On The Way Out- Prevent Shoplifting

December 24, 2014 by Leave a Comment
If you are one of the 95% of retailers who has experienced shoplifting in your stores over the last few years, you might be trying to figure out how to build a better mousetrap that will prevent shoplifting. The success will be in not stopping the shoplifters once they have started trying to steal, but rather stopping them from wanting to steal once they are in your store.
That subtle difference can mean the world to your shrink results and to your bottom line. Many retailers don’t realize just how hard it is to stop a shoplifter once they have started the shoplifting process.
If a shoplifter has come into the store and weighed the effectiveness of your security with their own level of confidence and decided they can get away with the theft, it is too late. Now the shoplifter has a goal in mind, and a plan. Once they have the merchandise in their possession, they are determined to get back out of the store, sometimes by whatever means they deem necessary- including violence.
By beefing up your retail anti theft devices and other kinds of store security, you start to weigh the scales back into your favor, persuading the shoplifter to steal somewhere less risky.
Visit the Loss Prevention Store for Alpha 2Alarm, Alpha 3Alarm, Alpha Fashion2, Alpha Jewel Lok, Alpha Nano Gate,  Alpha Shark Tag, Alpha Spider Wrap and other retail anti-theft devices from Alpha Security to use in conjunction with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system that can help you prevent shoplifting in your business.
For more information on how you can use Alpha Security retail anti-theft devices and your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system to prevent shoplifting contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 

If you are one of the 95% of retailers who has experienced shoplifting in your stores over the last few years, you might be trying to figure out how to build a better mousetrap that will prevent shoplifting. The success will be in not stopping the shoplifters once they have started trying to steal, but rather stopping them from wanting to steal once they are in your store.

That subtle difference can mean the world to your shrink results and to your bottom line. Many retailers don’t realize just how hard it is to stop a shoplifter once they have started the shoplifting process.

If a shoplifter has come into the store and weighed the effectiveness of your security with their own level of confidence and decided they can get away with the theft, it is too late. Now the shoplifter has a goal in mind, and a plan. Once they have the merchandise in their possession, they are determined to get back out of the store, sometimes by whatever means they deem necessary- including violence.

By beefing up your retail anti theft devices and other kinds of store security, you start to weigh the scales back into your favor, persuading the shoplifter to steal somewhere less risky.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store for Alpha 2Alarm, Alpha 3Alarm, Alpha Fashion2, Alpha Jewel Lok, Alpha Nano Gate,  Alpha Shark Tag, Alpha Spider Wrap and other retail anti-theft devices from Alpha Security to use in conjunction with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system that can help you prevent shoplifting in your business.

For more information on how you can use Alpha Security retail anti-theft devices and your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system to prevent shoplifting contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 

 

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Loss Prevention

December 18, 2014 by Leave a Comment

shoplifting3During this time of year the number of shoplifters visiting your store is more than at any other time of the year. Stores across our nation invest millions of dollars in loss prevention, and still billions of dollars are lost due to this crime. Some of the measures retail stores use to prevent shoplifting are the use of video surveillance, security guards, and special tags that are attached to the merchandise and are set off when leaving the store without paying. These are some of the many other prevention measures that help retailers deterred shoplifters from entering their stores. Are your loss prevention measures adequate? Do you need to do more to prevent loses? Read the articles below for more news about shoplifting.

Police conduct holiday shoplifting operation, 19 arrests

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. —

Yesterday plain clothed detectives with the Department’s Economic Crimes and

C.O.T.A. Units conducted a one day operation with loss prevention officers at

the Wal-Mart Store located at 201 34th Street North.

The purpose of the operation was to address the problem of shoplifting that increases during the holiday season.

A total of 19 individuals were arrested, mostly on charges of retail theft although several had outstanding warrants and one juvenile was in violation of court ordered home detention for a previous burglary charge. Of those arrested, 9 were adults and 10 were juveniles.

