Pretty And Protected; Bottle Locks Don’t Need To Limit Bottle Label Appeal

May 25, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Bottle Locks-4                                                                                                                          WC blog 106
Liquor bottle security-3
Alpha Security -4
Bottle Security-3
Pretty And Protected; Bottle Locks Don’t Need To Limit Bottle Label Appeal
     Have you ever noticed the different bottles that beverage makers use to sell their products, especially the wine and alcohol manufacturers? Bottle shapes, sizes, and styles along with the labels and packaging are meant to provide a distinction from competitors to make their brand stand out. Sometimes, as with boxed wines, the idea is to promote the packaging as more environmentally friendly that those in glass bottles. Use a gold foil around the top of the champagne bottle and the message you may be sending your customers is that this is a brand the sophisticated and wealthy consumer is drinking. The messaging being sent by the manufacturer of a product is usually the result of testing to marketing groups. So when I begin to think about writing about the value of bottle locks to prevent theft, I have to take into consideration, what impact if any, the device might have on the selling features of the beverages.  
     My first priority when writing is to help retailers find the best liquor bottle security device on the market to help them prevent shortage due to theft and in some cases, even unintentional walk outs. Using bottle locks is the optimum solution for prevention of theft because they operate with electronic article surveillance (EAS) systems. Install an EAS system and when a bottle with a bottle lock is carried within the range of an EAS antenna, the antenna sounds a loud alarm and built in lights flash, alerting store personnel to a situation that needs attention.  Using bottle security also deters theft since shoplifters don’t want to hassle with trying to force off a security device or risk setting off an alarm when they walk out a door.  If a cashier forgets to check the bottom of a shopping cart and a bottle has been overlooked, the alarm will sound and the patron can return and pay for it.
     Obviously then, bottle security is a great solution to preventing shortage, but you may still be concerned that you don’t want to cover up the labeling information or detract from the packaging of your bottles.  Alpha Security has produced a Crystal Guard security device that covers the bottle cap and part of the neck of the bottle.  It has a clear front that provides the customer the ability to view the label and wrapping around the top of the bottle. The device still covers up plenty of the bottle cap, making it nearly impossible to tamper with the cap or the device itself. The features of the bottle labeling are not interfered with and thus keep the allure of that particular selling point. 
     If, on the other hand, you are strictly concerned with liquor bottle security and preventing theft and the package labeling is secondary you may be interested in the Alpha Security S3 Bottle Cap. This liquor bottle security lock is, in my opinion, simply no-nonsense in appearance.  It doesn’t look like it’s supposed to be pretty or classy; for a security device if it could talk it would say, “Don’t mess with me”.  Just the visual impact of these bottle locks would send the message to shoplifters to go away. This Alpha Security device covers the entire lid and top portion of a bottle and is extremely difficult to tamper with. As a matter of fact tampering with this or any of the bottle locks could result in a broken bottle. There is no clear or see through functionality on this lock so bottle neck labels or foils will not be seen, but that may not be a concern if it keeps the merchandise in the store.
     Trying to balance maintaining the selling features of a product with the need to prevent theft and shortage can be tricky. Alpha Security has a broad selection of bottle locks that can meet your needs for bottle security and showing off the eye catching features of your merchandise.
Need information on bottle locks? Contact us or give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.

Have you ever noticed the different bottles that beverage makers use to sell their products, especially the wine and alcohol manufacturers? Bottle shapes, sizes, and styles along with the labels and packaging are meant to provide a distinction from competitors to make their brand stand out. Sometimes, as with boxed wines, the idea is to promote the packaging as more environmentally friendly that those in glass bottles. Use a gold foil around the top of the champagne bottle and the message you may be sending your customers is that this is a brand the sophisticated and wealthy consumer is drinking. The messaging being sent by the manufacturer of a product is usually the result of testing to marketing groups. So when I begin to think about writing about the value of bottle locks to prevent theft, I have to take into consideration, what impact if any, the device might have on the selling features of the beverages.  

 

My first priority when writing is to help retailers find the best liquor bottle security device on the market to help them prevent shortage due to theft and in some cases, even unintentional walk outs. Using bottle locks is the optimum solution for prevention of theft because they operate with electronic article surveillance (EAS) systems. Install an EAS system and when a bottle with a bottle lock is carried within the range of an EAS antenna, the antenna sounds a loud alarm and built in lights flash, alerting store personnel to a situation that needs attention.  Using bottle security also deters theft since shoplifters don’t want to hassle with trying to force off a security device or risk setting off an alarm when they walk out a door. If a cashier forgets to check the bottom of a shopping cart and a bottle has been overlooked, the alarm will sound and the patron can return and pay for it.

 

Obviously then, bottle security is a great solution to preventing shortage, but you may still be concerned that you don’t want to cover up the labeling information or detract from the packaging of your bottles.  Alpha Security has produced a Crystal Guard security device that covers the bottle cap and part of the neck of the bottle.  It has a clear front that provides the customer the ability to view the label and wrapping around the top of the bottle. The device still covers up plenty of the bottle cap, making it nearly impossible to tamper with the cap or the device itself. The features of the bottle labeling are not interfered with and thus keep the allure of that particular selling point. 

     

If, on the other hand, you are strictly concerned with liquor bottle security and preventing theft and the package labeling is secondary you may be interested in the Alpha Security S3 Bottle Cap. This liquor bottle security lock is, in my opinion, simply no-nonsense in appearance.  It doesn’t look like it’s supposed to be pretty or classy; for a security device if it could talk it would say, “Don’t mess with me”. Just the visual impact of these bottle locks would send the message to shoplifters to go away. This Alpha Security device covers the entire lid and top portion of a bottle and is extremely difficult to tamper with. As a matter of fact tampering with this or any of the bottle locks could result in a broken bottle. There is no clear or see through functionality on this lock so bottle neck labels or foils will not be seen, but that may not be a concern if it keeps the merchandise in the store.

 

Trying to maintain the balance of selling features with the need to prevent theft and shortage can be tricky. Alpha Security has a broad selection of bottle locks that can meet your needs for bottle security and showing off the eye catching features of your merchandise.

 

Need information on bottle locks? Contact us or give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.

