Staff Editor — Page 225

Shoplifting and How To Prevent It.

January 3, 2012 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

Shoplifting has a significant impact on the retail industry. While the true figure is debated by the leading retail industry organization, it is known that it is a multi-billion dollar business in itself. As a result of this activity, many industry leaders have invested in resources to prevent shoplifting.

These investments have come as direct result of the impact of shortage, which is made up of shoplifting, internal theft and operational error. While internal theft and operational error impact the business, this article will focus on preventing shoplifting and the retail anti theft devices used. To prevent shoplifting, a business leader needs to first identify how the losses are occurring. Once the method is identified, the leader can then implement the use of retail anti theft devices. These retail anti theft devices can be CCTV systems, RF tags, clothing article security tags, and remote monitoring systems. These Retail anti theft devices can have a significant impact to prevent shoplifting. To effectively use retail anti theft devices and prevent shoplifting, the retail leader should compare their shortage number before and after the use of retail anti theft devices.

To prevent shoplifting the use of retail anti theft devices can act as a part of an overall loss prevention strategy. Retail anti theft devices are so effective in preventing shoplifting, that I have seen high shortage stores effectively reduce levels to below industry and national standards within a years inventory cycle.

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

RF labels help stop shoplifting

January 3, 2012 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

It’s true. When properly executed, RF security labels can help stop shoplifting. It’s no secret, shoplifter’s desire privacy and ease of action. They don’t want any witnesses nor any attention. Using RF labels takes away their privacy and makes it more difficult to get in and out of your stores un-noticed.

A former retailer I worked with had a huge problem with shoplifters. It was a small chain of drug stores selling general merchandise. They needed a way to control the amount of product loss through their doors. They initially had a manager stand at the front of the store, as sort of a customer service greeter, however, quickly found this to be a very costly and ineffective effort. The manager was constantly away from the door, dealing with customer service related issues, stocking shelves and handling administrative issues. I recommended they test out an RF label program, like Checkpoint Security tags to help stop shoplifting.

The owners were somewhat reluctant and felt the return on the investment might not be there. After more conversation, and a demonstration of how exactly RF security tags worked, they agreed. RF security tags were placed on a test class of high shrink/theft merchandise. An RF label like Checkpoint labels is a small discreet way to help stop shoplifting and can be extremely effective when used properly. Each RF label was affixed to merchandise, maintaining the integrity of the manufacturer’s label.

The design of Checkpoint security tags and Checkpoint labels is designed to not only activate the pedestal monitoring system but to be an obvious visible deterrent as well. Going back to shoplifters and privacy, when a shoplifter is confronted with visible Checkpoint labels on merchandise, the shoplifter is less likely to wanna spend any time attempting to defeat the RF label. Make no mistake; Checkpoint labels and RF security labels are effective methods to control loss.

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

Anti shoplifting devices for clothes is a must.

January 1, 2012 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

There are many types of retailers in the market place today, but one that gets hit perhaps the hardest is soft line retailers. Clothes represent one of the largest segments of retail so it stands to reason that it is significantly impacted by theft. In order to incorporate retail theft prevention into the business plan, stores must utilize anti shoplifting systems to help fight the theft epidemic.

There are many different anti shoplifting systems on the market all aimed at assisting stores in their retail theft prevention plight. One solution that I recommend is the Checkpoint Security System. A Checkpoint Security System is a good choice for several reasons. For one, Checkpoint systems are reliable. Like any investment in your business you expect longevity in your systems. Checkpoint systems have stood the test of time for many retailers so I am confident they will for your business as well. A second reason to use Checkpoint systems is that they are always evolving with the times. Checkpoint understands that technology does not stand still and they constantly work to provide solutions that work for today and tomorrow.

The Checkpoint security tags are a perfect example of this last concept. We are all aware of the old sensor tags that utilize a pin and a label to puncture the clothes and make the alarm sound. This is a great system and one that still works today, but the Checkpoint systems technology goes far beyond this basic concept. You can now have Checkpoint security tags woven into the clothes. You can get Checkpoint security tags that have ink packets to prevent tampering. You can even get adhesive Checkpoint security tags to put on all your boxed product. The options are endless and the retail theft prevention tangible. All you have to do try it.

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

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

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

AntiShoplifting.net

January 1, 2012 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

Visit the Retail Loss Prevention Store for all of your Anti-Shoplifting Needs.

Filed Under: antishoplifting

Employee theft of cash – Atlanta Georgia

January 1, 2012 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

Employees can steal anything, but nothing is more sought after than cold hard cash. Employee theft (also called internal theft) of cash is perhaps the most common theft that I investigate. The reason two fold. First, merchandise can have limited functionality to the thief, but cash can be used for anything. Secondly, there are more ways to steal cash than merchandise.

