Staff Editor — Page 263

Employee Theft Causes Long Timer to Lose Dream Job

July 16, 2011 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

According to the New York Times, the long time clubhouse manager of a major league baseball team was charged with employee theft for stealing items from the team valued at over $2 million, an employee theft investigation revealed.

Sports fans and speculators are willing to pay big money for sports memorabilia, particularly items that are autographed by famous players.

The local District Attorney, who was looking into an organized gambling ring, initiated the corporate fraud investigation that led to this case of internal theft. Soon this turned to the vast collection of sports items and team equipment that was being held in the basement of a house owned by a friend of the suspect. The basement held several team sets of autographed uniforms bats and balls.

In addition to the employee theft of all the merchandise, the ex-clubhouse manager was charged with embezzling approximately $25,000 from inflated expense claims for providing meals to umpires, and failure to pay taxes on $200,000 received as tips over two years.

According to the article, the suspect was also in charge of the equipment and was the traveling secretary, booking all flights and hotels for the team. Two or more people, for oversight purposes, normally hold these three jobs, but this individual had free rein, and an open invitation to commit internal theft.

He overbought equipment and handled the road account for the team. One investigator remarked that he led the team in steals.

This baseball team was fortunate that the District Attorney’s look into gambling activity led to this employee theft investigation.

The lesson from this story for every business owner, is to set policies and procedures in place that will reduce or eliminate internal theft. There has to be oversight and supervision over every employee, no matter how long they have been employed and no matter what the position. If not, employee theft is the result. A corporate fraud investigation is not pretty, but with the appropriate security procedures in place you can avoid it.

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

RF security tags. The latest in theft prevention.

July 15, 2011 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

RF security tags, also known as RF labels, are sensor tags designed to be placed on product in order to sound an alarm if someone attempts to steal the product they are placed on. These tags work on a a radio frequency that is designed cut down on the annoying false alarms of the past. A leader in RF label technology is Checkpoint systems. With the new Checkpoint security tags in place you don’t have to worry about cell phones and keyless entry setting off your alarms and bothering your customers. That is of course assuming you deactivate your own product first.

Did you know the majority of false alarms from RF security labels are due to user error? A common misconception is that if the door alarm goes off then the “customer” must be trying to steal. In fact, that is rarely the case. In most cases the real thief takes one look at Checkpoint security tags and tries his/her luck elsewhere. In general the cashier forgets to remove or deactivate the RF label and the good customer accidently sets the system off. This is one of the reasons that employee response is so important. It is a direct reflection of the stores customer service skills and your company.

The second reason to respond is the deterrent effect. What makes thieves wary of Checkpoint labels is that they know, or should know, that it will bring them unwanted attention. If they see your cashier waving customer on or not even looking up then you set up RF security tags for nothing.

There is never a substitute for alert employees, but when properly used, the Checkpoint security tags can make a large impact in helping you 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 RF security tags, RF label, Checkpoint labels, RF labels, RF security labels and how to stop shoplifting contact us at Checkpoint security tags or call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta Georgia

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

True Anti shoplifting Efforts Include Checkpoint Systems

July 14, 2011 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

It doesn’t have to be overly complicated to stop shoplifting. Infact, it’s pretty simple to create an anti shoplifting program in any store.

A few steps and a small investment will be needed to give you the biggest “bang for your buck”, but it will work. As the economy stays stagnant, no growth, the acts and instances of shoplifting will only get worse. Now’s the time to create an anti shoplifting program in your business to help stop shoplifting if you haven’t yet done so. Regardless of the type of merchandise you sell, Checkpoint Security Systems has the merchandise protection tool you’ll need. In anti shoplifting programs I’ve created I’ve always used checkpoint labels or checkpoint security tags. Designed to fit neatly and cleanly, Checkpoint Security Systems checkpoint labels and checkpoint tags have been always been dependable and efficient retail anti theft devices.

Considering what you may be losing in product, the investment into these types of retail anti theft devices is well worth it. How many times have you seen or been reported to, about customers leaving the store without paying for merchandise. How many inventories have you been through where the shrink (loss) has increase year over year?

As a store manager with a retailer in a metropolitan area it became very important for me to ensure my store was following the Checkpoint Systems checkpoint labels and checkpoint security tags retail theft prevention program. In fact, I took a serious interest inspecting the areas of the store and merchandise requiring checkpoint labels and checkpoint tags. Being that involved really helped drive the program and gave me one of the company’s lowest shrink result stores. I owe it to the employees that remained diligent in their retail theft prevention efforts, great management of the program and Checkpoint Systems checkpoint labels and checkpoint tags.

