Wondering Where Stock Shortage Came From And How To Prevent It? A Discussion On Shrinkage And How A Checkpoint Security System Can Improve It

April 20, 2017 by Leave a Comment
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Wondering Where Stock Shortage Came From And How To Prevent It? A Discussion On Shrinkage And How A Checkpoint Security System Can Improve It.
     Do you ever wonder how it happens? You conduct inventory in your store, you get the results and you find out you have SHORTAGE! How did that happen? Where did all that merchandise go? In Loss Prevention we generally recognize five areas that are the cause of retail shrinkage, shoplifting, employee theft, vendor or supplier fraud and administrative losses.
While the cause of shortage may vary depending on the type of retail store you own. The Global Retail Theft Barometer Report for 2014/2015 provides an overall picture for North American Retailers. Shoplifting was reported to account for approximately 36% of shortage, Dishonest Employees caused 45%, Administrative and non-crime losses 13% and vendor fraud 6% (page 53). For store owners this means that in some manner, a Checkpoint Security System can make an impact on all four areas that cause shortage for a store. I am not saying 100% of losses can be prevented by retail theft prevention, but a significant amount of it can be stopped.
     When I am talking about a Checkpoint Security System, I am referring to the electronic article surveillance (EAS) pedestals, Checkpoint tags, deactivation units and detachment keys. Pedestals are the towers you frequently see at the doors of many stores. Tags may be soft, adhesive style labels that stick to merchandise or hard, two-piece designs that are pinned to products. Often hard tags are used to protect softlines goods, clothes, bedding, towels, etc. and can be reused many times over. Each tag design is compatible with EAS pedestals so that protected merchandise carried too close to a tower will prompt the alarms in the tower to activate. When employees hear the alarm they react and conduct receipt checks, verifying which items are paid for and which are not. The customer is provided an opportunity to pay for merchandise or return it. In some situations shoplifters toss the item they were planning to steal when the alarm sounds and they run off.
     It is clear then how a Retail Theft Prevention System can deter and prevent shoplifting, most thieves don’t want to take a chance of being caught when an alarm sounds. This means you can automatically impact 36% of our losses. But what about Administrative and non-crime losses? How can the use of Checkpoint tags make a difference in this area? Non-crime losses may include merchandise that is left in a shopping cart and missed during the checkout process. A customer loads their goods into the car and picks up the bag of dog food on the bottom rack of the cart. If the cashier wasn’t paying attention the merchandise was missed but the customer doesn’t always know it. While the missed bag of pet food was an accident, it is still a loss and creates stock shortage. By placing a soft Checkpoint tag on the bag the store would have caused a situation that activated the pedestal alarm and an employee would have caught the error during a receipt check.
     Vendor fraud only accounts for about 6% of merchandise losses however even this can be improved upon when a Checkpoint Security System is in place. The majority of vendors are honest but there are some who will conduct a store visit to service their merchandise and in the process steal some of their product line. Stores I have worked in have had cosmetic, sunglasses, ball card and jewelry vendors in addition to food and greeting card vendors who regularly made visits. Though they were supposed to sign in and out and speak to a manager before leaving the store it did not always happen. Making sure all of your products are protected with Checkpoint tags ensures that a dishonest vendor who may be stealing will cause an EAS tower alarm and merchandise will be recovered. You can then partner with the vendor’s company to request a different representative service your store in the future. 
     Employee theft accounts for the final 45% of shortage and can be one of the more difficult areas to stop because of the various methods of theft available to employees. Dishonest team members can underring and pass merchandise, create fraudulent returns, steal cash, hide merchandise, etc., making it more challenging to identify their activity. A Checkpoint Security System can detect those staff members who do try to conceal product and walk out without paying. Remember that any reduction in shortage still adds to the profit line of the store and there are methods to deter, prevent and detect those types of employee theft that a security system cannot detect.
     Retail Theft Prevention programs that include Checkpoint tags and hardware can impact all areas that cause shortage. Don’t wring your hands wondering where your merchandise went, invest in a Checkpoint Security System and make a difference starting today!
Get more information on Checkpoint Security Systems, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.     

Do you ever wonder how it happens? You conduct inventory in your store, you get the results and you find out you have SHORTAGE! How did that happen? Where did all that merchandise go? In Loss Prevention we generally recognize five areas that are the cause of retail shrinkage, shoplifting, employee theft, vendor or supplier fraud and administrative losses.While the cause of shortage may vary depending on the type of retail store you own. The Global Retail Theft Barometer Report for 2014/2015 provides an overall picture for North American Retailers. Shoplifting was reported to account for approximately 36% of shortage, Dishonest Employees caused 45%, Administrative and non-crime losses 13% and vendor fraud 6% (page 53). For store owners this means that in some manner, a Checkpoint Security System can make an impact on all four areas that cause shortage for a store. I am not saying 100% of losses can be prevented by retail theft prevention, but a significant amount of it can be stopped.
     

When I am talking about a Checkpoint Security System, I am referring to the electronic article surveillance (EAS) pedestals, Checkpoint tags, deactivation units and detachment keys. Pedestals are the towers you frequently see at the doors of many stores. Tags may be soft, adhesive style labels that stick to merchandise or hard, two-piece designs that are pinned to products. Often hard tags are used to protect softlines goods, clothes, bedding, towels, etc. and can be reused many times over. Each tag design is compatible with EAS pedestals so that protected merchandise carried too close to a tower will prompt the alarms in the tower to activate. When employees hear the alarm they react and conduct receipt checks, verifying which items are paid for and which are not. The customer is provided an opportunity to pay for merchandise or return it. In some situations shoplifters toss the item they were planning to steal when the alarm sounds and they run off.
     

It is clear then how a Retail Theft Prevention System can deter and prevent shoplifting, most thieves don’t want to take a chance of being caught when an alarm sounds. This means you can automatically impact 36% of our losses. But what about Administrative and non-crime losses? How can the use of Checkpoint tags make a difference in this area? Non-crime losses may include merchandise that is left in a shopping cart and missed during the checkout process. A customer loads their goods into the car and picks up the bag of dog food on the bottom rack of the cart. If the cashier wasn’t paying attention the merchandise was missed but the customer doesn’t always know it. While the missed bag of pet food was an accident, it is still a loss and creates stock shortage. By placing a soft Checkpoint tag on the bag the store would have caused a situation that activated the pedestal alarm and an employee would have caught the error during a receipt check.
     