 

Filed Under: Security Tagged With: , , , ,

Too Many Shoplifters And Not Enough Staff? Bottle Locks Are The Solution

April 19, 2016 by Leave a Comment

 

Bottle Locks -5                                                                                                                                   WC blog 81
Bottle Security-3
Too Many Shoplifters And Not Enough Staff? Bottle Locks Are The Solution
     If your liquor store is a small to medium size business you may not have a lot of payroll to pour into a large staff.  You probably have no budget for a security person to monitor the activity in your building or even to stand watch at the front door.  With such limitations, how do you manage to prevent shoplifters from stealing your product?  Perhaps the question should be DO you stop people from shoplifting in your store?  How much shortage do you experience in a year?  Do you make shortage prevention a priority or do you hope it will get better next year?  Stores that are already operating on tight budgets need to find some method to support loss prevention efforts without adding people.  Smart strategies for reducing theft includes, using bottle locks and doing away with lockups or locking display cases. 
     Everyone is familiar with what a locking display case is, but not everyone is familiar with what a bottle lock is so allow me to digress for a moment.  Bottle locks are re-usable devices that can be placed over the cap and neck of a bottle that prevents it from being opened.  The store has a detachment key at the point(s) of sale that the cashier uses to remove the cap after the bottle is purchased.   The locks are tamper proof, so they cannot be forced off in the store without a serious risk of breaking the bottle.  They are also electronic article surveillance (EAS) compatible.  Stores protected with EAS antennas will have an alarm set off if a shoplifter attempts to leave the store with stolen product.
    Now before you think I have gone off the deep end by suggesting you can get rid of lock up display cases, let me explain myself.  One strategy that shoplifters use on the stores they will hit is to divide and conquer.  Many times shoplifters who work in pairs or small groups have already scouted the store and assessed how many employees are working or will work on a given shift.  With that information in hand, they enter the store and move to different areas.  An employee may not even realize the pair is together.  One member of the team acts as a decoy, looking for items that are locked up and seeking assistance from someone with a key.  This person may be loud or obnoxious, either, causing a scene, asking far too many questions or just being too friendly and talkative.  While the distracted employee is trying to give great customer service, the second member of the team is concealing bottles in another area of the store and then walking out with stolen merchandise.  It is possible, under the right circumstances that the shoplifter could re-enter and get another haul.  Bottle locks allow employees the flexibility of not having to go to the lock up case to remove merchandise or show a bottle to someone.  When the bottle security devices are being used patrons can pick up and select the merchandise they want and carry them around the store.  If staffed with a single employee, that employee can stay at the front of the store and ring up sales and monitor the front door alarm.
     You may be thinking you don’t need to worry about bottle security after all because you always have at least two employees working at all times.  Who does your merchandise stocking?  Who tickets your merchandise or straightens the shelves?  Who does the work in the stockroom?  How do you work out your meal breaks for your staff, do you bring in a third employee?  When employees are task oriented, customer service tends not to be the focus of attention.   Bottle Locks eliminate the concern over trying to keep up with all of the customers in the store at the same time.  
     Bottle security for your liquor store isn’t an easy task.  Adding additional employees for the sake of preventing theft is not the best answer.  Install an EAS system and protect product with bottle locks and benefit from reduced stock shortage.
For more information on bottle locks, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 

If your liquor store is a small to medium size business you may not have a lot of payroll to pour into a large staff. You probably have no budget for a security person to monitor the activity in your building or even to stand watch at the front door. With such limitations, how do you manage to prevent shoplifters from stealing your product? Perhaps the question should be DO you stop people from shoplifting in your store? How much shortage do you experience in a year? Do you make shortage prevention a priority or do you hope it will get better next year? Stores that are already operating on tight budgets need to find some method to support loss prevention efforts without adding people. Smart strategies for reducing theft includes, using bottle locks and doing away with lockups or locking display cases. 

     Everyone is familiar with what a locking display case is, but not everyone is familiar with what a bottle lock is so allow me to digress for a moment. Bottle locks are re-usable devices that can be placed over the cap and neck of a bottle that prevents it from being opened. The store has a detachment key at the point(s) of sale that the cashier uses to remove the cap after the bottle is purchased. The locks are tamper proof, so they cannot be forced off in the store without a serious risk of breaking the bottle. They are also electronic article surveillance (EAS) compatible. Stores protected with EAS antennas will have an alarm set off if a shoplifter attempts to leave the store with stolen product.

Now before you think I have gone off the deep end by suggesting you can get rid of lock up display cases, let me explain myself. One strategy that shoplifters use on the stores they will hit is to divide and conquer. Many times shoplifters who work in pairs or small groups have already scouted the store and assessed how many employees are working or will work on a given shift. With that information in hand, they enter the store and move to different areas. An employee may not even realize the pair is together. One member of the team acts as a decoy, looking for items that are locked up and seeking assistance from someone with a key. This person may be loud or obnoxious, either, causing a scene, asking far too many questions or just being too friendly and talkative. While the distracted employee is trying to give great customer service, the second member of the team is concealing bottles in another area of the store and then walking out with stolen merchandise. It is possible, under the right circumstances that the shoplifter could re-enter and get another haul. Bottle locks allow employees the flexibility of not having to go to the lock up case to remove merchandise or show a bottle to someone.  When the bottle security devices are being used patrons can pick up and select the merchandise they want and carry them around the store. If staffed with a single employee, that employee can stay at the front of the store and ring up sales and monitor the front door alarm.

You may be thinking you don’t need to worry about bottle security after all because you always have at least two employees working at all times. Who does your merchandise stocking? Who tickets your merchandise or straightens the shelves? Who does the work in the stockroom? How do you work out your meal breaks for your staff, do you bring in a third employee?  When employees are task oriented, customer service tends not to be the focus of attention. Bottle Locks eliminate the concern over trying to keep up with all of the customers in the store at the same time. 

 

Bottle security for your liquor store isn’t an easy task. Adding additional employees for the sake of preventing theft is not the best answer. Install an EAS system and protect product with bottle locks and benefit from reduced stock shortage.

 

For more information on bottle locks, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 

 

 

Filed Under: Security Tagged With: , ,

Bottle Locks Could Have Prevented Alcohol Haul

March 23, 2016 by Leave a Comment

 