Internal theft of merchandise is generally straight forward. The employee takes the merchandise and leaves without paying. Sometimes you run into employee theft where the employee bags up merchandise and “passes it off” to a friend or family member without charging them, but these are the two main examples of merchandise theft. An employee theft investigation into cash theft can have a lot more avenues to follow.

One way internal theft of cash can take place is by the cashier simply opening the drawer and removing the cash. Look for large amounts of “No Sale” transactions to find this type of theft. Another common employee theft investigation finding is cash theft by voids. In this method the cashier will void a transaction when they see the customer is paying with cash. They will still take the cash from the customer and give them the product; but since the void shows the sale as never taking place the associate is free to pocket the cash and there is no traceable shortage on the register. Another popular cash theft option is refund fraud. In this case the cashier will do a fake refund to product from the shelf or just laying around the register. They will then pocket the cash or put the money on a gift card which they can later use or sell. Whichever method the employee decides to use, employee theft of cash is still a major problem for retailers.

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

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

Antishoplifting!!! Is it possible?

December 29, 2011 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

Anti shoplifting as a strategy, as an achievable goal or is it a “wishy washy” flight of the fancy? When you have a business that sells product that a wide demographic desires then you have merchandise that numerous thieves will crave. The decision a small business has to make is whether or not Loss Prevention is a major concern. Unfortunately many small businesses do not consider anti shoplifting measures to be a priority when then first open their doors.

Larger businesses have gone through and understand the process of incurring shrink via shoplifting. Retail theft prevention should be a major consideration before the doors ever open to any business otherwise product will be lost needlessly. I always enjoyed working for a company that utilized the Checkpoint security system. When a checkpoint system has been purchased and implemented correctly it allows business owners to concentrate on sales vs. losses.

Having the Checkpoint security system also allowed Loss Prevention departments to concentrate on other areas of loss thus offering the capability to reduce overall shrink further. Checkpoint security tags are the beacons that have always shone brightly to thieves. Whether it is a hard clothing checkpoint security tag or a soft sticker checkpoint security tag, thieves know at that moment when they see product tagged properly and consistently it is time to find another retailer who does not employ that type of retail theft prevention. Shoplifters are looking for product that they can stuff into bags, strollers, backpacks and on their person. They realize when they see a checkpoint system in the store that methods of concealment are useless because the checkpoint security tags will set off the system if they attempt to leave the premises. This not an ideal situation for a potential thief, most of the time they will move on to easier targets.

It is very important however that the suspect, when casing a business with a checkpoint security system, observes that the checkpoint alarm when activated is being reacted to in a proper manner. They must also see consistent and proper tagging of merchandise. Any holes that are apparent will reduce the capability of the checkpoint system to be effective. Anti shoplifting is only attainable when Retail theft prevention is the foundation to your Loss Prevention strategy.

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: keep criminals out of the work place

December 29, 2011 by Staff Editor

Finding the right person for the right job can be a daunting task for any employer. Pre employment screening will help you identify the right candidate so you do not waste precious time and resources on a new hire that’s going to do more damage than good.

Background check experts believe keeping an unqualified person out of the workplace is extremely important to protect assets. States have their own pre employment screening laws that employers must follow. In addition, overarching Federal regulations exist that govern a background check company.

A company I once worked for conducted a pre employment screening for all new hire associates as part of our shortage mitigation program. We outsourced our employee background checks to a background check company to reduce our liability. During the hiring process we asked each prospective employee to complete a consent form authorizing the background checks.

Criminal background checks were conducted on all candidates that have access to cash or restricted areas. The background checks were returned by the background check experts in a timely fashion and we were armed with the information we needed to make an informed hiring decision.

I was surprised to learn how many of our prospective new hires were convicted of shoplifting. A significant number of prospective new hires even had a felony conviction that would have gone unchecked if we had not conducted a background check.

Without the information you need to make an informed decision your business is vulnerable from infiltration by career criminals and thieves. Criminal background checks helped us keep criminals out of the workplace and are without a doubt the first line of defense to protect assets and profits.

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

Sales and Security: The EASy Bottle Plan!

December 29, 2011 by Staff Editor

I can not believe that just a few years ago we actually thought the best strategy for liquor bottle security would be to take all of our liquor bottle inventory and lock it up to protect it from theft. That decision brought our business precariously close to going belly up. My problem was that before I started my own business I was in the Loss Prevention industry for about fifteen years. My initial thoughts were not to maximize sales via marketing, no no no, I looked at the product and shivered at the thought of how easy the thefts could occur. Having the product out live when we first opened resulted in some heavy duty shrink as well some over zealous shoplifter apprehensions by me and my staff. Our liquor bottle security plan was failing miserably. So being up against the wall with a faltering package store business bleeding product and losing sales I needed to get help fast. My knee jerk reaction was to lock all the product up and have an extra person on the floor to open the lockable cases when a customer wanted a particular item. This hurt me on payroll as well as backing up the register area with lines due to the slowness of the product coming from the cases. Something had to change otherwise our business would become another lost business statistic.