Vendor fraud only accounts for about 6% of merchandise losses however even this can be improved upon when a Checkpoint Security System is in place. The majority of vendors are honest but there are some who will conduct a store visit to service their merchandise and in the process steal some of their product line. Stores I have worked in have had cosmetic, sunglasses, ball card and jewelry vendors in addition to food and greeting card vendors who regularly made visits. Though they were supposed to sign in and out and speak to a manager before leaving the store it did not always happen. Making sure all of your products are protected with Checkpoint tags ensures that a dishonest vendor who may be stealing will cause an EAS tower alarm and merchandise will be recovered. You can then partner with the vendor’s company to request a different representative service your store in the future. 
     

Employee theft accounts for the final 45% of shortage and can be one of the more difficult areas to stop because of the various methods of theft available to employees. Dishonest team members can underring and pass merchandise, create fraudulent returns, steal cash, hide merchandise, etc., making it more challenging to identify their activity. A Checkpoint Security System can detect those staff members who do try to conceal product and walk out without paying. Remember that any reduction in shortage still adds to the profit line of the store and there are methods to deter, prevent and detect those types of employee theft that a security system cannot detect.

 

Retail Theft Prevention programs that include Checkpoint tags and hardware can impact all areas that cause shortage. Don’t wring your hands wondering where your merchandise went, invest in a Checkpoint Security System and make a difference starting today!

 

Get more information on Checkpoint Security Systems, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.     

 

Filed Under: antishoplifting Tagged With: , ,

A Checkpoint Security System Can Have Visual Appeal And Still Stop Shoplifting

March 15, 2017 by Leave a Comment

I am all about using things for multiple purposes. If someone can advertise their business on their vehicle with magnetic signs, decals, window screens, I say do it. Why buy an outfit for one event?If I invest in a suit for a special occasion you had better believe I’m going to find other reasons or places to wear it.  The same can be true for retailers. You may have considered investing in a Checkpoint Security System but you don’t want those antennas at the front of your store. You like the idea of electronic article surveillance (EAS) Checkpoint tags on your merchandise, but you think they will cover up barcodes on cosmetic items. Instead of making the purchase, you keep things as they are and do nothing to stop shoplifting. Stock shortage grows but some of these aesthetic issues bother you. I would like to assure you that a Checkpoint Security System does not have to detract from your business and in fact if you invest in the Evolve P30 EAS antenna, you can enhance your store.

 

I know it may sound odd to those who remember the days when EAS antennas were big, clunky and to be honest, just kind of bulky and taking up room. This is no longer the case. The Evolve P30 antenna has a slim design that is not unattractive to shoppers. To make it a better value the antenna can also be used as an advertising panel, allowing you to increase visual advertising as a customer enters and exits the store. It has enhanced detection capabilities giving it an improved ability to pick up signals from Checkpoint tags, making it more difficult for criminals to hide tagged merchandise and sneak it out of a store. What about the tags themselves? Checkpoint tags have gotten smaller over the years and yet they still provide maximum product protection. For small items like cosmetics there are the 3210 EP Clear Label. These are small and yet have windows that can be placed over barcodes that permit scanning without interrupting the speed of checkout. Because the tags are small they don’t cover up the information or packaging graphics that help to drive the sales of a product.  

 

If you have refused to this point to invest in a Checkpoint Security System due to the concerns I mentioned about aesthetics, I would challenge you to also look at the modern design of the hard tags. The tags are sleek and can be attached to suits, sports coats, designer dresses and accessories. The tags have the same ability to stop shoplifting as other tags, but these don’t detract from the clothes designs. Checkpoint tags also will not harm or damage the items they are placed on. Placed in a seam of an expensive garment, the tags provide protection to stop shoplifting but still look like they belong on this merchandise.

 

Finally, you may be concerned that a Checkpoint Security System deactivation pad at the Checkout lanes may detract from the appearance of your cash stands. Checkpoint has deactivation pads that may be incorporated into scan beds and there are also pads that are stand alone on the counter. The pads that are tied into a point of sale scan bed are out of sight and have no visual footprint. Stand-alone pads have small profiles, requiring little space and have no impact on the appearance of the cashier point of sale. In either case, Checkpoint Systems offer protection without negatively impacting a store’s appearance.

Retail theft prevention has to be a priority for a retailer otherwise shortage from theft can put a store out of business. Concern over the appearance of equipment used to stop shoplifting does not need to be a consideration. Find out all the benefits a Checkpoint Security System has to offer, including adding profit to your bottom line.

 

Get more information on a Checkpoint Security System. Contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
 

 

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Checkpoint Security System; The High Cost Of Spending Nothing

February 14, 2017 by Leave a Comment

It never ceases to amaze me when I walk through my local mall and I see a store with absolutely nothing for Retail theft prevention. There isn’t a locking peg hook, apparel soft tag, no Checkpoint security system or anything that could even remotely Stop Shoplifting. Now I’m not talking about the anchor stores and big boxes selling $6 t shirts I’m seeing this in the mid and smaller retailers, the boutique style stores with $135 pairs of jeans and $300 purses that are laying naked on the shelf.

 

I’ve had occasion to ask store managers and owners if they had no protection because they didn’t see much theft. You probably won’t be surprised to hear that I have never had one say this. What I do hear is that investing in Retail theft prevention like the Checkpoint security system is too expensive to be worth it. Too expensive? Really? I wasn’t a math major in college but I’m pretty sure at $135 per pair of jeans it doesn’t take more than a few booster hits to really wreck your profits and drive shrink through the roof.

 

I point this out and I’m usually countered by people saying that those systems don’t stop shoplifting 100% anyway so why bother? This answer always amazes me. I’ve been doing security work for over a decade and I can tell you that barbed wire and machine guns aren’t enough to Stop shoplifting 100% and neither is locks, chains and glass cases but you don’t see jewelry stores laying merchandise on nice neat shelves instead of inside locked cabinets.

 

Devices like the Checkpoint security system provide a strong visual signal that you want to protect your merchandise. Both professional thieves and the fence sitting general public will have to choose to challenge that system if they want to steal from you and in many cases they will avoid that risk. Successful Retail theft prevention is all about maximizing the value of the dollars spent on security by increase profits and reducing shrink. 

 

The investment you make to Stop shoplifting may not always look like it is making you money, especially when you look at the line item expense on your P&L but come year end the systems more than pay for themselves. I’ve seen $3000 booster hits prevented by something as simple as a door alarm and an attentive associate. That was one attempt, by one booster. Doesn’t take many of those types of preventions for that investment in retail theft prevention to pay for itself.