Bottle security-3                                                                                                                                     WC blog 53
Bottle Locks-5
Alpha Security-3
Bottle Locks Could Have Prevented Alcohol Haul
     I’ve just been reading several online news reports about liquor theft rings.  There are some extremely high dollar thefts that have taken place.  Some involve the theft of an entire delivery trailer load and others are rings hitting grocery stores and liquor stores.  In A New York Post report about a liquor store heist, the owner estimated that the robbers ultimately made off with “between $45,000 and $50,000,” “nearly 100 cases, in high-end booze,” (Kevin Sheehan, January 28, 2014).  In a 2013 article from King 5 titled, “Grocery stores go undercover to bust liquor store thieves” they discussed the problems faced by a grocery store from liquor theft.  It also discussed how the merchandise is stolen by boosters and how it is resold.  A part of the article that I found compelling and I want to address is a statement made by a member of the store security team investigating theft rings in his store.  The article says, “…and some may wonder why grocery stores don’t just lock their liquor up or keep bottles in a separate, more secure part of the store where workers can watch it more closely.”   The Security Officer or representative states, “It is a difficult balance…You can remove it from the shelf and turn customers away.  You put too much product on the shelf and you are exposing yourself to theft.”  (This story aired on Nov. 4, 2013). This is where I would like to take issue and address bottle security.  Grocery stores and liquor stores can prevent a significant amount of the theft that is taking place by using bottle locks on their products.
     The Loss Prevention representative seems to give an either/or solution to the problem.  As I read the article, the response to the posed question seems to be one that would either limit product and quantity on the shelf or it would remove it altogether.  I am willing to give the benefit of the doubt that the interviewee was not giving the same full response that he might have under different circumstances.  Regardless, the answer is there, and I would like to offer an alternate solution.  I believe stores could use bottle locks on their product to secure them from theft.  Bottle locks come in a number of options and styles.  For example, Alpha security offers everything from an adjustable collar lock which fits around the neck of a bottle to a bottle lock that covers the entire cap and prevents tampering with the seal and the cap.  All of these bottle locks will activate an electronic article surveillance antenna at the exits and entrances of a store. Generally, boosters do not tend to intentionally steal product that is obviously protected with anti-theft devices. They are in it for the fast buck, so they prefer to get away without being noticed.  This allows the booster to hit a store multiple times.  
      When a store uses Alpha security products customers will not “turn away” as the Loss Prevention officer indicates, because shelves don’t have to be empty.  Bottle locks give the store the flexibility to allow customers access to product and ability to select the item(s) they want and continue to shop. Hiding bottles in purses, backpacks or even luggage will not prevent the activation of EAS alarm systems.   The flip side of his argument is also negated if bottle security is employed on liquor and wine.  Because a bottle has a lock on it, I would argue the shelf can be fully stocked.  The deterrence value of the lock and the alarm capability will send the thieves to other stores.  One additional quasi-question was posed by the writer or interviewer, asking why the alcohol could not be put in a more secure part of the store.  My response would have to be that keeping merchandise in a specific area that is a “secured” environment turns off customers and also requires more manpower.  Bottle security allows the free movement of merchandise in the store and the design makes it very difficult to defeat.
     There is no need for keeping shelves bare or locking up wines and spirits in some cabinet or remote area of your store.  Alpha security has the necessary products to secure your bottles so that you can keep your customers happy and deter the thieves who would steal your profits.  
For more information on Bottle Security, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
     

I’ve just been reading several online news reports about liquor theft rings. There are some extremely high dollar thefts that have taken place. Some involve the theft of an entire delivery trailer load and others are rings hitting grocery stores and liquor stores. In A New York Post report about a liquor store heist, the owner estimated that the robbers ultimately made off with “between $45,000 and $50,000,” “nearly 100 cases, in high-end booze,” (Kevin Sheehan, January 28, 2014). In a 2013 article from King 5 titled, “Grocery stores go undercover to bust liquor store thieves” they discussed the problems faced by a grocery store from liquor theft. It also discussed how the merchandise is stolen by boosters and how it is resold. A part of the article that I found compelling and I want to address is a statement made by a member of the store security team investigating theft rings in his store. The article says, “…and some may wonder why grocery stores don’t just lock their liquor up or keep bottles in a separate, more secure part of the store where workers can watch it more closely.”   The Security Officer or representative states, “It is a difficult balance…You can remove it from the shelf and turn customers away.  You put too much product on the shelf and you are exposing yourself to theft.”  (This story aired on Nov. 4, 2013). This is where I would like to take issue and address bottle security. Grocery stores and liquor stores can prevent a significant amount of the theft that is taking place by using bottle locks on their products.

 

The Loss Prevention representative seems to give an either/or solution to the problem. As I read the article, the response to the posed question seems to be one that would either limit product and quantity on the shelf or it would remove it altogether. I am willing to give the benefit of the doubt that the interviewee was not giving the same full response that he might have under different circumstances. Regardless, the answer is there, and I would like to offer an alternate solution. I believe stores could use bottle locks on their product to secure them from theft. Bottle locks come in a number of options and styles. For example, Alpha security offers everything from an adjustable collar lock which fits around the neck of a bottle to a bottle lock that covers the entire cap and prevents tampering with the seal and the cap. All of these bottle locks will activate an electronic article surveillance antenna at the exits and entrances of a store. Generally, boosters do not tend to intentionally steal product that is obviously protected with anti-theft devices. They are in it for the fast buck, so they prefer to get away without being noticed. This allows the booster to hit a store multiple times.  

When a store uses Alpha security products customers will not “turn away” as the Loss Prevention officer indicates, because shelves don’t have to be empty. Bottle locks give the store the flexibility to allow customers access to product and ability to select the item(s) they want and continue to shop. Hiding bottles in purses, backpacks or even luggage will not prevent the activation of EAS alarm systems.  The flip side of his argument is also negated if bottle security is employed on liquor and wine. Because a bottle has a lock on it, I would argue the shelf can be fully stocked. The deterrence value of the lock and the alarm capability will send the thieves to other stores. One additional quasi-question was posed by the writer or interviewer, asking why the alcohol could not be put in a more secure part of the store. My response would have to be that keeping merchandise in a specific area that is a “secured” environment turns off customers and also requires more manpower. Bottle security allows the free movement of merchandise in the store and the design makes it very difficult to defeat.

There is no need for keeping shelves bare or locking up wines and spirits in some cabinet or remote area of your store. Alpha security has the necessary products to secure your bottles so that you can keep your customers happy and deter the thieves who would steal your profits.  

 

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

     

 

 

Filed Under: Security Tagged With: , , ,

Grocery Store Wine Sales Or Shortage: Bottle Locks Make The Difference

February 22, 2016 by Leave a Comment

 

Bottle Locks – 5                                                                                                                       WC blog 49
Bottle Security – 5
Bottle Lock-3
Grocery Store Wine Sales Or Shortage: Bottle Locks Make The Difference
     As I do with nearly every store I go into I am interested to see the types of security measures different businesses use to prevent theft.  Recently I have visited three grocery stores affiliated with different chains. I looked at what they were doing to protect the wines they carry.  I find it interesting to compare bottle security strategies among the retailers.  In this case all three stores are within a 5 mile radius of my home and yet there were no similarities among any of them.  
     The first store I visited uses bottle locks to secure higher priced bottle of wines.  It appeared they set a price point around $25 per bottle before they used a bottle lock on their products.  The locks used covered the entire cap and part of the bottle neck.  There was no ability to see the advertising on the seal of the bottle with this particular device.  It did appear there was no way the cap or seal could be tampered with making this an effective deterrent tool.  
    The second store I visited used a lock up case to secure the higher priced wines.   There was no additional security for any of the other bottles of wine or champagnes on the shelves.  Two things disturbed me about this type of bottle security.  First, had someone been shopping for the higher priced wine, there were no empty places on the shelf or signage indicating a customer should ask for assistance to make a purchase.    Second, I saw no sales associates in the area.  Even if there was signage directing a customer to get help to obtain a wine in lock-up, I saw no one to assist and I did not see an apparent call button in the area.  
     Finally I went to a grocery store that had no bottle security whatsoever.  There were no bottle locks in use and no security cases.  The wine was located near the front of the store, in the vicinity of the registers, but there was no direct line of sight to act as a deterrent to potential theft.  I did look at the price points and there were few, if any, bottles priced over $20.  That being said, in my opinion this is a mistake on the part of the retailer.  The area this store is located has enough crime that the store has gone from being a 24/7 operation to closing at midnight and now closing at 11:00pm.  I know there is enough theft in this store that closed circuit television monitors have been placed on the baby formula aisle.  
     So here is my good, bad and the ugly of my observations and what I think a best strategy would be for a grocery store:
• The Good: The use of bottle locks in the first store.  A Bottle lock provides visual deterrence to theft, they are electronic article surveillance compatible and they allow a customer the ability to handle the merchandise, see the advertising and content information and there is no requirement to wait for someone to unlock a case.
• The Bad:  Limited use of bottle locks on only select price points.  Inconsistent use of the locks.  Where bottles did have locks on the caps, when I looked more closely, I found some were secured and behind those were same brand bottles without locks. I am also listing the use of a locking case as bad.  While it does provide bottle security it requires employee response and if a patron has to wait too long it can lead to a lost sale.
• The ugly:  No bottle security of any type.  This is not acceptable in my opinion.
If you own a grocery business or manage one, I strongly encourage you to invest in a bottle lock for each of your wine bottles.  While it may seem like a lot, the payoff will be in reduced shrinkage.  Shoplifters will steal unprotected merchandise so securing the higher priced merchandise simply moves the thieves to the cheaper bottles.  I do not encourage lock up cases to be used since they can turn off customers and potentially cost your business sales.  You also need to have an employee ready to respond at all times to unlock a case.  Don’t settle on just enough security or none at all, see how bottle locks can protect your investment and drive up sales.
For more information on bottle locks, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
     