Great Falls merchants go on guard against shoplifting

Downtown Great Falls’ Amazing Toys owner Dave Campbell said his staff noticed that a $350 Legos set was missing from its perch. They searched the store and found the valuable toy stashed near the front door where a thief planned to retrieve it later.

Dragonfly Dry Goods owner Alison Fried said her staff warmly greets customers, which most shoppers welcome. But some folks, possibly with bad intentions, turn around and walk out the door. She said she has a good camera system inside and outside the store that videotapes 24 hours a day. Fried lets other downtown merchants know who to look for if her store has been hit by a shoplifter.

“We use the team approach,” she said. “We’re a cooperative community downtown.”

“Shrink,” a business concept that includes shoplifting, employee or supplier fraud and administrative errors, cost the retail industry around $42 billion in sales in the United States last year, according to the latest Global Retail Theft Barometer. Worldwide, those factors cost businesses $128 billion.

Man Accused Of Abandoning Child While Shoplifting Speaks Out

A Lexington couple who allegedly abandoned their child while fleeing from loss prevention officers at Walmart say that the police have it all wrong.

Eric Powell and his girlfriend Samantha Barker are accused of shoplifting and taking off leaving behind their 9-month-old child.

Powell says that is not at all what happened.

“We was at Walmart shopping she was at the store shopping and I was by myself looking at magazines and stuff,” says Powell.
He says when they went to check out, he realized he couldn’t pay for the diapers they were trying to buy.

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Lurking In The Shadows- Alpha Nano Gate

December 17, 2014 by Leave a Comment
I think every retailer I have ever worked for has stumbled across a shoplifter lurking in a back corner. They sit and they wait for an opportunity to remove retail anti theft devices or conceal their shoplifting efforts.
We have all seen the signs of these shoplifting safe havens. When you look under shelves, or tables you can find a mass of torn of price tags, or sometimes locate hoards of merchandise that a shoplifter is ferreting away to steal later on when they think the coast is clear.
While the obvious solution is to open up these back corners and areas, it is not always practical (or physically possible) to try and remerchandise the entire store to eliminate them. 
Another solution is to use retail anti theft devices like the Alpha Security Alpha Nano Gate. This is a product that is designed to fit into small spaces, or back areas of a store that lend themselves to shoplifting.
The Alpha Nano Gate is a miniature EAS tower that attaches onto a wall or other stable spot. As a customer or shoplifter enters the area with tagged merchandise, an alarm will go off alerting staff to a potential theft issue in progress.
Visit the Loss Prevention Store for Alpha 2Alarm, Alpha 3Alarm, Alpha Fashion2, Alpha Jewel Lok, Alpha Nano Gate,  Alpha Shark Tag, Alpha Spider Wrap and other retail anti-theft devices from Alpha Security to use in conjunction with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system that can help you prevent shoplifting in your business.
For more information on how you can use Alpha Security retail anti-theft devices and your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system to prevent shoplifting contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 

I think every retailer I have ever worked for has stumbled across a shoplifter lurking in a back corner. They sit and they wait for an opportunity to remove retail anti theft devices or conceal their shoplifting efforts.

We have all seen the signs of these shoplifting safe havens. When you look under shelves, or tables you can find a mass of torn of price tags, or sometimes locate hoards of merchandise that a shoplifter is ferreting away to steal later on when they think the coast is clear.

While the obvious solution is to open up these back corners and areas, it is not always practical (or physically possible) to try and remerchandise the entire store to eliminate them.

Another solution is to use retail anti theft devices like the Alpha Security Alpha Nano Gate. This is a product that is designed to fit into small spaces, or back areas of a store that lend themselves to shoplifting.

 The Alpha Nano Gate is a miniature EAS tower that attaches onto a wall or other stable spot. As a customer or shoplifter enters the area with tagged merchandise, an alarm will go off alerting staff to a potential theft issue in progress.