 

There is more value that your investment into a Checkpoint security system that you can’t see. The people who never try to steal because they know your protected are an invisible, but gigantic part of the puzzle. We can’t say for sure how large this number is but if the industry average for loss to theft is 11%, and that is with a Retail theft prevention system in place to Stop shoplifting, it isn’t a large stretch to imagine what that loss looks like to an unprotected store.

 

Last, but certainly not least is that equipping your store with a Checkpoint security system may be an expense but it is paid one time. Theft can occur every day, of every week, of every month, of every year. The system you install can last you for years and once it has paid for itself in shrink reductions that investment starts making you money, week after week, season after season. If you’re not protecting your inventory you are losing money on your inventory and it’s only a matter of time before your results show the High cost of doing nothing. 

 

Need information on Checkpoint Systems Electronic Article Surveillance?  Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now

 

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Checkpoint Systems Has All Of Your Retail Theft Prevention Needs Covered

January 10, 2017 by Leave a Comment

 

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Checkpoint Systems Has All Of Your Retail Theft Prevention Needs Covered
As we all know, you can’t completely prevent shoplifting, but we can hopefully reduce it.  Shoplifting has been occurring since the 16th Century and only continues to grow more prevalent throughout time.  There are plenty of reasons why people shoplift; some enjoy the thrill of the act, others are professionals that steal for profit, and some steal out of convenience or a sense of entitlement.  Many shoplifters don’t see it as a serious crime, or fear the consequences if they get caught, which only adds to the problem.  Some even justify their actions based on the high cost/profit margin associated with the types of items they steal.  Some people blame the economy because they work for a living, but still can’t afford the things they want or need.  The higher rates of shoplifting are not limited to a small type or class of people.  On the contrary we see people of various ages, sex, race, and even socioeconomic status committing these crimes.  So if we can’t stop shoplifting, all we can do is reduce our risk and mitigate our loss, through the use of retail theft prevention devices and systems.  Checkpoint Systems can supply your company with all the products you need to reduce theft and increase profits.     
If you are in Law Enforcement or Loss Prevention, you have probably seen some crazy and funny things throughout your career.  In my 15 years in Law Enforcement, I have seen every variation of shoplifter, at some point, and have had some very interesting encounters.  We know we can’t stop shoplifting because there are too many means and methods used to steal merchandise.  That is why retail theft prevention is so important.  We have loss prevention employees so we can try and prevent the blatant attempts to steal items on the retail floor.  This helps to identify the old lady who intentionally removes and ingests one multi-vitamin a day because she refuses to pay full price for something her doctor says is important to her health and wellbeing.  But we all know that loss prevention associates can’t be everywhere at once and can’t stop shoplifting singlehandedly.  That is why we add security tags or labels to our merchandise so that we can be notified when Mr. Shoplifter decides to add a sweater to his wardrobe before trying to leave the store.  Don’t be surprised to learn that he actually added the sweater over his existing clothing, so the hard tag was visible to anyone who paid him any attention.  One of my favorite calls involved a teenage girl suspected of taking an inexpensive necklace.  A plain clothes employee detained the girl after he believed she had concealed the item somewhere on her person.  When I arrived, the employee informed me that the female refused to talk to him, and had not turned over the merchandise.  It was soon discovered that she had concealed the necklace in her mouth; therefore talking was not an ideal option for her.  Not sure how she saw that one playing out?  Retail theft prevention is an inevitable way of life for any retailer who wants to protect their property and their pocket book, which is why Checkpoint Systems are essential to support your loss prevention program.  
Although we can’t stop shoplifting entirely, there are plenty of ways you can reduce your risk.  As a member of the loss prevention and law enforcement community I have seen it all, but retail theft prevention is not impossible.  Checkpoint Systems can provide you and your employer with all the loss prevention products you need to fight off shoplifters.  While we joke about some of our personal shoplifting experiences, we also know that shoplifting is a growing problem in our industry, that can’t be ignored.    
Need information on Checkpoint Systems?  Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.  

As we all know, you can’t completely prevent shoplifting, but we can hopefully reduce it. Shoplifting has been occurring since the 16th Century and only continues to grow more prevalent throughout time.  here are plenty of reasons why people shoplift; some enjoy the thrill of the act, others are professionals that steal for profit, and some steal out of convenience or a sense of entitlement. Many shoplifters don’t see it as a serious crime, or fear the consequences if they get caught, which only adds to the problem. Some even justify their actions based on the high cost/profit margin associated with the types of items they steal. Some people blame the economy because they work for a living, but still can’t afford the things they want or need. The higher rates of shoplifting are not limited to a small type or class of people. On the contrary we see people of various ages, sex, race, and even socioeconomic status committing these crimes. So if we can’t stop shoplifting, all we can do is reduce our risk and mitigate our loss, through the use of retail theft prevention devices and systems. Checkpoint Systems can supply your company with all the products you need to reduce theft and increase profits.     

 

If you are in Law Enforcement or Loss Prevention, you have probably seen some crazy and funny things throughout your career. In my 15 years in Law Enforcement, I have seen every variation of shoplifter, at some point, and have had some very interesting encounters. We know we can’t stop shoplifting because there are too many means and methods used to steal merchandise. That is why retail theft prevention is so important. We have loss prevention employees so we can try and prevent the blatant attempts to steal items on the retail floor. This helps to identify the old lady who intentionally removes and ingests one multi-vitamin a day because she refuses to pay full price for something her doctor says is important to her health and wellbeing. But we all know that loss prevention associates can’t be everywhere at once and can’t stop shoplifting singlehandedly. That is why we add security tags or labels to our merchandise so that we can be notified when Mr. Shoplifter decides to add a sweater to his wardrobe before trying to leave the store. Don’t be surprised to learn that he actually added the sweater over his existing clothing, so the hard tag was visible to anyone who paid him any attention. One of my favorite calls involved a teenage girl suspected of taking an inexpensive necklace. A plain clothes employee detained the girl after he believed she had concealed the item somewhere on her person. When I arrived, the employee informed me that the female refused to talk to him, and had not turned over the merchandise. It was soon discovered that she had concealed the necklace in her mouth; therefore talking was not an ideal option for her. Not sure how she saw that one playing out? Retail theft prevention is an inevitable way of life for any retailer who wants to protect their property and their pocket book, which is why Checkpoint Systems are essential to support your loss prevention program.  

 

Although we can’t stop shoplifting entirely, there are plenty of ways you can reduce your risk. As a member of the loss prevention and law enforcement community I have seen it all, but retail theft prevention is not impossible. Checkpoint Systems can provide you and your employer with all the loss prevention products you need to fight off shoplifters. While we joke about some of our personal shoplifting experiences, we also know that shoplifting is a growing problem in our industry, that can’t be ignored.    