As I do with nearly every store I go into I am interested to see the types of security measures different businesses use to prevent theft. Recently I have visited three grocery stores affiliated with different chains. I looked at what they were doing to protect the wines they carry. I find it interesting to compare bottle security strategies among the retailers. In this case all three stores are within a 5 mile radius of my home and yet there were no similarities among any of them.  

 

The first store I visited uses bottle locks to secure higher priced bottle of wines. It appeared they set a price point around $25 per bottle before they used a bottle lock on their products. The locks covered the entire cap and part of the bottle neck. There was no ability to see the advertising on the seal of the bottle with this particular device. It did appear there was no way the cap or seal could be tampered with making this an effective deterrent tool.  

 

The second store I visited used a lock up case to secure the higher priced wines.  There was no additional security for any of the other bottles of wine or champagnes on the shelves. Two things disturbed me about this type of bottle security. First, had someone been shopping for the higher priced wine, there were no empty places on the shelf or signage indicating a customer should ask for assistance to make a purchase.   Second, I saw no sales associates in the area. Even if there was signage directing a customer to get help to obtain a wine in lock-up, I saw no one to assist and I did not see an apparent call button in the area.  

 

Finally I went to a grocery store that had no bottle security whatsoever. There were no bottle locks in use and no security cases. The wine was located near the front of the store, in the vicinity of the registers, but there was no direct line of sight to act as a deterrent to potential theft. I did look at the price points and there were few, if any, bottles priced over $20. The area this store is located has enough crime that the store has gone from being a 24/7 operation to closing at midnight and now closing at 11:00pm. I know there is enough theft in this store that closed circuit television monitors have been placed on the baby formula aisle.  

 

So here is my good, bad and the ugly of my observations and what a good strategy would be for a grocery store:

• The Good: The use of bottle locks in the first store. A Bottle lock provides visual deterrence to theft, they are electronic article surveillance compatible and they allow a customer the ability to handle the merchandise, see the advertising and content information and there is no requirement to wait for someone to unlock a case.

• The Bad: Limited use of bottle locks on only select price points.  Inconsistent use of the locks. Where bottles did have locks on the caps, when I looked more closely, I found some were secured and behind those were same brand bottles without locks. I am also listing the use of a locking case as bad.  While it does provide bottle security it requires employee response and if a patron has to wait too long it can lead to a lost sale.

• The ugly: No bottle security of any type. 

 

If you own a grocery business or manage one, I strongly encourage you to invest in a bottle lock for each of your wine bottles. While it may seem like a lot, the payoff will be in reduced shrinkage. Shoplifters will steal unprotected merchandise so securing the higher priced merchandise simply moves the thieves to the cheaper bottles. I do not encourage lock up cases to be used since they can turn off customers and potentially cost your business sales. You also need to have an employee ready to respond at all times to unlock a case. Don’t settle on just enough security or none at all, see how bottle locks can protect your investment and drive up sales.

 

For more information on bottle locks, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

     

 

 

Filed Under: Security Tagged With: , ,

It Doesn’t Take A Truck Load

January 25, 2016 by Leave a Comment

 

Bottle Locks-5 , Liquor Bottle Security-2  , Alpha Security-1
It Doesn’t Take  A Truck Load
When we interview an employee suspected of internal theft, we generally use the same approach.  We sit down with them and tell them who we are and what we do.  We explain the different types of theft we investigate, and then we ask them to tell us about how they have caused losses to our company.  If they try to shut down and not tell us the information we have come to gather, we try to minimize their activities.  We tell them we know they didn’t steal a truck load, if the case is about merchandise theft.  That will usually lighten the mood enough to help get the confession started.  The fact is it doesn’t take a truck load if you sell alcohol.  If you are lacking in liquor bottle security, it could take just a few bottles.  Without bottle locks on your inventory, it could be just a matter of time before top shelf spirits start disappearing.  
One guy got away with several bottles from a few different places.  First he went to a specialty wine dealer and under the guise of planning a big wedding event, was able to get his hands on some very old and very sought after bottles.  When the sales person got called away for a moment, the thief made his escape.  The diversion was actually a ploy caused by the driver of his getaway vehicle.  Sadly, the poor sales guy had no clue that the man left with the stolen products until it was way too late.  Had this dealer been utilizing bottle locks, the devices would have alerted the staff as soon as the man got too close to the exit door.  The alarm would have sounded and they could have at least attempted to detain the man or get identifying information on the vehicle.  A man fitting the same description was reported for a theft at a high end liquor store a month later.  He walked in and browsed around the most expensive section of the store.  An employee stayed with him, and discussed the brands and bottles he was interested in.  At some point she got called away from the man, and like the last incident, he made his move.  He concealed a bottle under his shirt this time, but when he turned around, the employee had returned.  She accused him of stealing, but he raised his arms in an effort to show he had nothing.  She still suspected him, but could do nothing because she had not actually seen the theft.  Again, if bottle locks were being employed in this store, as soon as he approached the door the alarm would sound and confirm her suspicions.  At that point she could detain him and call the authorities.  Oh, and although this man has been identified and warrants issued for his arrest, he is still on the loose.
Bottle locks, by Alpha security, are the ultimate answer to theft of wine and spirits.  There have been instances where someone has actually made off with a truck load from a warehouse.  Those instances are rare and major exceptions.  The reality is that most times, when wine and liquor are targeted for theft, it is high end brands and bottles produced in specific years.  It could be anyone, even the next person to walk through your door, that plans to wipe you out.  They come in and feed you a good story, and you give them access to your best line of products.  With no liquor bottle security in place, you are gambling with your valuable inventory.  Protect your profit margin and see what bottle locks can do for your business’ peace of mind.
For more information on what bottle locks can do for you, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

When we interview an employee suspected of internal theft, we generally use the same approach. We sit down with them and tell them who we are and what we do. We explain the different types of theft we investigate, and then we ask them to tell us about how they have caused losses to our company. If they try to shut down and not tell us the information we have come to gather, we try to minimize their activities. We tell them we know they didn’t steal a truck load, if the case is about merchandise theft. That will usually lighten the mood enough to help get the confession started. The fact is it doesn’t take a truck load if you sell alcohol. If you are lacking in liquor bottle security, it could take just a few bottles. Without bottle locks on your inventory, it could be just a matter of time before top shelf spirits start disappearing.  

