Missing merchandise isn’t just a shoplifting problem…

September 3, 2011 by Leave a Comment

In fact, missing merchandise can just as easily, and just as likely, an employee theft problem.  Yep, you heard right.  Employee theft is a reality.  Internal theft, the retail term for employee theft, is generally the #1 shrink factor in retail stores.  Just like customers, employees often don’t want to pay for their products either.  So how do you know if the missing inventory is due to shoplifting or internal theft?

 The answer is you have to conduct an employee theft investigation.  One of the first ways to conduct an employee theft investigation is to track when the product goes missing.  To do this you will need to conduct “mini-inventories” or cycle counts, as they are commonly known, every day you work.  By doing this you will narrow down when the product is going missing.  (Thieves tend to stick to the same product group so you won’t have to count every item in the store; just what you have noticed is missing.)  You can then compare the dates of loss to your employee schedule to see if the same worker is present at every, or almost every, loss date.  This is not an automatic indicator of guilt as more than one person can be stealing the same product, but it will give you a starting point.

Next, is the tedious part.  Surveillance.  It is best if you have a Loss Prevention Agent that works for the company as this is time consuming.  There are also companies who have trained LP agents for hire that can help complete an employee theft investigation on a case by case basis.  You will need to observe the employee for several days to see if you can catch him/her in the act.  Hand in the cookie jar is the best way to avoid liability.  I also suggest package checks (especially when you think you have something).  The employee may not be expecting this and it’s a great way to get the evidence you need.

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

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Is your Checkpoint security system working?

September 1, 2011 by Leave a Comment

I hope the answer is “Yes”.  My follow up question is, “How do you know?”  One of the biggest obstacles I have faced in my career is getting stores involved in routinely testing their anti shoplifting systems.

 Think about it.  Would you buy register equipment and allow it to sit unplugged?  “Probably not.”  So then why would you pay for a Checkpoint security system and not routinely check to see that it works?  Now don’t get me wrong, the Checkpoint Security system is great and rarely goes down.  However, power outages, leaky roofs, tampering, etc. can all impact the various Checkpoint systems and cause them to not work.

 Here is an example.  I routinely walk into stores and attempt to test the Checkpoint systems EAS only to find it has been turned off.  When I ask the MOD why the system is off they either don’t know or tell me it is because it kept beeping.  Generally within 3 minutes of looking I can find the Checkpoint security tags that are too close to the pedestals and creating the false alarms.  One of the other major reasons for false alarms is the Checkpoint security tags are not being deactivated properly at the registers.  Many times this is due to the deactivator being unplugged so the cashier can plug up their phone charger or a fan.  In both of these circumstances the Checkpoint systems worked fine, but the store did something to create an issue.  Had they been testing their systems daily they would have found and fixed the issue rather than turn off the system that they made quite an investment in.

 Anti shoplifting devices can only do their “job” in retail theft prevention when they are turned on and tested regularly.  So I ask again, “Is your system working?”

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

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

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Alpha security. The new best friend for alcohol retailers.

September 1, 2011 by

 

If your business sales alcohol of any kind then you know how rampant theft is in your world.  There are numerous reasons for this: the economy, the price, the ease, etc.  No matter the reason you need something to keep the product safe.  Insert EASy Bottle locks from Alpha Security.

Bottle locks are small locks that fit over the mouth of most alcohol bottles.  They can be used for liquor bottle security as well as bottle security for expensive wines or other types of alcohol bottles.  The bottle lock prevents the contents from being retrieved.  Thus if you can’t get to the alcohol then stealing the bottle is kind of pointless.  Unlike some other anti theft devices these are extremely hard to bypass without the key.  A thief will generally break the bottle (losing the alcohol he/she wants) before they will successfully defeat the EASy bottle lock.  In other words, a person may go ahead and steal one, but they won’t waste their time trying to steal another.

In many cases the thief won’t even attempt to steal the first bottle.  While not ostentatious, the bottle security lock is noticeable.  It also has a sensor that works with your existing EAS system to sound your door alarm if someone tries to steal the bottle.  The threat of setting off the EAS alarm and being noticed is enough to deter most shoplifters itself.  It just adds an added deterrent effect when they know they won’t be able to get the bottle lock off even if they are successful in stealing the product.

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

For more information on Alpha Security , Bottle Locks , Bottle lock , Bottle Security, liquor bottle security or EASy Bottle contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta Georgia

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Clothing security a must to stop large scale theft.

September 1, 2011 by

I am surprised as a consumer, and LP Professional, at how many small boutiques don’t use clothing security.  For some, I know that cost is a factor as they are lower volume retailers and don’t have as much money to invest in expensive technology.  For others, I find that it is basically a lack of understanding how much they are targeted by professional shoplifters because they don’t put security tags on clothes.