 

Need information on Checkpoint Systems? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.  

 

 

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Unexpected Advantages Of A Checkpoint Security System – Detect Missed Bottom Of Basket Merchandise Before It Leaves The Store

December 7, 2016 by Leave a Comment

 

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Unexpected Advantages Of A Checkpoint Security System – Detect Missed Bottom Of Basket Merchandise Before It Leaves The Store
       When you think of Checkpoint systems, what comes to mind first?  Anti-shoplifting equipment? Retail theft prevention?  You would be correct in your choices, but there are other benefits of having a Checkpoint security system that might not come immediately to mind.  A large portion of merchandise shortage does result from criminal activity and it is important to stop shoplifting and employee theft.  However, it is important to know that shortage can be caused by operational issues. Think of a time when you had a shopping cart full of merchandise, you checked out and pushed your cart to the parking lot.  After you put your bags in the trunk you realize there was an item on the bottom of the buggy, perhaps a bag of dog food, or even a small item such as a pen or cosmetic item that was not scanned.  Most of us would be honest and take the merchandise back to the store and pay for it, or leave it with the customer service counter and decide it isn’t worth the time to go back through the checkout.  This isn’t always the case.  There are people that overlook items and once outside decide to take it and blame the cashier for not catching it.  Other people see it left in a shopping cart in the parking lot and just walk off with the merchandise.  Regardless of how the merchandise was missed it was still not paid for and amounts to shrinkage.  A Checkpoint security system can prevent operational losses and stop shoplifting at the same time.
     Checkpoint systems use radio frequency waves transmitted from Checkpoint tags and received by Checkpoint electronic article surveillance antennas to create a protective screen for stores.  As merchandise is paid for at a point of sale, hard tags are removed from merchandise using a Checkpoint detachment tool and the tags are ready for reuse.  Deactivation units at the point of sale deactivate Checkpoint labels so they are unable to cause antenna alarms.  Protected merchandise that does not pass through a point of sale causes an antenna alarm to activate.  Staff members respond to those alarms and conduct receipt checks to locate the merchandise that has not been paid for and can offer to ring it up or return it to the store if the customer chooses not to purchase it.  Either way, merchandise is recovered or sold thereby accounting for it and preventing a loss.
      Just how big a deal are non-crime associated losses to stores?  According to the 2014-2015 Global Retail Theft Barometer Report, administrative and non-crime related losses accounted for 13% of shrinkage in North America, translating to approximately 4.78 BILLION dollars (pg. 53)!  The report does not break down these losses any further, and we know that some of this loss is paperwork and accounting related.  On the other hand we also know that some of this loss is due to unpaid merchandise unintentionally being removed from the store.  If all merchandise in a store was protected with Checkpoint tags or Checkpoint labels, that merchandise would be detected by a Checkpoint security system antenna before it could get out of the door.
     The primary reason to invest in Checkpoint systems should be to stop shoplifting.  Checkpoint tags and Checkpoint labels deter thieves when they see merchandise is protected.  They cause EAS antenna alarms when people attempt to steal merchandise and result in recovered merchandise from items abandoned by thieves or through receipt checks. Whether it is intentional or not, it is important to remember that any merchandise recovered adds to the profit line.  THAT is the benefit of investing in a Checkpoint security system!
Get more information on a Checkpoint security system.  Contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.  
 

When you think of Checkpoint systems, what comes to mind first? Anti-shoplifting equipment? Retail theft prevention? You would be correct in your choices, but there are other benefits of having a Checkpoint security system that might not come immediately to mind. A large portion of merchandise shortage does result from criminal activity and it is important to stop shoplifting and employee theft. However, it is important to know that shortage can be caused by operational issues. Think of a time when you had a shopping cart full of merchandise, you checked out and pushed your cart to the parking lot. After you put your bags in the trunk you realize there was an item on the bottom of the buggy, perhaps a bag of dog food, or even a small item such as a pen or cosmetic item that was not scanned. Most of us would be honest and take the merchandise back to the store and pay for it, or leave it with the customer service counter and decide it isn’t worth the time to go back through the checkout. This isn’t always the case. There are people that overlook items and once outside decide to take it and blame the cashier for not catching it. Other people see it left in a shopping cart in the parking lot and just walk off with the merchandise. Regardless of how the merchandise was missed it was still not paid for and amounts to shrinkage. A Checkpoint security system can prevent operational losses and stop shoplifting at the same time.

Checkpoint systems use radio frequency waves transmitted from Checkpoint tags and received by Checkpoint electronic article surveillance antennas to create a protective screen for stores. As merchandise is paid for at a point of sale, hard tags are removed from merchandise using a Checkpoint detachment tool and the tags are ready for reuse. Deactivation units at the point of sale deactivate Checkpoint labels so they are unable to cause antenna alarms. Protected merchandise that does not pass through a point of sale causes an antenna alarm to activate. Staff members respond to those alarms and conduct receipt checks to locate the merchandise that has not been paid for and can offer to ring it up or return it to the store if the customer chooses not to purchase it. Either way, merchandise is recovered or sold thereby accounting for it and preventing a loss.

Just how big a deal are non-crime associated losses to stores? According to the 2014-2015 Global Retail Theft Barometer Report, administrative and non-crime related losses accounted for 13% of shrinkage in North America, translating to approximately 4.78 BILLION dollars (pg. 53)! The report does not break down these losses any further, and we know that some of this loss is paperwork and accounting related. On the other hand we also know that some of this loss is due to unpaid merchandise unintentionally being removed from the store. If all merchandise in a store was protected with Checkpoint tags or Checkpoint labels, that merchandise would be detected by a Checkpoint security system antenna before it could get out of the door.

The primary reason to invest in Checkpoint systems should be to stop shoplifting. Checkpoint tags and Checkpoint labels deter thieves when they see merchandise is protected. They cause EAS antenna alarms when people attempt to steal merchandise and result in recovered merchandise from items abandoned by thieves or through receipt checks. Whether it is intentional or not, it is important to remember that any merchandise recovered adds to the profit line. THAT is the benefit of investing in a Checkpoint security system!

 

Get more information on a Checkpoint security system.  Contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.  

 

 

 

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

FLY AWAY WITH A CHECKPOINT SECURITY SYSTEM

November 10, 2016 by Leave a Comment

To stay relevant in retail, you’ve got to change constantly to meet your customer needs. Electronics are no different. You have to keep up with changes customer preferences and tastes in order to maximize your sales. This is why retailers of all sizes seem to be stocking those hover-boards that are so wildly popular. No, not the Marty McFly kind… yet, but they’re still a ton of fun to play on. I want to show you how, with the help of Checkpoint Labels, I was able to save my company nearly $5,000 last week.

