition to the rf labels attached to the bottom of the shoes. This process was tough to start but once in place was not to hard to audit and maintain.

The next area of concern was men’s dress shoes, which again, because of the several different types of shoes required a though process as to whether we had to use the rf security labels or the rf security tags or a combination of both the checkpoint labels and checkpoint security tags. The initial thought was to use the rf security tags on the right foot of every shoe by placing them through the top “eyelet” of shoes that had to be tied. In recent fashion trends more men’s shoes simply slip on requiring no fastening of any kind. This warranted us to place a rf label on the bottom of each right footed shoe, just like the women’s slip on shoes. Unlike may of the expensive women’s shoes these types of men’s slip on shoes did not have a place to put a lanyard or tag so it was decided to place rf security labels inside the men’s right shoe. Keeping all the rf labels and rf security tags on the right shoes made it less complicated for the store staff to attach, audit and remove.

The remaining area of concern was men and women’s sneakers which were much easier to secure by using the checkpoint security tags and when needed lanyards. All were secure through the “eyelet” of the right shoe. RF security labels were also hidden within the right shoe of the most expensive sneakers.

Tagging and floor awareness cut back the ring of thieves almost immediately. The process of the initial tagging and training was an investment of time and money that in the end helped the company cut 70% of the inventory loss in the shoe category. The fraudulent refunds were also shut down since the thieves no longer were able to steal the shoes and then return them fraudulently. Having a tagging strategy and ensuring the entire store staff knew how to tag, how to audit and how to remove the tags put us well on our way to achieve the true goal to stop shoplifting.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase Checkpoint labels, Checkpoint security tags, and other RF labels that can help you stop shoplifting in your business.

For more information on Checkpoint labels, Checkpoint security tags, RF labels, RF security labels, RF security tags and how to stop shoplifting contact us at RF label or call

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Checkpoint labels, Checkpoint security tags, RF label, RF labels, RF security labels, RF security tags, stop shoplifting

Employee Theft: There Is No Such Thing as a Free Lunch.-Atlanta Georgia

January 15, 2012 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

Businesses are facing the growing problem of employees taking advantage of their employers. In my extensive experience in the retail sector, I have seen some brazen acts of internal theft perpetrated against employers. Internal theft or employee theft occurs when an agent or employee of a company steals from the company. Internal theft was by far one of the most costly forms of theft I have seen in all my years working as a loss prevention manager.

I remember a case of employee theft where I began an employee theft investigation based on a tip I received from another associate. The employee theft investigation focused on cash shortages. I noticed that there was a pattern of small cash shortages occurring every time a specific associate worked. During the employee theft investigation I learned that the associate would always do a no sale and open the drawer just before leaving to go to lunch. I decided to conduct video surveillance of the associate and saw that when she did the no sale, she would remove cash from the drawer.

Once I had concluded the employee theft investigation and brought the associate in for an interview the associate was told that they was seen removing money from the register and not placing it back into the register. The associate admitted that they were taking the money out of the register and they used the money to buy their lunch. The associate said they started doing this shortly after they began working. The associate admitted to employee theft in the amount $300.00 in cash. The associate had only been with the company a couple of months and was well on their way of costing the company thousands in cash losses. It is unlikely that the associate would have not escalated the theft to begin taking merchandise as well.

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

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

Focus on customers not shoplifters with a Checkpoint Security System!

January 13, 2012 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

Great customer service drives retail businesses. Without great service, customers won’t want to come back and continuing buying your merchandise. But how can you deliver great service if all of your focus is on shoplifters and potential thieves? Allow Checkpoint security tags to deter the shoplifters and free you up to deliver the service that will drive customers to come back time and time again.

A few days ago at a store neighboring my work, a shoplifter ran out with several pairs of jeans that had no Checkpoint security tags. The associates and managers were in a panic outside of the store calling the police and attempting to describe what the thief looked like as he ran down the street with their clothes. I couldn’t help but wonder how many potential customers could have received great customer service in the time the associates were busy with the thief. They could have sold hundreds of dollars worth of merchandise if only they had retail theft prevention.

Occurrences such as the one above could have easily been prevented had that store installed a Checkpoint security system. Installing Checkpoint security tags and other anti shoplifting devices by Checkpoint systems throughout your store can free up your associates to fully focus on the customer. Not only can taking anti shoplifting measures such as those described above deter shoplifters, they have minimal interference to the customer who can simply take them to the register to have the Checkpoint security tags removed at the time of purchase.