As I would say to any other manager, and any other retailer, if you are running your business without any kind of merchandise protection, you are asking for attention you don’t need or want.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store

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

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

Have a Profitable Summer with Liquor Bottle Security

July 14, 2011 by Staff Editor

Summertime is upon us, and your customers are going to be outside enjoying the beautiful weather. They’ll be grilling, going to the beach or lake, camping, or just spending time outside. While enjoying themselves, many will also enjoy liquors or wines while they socialize.

If your business sells wine or liquors, then business is probably picking up this time of year. Along with that increase in sales could be an increase in loss due to shoplifting. Bottle security is available to help reduce your losses and be better prepared for your honest, paying customers.

The EASy bottle cap, by Alpha Security, is an option many retailers choose to protect their high end wines and liquors. The bottle lock fits over the top of the bottle and does not allow the bottle to be opened without a key. The bottle lock is removed when the bottle is purchased, and can be reused on additional bottles that you choose to display. Liquor bottle security can be as simple as that!

Your customers also like to be able to handle all of the wines and liquors that you offer, reading labels and deciding what they would like to purchase. Instead of having these items behind a counter or in a locked case, you can display them without worrying about loss due to theft. Bottle locks allow for that, and studies have shown that sales increase when items are displayed for the customers.

Take advantage of the increase customer flow in your business this summer. Display your merchandise openly while still deterring theft in your business with bottle locks. Having bottle security is the way to make that happen.

Visit the Retail Loss Prevention Store to purchase EASy bottle liquor bottle security from Alpha Security.

For more information about Alpha security or bottle security or bottle locks or EASy bottle or liquor bottle security or contact us at bottle lock 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 is A Good Morale Boost

July 14, 2011 by Staff Editor

Many retailers forget how clothing security affects not only the sales of the stores and business but the employees as well.

One of the best ways to drive your sales and business is to keep your employee happy. Happy employees lead to better customer service, more productivity, less claims of injuries and an overall pleasant environment for everyone. So how can you best impact the morale of employees? Believe it or not, clothing security can help.

As an experienced loss prevention manager, I have seen the negative impacts of stores without clothing security and how it affects employees. When employees continuously witness shoplifters running out of the stores or employee theft and nothing being done about it, it creates problems. Clothing security helps cut out the shoplifting and employee theft aspect.

Imagine your business with clothing security tags and a clothing alarm. The employees take an active role in placing the security tags on clothes and building the clothing security program. Assigning the responsibility of putting security tags on clothes to various employees gives them the chance to lead. It makes them part of the team and gives them a sense of pride when they see their program being executed.

Security tags on clothes and a clothing alarm provide the visual presence necessary to deter most shoplifters and keeps the merchandise in the stores and available for purchase. There are a lot of benefits to clothing security tags. Specifically, their impact on the overall impressions of control of the business, employees love being part of the solution.

If you are a business owner and have not yet transitioned to a clothing security tags program. Get with it. Security tags on clothes will show you progress and will positively impact your business if done correctly and followed through with. In fact, I believe it’s somewhat negligent for a clothing retailer to not provide some sort of clothing security tags program as these stores invite crime. Security tags on clothes work, in more ways than one.

Visit the Retail Loss Prevention Store.

For more information on 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: clothing alarm, Clothing Security, clothing security tags, security tags on clothes

Organized Retail Crime can be prevented by using retail anti theft devices. Is your company safe???

July 14, 2011 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

For those of you who don’t know, Organized Retail Crime (ORC) has become a multi-billion dollar a year industry. Many business, large and small, have been destroyed by this type of shoplifting. In order to prevent shoplifting it is important to have the right tools. There are a variety of retail anti theft devices that can help in this area. One of the available retail anti theft devices is an EAS tag.

EAS stands for Electronic Article Surveillance. There are the basic sensor tags that you see on all types of merchandise that make the door alarms go off if the item passes the pedestals without being removed or deactivated. These tags should be strategically placed on high dollar / high theft merchandise. I recommend hard tags for clothes, handbags and footwear. Soft tags are great for boxed or packaged product.

A few basics about tag placement. Put hard tags in the seams of product so that they go through an existing hole. This will prevent damaging the product and leaving a hole in the middle of a shirt that you customer will then not want to buy. If possible, hide soft tags under the box lid or inside the product if possible so that a thief can’t easily tear it off.

The real way to prevent shoplifting is the deterrent effect that comes in customer service. Thieves watch to see if employees are responding to the EAS alarms. If they are, then the ORC thieves are likely to go to a store not using retail anti theft devices because it is just easier and less risky. This protects your profits and hurts the competition. Now “beep, beep” sounds like a win-win, don’t you think?