One guy got away with several bottles from a few different places. First he went to a specialty wine dealer and under the guise of planning a big wedding event, was able to get his hands on some very old and very sought after bottles. When the sales person got called away for a moment, the thief made his escape. The diversion was actually a ploy caused by the driver of his getaway vehicle. Sadly, the poor sales guy had no clue that the man left with the stolen products until it was way too late. Had this dealer been utilizing bottle locks, the devices would have alerted the staff as soon as the man got too close to the exit door. The alarm would have sounded and they could have at least attempted to detain the man or get identifying information on the vehicle. A man fitting the same description was reported for a theft at a high end liquor store a month later. He walked in and browsed around the most expensive section of the store. An employee stayed with him, and discussed the brands and bottles he was interested in. At some point she got called away from the man, and like the last incident, he made his move. He concealed a bottle under his shirt this time, but when he turned around, the employee had returned.  She accused him of stealing, but he raised his arms in an effort to show he had nothing. She still suspected him, but could do nothing because she had not actually seen the theft. Again, if bottle locks were being employed in this store, as soon as he approached the door the alarm would sound and confirm her suspicions. At that point she could detain him and call the authorities. Oh, and although this man has been identified and warrants issued for his arrest, he is still on the loose.

Bottle locks, by Alpha security, are the ultimate answer to theft of wine and spirits. There have been instances where someone has actually made off with a truck load from a warehouse. Those instances are rare and major exceptions. The reality is that most times, when wine and liquor are targeted for theft, it is high end brands and bottles produced in specific years. It could be anyone, even the next person to walk through your door, that plans to wipe you out. They come in and feed you a good story, and you give them access to your best line of products. With no liquor bottle security in place, you are gambling with your valuable inventory.  Protect your profit margin and see what bottle locks can do for your business’ peace of mind.

For more information on what bottle locks can do for you, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

 

 

Filed Under: Security Tagged With: , , , ,

CHEERS TO BOTTLE LOCKS

December 21, 2015 by Leave a Comment

 “I can’t take you anywhere!” Is the normal phrase I get from my girlfriend when we are out shopping and I tell her that I just saw someone steal some merchandise. She can’t understand why I’m so worried about someone else’s store, or why we can never go out without me helping throw someone in jail. It’s just that I feel as though I have a moral obligation when my LP spidey senses start tingling… plus, I’m usually bored to tears shopping with her anyway. (Please don’t tell her I said that). Just last week, I introduced a restaurant manager to bottle locks.

 

We had just spend the majority of the day applying for our passports when that all too familiar feeling hit. It was 2pm. I was hungry. We went to a little place known in our town for their Greek cuisine. We sat near the bar and I began to enjoy my hummus and pita. I was admiring the display of top shelf liquor when I noticed a woman acting a bit strange near the bar. When the bartender would walk to the kitchen, she would hover, just like a shoplifter does. I told my girlfriend what I suspected and she laughed. I tried to convince her of my point, after all there were no bottle security measures in place. It would be quite easy to simple walk away with some booze.

 

Some time passes and we get our food. The woman stays at the bar. Sipping on some white wine and eating her salad. The bartender walks into the kitchen again and almost as fast as a bolt of lightning, the woman reaches behind the bar, grabs a bottle of high end tequila and shoves it in her purse. Since there were no bottle security measures in place, it was almost too easy. Of course, I get excited at this point, all while my girlfriend just buries her head under her arms.

 

I wait until the woman purchases her meal before calling over a manager. I discreetly inform him of what I saw and he exclaims, “Again!” As our boozy bandit attempts to leave her spot at the bar, the manager and a police officer take her outside where the tequila was eventually recovered. When the dust settled, the manager came back and thanked me for speaking up. Apparently, this wasn’t the first time someone had stolen liquor from behind his bar recently. I asked him if he had ever heard of bottle locks.

 

Well, the next thing you know, I’ve got my phone pulled out and I’m showing him how bottle locks could ultimately stop people from stealing his liquor. He was amazed. He’d worked in the restaurant business his entire life and had never thought that bottle security was an issue until running this particular place. He told me that he’d lost countless thousands in stolen liquor in the past year. Now, he had something that could help curb his losses.

 

I left that day with a heavily discounted meal and a feeling of pride. Not pride that I helped throw another thief in jail, I was proud that I could help a fellow manager control the losses he was experiencing with a simple tool and a little advice. It’s why I enjoy writing these posts for all of you out there. I know someone, somewhere has this very same issue, and you’re sick and tired of it. Hopefully and it is my goal, that you read this and my little nugget of advice resonates with you and it ultimately makes your business stronger and more profitable. We can all drink to that!

 

For more information about Bottle Locks contact us or call 1.770.426.0547.

 

Filed Under: Security Tagged With: , ,

Spirits and Profits Soar with Bottle Locks

November 23, 2015 by Leave a Comment

 