 Visit the Loss Prevention Store for Alpha 2Alarm, Alpha 3Alarm, Alpha Fashion2, Alpha Jewel Lok, Alpha Nano Gate,  Alpha Shark Tag, Alpha Spider Wrap and other retail anti-theft devices from Alpha Security to use in conjunction with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system that can help you prevent shoplifting in your business.

 For more information on how you can use Alpha Security retail anti-theft devices and your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system to prevent shoplifting contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 

 

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One For Each- Retail Anti Theft Devices

December 3, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Alpha Security Alpha Jewel Lok is actually comprised of three different locking mechanisms for earrings. They recognized that they could not just make one style of Alpha Jewel Lok that would sufficiently protect all three styles of earrings available on the market today.
The Alpha Jewel Lok retail anti theft devices are hard to defeat locks that secure earrings onto the jewelry cards, preventing a shoplifter from easily stealing the merchandise.
The three kinds of locks are for hoop earrings, stud earrings and French wire earrings. Each lock designed with the specific characteristics of each earring in mind.
The stud earring locks not only attach the earring to the jewelry card by securing the post on the back, but they also incorporate a “parking” area for the backs to be kept. As anyone who wears a stud earring knows, the back is just as essential as the actual earring is when you are wearing them.
The French wires attach onto the wire with a low profile design that cannot be seen from the front. This helps keep a better visual appearance for these often flashy or highly decorative earrings.
Hoop earrings also need their own locks to prevent shoplifting. Just like the other two styles, the hoop posts are secured to the card from the back providing a secure deterrent from shoplifters.
Visit the Loss Prevention Store for Alpha 2Alarm, Alpha 3Alarm, Alpha Fashion2, Alpha Jewel Lok, Alpha Nano Gate,  Alpha Shark Tag, Alpha Spider Wrap and other retail anti-theft devices from Alpha Security to use in conjunction with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system that can help you prevent shoplifting in your business.

Alpha Security Alpha Jewel Lok is actually comprised of three different locking mechanisms for earrings. They recognized that they could not just make one style of Alpha Jewel Lok that would sufficiently protect all three styles of earrings available on the market today.

The Alpha Jewel Lok retail anti theft devices are hard to defeat locks that secure earrings onto the jewelry cards, preventing a shoplifter from easily stealing the merchandise.

The three kinds of locks are for hoop earrings, stud earrings and French wire earrings. Each lock designed with the specific characteristics of each earring in mind.

The stud earring locks not only attach the earring to the jewelry card by securing the post on the back, but they also incorporate a “parking” area for the backs to be kept. As anyone who wears a stud earring knows, the back is just as essential as the actual earring is when you are wearing them.

The French wires attach onto the wire with a low profile design that cannot be seen from the front. This helps keep a better visual appearance for these often flashy or highly decorative earrings.

Hoop earrings also need their own locks to prevent shoplifting. Just like the other two styles, the hoop posts are secured to the card from the back providing a secure deterrent from shoplifters.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store for Alpha 2Alarm, Alpha 3Alarm, Alpha Fashion2, Alpha Jewel Lok, Alpha Nano Gate,  Alpha Shark Tag, Alpha Spider Wrap and other retail anti-theft devices from Alpha Security to use in conjunction with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system that can help you prevent shoplifting in your business.

For more information on how you can use Alpha Security retail anti-theft devices and your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system to prevent shoplifting contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

 

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Tamper Free Living- Alpha 2 Alarm