Don’t be the store that is not protected. Install anti shoplifting devices by Checkpoint systems on your merchandise and allow your associates to focus on the customer.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase retail anti theft devices from Checkpoint Systems.

For more information on Anti Shoplifting , Checkpoint Security System or Checkpoint Security Tags contact us at Retail theft prevention or call 1.770.426.0547

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

Pre employment screening: Taking a Proactive Approach to Business Losses

January 13, 2012 by Staff Editor

Pre employment screening is quickly becoming the industry standard for hiring in the retail industry. Many leading retail companies are using every measure available to ensure that quality employees hired. Pre employment screening most often consists of: criminal background checks, employee background checks, and general background checks. The aim of these checks is to eliminate any negative employees from an organization. While many of these larger retailers employ a department to conduct these background checks, criminal background checks and employee background checks, smaller organizations can resource background check companies and background check experts.

Background check companies and background check experts can provide the smaller business a cost effective approach to quality hiring practices. Having worked in a managerial loss prevention capacity for large organizations and worked in a small family business, I can attest the importance of pre employment screening. While managing a regional team for a large organization, I was tasked with hiring and maintaining employee head count. I used a background check company to process the new employee information. On one occasion the background check revealed a employee that had an extensive felony record. This information was not provided during the hiring interview. As one could imagine, this person was not hired. It’s because of the background check company and their background check experts, that we were able to remove the offer of employment.

Many small business owners will say, “Well I can’t afford this service.” The fact of the matter is, that while background checks, criminal background checks, employee background checks, and pre employment screening is a cost, a bad employee can cause a much greater financial loss. The difference is one is controllable and the other is not.

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: background check company, Background checks, criminal background check, employee background checks, pre employment screening, test

EASy bottle security is EASY!

January 13, 2012 by Staff Editor

One of the easiest ways to protect your profits is by using EASy bottle locks. Positive sales growth can be achieved by protecting your assets and EASy bottle locks will do just that.

As a long time employee of the retail environment, I have seen pretty successful companies relate their positive liquor sales to protecting their merchandise and providing bottle security. From convenience stores, to the giant supermarkets, protecting your merchandise should be an easy choice.

The first time I had seen a bottle lock, I was working in a chain of grocery stores that had just obtained their liquor license. They were green, to say the least, and didn’t really have any idea about bottle security. None-the-less, they pushed out the merchandise and looked for the sales. After about a month, they looked at received merchandise, in-stock items and sales. Not much was making sense as sales were low, receivables were high and in-stock was low. Something was happening. After our loss prevention investigation, it was clear to us that the loss was coming from bottle security, resulting in theft. We recommended a bottle security program designed to impact loss and sustain profitability. We installed EASy bottle locks on many items above a certain price point or ones that we deemed a risk a monitored the growth and activity. Shrink was reduced, and the growth for this retailer looks very good.

It’s seems so simple to think that an item like a bottle lock can provide the necessary amount of protection for merchandise. If you have a problem with loss in your liquor department, look at using a bottle lock.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase products by Alpha Security.

For more information on Bottle Lock, Bottle Security or EASy Bottle contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

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

Bottle Locks in Action.

January 13, 2012 by Staff Editor

While preparing for my Thanksgiving dinner, I stopped into the local liquor store to see what their wine selection looked like. Having spent the last decade in Loss Prevention, my attention was drawn to a group in the corner of the store. They had rather hushed voices, and rather large bags with them. I noticed that they seemed to be having a debate because of something on the bottle. I noticed it was an EASy Bottle bottle lock by Alpha security.

It was pretty clear, at least to me, that they were not anticipating any sort of bottle security. As they started to deliberate over how to go about circumventing the bottle lock, an employee came around the corner. Quickly, they left the five or six bottles of liquor in the corner and left the building.

Now, I don’t know if the employee had any clue what was going on. I do know that the EASy Bottle did its part. The bottle security worked just like it was supposed to, and prevented a theft from occurring.

Liquor bottle security doesn’t have to be some complicated process of cabinets or security guards keeping a watchful eye. All it takes sometimes is the simplicity of bottle locks and the moment of time to install them.

I was able to see first hand how simple it is. Bravo to the shopkeeper who invested in liquor bottle security. Bravo!

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase EASy Bottle bottle locks by Alpha Security.

For more information on Alpha Security , Bottle Lock , Bottle locks , Bottle Security , liquor bottle security or EASy Bottle contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

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

Shark Tags are a great clothing security option.