Bottle Locks –5                                                                                                                          wc blog 08
Bottle Security -5
Spirits and Profits Soar with Bottle Locks 
     When those of us in the retail world think about bottle security the first thing that always comes to mind are alcoholic beverages.  This is a category of product that does carry a hefty price tag and requires protection.  Bottle locks provide that protection and can take the worry out of carrying these products, which allows a store to increase their sales by broadening their product lines.  Broadening product lines increases customer appeal and draws in patrons you may not have catered to previously.
     My personal experience with bottle security is limited to wines and champagnes.  I recall when the company I worked for began carrying alcohol, even in a limited form I was concerned about the theft we were going to see in that area.  We did not have any protection for our product other than closed circuit television, emphasis on customer service and a small Assets Protection Team.  We did not tag the bottles since it would interfere with branding of the product and it was a vendor item so we did receive vendor credit when product did not sell or was removed by the vendor.  To be frank, I was not even aware if there was anything on the market to provide bottle security.  If I had known I would have screamed to my District Team Leader to look into such a thing.
     Bottle locks would have been the perfect solution for our situation. The device can be fitted directly over the cap of a bottle to prevent the bottle from being opened. Additionally, they come in a variety of sizes and designs allowing retailers the flexibility to protect multiple bottle designs.  They work in conjunction with an EAS system so they provide a double layer of protection activating the alarm at the door if someone attempted to walk out without paying.  Should someone attempt to pry the device off, there is a strong possibility they will shatter the bottle. 
     While shoplifting was something I knew we might have to combat, I was also very concerned about the security of the product in our stockroom.  Anyone who has worked in retail security or retail management knows how vulnerable a backroom can be with plenty of areas to hide, and often limited staffing in those areas. It can be a very real challenge with respect to shortage control.  With the addition of wine and champagne in our vendor area, I did have to try to find ways to monitor the product and deter theft.  It required dedicating resources to the area and our Assets Protection team increased trash checks and audits to look for signs of theft.  On the surface it may not seem like much, but there were other areas I would have preferred to focus our attention.  Had we implemented a bottle security program that included bottle locks, we could have spent far less time and energy monitoring the backroom for potential pilferage of alcohol.
     I can think of a few instances where our team did prevent attempted rollouts of bottles of wine, and our shortage results never reflected huge shortage in the wine department, but we did have some theft.  As a big box retailer, we had the advantage of employing a loss prevention team and we had sales floor staff that helped to deter theft, but I have often questioned how difficult it must be for a small business owner to control theft.  What can the owner of a liquor store, or say a wine specialty store do to protect THEIR business?  Smaller staffs, tighter payroll and limited resources make it critical that the product stay in the store.  Small businesses could add to their profits by significantly reducing shortage using bottle locks to deter theft. 
     Increase the price points of the wines and liquors your business carries, knowing that you have a strong bottle security program in place.    Use bottle locks to your advantage, by protecting your product and keeping it out of the hands of thieves and in the hands of customers and watch your profits soar!   
    
For more information about bottle locks contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

When those of us in the retail world think about bottle security the first thing that always comes to mind are alcoholic beverages. This is a category of product that does carry a hefty price tag and requires protection. Bottle locks provide that protection and can take the worry out of carrying these products, which allows a store to increase their sales by broadening their product lines. Broadening product lines increases customer appeal and draws in patrons you may not have catered to previously.

My personal experience with bottle security is limited to wines and champagnes. I recall when the company I worked for began carrying alcohol, even in a limited form I was concerned about the theft we were going to see in that area. We did not have any protection for our product other than closed circuit television, emphasis on customer service and a small Assets Protection Team. We did not tag the bottles since it would interfere with branding of the product and it was a vendor item so we did receive vendor credit when product did not sell or was removed by the vendor. To be frank, I was not even aware if there was anything on the market to provide bottle security. If I had known I would have screamed to my District Team Leader to look into such a thing.

Bottle locks would have been the perfect solution for our situation.The device can be fitted directly over the cap of a bottle to prevent the bottle from being opened. Additionally, they come in a variety of sizes and designs allowing retailers the flexibility to protect multiple bottle designs. They work in conjunction with an EAS system so they provide a double layer of protection activating the alarm at the door if someone attempted to walk out without paying. Should someone attempt to pry the device off, there is a strong possibility they will shatter the bottle. 

While shoplifting was something I knew we might have to combat, I was also very concerned about the security of the product in our stockroom. Anyone who has worked in retail security or retail management knows how vulnerable a backroom can be with plenty of areas to hide, and often limited staffing in those areas. It can be a very real challenge with respect to shortage control. With the addition of wine and champagne in our vendor area, I did have to try to find ways to monitor the product and deter theft. It required dedicating resources to the area and our Assets Protection team increased trash checks and audits to look for signs of theft. On the surface it may not seem like much, but there were other areas I would have preferred to focus our attention. Had we implemented a bottle security program that included bottle locks, we could have spent far less time and energy monitoring the backroom for potential pilferage of alcohol.

I can think of a few instances where our team did prevent attempted rollouts of bottles of wine, and our shortage results never reflected huge shortage in the wine department, but we did have some theft. As a big box retailer, we had the advantage of employing a loss prevention team and we had sales floor staff that helped to deter theft, but I have often questioned how difficult it must be for a small business owner to control theft. What can the owner of a liquor store, or say a wine specialty store do to protect THEIR business? Smaller staffs, tighter payroll and limited resources make it critical that the product stay in the store. Small businesses could add to their profits by significantly reducing shortage using bottle locks to deter theft. 

Increase the price points of the wines and liquors your business carries, knowing that you have a strong bottle security program in place. Use bottle locks to your advantage, by protecting your product and keeping it out of the hands of thieves and in the hands of customers and watch your profits soar!       

For more information about bottle locks, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

 

 

Filed Under: Security Tagged With: , ,

BOTTLE LOCKS FOR THE WIN!

October 20, 2015 by Leave a Comment

 

BOTTLE LOCKS FOR THE WIN!
I was recently asked to lend a helping hand to a family friend, who just so happens to run a small grocery store in town. We’ve known the owners of this store for decades. This is the only grocery store in my small, hometown. The current owner and my dad were talking one night and my dad brought up that I do LP investigations for a national retailer. Well, turns out that the grocer wasn’t doing too well. His profits were down and he was getting hammered in theft, mainly alcohol. He asked for my help and I was gladly willing to assist. The first thing we talked about was physical security measures, and what Alpha Security could do for his business. 
After spending a few days working in the store, I quickly saw that alcohol theft was a huge problem. Looking over his invoices/deliveries and then his sales, I could see that there was a theft issue. First order of business was to secure all alcohol with bottle lock. It didn’t take long for us to see how the thieves would react. 
It wasn’t but maybe a week after installing the bottle locks that I came to the store to check on things. I went to the back office where the owner was at. He was staring at the camera screen. He was watching a thief (try to) steal a bottle of vodka. I had a few minutes, so I watched too. This was going to be good. 
So our thief walks over to the vodka, grabs two bottles off the shelf and places them in his back pockets. As he walks towards the rear of the store, he takes one out and begins to inspect it more closely. He’s noticing the bottle lock. With a confused look on his face, we see him approach a stocker. They have a brief interaction and the thief continues on. We later asked the stocker what the guy said. The thief asked if “Alpha Security” was the name of the vodka… Did I mention, he was also pretty drunk?
We continue watching the thief as he attempts to remove the bottle lock. He pulls, pries and even attempts to chew it off. Nothing. As if a light bulb had gone off in his head, he stops dead in his tracks. He begins walking feverishly to the small hardware section of the store. He takes a hammer and starts beating the top of the bottle. Alpha security tags are a bit stronger than you would think and the lock holds up to the light beatings of a drunken thief. Just as we think he’s going to give up, he hits the actual bottle with the hammer, shattering the glass right at the neck. 
We both go running down the stairs from the office to meet our thief as he’s walking out the front doors. He’s broken both bottles and has shoved them back into his back pockets. We confront him and he starts to run… only he’s already inebriated so he essentially takes a nose dive into the pavement; vodka spills down his back. As the police arrive on scene, he tries to get rid of the evidence, only to severely cut one of his hands on the broken glass as he pulls it from his back pocket. Not the most elegant thief I had ever encountered. 
A few weeks after that I went back to see if the bottle locks were working. There had only been 3 other theft attempts, but each had failed. A recent inventory showed that the store was selling more alcohol than ever, which meant profits were rising. A great day for all. 
For more information about Bottle Lock, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

I was recently asked to lend a helping hand to a family friend, who just so happens to run a small grocery store in town. We’ve known the owners of this store for decades. This is the only grocery store in my small, hometown. The current owner and my dad were talking one night and my dad brought up that I do LP investigations for a national retailer. Well, turns out that the grocer wasn’t doing too well. His profits were down and he was getting hammered in theft, mainly alcohol. He asked for my help and I was gladly willing to assist. The first thing we talked about was physical security measures, and what Alpha Security could do for his business. 

