security — Page 12

Shoplifting Problems Today

October 5, 2015 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

Shoplifting is a problem that affects retailers worldwide. In the United States shoplifting is a problem that affects the retail industry tremendously. Millions of dollars are lost daily due to this problem, and although legislation about this problem continues to change to punish the perpetrator accordingly, the problem is far from disappearing. The rules and regulations about shoplifting that are to be observed by the management and employees of your store should be reviewed regularly to ensure they reflect the times and views of the owners of the retail store.

For more about this and other news follow the links below.

Indianapolis shoplifting suspect dies in police custody after breathing problems

Indianapolis police said they were investigating the death of a shoplifting suspect who complained of breathing problems.

The man died in the back of an ambulance on Saturday afternoon after being arrested by the Indianapolis metropolitan police department (IMPD) and Cumberland police department, the IMPD said in a news release.

The man told officers he was having trouble breathing and an ambulance was summoned. The medical crew assessed the man and determined he could be transported to the city’s arrestee processing center, but while in the back of a jail wagon the man again complained of breathing problems.

A second ambulance was called, but the man’s condition quickly deteriorated and he died despite attempts to save his life, police said.

Walmart employees in hot water over video of suspected shoplifter

ARLINGTON, Texas — Walmart employees who confronted a suspected shoplifter in a Dallas suburb may now be in trouble themselves, reports CBS DFW.

A cashier recorded the incident in North Arlington, which was posted on a Facebook page for Walmart employees. It appears to show a woman shoplifting and employees taunting her and grabbing her bag on her way out of the store.

The video then shows an unidentified woman walking up to the suspected shoplifter outside the store and and starting to fight with her.

One of the employees involved has resigned and an investigation is underway, CBS DFW reports.

Retailers call for legislation amid rise in shoplifting in Dublin

Retailers are lobbying the Government to introduce tougher penalties for repeat shoplifters as gardaí reported a 40 per cent increase in the activity in inner city Dublin.

A Dublin central Joint Policing Committee was told this week that overall property crime, such as burglaries, car thefts and shoplifting, was up by 8 per cent in the division.

Chief Supt Pat Leahy told the meeting that burglaries and car thefts were down this year but a sharp increase in recorded shoplifting had brought up the total.

He said the apparent increase in shoplifting coincided with a change in the way the crime was recorded.

“Every single incident of shoplifting now is recorded as a crime. Whether it is a lipstick or it is a €400 jacket, it goes in as a crime,” he said.

Filed Under: Shoplifting Prevention Tagged With: Alpha Nano Gate, Alpha Security, anti-theft tags, anti-thefts devices, EAS Devices, Georgia shoplifting prevention, Georgia shoplifting systems, Loss Prevention Workshop, Prevent Shoplifting, prevent shrinkage, racial profiling, Retail Anti Theft Devices, retail security, retail security and monitoring, security, security devices, shoplifting, Shoplifting Prevention, shoplifting statistics, shoplifting violence, surveillance

Public Shaming and Shoplifting

September 8, 2015 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

The public shaming of criminals has been around for centuries. For a good part of the world’s legal history (and some still today) the punishment for crimes happened in public: pillories, pelting offenders in the stockades with rotten food and feces, hanging, ear nailing, branding, sandwich boards which proclaimed the crime, dunking stools, shunning, whipping posts, maiming, etc.

There’s a natural human desire for others to be recognized and brought to justice for their crimes. The emergence of public shaming via social media is a continuation of that desire and heritage. Social media is just a new, albeit broader reaching, component of a very old method of controlling crime and providing justice.

Retail has a centuries old history of public shaming, because up until recently most stores were mom and pop operations. Owners personally knew which customers weren’t paying their bills and who was stealing, and they had ways of letting others know too. Not long ago, owners posted bounced checks near the cash register, so everyone saw which neighbors were deadbeats.

Now store owners and managers are turning to public shaming again for their on-going, ever increasing problem with shoplifters. They’re frustrated, burnt out and angry, and are increasingly using social media to combat the issue. They’re posting pictures and video of alleged shoplifters and some caught in the act.

The motivations behind posting this information are varied — it’ll shame the criminal into stopping or at least staying out of the store; someone will identify the thief and they can be charged; it’ll shame law enforcement into “doing something” about the crime; other shoplifters will see the store is serious about crime and stay away; it gives the owner a feeling of control and not like a victim.

But, these new tactics have triggered a very old question, “Does it work?”. The answer is the same as it has always been, “Yes” and “No”. Both answers are correct, because it depends on the situation. The spectrum runs from — the shoplifter was mortified and didn’t do it again to the shoplifter became a celebrity in their social group and increased their stealing.

This strategy has always had mixed results, which is why store owners and managers should be thoughtful and cautious about using social media for public shaming or crime fighting. In addition, the legalities of it are murky at best and must be considered before posting pictures or video. Be sure to evaluate each situation on an individual basis before taking any action.