January 13, 2012 by Staff Editor

There are many different types of clothing security tags on the market today. One new option in clothing security is called a Shark Tag and is produced by Alpha Security. Many stores now face a problem commonly known as “wardrobing”. This is the practice of purchasing clothes for a single event with the intention of returning the item after it has served its purpose. This is hard to combat as it requires arguing with the customer over whether the product has been worn or not (even though usually it reeks of perfume and body odor). The items generally cannot be resold because they smell or have been damaged and this leaves the store with a loss. Enter the Shark Tag. These clothing security tags clamp onto the product (without leaving holes) and has to be removed by the customer before they can wear it. If the customer tries to return the product without the Shark Tag then you can easily refuse the refund without much fuss. With prom season in the foreseeable future this ought to get the attention of many retailers.

Another option for putting security tags on clothes is to go with classic Checkpoint tags. These clothing security devices work with a clothing alarm to alert you to possible theft. In many cases it is wise to use your Checkpoint tags with your Shark Tags so you battle both fronts. The clothing alarm will alert you to possible theft, while the Shark Tags protect you from refund fraud. Both of these methods of applying security tags to clothes are great options to help you improve your bottom line by reducing shrink.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase a clothing alarm or clothing security tags.

For more information on clothing alarm, Checkpoint tags, clothing security, or clothing security tags 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

Anti Theft Devices: A safer way to protect your profits and your people.

January 13, 2012 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

After 10 years of working in the loss prevention field, I have seen it all. I have seen shoplifters enter the store with nothing and leave out with multiple bags full of merchandise. This meant that they not only left out the store with stolen merchandise, but they also stole the shopping bags they put the merchandise into. Time and time again, one thing continues to be true. I learned that shoplifters always went for the easy stuff.

The merchandise that was not protected by a retail anti theft devices was considered the easy stuff. In my stores I saw that the majority of shoplifters I would detain shoplifted this merchandise more often than any other merchandise in the store. Often times the merchandise that was taken was not the merchandise the shoplifter planned on shoplifting, as they would admit during the interview and processing of the shoplifter that had been detained. They admitted that they would see the security tag and simply find something else to steal. They also stated that the retail anti theft devices were impossible to remove without damaging the merchandise or injuring themselves.

This leads me to believe that I could prevent shoplifting in other areas of the store, by increasing the use of security tags on other merchandise. I wanted to try and prevent shoplifting in the store and prevent some of the dangerous confrontations I had been having. Shoplifters are not as cooperative as one might think and often they do not give up without some resistance. So, in an effort to prevent shoplifting and injury to myself, I began placing retail anti theft devices on more and more merchandise in the store. The plan worked. I saw a decrease in the number of shoplifters I was catching and I saw a tremendous decrease in inventory shortages.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store for retail anti theft devices that can help you prevent shoplifting in your business.

For more information on how you can use retail anti theft devices to prevent shoplifting contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Prevent Shoplifting, Retail Anti Theft Devices

Tags VS Labels

January 13, 2012 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

I recently purchased a new winter coat at a national chain retailer. While the store was packed with people and very few associates around, I surprisingly found great service at the check out. Hidden in a pocket on the inside of my new coat was a Checkpoint label. The cashier knew too look for it, point it out to me, and then made sure I knew to remove the RF security label before I wore the coat. I never would have known it was there, if it wasn’t for the cashier.

After I got home, I started thinking about what a great deterrent to stop shoplifting the RF label was. When word gets out to the thieves in the community that there are hidden RF security tags and RF labels on the merchandise, well! If I were a shoplifter, I wouldn’t even dare try to steal from that store.

The RF label was so discreet, I had no idea it was there. It didn’t even occur to me that I wasn’t fighting some bulky Checkpoint security tag. I tried the coat on and didn’t worry about a hard tag in my sleeve or fighting with one on the zipper. While there are times that RF security tags are a better solution for merchandise, this time the use of an RF Label made it so easy for me to shop! I am glad this retailer knew the appropriate uses for their anti shoplifting devices.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase Checkpoint labels, Checkpoint security tags, and other RF labels that can help you stop shoplifting in your business.

For more information on Checkpoint labels, Checkpoint security tags, RF labels, RF security labels, RF security tags and how to stop shoplifting contact us at RF label or call 1.770.426.0547

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Checkpoint labels, Checkpoint security tags, RF label, RF labels, RF security labels, RF security tags, stop shoplifting