After spending a few days working in the store, I quickly saw that alcohol theft was a huge problem. Looking over his invoices/deliveries and then his sales, I could see that there was a theft issue. First order of business was to secure all alcohol with bottle lock. It didn’t take long for us to see how the thieves would react.

It wasn’t but maybe a week after installing the bottle locks that I came to the store to check on things. I went to the back office where the owner was at. He was staring at the camera screen. He was watching a thief (try to) steal a bottle of vodka. I had a few minutes, so I watched too. This was going to be good. 

So our thief walks over to the vodka, grabs two bottles off the shelf and places them in his back pockets. As he walks towards the rear of the store, he takes one out and begins to inspect it more closely. He’s noticing the bottle lock. With a confused look on his face, we see him approach a stocker. They have a brief interaction and the thief continues on. We later asked the stocker what the guy said. The thief asked if “Alpha Security” was the name of the vodka… Did I mention, he was also pretty drunk?

We continue watching the thief as he attempts to remove the bottle lock. He pulls, pries and even attempts to chew it off. Nothing. As if a light bulb had gone off in his head, he stops dead in his tracks. He begins walking feverishly to the small hardware section of the store. He takes a hammer and starts beating the top of the bottle. Alpha security tags are a bit stronger than you would think and the lock holds up to the light beatings of a drunken thief. Just as we think he’s going to give up, he hits the actual bottle with the hammer, shattering the glass right at the neck. 

We both go running down the stairs from the office to meet our thief as he’s walking out the front doors. He’s broken both bottles and has shoved them back into his back pockets. We confront him and he starts to run… only he’s already inebriated so he essentially takes a nose dive into the pavement; vodka spills down his back. As the police arrive on scene, he tries to get rid of the evidence, only to severely cut one of his hands on the broken glass as he pulls it from his back pocket. Not the most elegant thief I had ever encountered. 

A few weeks after that I went back to see if the bottle locks were working. There had only been 3 other theft attempts, but each had failed. A recent inventory showed that the store was selling more alcohol than ever, which meant profits were rising. A great day for all. 

For more information about Bottle Lock, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

 

 

Filed Under: Security Tagged With: , ,

Reducing Shrink with the Bottle Lock

September 17, 2015 by Leave a Comment
JD Blog-004 Bottle Lock-4 (Secondary – Liquor Bottle Security-3)
Reducing Shrink with the Bottle Lock
Not a single day goes by without an email coming in to our task force office about a large-scale liquor theft.  Every time, I notice that it’s a retailer who isn’t using the bottle lock for liquor bottle security.   Liquor and wine is a market that generates a lot of revenue on its own, along with incremental sales on snacks and soft drinks to go with the liquor.  With those increased sales, comes increased shrink exposure.  As a team leader for a regional Organized Retail Crime task force, I see the struggle against liquor shrink every day.  Our first effort is to help retailers stem the loss by preventative measures and liquor bottle security.  The first thing we do is recommend the bottle lock.  It’s a simple but highly effective device that makes the merchandise less attractive and usable to both the professional and amateur shoplifter.  The technology fits over the top of the bottle and keeps anyone who did not purchase the bottle from opening it.   Only the key can remove it.  The bottle lock works with existing EAS systems or can be a stand-alone item, just providing physical benefit denial.
At the conclusion of one particularly large investigation, we interviewed the suspects to help us figure out how to better prevent the losses.  They told us that when selecting a store to target, the first thing they looked for was the bottle lock.  If it was in place at a particular store, they would move on to another location.  That speaks volumes about its effectiveness for liquor bottle security.  They told us that the first time they tried to defeat one inside the store, the bottle burst and the liquor went everywhere.  While the store still had a loss on the damaged bottle, they didn’t lose 10-15 bottles, which was the average this group hit for.   Fencing locations are unlikely to buy bottles with that are brought in by the bad guys because the fence wants to avoid getting caught.  How easy is it to prove that he purchased stolen merchandise when it came in with a theft prevention device still attached?
What the area retailers also discovered was an unexpected side benefit…the reduction in losses due to juvenile shoplifters opening bottles and pouring the contents into their water bottle or other container.  Not only did this reduce shrink, but it also reduced some liability for inadvertently providing minors access to alcohol.   One of the initial concerns our local stores had was an increase in time it would take to process a transaction when the clerk had to remove the Bottle lock.   As long as the key is at the register, we found that it had a negligible effect on transaction time.
The concern we had as an investigative team was security of the keys.  The keys come attached to a lanyard.  That lanyard can be screwed right into the counter under the register, keeping it secure and out of sight.  We have not had any keys compromised locally.  Also, to help in this regard, we talked to the prosecutor’s office and they agreed that unauthorized possession of a key would subject the bad guys to a charge of possession of burglar’s tools, a felony, and defeating a theft detection device, a misdemeanor. That’s a strong piece of preventative information.
Locally, the tough fight against the organized, large-scale theft of liquor from our local businesses has been made much easier by the individual stores using the bottle lock.   It’s a great tool for any size store.
For more information about bottle lock contact us or call 1.770.426.0547.

Not a single day goes by without an email coming in to our task force office about a large-scale liquor theft. Every time, I notice that it’s a retailer who isn’t using the bottle lock for liquor bottle security.  Liquor and wine is a market that generates a lot of revenue on its own, along with incremental sales on snacks and soft drinks to go with the liquor. With those increased sales, comes increased shrink exposure.  As a team leader for a regional Organized Retail Crime task force, I see the struggle against liquor shrink every day. Our first effort is to help retailers stem the loss by preventative measures and liquor bottle security. The first thing we do is recommend the bottle lock.  It’s a simple but highly effective device that makes the merchandise less attractive and usable to both the professional and amateur shoplifter. The technology fits over the top of the bottle and keeps anyone who did not purchase the bottle from opening it. Only the key can remove it. The bottle lock works with existing EAS systems or can be a stand-alone item, just providing physical benefit denial.