November 22, 2014 by Leave a Comment
The best feature of the Alpha Security Alpha 2 Alarm products is their anti tamper alarm system. Built into each of their Alpha 2 Alarm retail anti theft devices is an audible alarm that emits a loud siren when the device is tampered with.
When you prevent shoplifting, having retail anti theft devices that monitors your merchandise every step of the way is an important feature to have. It is one of those functions that when you start to use it, you realize what a difference it can make. You also start to realize what you have been missing out on by not having it.
Most common shoplifters will simply bypass stealing from a business that uses retail anti theft devices. However, there are more organized, career criminals that will make attempts at defeating these devices. When you use the Alpha 2 Alarm products, you reduce the likelihood of even a career criminal attempting to defeat the EAS tags. 
The ones who still make their attempts will discover that they set off the alarm in the store while tampering with the device. Not only will it potentially stop the theft in progress, but it will also help you identify potential thieves in your store as their anonymity has been blown, 
Visit the Loss Prevention Store for Alpha 2Alarm, Alpha 3Alarm, Alpha Fashion2, Alpha Jewel Lok, Alpha Nano Gate,  Alpha Shark Tag, Alpha Spider Wrap and other retail anti-theft devices from Alpha Security to use in conjunction with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system that can help you prevent shoplifting in your business.
For more information on how you can use Alpha Security retail anti-theft devices and your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system to prevent shoplifting contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 

The best feature of the Alpha Security Alpha 2 Alarm products is their anti tamper alarm system. Built into each of their Alpha 2 Alarm retail anti theft devices is an audible alarm that emits a loud siren when the device is tampered with.

When you prevent shoplifting, having retail anti theft devices that monitors your merchandise every step of the way is an important feature to have. It is one of those functions that when you start to use it, you realize what a difference it can make. You also start to realize what you have been missing out on by not having it.

Most common shoplifters will simply bypass stealing from a business that uses retail anti theft devices. However, there are more organized, career criminals that will make attempts at defeating these devices. When you use the Alpha 2 Alarm products, you reduce the likelihood of even a career criminal attempting to defeat the EAS tags.

The ones who still make their attempts will discover that they set off the alarm in the store while tampering with the device. Not only will it potentially stop the theft in progress, but it will also help you identify potential thieves in your store as their anonymity has been blown.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store for Alpha 2Alarm, Alpha 3Alarm, Alpha Fashion2, Alpha Jewel Lok, Alpha Nano Gate,  Alpha Shark Tag, Alpha Spider Wrap and other retail anti-theft devices from Alpha Security to use in conjunction with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system that can help you prevent shoplifting in your business.

For more information on how you can use Alpha Security retail anti-theft devices and your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system to prevent shoplifting contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 

 

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Unlock The Code- Alpha Security

November 16, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Alpha Security uses many different kinds of retail anti theft devices in their efforts to prevent shoplifting and reduce inventory shrink. While there are many retail anti theft devices, Alpha Security wanted retailers to be able to use a universal key to detach them. This would limit confusion at the point of sale and ensure speedy checkout, as cashiers would not have to flip between multiple keys to detach multiple styles of retail anti theft devices.
The problem comes from multiple retailers using the same kind of detacher key. Shoplifters are starting to steal the detacher keys and use them for their own theft purposes. We are even seeing employees accidentally lose their key and shoplifters finding them and using them.
Needless to say, it would be unbearably expensive for a small business to have to reinvest in an entirely new security system just because of one lost or stolen detacher key. Alpha Security, realizing that this was starting to arise as a major issue, immediately began to develop a new key: The S3verify Key and devices. 
Now, these keys and retail anti theft devices have a store specific code. Similar to a chip encoded car key, without the proper key, the locks will not open. A stolen key will erase itself preventing a shoplifter to use it.
Visit the Loss Prevention Store for Alpha 2Alarm, Alpha 3Alarm, Alpha Fashion2, Alpha Jewel Lok, Alpha Nano Gate,  Alpha Shark Tag, Alpha Spider Wrap and other retail anti-theft devices from Alpha Security to use in conjunction with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system that can help you prevent shoplifting in your business.
For more information on how you can use Alpha Security retail anti-theft devices and your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system to prevent shoplifting contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 

Alpha Security uses many different kinds of retail anti theft devices in their efforts to prevent shoplifting and reduce inventory shrink. While there are many retail anti theft devices, Alpha Security wanted retailers to be able to use a universal key to detach them. This would limit confusion at the point of sale and ensure speedy checkout, as cashiers would not have to flip between multiple keys to detach multiple styles of retail anti theft devices.