 

It was about 7pm and I heard Judge Judy calling my name. Not the T.V, but my ringtone for my work line. Like her, I take a no-nonsense approach to shrink. On the other end is a distraught store manager. She tells me that someone had just walked out of the store with 10 hoverboards that she had prominently displayed at the front of the store. She tried to stop the thief, but he told her that he had a gun. Moron went from a theft to an armed robbery in just 3 words. Obviously, my first concern is her well-being. Once I’m satisfied that she is going to be fine, just a bit shaken, I ask if she had secured the product with our Checkpoint Labels. I get another yes. Even though they were able to exit, I still may be able to track my product down. My work begins.

 

I come in the next morning and review the security footage. I immediately recognize the suspect from a law enforcement BOLO that had recently come down. I watched as he casually entered the store with a shopping cart, loaded up 10 boards and strolled out the door. He even stopped when the Checkpoint Security System alerted, but after his comment to the manager, his pace increased and he threw the loot into a waiting vehicle.

 

I start running every possible lead down that I can and as luck would have it, I come across a Craigslist ad posted the day after the theft. The hoverboards listed are the same style and color. I’m beaming. I know this is my guy. I call him and set up a meeting to purchase two. Deal is on; $280 cash. Little does he know at this point that I’ll be coming with police protection and that a little Checkpoint Label might just ruin his afternoon.

 

I immediately contact some of the city’s finest who are more than happy to lend a hand. I meet with three officers, give a rundown of what’s going on and they agree to set up a sting with me. They tell me that I first have to be 100% sure that the item belonged to my store. Lucky for me, our Checkpoint Security System will come to the rescue. Our labels had our store name and number printed on them. Once I confirm the sticker is still on the box, this guy is toast.

 

Right on time, McFly arrives with my two hoverboards just as promised. I inspect them, see my labels and buy the product. As soon as he pulls out of the parking lot, I give the signal to the waiting officers who conduct a traffic stop. Minutes later, he’s in cuffs, my money is back in my possession and within a few hours, I was able to recover all 10 hover boards. This would not have been possible without our Checkpoint Security System, and more importantly some well placed Checkpoint Labels.

 

Need information on Checkpoint Security Systems? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now. 

 

Filed Under: antishoplifting Tagged With: ,

Trying To Bypass Checkpoint Systems And Other Stories Of Dishonest Employees: Part 3

October 6, 2016 by Leave a Comment

 

Checkpoint Security Systems-3                                                                                                    WC Blog 172
Checkpoint tags-3
Trying To Bypass Checkpoint Systems And Other Stories Of Dishonest Employees: Part 3
     Not all internal/employee theft involves removing Checkpoint tags and stealing merchandise.  Frequently an employee steals cash, especially if multiple employees work out of the same cash register.   One of the most difficult internal investigations I had was a suspected cash theft case.  Our store had been opened for less than a year and I was still a new Loss Prevention Manager for our company.  At that time we only concerned ourselves with cash shortages of ten dollars or more, though we did track all shortages.  I had a cashier who had been with us for quite some time and I had not had many concerns about her.  I was keeping busy with several large merchandise theft cases involving an employee theft ring in our store.  That group had been deactivating Checkpoint tags on merchandise and stuffing comforters with the unprotected merchandise. They were ringing up the comforters and other small items and voiding the smaller items from the transactions, bypassing our Checkpoint Security Systems.  Due to the nature of that investigation, small cash shortages were not on my radar.  After I closed the theft ring case I was looking for other theft activity and noticed a cash shortage trend that was tracking to one particular cashier.  
     I spent many hours reviewing videotapes and conducting live surveillances of this cashier but could not find any signs of wrong doing.   I then started to see even ten and twenty dollar shortages appearing.  At that time, our store tried to keep no more than three cashiers on a register a day, though it did not always happen.  Despite this, the shortages continued to track to this one woman and I was growing concerned over the dollar amounts we were “losing”.  Despite my best efforts nothing was making any sense.  I never saw anything unusual, not even a possible attempt to work around the Checkpoint Security System with voids or deactivations. 
     One day during a live surveillance, I had one camera zoomed in on the cashier’s till and another aimed to see her at her register.  The cashier had a transaction in which she took a twenty dollar bill as payment and placed it in the till, but she did not put down the clip that holds bills in place.  I noticed when the next transaction took place and the drawer opened, the twenty had moved out of the slot and towards the back of the drawer.  I followed the next several cash transactions and observed that with each opening and closing of the drawer, the bill moved further back until finally it had disappeared altogether.  I immediately had the cashier supervisor move the cashier from the register.  I opened the register and removed the entire drawer.  Inside I found the ten along with several other bills stuffed behind the drawer.  I then checked every register and tracked the amounts found to the shortages the cashier had appeared to cause.  All of the money ended up being accounted for and my “internal case” turned out to be a non-case.  
     Finally, my shortest and funniest dishonest employee interview involved a new cashier who had started stealing cash shortly after being employed.  It did not take me long to identify all of her theft and request permission to conduct the interview.  One day I watched the cashier until she took money from her register and placed it in her pocket.  Rather than ask for a manager to escort her to the office for the interview, I walked up to the cashier and told her to come with me and to keep her hands out of her pocket.  She said “You got me” and I said, “I know” and we went to complete the interview.  THAT was the fastest admission I ever had from an employee.
      Checkpoint Security Systems along with Checkpoint Tags and labels are excellent for deterring employee theft of merchandise.  They may not help with cash or financial transaction fraud but if they are preventing shoplifting and internal cases, you can focus more energy on preventing the cash theft and credit card fraud in your store.
Get more information on Checkpoint Security Systems, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
 

Not all internal/employee theft involves removing Checkpoint tags and stealing merchandise. Frequently an employee steals cash, especially if multiple employees work out of the same cash register. One of the most difficult internal investigations I had was a suspected cash theft case. Our store had been opened for less than a year and I was still a new Loss Prevention Manager for our company. At that time we only concerned ourselves with cash shortages of ten dollars or more, though we did track all shortages. I had a cashier who had been with us for quite some time and I had not had many concerns about her. I was keeping busy with several large merchandise theft cases involving an employee theft ring in our store. That group had been deactivating Checkpoint tags on merchandise and stuffing comforters with the unprotected merchandise. They were ringing up the comforters and other small items and voiding the smaller items from the transactions, bypassing our Checkpoint Security Systems. Due to the nature of that investigation, small cash shortages were not on my radar. After I closed the theft ring case I was looking for other theft activity and noticed a cash shortage trend that was tracking to one particular cashier.  