I found a company called Alpha Security which offered a variety of bottle locks, yes, I said bottle locks. The main product for bottle security is called the EASy Bottle lock it is an alarmed bottle lock that slides over the top of the bottle snugly. The bottle lock can not be removed without the detacher that Alpha Security provides. The bottle locks will sound an alarm if tampered with and if further attempts are made to remove the bottle lock it will render the product in consumable. I was totally amazed by the bottle lock. They are lean and aesthetically pleasing. The EASy bottle locks are clearly marked as to what they are and what they do, however, they are not overbearing or gaudy. The really cool thing about it was that I could get rid of those awful lockable cases and pack the shelves with the product. The bottle locks are lean enough so as to not affect storage or marketing of the merchandise while still offering excellent bottle security. This was another plus since I was now able to utilize my vendors marketing materials which really helped our sales to pick up. I can not thank Alpha Security enough for developing the EASy Bottle lock. This liquor bottle security strategy truly saved our business. I am glad I took the time to research the issue instead of staying with a bottle security plan that was dooming my business. Now that sales are up and my customer base has increased I have been able to hire more employees at a time when the economy is really not doing that well.

The holidays are here and I actually thought maybe I should gear back on the amount of bottle locks I have on the sales floor. You see business has been so busy I thought I could save time by just processing the liquor bottle shipment on the floor and put the un tagged liquor bottles on the shelves. I gave it some serious thought and fortunately my former loss prevention experience screamed inside of me..”What are you Crazy???” Having the EASy bottle locks employed during this busy season is like having an extra employee on the floor. I realized taking the extra time to install the bottle locks would pay off come inventory time. I strongly recommend this product to anyone selling wine or liquor bottles .

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

Clothing Security: When you cant nail it down.

December 29, 2011 by Staff Editor

It is a very busy time for retailers, school is back in and the new merchandise has already arrived for fall. Many retailers are finding that they have more apparel than they have racks to display them. This means setting up aisle displays and displays near the entrances of their stores. Retailers are also aware that this is the time of year when they lose a lot of clothing due to theft. So, what do you do when you can’t nail it down? You ensure that your clothing security practices are effective at protecting your merchandise.

Clothing security tags or a clothing alarm allow retailers to face this busy season more confidently. Checkpoint tags are probably by far one of the most widely used tags when placing security tags on clothes. Checkpoint tags have been around and are durable and effective at preventing shoplifting. Checkpoint tags are consistently sought after for their style and adaptability to retailer needs. Clothing security is important and having the right clothing security tags on your clothing is critical. A clothing alarm is equally important when trying to prevent shoplifting. A clothing alarm can be music to a retailer’s ear and a sour note to a perspective shoplifter.

Placing security tags on clothes located near exits or entrances is a must to prevent them from easing out the door. Clothing security tags send a clear message to a perspective shoplifter and that is, not at this store. . Retailers have so many things to worry about and focus on during this time of year, clothing security should not be on the list. Take the necessary steps now and invest in clothing security tags. These tags can mean the difference between a good year and a great year. It is the goal of an organization to sell it goods, not to simply let them walk out the door. By placing security tags on clothes you are defending your merchandise. Use clothing security tags when you can’t afford to nail it down

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

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

Prevent shoplifting with Public View Monitors!!!

December 29, 2011 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

Public View Monitors (PVM) have been around for years. The reason you have seen them for years is that they do a good job to prevent shoplifting from your store. There are many companies that use a myriad of retail anti theft devices, but I am surprised how often business leaders don’t think of Public View Monitors.

For those who may not know, a PVM is a monitor that you hang on the sales floor that shows a specific camera view. These are most commonly used at entrances and exits. This is to show customers that they are being monitored and that you do have cameras. This knowledge will go a long way to prevent shoplifting as thieves don’t like to steal from stores with cameras. Many shoplifters know that stores use fake domes to make people think they have cameras. The PVM’s show them that you are not pretending, but actually have a state of the art system.

Another way to prevent shoplifting with Public View Monitors is to place some viewing your high theft items. At my stores I use PVM’s by my baby formula, razors, cosmetics and over the counter medications. This lets would-be shoplifters know that those particular areas are monitored and if I am missing product then I can see who took it. By showing them that they are on camera we have seen a remarkable reduction in theft. This is also a great deterrent to hold up and robbery. Again, if someone knows their illegal actions will be captured on video and turned over to the police they are less likely to commit the act. By showing would be robbers that you have good camera coverage you will force them to other stores who are less adequately protected.

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 – Atlanta Georgia

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