The problem comes from multiple retailers using the same kind of detacher key. Shoplifters are starting to steal the detacher keys and use them for their own theft purposes. We are even seeing employees accidentally lose their key and shoplifters finding them and using them.

Needless to say, it would be unbearably expensive for a small business to have to reinvest in an entirely new security system just because of one lost or stolen detacher key. Alpha Security, realizing that this was starting to arise as a major issue, immediately began to develop a new key: The S3verify Key and devices. 

Now, these keys and retail anti theft devices have a store specific code. Similar to a chip encoded car key, without the proper key, the locks will not open. A stolen key will erase itself preventing a shoplifter to use it.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store for Alpha 2Alarm, Alpha 3Alarm, Alpha Fashion2, Alpha Jewel Lok, Alpha Nano Gate,  Alpha Shark Tag, Alpha Spider Wrap and other retail anti-theft devices from Alpha Security to use in conjunction with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system that can help you prevent shoplifting in your business.

For more information on how you can use Alpha Security retail anti-theft devices and your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system to prevent shoplifting contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 

 

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Preventing Theft This Holiday Season

November 12, 2014 by Leave a Comment

shoplifting3Theft this holiday season is not something out of the ordinary. Shoplifting happens daily all across the globe. The United States alone loses billions of dollars each year due to this crime. Authorities and the retail industry collaborate with each other to prevent or ameliorate the amount they lose due to this crime. During the holiday season, stores are busy and management and employees have less time to keep an eye on the customer, making it easier for shoplifters to get into the store and snatch something. Prevention can save you thousands of dollars; protect your store, your profits and your employees this holiday season.

Holiday theft season approaching

Every year as the holiday season approaches, thefts and other related crimes begin to trend upward, more so as the Christmas holiday looms closer.

Misdemeanor shoplifting thefts are not the only crimes that climb during the holidays. Residential and business burglaries also rise significantly.

Preventive policing by the Harker Heights Police Department helps to lessen these property crimes. Preventive measures include neighborhood and business patrols.

The Harker Heights Police Department has in the recent past positioned the city’s public safety command vehicle in the parking lot of Market Heights during the holiday shopping period, providing a police presence and rapid response for business owners and the shopping public.

Such a strategic move not only serves to provide the public with an immediate crime reporting station, but it also serves as a deterrent to criminals who would seek to victimize businesses and the shoppers they serve.

Season’s thievings

With the Christmas season just around the corner, police in Maury County are preparing for one of the most common holiday crimes: shoplifting.

So far in 2014, shoplifting incidents in Columbia have been reduced by 20 percent compared to last year, Columbia police Lt. Joey Gideon said Friday.

But, he said, shoplifting does tend to occur more often during the holiday season than during any other time of the year.

“After Black Friday, the stores start getting more crowded, and it’s easier for shoplifters to go unnoticed,” Gideon said.

Must-do identity theft protection tips for holiday shoppers

As you race hither and yon to the mall, to the grocery store or to grandma’s house while spreading holiday cheer, that jingling sound you hear is probably not sleigh bells. If you’re not careful, that might be the sound of money flying out of your pockets and into the hands of the crooks that target holiday shoppers.

Identity theft doesn’t just happen online. Crooks can pilfer your personal information right out of your wallet or cellphone unless you take some steps to be extra vigilant during the holiday shopping season.

Here are some simple, must-do measures to keep in mind over the next few months:

  • Streamline your wallet. Leave anything you don’t need, such as your Social Security card (you should never carry it in your wallet), your library or wholesale club card, and excess credit cards at home. Only take the credit cards you know you will use.