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

The Many Ways To Prevent Shoplifting

July 14, 2011 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

I picked up my briefcase and headed for the front door of the store. It was my day to prevent shoplifting. As a young loss prevention agent, I was excited to work for my store. Each day, I looked to “catch” the dirty customer who decided to steal.

Starting my day, I’d walk each aisle looking for signs of theft, empty packages, shoplifting tools, etc. I’d then walk down the protected aisles. That is, merchandise that already had protection standards available, like checkpoint systems. For those that don’t know, checkpoint systems work to prevent shoplifting by being a visible and conspicuous presence both at the front of the store on the salesfloor. Most average shoplifters are immediately deterred at the mere sight of checkpoint systems. However, today, I was looking for the shoplifter who believed they’re smarter than checkpoint systems.

I rounded through the liquor aisle on my way back to the office. Dressed as a customer, and looking like I fit right into the crowd, I noticed a guy standing at the end of the aisle paying more attention to where the employees were instead of the merchandise in front of his face. I acted as if I were looking at a bottle, picked one up and left the aisle to where I could covertly observe the customers’ actions. The stores liquor aisle had merchandise protection designed to prevent shoplifting. The customer removed a bag from his waistband and selected several bottles from the shelf. Taking no time to attempt to defeat the security device, he headed for the front of the store. Hesitating as he got to the front, he looked back and forth, side to side, peeking for employees or persons following. The checkpoint systems activate, making an audible alarm as the liquor items approach. The shoplifter panicked, dropped the merchandise and ran from the store.

There are many ways to prevent shoplifting.

Visit the Retail Loss Prevention Store.

For more information contact us at prevent shoplifting or call 1.770.426.0547

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Are All RF Labels Created Equal?

July 14, 2011 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

The short answer is “No” all RF labels are not created equally. Like anything else you get what you pay for. I have found this to be true not because I am a loss prevention professional, but because of what our customers tell us. We get new customers every week that tell us that the RF labels they have been purchasing fall off their merchandise, do not trigger the system at the front door and simply do not work.

Most of these labels are manufactured in overseas factories that have tried to copy genuine Checkpoint security tags. They do not have the quality control that Checkpoint has. OK, they are cheaper. But if you are going to take the time to tag your merchandise in an effort to stop shoplifting which costs you labor dollars not to mention the cost of the labels themselves wouldn’t you want them to work?

I have seen so many of these cheap RF security labels that are really not worth the paper they were printed on fail that it make you wonder. These companies use adhesive that is poor quality and dries out quickly. The RF label falls then off your merchandise or is easily peeled off. The shoplifters know this also.

If you want to be serious about your efforts to stop shoplifting you have to use serious RF security labels! If you would like free samples of Checkpoint labels contact us today.

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 and how to stop shoplifting contact us at RF label or call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta Georgia

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

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July 13, 2011 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

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Anti Shoplifting Program Saves Money

July 12, 2011 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

Anti shoplifting programs aren’t really looked at from a profit saving standpoint. In fact, many businesses look at anti shoplifting programs as more of a hassle than anything else. I’ve heard everything from anti shoplifting programs are a waste of money to anti shoplifting programs really don’t stop shoplifting. In each of the cases, the view point was blurred by lack of knowledge.

Shoplifting has been around forever, and worsens in difficult or a challenging economy. It would not be a good business decision to forego protecting your business and merchandise.

No matter what merchandise you sell, using Checkpoint Security Systems retail anti theft devices like their checkpoint tags and checkpoint labels can provide protection and help stop shoplifting in your business. Both checkpoint tags and checkpoint labels from Checkpoint Security Systems provide the level or merchandise security and protection you’ll need to stay profitable.

Recently while working undercover as a loss prevention agent, checkpoint security tags and checkpoint labels really helped me control specific merchandise and areas of the business. Doing merchandise cycle counts as part of my daily duties, I used these checkpoint security tags and checkpoint labels to assist in monitoring merchandise movement.

Thieves all over know what to look for when casing stores and making their next move. They look for the stores that have no retail anti theft devices, have little customer service, highly desirable merchandise and more. Combine each of these factors together and you have a thief’s paradise. Without doubt, your business will be the target of the next big theft ring.

If you choose to go without protecting your merchandise, and have no anti shoplifting program, hold yourself responsible for the negative sales, loss of inventory and high shrink numbers. A simple fix including checkpoint tags and checkpoint labels can save you a lot of frustration down the road.

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