At the conclusion of one particularly large investigation, we interviewed the suspects to help us figure out how to better prevent the losses. They told us that when selecting a store to target, the first thing they looked for was the bottle lock. If it was in place at a particular store, they would move on to another location. That speaks volumes about its effectiveness for liquor bottle security. They told us that the first time they tried to defeat one inside the store, the bottle burst and the liquor went everywhere. While the store still had a loss on the damaged bottle, they didn’t lose 10-15 bottles, which was the average this group hit for. Fencing locations are unlikely to buy bottles with that are brought in by the bad guys because the fence wants to avoid getting caught.  How easy is it to prove that he purchased stolen merchandise when it came in with a theft prevention device still attached?

What the area retailers also discovered was an unexpected side benefit…the reduction in losses due to juvenile shoplifters opening bottles and pouring the contents into their water bottle or other container. Not only did this reduce shrink, but it also reduced some liability for inadvertently providing minors access to alcohol. One of the initial concerns our local stores had was an increase in time it would take to process a transaction when the clerk had to remove the Bottle lock. As long as the key is at the register, we found that it had a negligible effect on transaction time.

The concern we had as an investigative team was security of the keys. The keys come attached to a lanyard. That lanyard can be screwed right into the counter under the register, keeping it secure and out of sight. We have not had any keys compromised locally. Also, to help in this regard, we talked to the prosecutor’s office and they agreed that unauthorized possession of a key would subject the bad guys to a charge of possession of burglar’s tools, a felony, and defeating a theft detection device, a misdemeanor. That’s a strong piece of preventative information.

Locally, the tough fight against the organized, large-scale theft of liquor from our local businesses has been made much easier by the individual stores using the bottle lock. It’s a great tool for any size store.

For more information about bottle lock contact us  or call 1.770.426.0547.

 

Filed Under: Security Tagged With: , ,

Can Bottle Locks Help Curb Thefts of Goods in Transit?

August 14, 2015 by Leave a Comment
RL-172 
bottle locks-5 , bottle security-3 
Can Bottle Locks Help Curb Thefts of Goods in Transit?
If you own or manage a store that sells wine or liquor, you should already know that the best way to ensure bottle security is to use bottle locks.   But sometimes the theft occurs before the liquor even makes it to the store.  Many trailers containing merchandise are now equipped with GPS to locate the stolen trailer, but you may be locating an empty trailer if the thieves work fast enough.  Very recently, I read a news story about a trailer theft of liquor totaling $100,000. That is a huge loss for even for a large company.   Knowing this, wouldn’t it be a good idea to protect the liquor bottles from the point of origin?  That’s right, I’m talking about protecting merchandise against cargo theft, or the theft of goods in transit.  The company buying the merchandise would likely be responsible for the cost of securing the merchandise, but who exactly would be responsible for actually placing the devices onto the products.   
One way to do this is to have the bottle locks placed onto the bottles when they reach the distribution center, and that would help keep your merchandise safe until it reaches its final destination.  But this wouldn’t protect the merchandise before it reached the distribution center.   In a perfect world, the best time to attach bottle locks to the merchandise is before they leave the manufacturer.   This would ensure that the merchandise was immediately secured before being transported anywhere, by any means of transportation.   Regardless of which point the bottle security devices are attached, the likelihood of them being stolen will decrease at that point. 
Think of it kind of like manufacturers that offer source tagging, only with bottle security.   With source tagging, the security tag is already inside or attached to the merchandise packaging when it leaves the manufacturer.   This allows the items to be protected from the manufacturer to the store shelf.   I would like to think that if thieves know that a trailer contains merchandise protected by security devices, and that it will take a huge amount effort to remove all of them, they would think twice about stealing the merchandise from the trailer or shipping container.   One problem with this would be that the thieves probably won’t know what exactly is in the trailer until it is opened, unless the shipping container is branded or contains some kind of advertising on the outside.   
If this is the case, you could always add a notice that the merchandise is protected.   Why not? This would be similar to the way that signs on homes with alarm systems are used to make burglars think twice before attempting to break into your house.   There’s no guarantee that a thief still won’t try to break in, but if given the choice of a home without a security system, and one without one, I’m betting they will choose the one that isn’t secured.  If you think it sounds expensive to have your shipment of liquor secured with bottle locks, imagine how much it will cost you if you lost a whole shipment of your merchandise.   You might not have an order as large as $100,000 coming in, but even if the shipment is worth $1,000, it would likely be a huge blow to a small business.   How much time would it take you to recoup that kind of loss?   I think it’s always a better idea to be prepared, and make sure that your merchandise is protected, instead of wishing you would have done something before it was too late.
For more information about bottle locks, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

If you own or manage a store that sells wine or liquor, you should already know that the best way to ensure bottle security is to use bottle locks. But sometimes the theft occurs before the liquor even makes it to the store. Many trailers containing merchandise are now equipped with GPS to locate the stolen trailer, but you may be locating an empty trailer if the thieves work fast enough. Very recently, I read a news story about a trailer theft of liquor totaling $100,000. That is a huge loss for even for a large company. Knowing this, wouldn’t it be a good idea to protect the liquor bottles from the point of origin? That’s right, I’m talking about protecting merchandise against cargo theft, or the theft of goods in transit. The company buying the merchandise would likely be responsible for the cost of securing the merchandise, but who exactly would be responsible for actually placing the devices onto the products.

One way to do this is to have the bottle locks placed onto the bottles when they reach the distribution center, and that would help keep your merchandise safe until it reaches its final destination. But this wouldn’t protect the merchandise before it reached the distribution center.   In a perfect world, the best time to attach bottle locks to the merchandise is before they leave the manufacturer. This would ensure that the merchandise was immediately secured before being transported anywhere, by any means of transportation. Regardless of which point the bottle security devices are attached, the likelihood of them being stolen will decrease at that point. 

Think of it kind of like manufacturers that offer source tagging, only with bottle security. With source tagging, the security tag is already inside or attached to the merchandise packaging when it leaves the manufacturer.   This allows the items to be protected from the manufacturer to the store shelf. I would like to think that if thieves know that a trailer contains merchandise protected by security devices, and that it will take a huge amount effort to remove all of them, they would think twice about stealing the merchandise from the trailer or shipping container. One problem with this would be that the thieves probably won’t know what exactly is in the trailer until it is opened, unless the shipping container is branded or contains some kind of advertising on the outside.

If this is the case, you could always add a notice that the merchandise is protected. Why not? This would be similar to the way that signs on homes with alarm systems are used to make burglars think twice before attempting to break into your house. There’s no guarantee that a thief still won’t try to break in, but if given the choice of a home without a security system, and one without one, I’m betting they will choose the one that isn’t secured.If you think it sounds expensive to have your shipment of liquor secured with bottle locks, imagine how much it will cost you if you lost a whole shipment of your merchandise. You might not have an order as large as $100,000 coming in, but even if the shipment is worth $1,000, it would likely be a huge blow to a small business. How much time would it take you to recoup that kind of loss? I think it’s always a better idea to be prepared, and make sure that your merchandise is protected, instead of wishing you would have done something before it was too late.

For more information about bottle locks contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

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