 

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Best Not To Overcomplicate Things- Retail Anti Theft Devices

November 10, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Sometimes we get so caught up in a situation that it is easy for things to get overly complicated and messy. It is better to stop, take a step back and reevaluate what is really happening and start over with the solution.
I see so many small shops that have either heard of complex shoplifting scams and schemes or have seen one particularly complex incident and are now devising unnecessarily complicated plans to stop shoplifting.
I always recommend taking a step back and evaluating what the real scenario is, and what the best solution is. While those complex thefts are out there, most of the shoplifters use relatively low- tech and simple forms of shoplifting.
One of the most common shoplifting methods is to conceal merchandise in a bag. That includes handbags, totes, sports duffels and backpacks. A shoplifter thinks they can stuff product in their bag and walk out the door without being noticed.
The best way to deter and combat this kind of theft is to use security tags, commonly called EAS tags. The tag is a visual warning that the merchandise is being protected. Even if the shoplifter tries to steal the product by concealing it in a bag, the EAS alarms will still register.
Visit the Loss Prevention Store for Alpha 2Alarm, Alpha 3Alarm, Alpha Fashion2, Alpha Jewel Lok, Alpha Nano Gate,  Alpha Shark Tag, Alpha Spider Wrap and other retail anti-theft devices from Alpha Security to use in conjunction with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system that can help you prevent shoplifting in your business.
For more information on how you can use Alpha Security retail anti-theft devices and your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system to prevent shoplifting contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 

Sometimes we get so caught up in a situation that it is easy for things to get overly complicated and messy. It is better to stop, take a step back and reevaluate what is really happening and start over with the solution.

I see so many small shops that have either heard of complex shoplifting scams and schemes or have seen one particularly complex incident and are now devising unnecessarily complicated plans to stop shoplifting.

I always recommend taking a step back and evaluating what the real scenario is, and what the best solution is. While those complex thefts are out there, most of the shoplifters use relatively low- tech and simple forms of shoplifting.

One of the most common shoplifting methods is to conceal merchandise in a bag. That includes handbags, totes, sports duffels and backpacks. A shoplifter thinks they can stuff product in their bag and walk out the door without being noticed.

The best way to deter and combat this kind of theft is to use security tags, commonly called EAS tags. The tag is a visual warning that the merchandise is being protected. Even if the shoplifter tries to steal the product by concealing it in a bag, the EAS alarms will still register.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store for Alpha 2Alarm, Alpha 3Alarm, Alpha Fashion2, Alpha Jewel Lok, Alpha Nano Gate,  Alpha Shark Tag, Alpha Spider Wrap and other retail anti-theft devices from Alpha Security to use in conjunction with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system that can help you prevent shoplifting in your business.

For more information on how you can use Alpha Security retail anti-theft devices and your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system to prevent shoplifting contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 

 

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What To Do? – Prevent Shoplifting

November 6, 2014 by Leave a Comment
One of my employees was talking to me about a shoplifting incident they saw, but they didn’t know what to do about it. She was watching a customer trying on different pairs of earrings and went over to offer her assistance.
The woman quickly said she didn’t need anything, turned around and left. My employee started to clean up the mess this customer left behind. We don’t have a real good inventory control system or EAS devices designed specifically for jewelry and accessories.
The woman had taken several pairs of earrings off the cards, and everything was in a jumble on the counter. As my employee sorted through everything, she noticed that there were two pairs of earrings missing, and the customer looked like she was wearing one of them.
It was a difficult position for my employee to be in. She was probably right in her suspicions that the customer had walked off with at least one if not two pairs of our earrings.
Because we didn’t actually see what happened from the beginning it was too hard to actually tell if this was just a repeat customer who had purchased the earrings previously, or if she did steal them.
Visit the Loss Prevention Store for Alpha 2Alarm, Alpha 3Alarm, Alpha Fashion2, Alpha Jewel Lok, Alpha Nano Gate,  Alpha Shark Tag, Alpha Spider Wrap and other retail anti-theft devices from Alpha Security to use in conjunction with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system that can help you prevent shoplifting in your business.
For more information on how you can use Alpha Security retail anti-theft devices and your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system to prevent shoplifting contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 

One of my employees was talking to me about a shoplifting incident they saw, but they didn’t know what to do about it. She was watching a customer trying on different pairs of earrings and went over to offer her assistance.