To address the first group, I would like to introduce you to Checkpoint tags.  While it is not free by any means, Checkpoint tags are cost effective.  The reality is, you can’t afford not to use a clothing alarm.  If you really took a count I would virtually guarantee you are “spending” more in lost product than you would by investing in clothing security.

For the second group, you need to understand how much shoplifters hate clothing security tags.  They hate them for several reasons.  One is that they know Checkpoint tags are going to set off the clothing alarm and get them noticed.  Shoplifters hate to be noticed; especially, the professionals.  The reason is simple.  They want to keep targeting your store repeatedly and they can’t if the employees learn who they are.  Another reason shoplifters hate security tags on clothes is because without the proper detacher they can damage the merchandise which means they can’t wear it or worse; they can’t sell it.

Don’t let your store become a target for professional shoplifting simply because you don’t use clothing security tags.  Force them to “shop” your competitors or dare them to battle Checkpoint tags.  Either way, you can rest easier knowing your profits are safe.

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

 For more information on Checkpoint tags, clothing alarm, clothing security or clothing security tags contact us at security tags on clothes or call 1.770.426.0547

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Win the Battle with Retail Anti Theft Devices

September 1, 2011 by Leave a Comment

 There have been times in my career in retail loss prevention that it felt like it was impossible to prevent shoplifting.  For every thief that we caught, it seemed that there were plenty more to take his or her place.  For every employee that we fired for theft, there would soon be another one that we would hire.

 Preventing loss due to shoplifting is an important part of every business, and businesses cannot give up when it seems the fight is an impossible one to win.  In order to prevent shoplifting, the business owner has to have a mindset that the efforts that he or she is putting forth are for the better good – the profitability and very existence of the business.  Shoplifting can be that detrimental to business – it can mean the difference between being open and having to shut down.

 Retail anti theft devices are an option for retailers to explore if it seems that preventing shoplifting is becoming a losing battle.  These devices are affixed to your high theft and high end merchandise, and are a visual deterrent to shoplifters.  They also sound an alarm if they leave your business without being removed, and they are nearly impossible to remove without a key that your employees would have at the registers. 

 There are plenty of retail anti theft devices available for businesses to consider.  It is a minimal investment that can provide maximum rewards, such as recovered sales, minimized loss due to shrink, and peace of mind for the business owner. Being able to prevent shoplifting does not have to be a losing battle; it can be a winning one with retail anti theft devices.

 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

 

 

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Stop Shoplifting with RF Labels

September 1, 2011 by Leave a Comment

RF security labels are an option that businesses can consider when they are brainstorming on ways to stop shoplifting.  Checkpoint security tags, such as an RF label, sound an alarm if someone attempts to steal the merchandise upon which the labels are attached.  This alerts store employees that a possible theft is occurring.

 There are thousands of options out there, but Checkpoint labels have a proven reputation.  RF security tags attach easily to your high theft merchandise, and provide a visual deterrent to the customer considering shoplifting from your store.  And if the visual deterrent is not enough, the risk of drawing attention to themselves by setting off a store alarm can be just as convincing.  Shoplifters thrive on not gaining attention, so RF security tags can provide that unwanted attention just by being present on the merchandise you sell. 

 RF labels, which utilizes radio frequency in order to alert employees that merchandise is leaving the store, is a reliable way to protect your merchandise and help stop shoplifting within your business.  Unprotected businesses can merchandise well and train employees to prevent theft, but with the added protection of RF security labels, your profits will increase while your theft decreases. 

 By having RF labels, you are telling the shoplifters to move on to another business.  You are telling the shoplifter that you take loss prevention seriously and will not tolerate the impact shoplifting has on your business.  Checkpoint labels are a proven industry leader in loss prevention solutions, and for minimal investment your business can experience the profitability and shrink reduction effects of RF technology.

 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 – Atlanta Georgia

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Have you noticed a large amount of voided transactions? Ever consider employee theft to be the problem???

September 1, 2011 by Leave a Comment

I can already hear the questions.  How are voids an employee theft issue?  Isn’t that just a problem with customer satisfaction or training?  The answer is “D” all of the above.  Voids are a necessary evil.  We would all like for customers to buy everything they come to the register with, but sometimes they change their minds about certain items or there is a problem at the payment time and the whole order has to be voided.  The ability to do a void is often a source of employee theft, also known as internal theft.  Here are some tips on how to do an employee theft investigation into voids.

Each day you need to review the voids from the previous day.  This is best done if you have reporting software that can show you all of the voids easily and can break them down into frequency by cashier.  If you don’t have this type of software this can be done by hand going through the journal tape.

Internal theft can occur with voids in a couple of ways.  First, employee theft can occur by the employee voiding an item or two off for a friend and family member while still putting it in the bag.  From video it looks like the item was scanned properly; however, the reality is it just got stolen.