I spent many hours reviewing videotapes and conducting live surveillances of this cashier but could not find any signs of wrong doing. I then started to see even ten and twenty dollar shortages appearing. At that time, our store tried to keep no more than three cashiers on a register a day, though it did not always happen. Despite this, the shortages continued to track to this one woman and I was growing concerned over the dollar amounts we were “losing”. Despite my best efforts nothing was making any sense. I never saw anything unusual, not even a possible attempt to work around the Checkpoint Security System with voids or deactivations. 

One day during a live surveillance, I had one camera zoomed in on the cashier’s till and another aimed to see her at her register. The cashier had a transaction in which she took a twenty dollar bill as payment and placed it in the till, but she did not put down the clip that holds bills in place. I noticed when the next transaction took place and the drawer opened, the twenty had moved out of the slot and towards the back of the drawer. I followed the next several cash transactions and observed that with each opening and closing of the drawer, the bill moved further back until finally it had disappeared altogether. I immediately had the cashier supervisor move the cashier from the register. I opened the register and removed the entire drawer. Inside I found the ten along with several other bills stuffed behind the drawer. I then checked every register and tracked the amounts found to the shortages the cashier had appeared to cause. All of the money ended up being accounted for and my “internal case” turned out to be a non-case.  

Finally, my shortest and funniest dishonest employee interview involved a new cashier who had started stealing cash shortly after being employed.  It did not take me long to identify all of her theft and request permission to conduct the interview. One day I watched the cashier until she took money from her register and placed it in her pocket. Rather than ask for a manager to escort her to the office for the interview, I walked up to the cashier and told her to come with me and to keep her hands out of her pocket. She said “You got me” and I said, “I know” and we went to complete the interview. THAT was the fastest admission I ever had from an employee.

Checkpoint Security Systems along with Checkpoint Tags and labels are excellent for deterring employee theft of merchandise. They may not help with cash or financial transaction fraud but if they are preventing shoplifting and internal cases, you can focus more energy on preventing the cash theft and credit card fraud in your store.

 

Get more information on Checkpoint Security Systems, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.

 

 

 

Filed Under: antishoplifting Tagged With: , ,

Trying To Bypass Checkpoint Systems And Other Stories Of Dishonest Employees: Part 2

September 7, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Checkpoint Tags-4                                                                                                                            WC blog 171
Checkpoint Security Systems-3
Trying To Bypass Checkpoint Systems And Other Stories Of Dishonest Employees: Part 2
     Employee theft investigations were probably my most challenging and enjoyable job functions as a Loss Prevention Manager.  Difficult cases could take weeks of surveillances, report monitoring, video reviews and putting in long work days.  Sometimes Checkpoint Security Systems were helpful in conducting the investigations as I could watch for employees deactivating Checkpoint Tags on merchandise when no customer was nearby.  I could also see if a Checkpoint antenna light flashed (our antennas had an audible alert and a visual alert built in) when an employee exited the building, confirming if they may have had stolen merchandise on their person.  While the investigations could take time and be intense, the dishonest employee interviews could be short and/or occasionally humorous.  In this second part of my series I will share an additional internal case that closed on a funny note.  
     To clarify a little first I want the readers to know what makes up Checkpoint Security Systems.  Systems include electronic article surveillance (EAS) antennas, Checkpoint tags and labels, deactivation units that “turn-off” the ability of a tag to set off an antenna and detachment keys to remove hard tags from merchandise.  When used together these tools provide superior merchandise protection to stop shoplifting and deter theft. 
     One memorable case I had involved a return desk associate who had only been employed for a few weeks.  Frequently I made a point to watch new employees after giving them some time to get acclimated to the new job.  I also watched areas where the potential for theft and fraud was greatest.  The return desk could be one of those areas.  There are fewer employees or supervisors walking behind the desk so a cashier is not as concerned with intrusions as they are at the front checklanes.  This service desk employee was taking back returns but I happened to notice that after she did some returns and the customer had left, she examined some items very closely, especially jewelry.  Some of the items returned still had Checkpoint tags on them from when they were purchased, but the tags were no longer useful because they had been de-tuned at the time of purchase.  I continued to watch this employee for the next several days she worked and began to see her remove pieces of small jewelry from a return bin and place them in her pocket.  She would then go on a break or leave for the day with the pilfered merchandise.
       I eventually had plenty of evidence and the approval to do a dishonest employee interview.  The day I decided to interview, I watched the employee hide several pieces of jewelry, including a pair of earrings and a chain bracelet in her socks.  I went to the service desk, and asked the employee to come with me to an office I had set up for the interview.  I usually would have had another manager escort the employee, but in this case I did not want to give an opportunity for the merchandise to be dumped.  We arrived at the office and we sat down.  I introduced myself and began my interview.  I normally followed a specific routine, but in this situation I stopped myself and told the employee that before we went any further I needed her to give me the earrings she had in her left sock.  The woman’s mouth almost hit the floor.  She stammered  for a moment and when I felt she might need a little more coaxing I told her she could give me the bracelet from her other sock as well.  At that point, the suspect turned over the items and I few more things I did not know she had in her pockets.  The rest of the interview went smoothly with a full admission and a promissory note for the merchandise she had already taken home. She also got to wear a set of bracelets, but not the ones she wanted.
      Let me close with this thought, Checkpoint Security Systems are invaluable in keeping shortage low and profits high.  They do work to stop shoplifting and deter all kinds of theft.  Remember, it is important to ensure all equipment works and there are procedures in place to get returned merchandise protected as soon as possible with Checkpoint tags and labels.  Also, don’t neglect to monitor your return desk as well as your checklanes.  Regular walks and random audits can help ensure employees aren’t tempted to engage in dishonest activity.
Checkpoint Security Systems are important and we can help you with it.  Call 1.770.426.0547.

Employee theft investigations were probably my most challenging and enjoyable job functions as a Loss Prevention Manager. Difficult cases could take weeks of surveillances, report monitoring, video reviews and putting in long work days. Sometimes Checkpoint Security Systems were helpful in conducting the investigations as I could watch for employees deactivating Checkpoint Tags on merchandise when no customer was nearby. I could also see if a Checkpoint antenna light flashed (our antennas had an audible alert and a visual alert built in) when an employee exited the building, confirming if they may have had stolen merchandise on their person. While the investigations could take time and be intense, the dishonest employee interviews could be short and/or occasionally humorous. In this second part of my series I will share an additional internal case that closed on a funny note.  
     