The woman quickly said she didn’t need anything, turned around and left. My employee started to clean up the mess this customer left behind. We don’t have a real good inventory control system or EAS devices designed specifically for jewelry and accessories.

The woman had taken several pairs of earrings off the cards, and everything was in a jumble on the counter. As my employee sorted through everything, she noticed that there were two pairs of earrings missing, and the customer looked like she was wearing one of them.

It was a difficult position for my employee to be in. She was probably right in her suspicions that the customer had walked off with at least one if not two pairs of our earrings.

Because we didn’t actually see what happened from the beginning it was too hard to actually tell if this was just a repeat customer who had purchased the earrings previously, or if she did steal them.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store for Alpha 2Alarm, Alpha 3Alarm, Alpha Fashion2, Alpha Jewel Lok, Alpha Nano Gate,  Alpha Shark Tag, Alpha Spider Wrap and other retail anti-theft devices from Alpha Security to use in conjunction with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system that can help you prevent shoplifting in your business.

For more information on how you can use Alpha Security retail anti-theft devices and your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system to prevent shoplifting contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 

 

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What You Should Be Auditing

November 5, 2014 by Leave a Comment

theft (11)When you work for yourself, you often spend a lot of time inventing the wheel. There is no corporate policy already in place for your stores to adapt. No one is there looking over your shoulder and telling you what records to keep and for how long. Sure, you probably have an accountant somewhere helping you with some record retention requirements. There are other IRS and tax records that you keep for a certain period of time. Overall, it is up to you to make these decisions and have a standard in place.

One area that can be difficult to make your own standard is having an internal audit. While it is a chore to come up with the questions and audit points, the payoff of having a better standardization and in store accountability will far exceed the trouble you put into to establish an audit.

One of the best places to start is by researching Sarbanes- Oxley. The Sarbanes- Oxley act of 2002 is a set of legal requirements that all organizations, regardless of size, must comply with. It basically regulates financial practices, after several companies were found guilty of falsifying their own financial records. The company’s biggest fallout was that they ended up devastating thousands of their own employees financially.

The ultimate point of the act is that companies are required to provide accurate and truthful information as to the company’s financial status. Over inflating sales, inventory, amongst other practices, to give a deceitful impression of a company’s success is now illegal. Companies must retain records of their financial status to ensure accuracy at all levels.

The easiest way to do this is to perform self-audits in key areas. These audits should be done daily, weekly, monthly and yearly, depending upon the task. Hiring a consultant can provide you with the legal specifics to keep your company on the up and up. Understanding the basics ahead of time can help you decrease those consultation costs, as you will already have some practices in place.

The first place to start is with your inventory. Understanding a cradle to grave approach to your product will not only help you with accuracy in your auditing, but keeping a closer eye on your product will help you decrease your shrink over the long term. Your starting point is with your receipt of goods.

Each shipment of inventory you receive should be documented and a bill of lading retained and filed by month. On each BOL should be the signature of who received the items, the date and time received, and a check mark or tally of what was received- either by piece, box or pallet.

Next, you should maintain listings and reports of items that are taken out of your inventory for a specific reason. If they are damaged and thrown out, sent back to a vendor for credit, used in the store, stolen, etc. There needs to be a paper trail attached to where these items have gone and why. A signature, or employee ID or who reallocated the products disposition should be included with these document (also retained and filed by month).

If you are still using paper sales receipts, including paper journal tapes, those records need to be filed by date, and then month. This is your listing of what merchandise has left your stores and is your proof that these sales actually happened and were not fraudulently contrived. If you have an electronic sales tracking system, you still need to have paper documentation of these sales retained somewhere in case of a computer glitch, etc.

Finally, all returns must be retained and spot-checked for accuracy. Since returns are another way for inventory to come back into the store, it is an important process to verify that these returns are accurate. Look for multiple transactions of the same item, or significantly larger dollar transactions. These are the returns that are most likely to have been done in error (over inflating your actual inventory) or can point to an employee’s dishonest activities.

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