The second way employee theft can occur is voiding the whole transaction.  A cashier may ring up a legitimate customer, accept the cash and then void the transaction.  Now the register has “extra” money that they can steal and it won’t show on your daily over/short report because the register thinks the transaction never happened.

Employee theft investigations are necessary in protecting your business.  Unfortunately, internal theft is a real thing so it is worth the time to “dig in” and see what is going on.

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

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Anyone can react to theft. Retail theft prevention is the real way to protect profits!!

August 30, 2011 by Leave a Comment

One of the first things I learned in business it that to be successful one has to be proactive rather than reactive.  It is always easier and cheaper to prevent problems than it is to fix the problem after the fact.  Shoplifting is no different.  If you react to shoplifting you still lost the product.  Proper retail theft prevention helps you to keep the loss from happening to begin with.

The only way to get ahead of theft is to utilize anti shoplifting technology.  One thing I have learned is that if thieves put half as much ingenuity into legitimate business as they do finding ways to steal, they would make a rather good honest living.  I have seen some crazy work-arounds to anti shoplifting devices in my career.  As shoplifters advance and figure out how to beat a system, we as retailers have to step up our game to find a new system if we still want to prevent theft from taking place.

Enter Checkpoint systems.  I have found Checkpoint systems to be a leader in innovative retail theft prevention.  They are constantly looking for new retail theft prevention solutions and stay ahead of the crooks looking to take your profits.  They offer a few major solutions.  One is Checkpoint security tags.  Checkpoint security tags are sensor tags come in a variety of shapes and sizes and can be used to create a customized solution for your business.  The Checkpoint security tags can be hidden in product, or if needed they can stand out to boldly show that your item is protected.  Additionally, the Checkpoint security system is a great way to protect your store, money and merchandise when you aren’t there.  The Checkpoint security system can give you more peace at mind as break-ins are becoming a popular move for Organized Retail Crime.

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

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Enjoy a Profit with Bottle Security

August 30, 2011 by

It’s been crazy hot where I live in the Midwest, with temperatures over 100 degrees most days.  With lakes nearby and vacation time to be used, it is no surprise that there is increased customer traffic at the local liquor stores.

Bottle security is an important consideration if yours is a business that sells wines and liquors.  You know full well how frustrating it is to find that open bottle that someone “sampled” in the corner of your store.  It is equally as frustrating to see that empty shelf in your business and realize that you do not have the sales of that item to support that vacancy.  Liquor bottle security can help reduce these losses, whether you are a large retailer or a small business.

Bottle locks, such as the EASy Bottle cap from Alpha Security, fit tightly over the caps of your high theft wine and liquors.  The bottle lock is removed at the time of the sale, by your employees, and can be reused.  Bottle security truly is easy when utilizing this type of bottle lock.  The visual deterrent is there, the customer can still browse and shop your high end liquors and wines, and you do not have to worry about what is being tasted without being purchased.

Shoplifters do not want to take the time to figure out how to remove a bottle lock from your liquors and wines.  There are enough businesses out there that do not have liquor bottle security that can be easy targets for potential shoplifters.  For minimal investment, you can send the thieves to those businesses while still attracting the honest customers that make your business profitable.

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 – Atlanta Georgia

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Prevent All Varieties of Theft with Clothing Security

August 30, 2011 by

In my position overseeing the safety and security of a large retail store, I have seen all types of shoplifters over the years.  Most of the time, when clothing is stolen, the shoplifter places the clothing into a bag or a purse and then leaves the business.  Sometimes, he or she will wear it under their own clothes, concealing it while in a fitting room.  Or, sometimes he or she will just put on the clothing, like winter coats and jackets, and wear it out of the store.

 Sometimes the shoplifter will remove the tags, which take just a quick second, and discard them before concealing the clothing.  Clothing security tags, such as Checkpoint tags, are not as easy to manipulate in order to steal.  Security tags on clothes are much different than breaking a plastic price tag.  Clothing security tags have to be removed at the time of purchase by one of your employees, using a key at the registers.  Removal of security tags on clothes with something other than a key at the registers can be time consuming, can ruin the clothing, and can draw attention to the shoplifter.  These are all components that are not favorable to most shoplifters.

 If you are reading this, and you are a business owner, you have probably suffered losses due to shoplifting.  If you sell clothing, you have definitely seen your share of unaccounted for merchandise and wondered just what happened.  Clothing security can be a great deterrent to shoplifters that just do not have the time to fight with the clothing security tags, or do not want to risk being detected.  It is much easier to move on to the next business that sells clothing – the one that does not have security tags on clothes.  Don’t be that business…the one shoplifters are out looking for that provides an easy steal.

 Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase a clothing alarm and clothing security tags, Checkpoint tags and other clothing security to put security tags on clothes.

 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

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