To clarify a little first I want the readers to know what makes up Checkpoint Security Systems. Systems include electronic article surveillance (EAS) antennas, Checkpoint tags and labels, deactivation units that “turn-off” the ability of a tag to set off an antenna and detachment keys to remove hard tags from merchandise. When used together these tools provide superior merchandise protection to stop shoplifting and deter theft. 
     

One memorable case I had involved a return desk associate who had only been employed for a few weeks. Frequently I made a point to watch new employees after giving them some time to get acclimated to the new job. I also watched areas where the potential for theft and fraud was greatest. The return desk could be one of those areas. There are fewer employees or supervisors walking behind the desk so a cashier is not as concerned with intrusions as they are at the front checklanes. This service desk employee was taking back returns but I happened to notice that after she did some returns and the customer had left, she examined some items very closely, especially jewelry. Some of the items returned still had Checkpoint tags on them from when they were purchased, but the tags were no longer useful because they had been de-tuned at the time of purchase. I continued to watch this employee for the next several days she worked and began to see her remove pieces of small jewelry from a return bin and place them in her pocket. She would then go on a break or leave for the day with the pilfered merchandise.
       

I eventually had plenty of evidence and the approval to do a dishonest employee interview. The day I decided to interview, I watched the employee hide several pieces of jewelry, including a pair of earrings and a chain bracelet in her socks. I went to the service desk, and asked the employee to come with me to an office I had set up for the interview. I usually would have had another manager escort the employee, but in this case I did not want to give an opportunity for the merchandise to be dumped. We arrived at the office and we sat down.  I introduced myself and began my interview. I normally followed a specific routine, but in this situation I stopped myself and told the employee that before we went any further I needed her to give me the earrings she had in her left sock. The woman’s mouth almost hit the floor. She stammered  for a moment and when I felt she might need a little more coaxing I told her she could give me the bracelet from her other sock as well. At that point, the suspect turned over the items and a few more things I did not know she had in her pockets.  The rest of the interview went smoothly with a full admission and a promissory note for the merchandise she had already taken home. She also got to wear a set of bracelets, but not the ones she wanted.
     

Let me close with this thought, Checkpoint Security Systems are invaluable in keeping shortage low and profits high. They do work to stop shoplifting and deter all kinds of theft. Remember, it is important to ensure all equipment works and there are procedures in place to get returned merchandise protected as soon as possible with Checkpoint tags and labels. Also, don’t neglect to monitor your return desk as well as your checklanes. Regular walks and random audits can help ensure employees aren’t tempted to engage in dishonest activity.

 

Checkpoint Security Systems are important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547.

 

Filed Under: antishoplifting Tagged With: , , ,

The Wardrobing Mindset

August 12, 2016 by Leave a Comment
What kind of person thinks it is okay to go to the store, buy an outfit, wear it out on the town and then return it for a full cash refund.  For most customers, they would not dream of such a thing.  Most normal customers know it is nothing short of return fraud.  But for one in six women across the nation, it is a normal and acceptable way to shop.  In their heads, they have made up excuses and told themselves that they are just borrowing the items for the night.  Wardrobing is the sneaky way to stay stylish, and they do not consider their actions as return fraud at all.  It is very costly to look good and stay up to date on the current fashions.  In this social media bound world, they cannot take the chance that they may be tagged in a group picture wearing the same outfit from the last weekend’s party.  Talk about a photo bomb.
These women want to look fabulous at every event without having to move into the poor house.  Weddings, job interviews, proms, and other big events are the major excuses many women use for wardrobing.  She can’t show up the bride in her dress, but she can certainly make sure she is the best dressed guest there.  Wardrobing success involves some planning ahead.  She has to make sure she is fully aware of the store’s return policy.  How long can she keep the dress?  Does she have to bring it back the next day or can she wait a couple weeks?  That matters because she really hopes when she brings the items back, there will be different people working that day.  She knows she will need to bring her original proof of purchase back with her.  If she loses the receipt, she knows that will be a deal breaker.   Can she claim the dress ended up fitting too tightly or that the garment was poorly made?   She has to know for sure she can get away with tucking in the price tag and avoiding red wine all night.  Then she knows she just needs some air freshener to do a good job covering the smoke and sweat smell, so she can take the walk of shame back in there and get her money back.
Many stores have begun making changes to their return policies to combat this free rent mentality.  Some have added restocking fees to their merchandise.  Some have shortened their return time periods.  Some smart retailers have started adding gadgets called Alpha Shark Tags to their return policy, however, and that seems to be the most effective way to stop wardrobing so far.  These tags are clipped directly on to the garment, right on the front, where they cannot be hidden or tucked away.  The customer is told at the time or purchase about the store’s restrictions on returns.  They should be shown the Alpha Shark Tags and told- do not remove it and expect to return it.  Once the customer gets home with the item, the tag can be removed with a pair of household scissors.  There is no way to reattach the tag once it has been cut.  Free rent amounts to nothing short of return fraud and Alpha Shark Tags are here to help your store put a stop to it.
Putting a stop to wardrobing is important and we can help you with it.  Contact us or call today: 1.770.426.0547

What kind of person thinks it is okay to go to the store, buy an outfit, wear it out on the town and then return it for a full cash refund. For most customers, they would not dream of such a thing. Most normal customers know it is nothing short of return fraud. But for one in six women across the nation, it is a normal and acceptable way to shop. In their heads, they have made up excuses and told themselves that they are just borrowing the items for the night. Wardrobing is the sneaky way to stay stylish, and they do not consider their actions as return fraud at all. It is very costly to look good and stay up to date on the current fashions. In this social media bound world, they cannot take the chance that they may be tagged in a group picture wearing the same outfit from the last weekend’s party. Talk about a photo bomb.

 

These women want to look fabulous at every event without having to move into the poor house. Weddings, job interviews, proms, and other big events are the major excuses many women use for wardrobing. She can’t show up the bride in her dress, but she can certainly make sure she is the best dressed guest there. Wardrobing success involves some planning ahead. She has to make sure she is fully aware of the store’s return policy. How long can she keep the dress? Does she have to bring it back the next day or can she wait a couple weeks? That matters because she really hopes when she brings the items back, there will be different people working that day. She knows she will need to bring her original proof of purchase back with her. If she loses the receipt, she knows that will be a deal breaker.   Can she claim the dress ended up fitting too tightly or that the garment was poorly made? She has to know for sure she can get away with tucking in the price tag and avoiding red wine all night. Then she knows she just needs some air freshener to do a good job covering the smoke and sweat smell, so she can take the walk of shame back in there and get her money back.

Many stores have begun making changes to their return policies to combat this free rent mentality. Some have added restocking fees to their merchandise. Some have shortened their return time periods. Some smart retailers have started adding gadgets called Alpha Shark Tags to their return policy, however, and that seems to be the most effective way to stop wardrobing so far. These tags are clipped directly on to the garment, right on the front, where they cannot be hidden or tucked away. The customer is told at the time or purchase about the store’s restrictions on returns. They should be shown the Alpha Shark Tags and told- do not remove it and expect to return it. Once the customer gets home with the item, the tag can be removed with a pair of household scissors. There is no way to reattach the tag once it has been cut. Free rent amounts to nothing short of return fraud and Alpha Shark Tags are here to help your store put a stop to it.

Putting a stop to wardrobing is important and we can help you with it. Contact us or call today: 1.770.426.0547

 

Filed Under: antishoplifting

How Checkpoint Systems Stopped A Booster

August 8, 2016 by Leave a Comment

 

Stop Shoplifting-3 , CP Systems-3 , CP Labels-4
How Checkpoint Systems Stopped  A Booster
The true purpose of loss prevention is deterring theft.  Stores can deter theft through several different means.  Shoplifters prefer to get in a store unnoticed, so one tried and true method to stop shoplifting is speaking to and making eye contact with every person that walks through your front door.  Offer them help and ask if they need help finding anything.  Many times this can be a dead giveaway because they are not prepared for the interaction, so they say something ridiculous, like they were looking for motor oil and you only sell clothing.  It’s like when someone comes up to my pharmacy counter and asks for syringes for their grandma’s diabetic dog.  
Another great way to stop shoplifting is by using anti-theft tools like Checkpoint Systems.  I was sitting in my office last week, looking out over the sales floor, and saw a guy come in the front door.  The first thing I noticed was that he was wearing a tee-shirt with a button up shirt over it, but it was open.  Boosters used to grab a shopping basket or a large gift bag from the greeting card section, but another trend is to just wear extra layers to conceal the merchandise.  It was almost a hundred degrees that day, so that’s why his attire really caught my eye.  He got a shopping cart and went to the small grocery section where he picked up a big bag of chips.  Then he went down the pain relief and cold remedies aisle.  He was bent down looking at some different items; picking up random things and putting them back down.  Interestingly enough, the items he was picking up are those Breathe Right strips that are very commonly stolen and resold at the area flea market.  They all happen to have Checkpoint Labels on them, so it’s either not what he was looking for or they didn’t seem to be appealing to him.  Then he went over to the pain and sleep medications.  Again, these are stolen very frequently, and again, they all have Checkpoint Labels adhered to the fronts of the packages and he kept putting the boxes back on the shelf.   Next he went around and down the stomach remedies section.  This section holds a lot of high retail items so I came down the stairs and got a little closer.  I wasn’t too worried, because I know most of the targeted items in this aisle are encased in Alpha Keepers, as well as tagged with Checkpoint Labels.  It’s a little overkill, but it works, and that’s all that matters.  The guy didn’t pick up anything over there.   He could tell he wasn’t going to be successful at my location, so he left the cart and the chips in the aisle and walked out the door.
That’s the beauty of Checkpoint Systems.  With the increased danger of apprehensions these days, I use every tool at my disposal to deter theft instead of having to go toe to toe with a criminal.  The entire inventory I lose comes straight off my profit line, so I have to work hard to stop shoplifting.  But I’m not going to put myself or my staff in peril.  My Checkpoint Systems gates sit there like a silent sentry, doing its job without a lot of fanfare.  It’s the first thing a thief notices when they come in the door.  And they know they can’t beat it, so they start looking around to see what actually has Checkpoint Labels attached.  Without the labels, the system can’t detect theft, so that part is paramount.  
Get more information on how Checkpoint Systems can help you.  Contact us or call today. 1.770.426.0547

The true purpose of loss prevention is deterring theft. Stores can deter theft through several different means. Shoplifters prefer to get in a store unnoticed, so one tried and true method to stop shoplifting is speaking to and making eye contact with every person that walks through your front door. Offer them help and ask if they need help finding anything. Many times this can be a dead giveaway because they are not prepared for the interaction, so they say something ridiculous, like they were looking for motor oil and you only sell clothing. It’s like when someone comes up to my pharmacy counter and asks for syringes for their grandma’s diabetic dog.  

 

Another great way to stop shoplifting is by using anti-theft tools like Checkpoint Systems. I was sitting in my office last week, looking out over the sales floor, and saw a guy come in the front door. The first thing I noticed was that he was wearing a tee-shirt with a button up shirt over it, but it was open. Boosters used to grab a shopping basket or a large gift bag from the greeting card section, but another trend is to just wear extra layers to conceal the merchandise. It was almost a hundred degrees that day, so that’s why his attire really caught my eye. He got a shopping cart and went to the small grocery section where he picked up a big bag of chips. Then he went down the pain relief and cold remedies aisle.  He was bent down looking at some different items; picking up random things and putting them back down. Interestingly enough, the items he was picking up are those Breathe Right strips that are very commonly stolen and resold at the area flea market. They all happen to have Checkpoint Labels on them, so it’s either not what he was looking for or they didn’t seem to be appealing to him. Then he went over to the pain and sleep medications. Again, these are stolen very frequently, and again, they all have Checkpoint Labels adhered to the fronts of the packages and he kept putting the boxes back on the shelf. Next he went around and down the stomach remedies section. This section holds a lot of high retail items so I came down the stairs and got a little closer. I wasn’t too worried, because I know most of the targeted items in this aisle are encased in Alpha Keepers, as well as tagged with Checkpoint Labels. It’s a little overkill, but it works, and that’s all that matters. The guy didn’t pick up anything over there. He could tell he wasn’t going to be successful at my location, so he left the cart and the chips in the aisle and walked out the door.

 

That’s the beauty of Checkpoint Systems.  With the increased danger of apprehensions these days, I use every tool at my disposal to deter theft instead of having to go toe to toe with a criminal. The entire inventory I lose comes straight off my profit line, so I have to work hard to stop shoplifting.  But I’m not going to put myself or my staff in peril. My Checkpoint Systems gates sit there like a silent sentry, doing its job without a lot of fanfare. It’s the first thing a thief notices when they come in the door. And they know they can’t beat it, so they start looking around to see what actually has Checkpoint Labels attached. Without the labels, the system can’t detect theft, so that part is paramount.  

 

Get more information on how Checkpoint Systems can help you. Contact us or call today. 1.770.426.0547

 

 

Filed Under: antishoplifting Tagged With: , ,
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