Nicole Abbott is a writer and psycho-therapist with over 20 years of experience in the fields of mental health and addiction. She’s an educator, consultant, lecturer, trainer and facilitator, who’s conducted over 200 workshops, trainings, presentations, college classes and seminars.

Filed Under: Shoplifting Prevention Tagged With: Alpha Nano Gate, Alpha Spider Wrap, anti-theft tags, Background checks, EAS Devices, Georgia Alarms systems, Georgia shoplifting prevention, Georgia shoplifting systems, Prevent Shoplifting, prevent shrinkage, Retail Anti Theft Devices, retail security, retail security and monitoring, security, security devices, shoplifting, Shoplifting Prevention, shoplifting statistics, shoplifting violence, surveillance

Retail Burglar Alarm System Considerations

September 8, 2015 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

I thought I would provide you with information to assist you in making decisions regarding the purchase or maintenance of a security system for your property. The information provided will help cut though the “fog” of choices regarding alarm systems.

I have over 35 years of experience in both commercial and military property protection. My Bachelor’s Degree is in Industrial Security and my knowledge includes physical security, design of alarm solutions and installation. I am also a licensed alarm tech.

When selecting a security system for a commercial space, you do not have to spend a great deal of money. However, you need to be cautious of putting in a system that is so inexpensive that you are really only getting a false sense of security. If you purchase smart, you will have a good system that will last for years and provide excellent coverage at a very reasonable price.

Choosing a provider – There are so many choices that it is usually overwhelming. Ranging from large national chains to single man shops. What is the best? Well, there is no answer that fits everyone. But you should consider the following:

How reliable is the company? How long have they been in business?

With large national chains, you tend to be just a number despite their advertising claims.

With some small operations you have to be concerned, if they will be there next year.

Generally regional chains and smaller operations are going to be more attentive to your needs.

Be VERY cautious of alarm sales people. Most of the time they are focused on quota and really do not care, if you are properly protected or not. Most do not have practical knowledge of physical security, they are salesmen. Make sure you get what is best for you not for the sales person who is trying to make quota and/or selling you components that are add-ons you really do not need.

How long is the contract? 5 years is WAY too long of a term. A good contract length is 2-3 years. Remember, if they cannot hold you with good performance and service, they will tend to try to get a longer contract. Length of contract is negotiable even with large companies. Besides where will you be in 5 years? Will your company have outgrown your current space and you have to move? An assurance of “oh if you move we will move with you” may sound great but what if they have done a poor job? Do you want to continue that relationship?

Watch out for companies that have wording in their contract that automatically raise your monitoring charge usually on an annual basis. Many times it is explained away as a “cost of living” type charge. It is just an underhanded way to get more money out of you.

I will discuss equipment later in this document but keep this in mind: A trick that the large companies do, is sell you the alarm control. But it is proprietary and THEY are the only company that can program it. This keeps you locked into them forever. No one else can monitor or service it. Insist on a NON-Proprietary alarm control.

Are they insured? Get a copy of the insurance and insist on an updated copy every year. Better yet have them list you on their policy. Is their coverage adequate for a loss due to their negligence? Keep in mind that alarm companies are NOT insurers. They will not insure your life or property losses. That is what your insurance is for. But if they make a serious error or commit Errors and Omissions (E&O), you need them to cover their mistake. Have your insurance agent review the coverage document provided to you. Do this up front. Like my Attorney says to me “Let’s get the paperwork right at the beginning because I have never seen anyone wear their wedding dress to the divorce”.

Are they licensed? Check the Secretary of States web site. Are they properly licensed for low-voltage alarms, are there complaints….?

System Design – Unless you want a lot of bells and whistles you can keep It pretty simple. Here are the key items you should have:

Alarm Control (brains of the system). See above about proprietary vs non-proprietary.

Alarm Keypad near the front door. This is how you arm and disarm the system. In my experience a keypad with an “alpha” display is best. This usually costs a bit more but instead of it displaying a zone number such as “Zone 08” it will for example say “Back Door Left”. This is much easier to deal with when there is a problem. And there will be a problem usually late at night when you need clear information. If you also access your suite from several doors, then you want a keypad at each door for your convenience.

Door Contacts. Contact every exterior door both personnel and overhead doors whether you use them or not. They are a “hole” in your wall.

Glass Break Detectors should cover EVERY bit of your glass that is accessible. This is the most likely way a burglar will break in. Usually one glass break detector in every office with any windows will take care of it.

Motion Detectors. You should have at least one. This should be in a hallway or other area that would make it very difficult for someone to move very far without tripping it. You do not need to cover every square foot. That is overkill and not generally necessary. The exception would be, if you have very valuable supplies, equipment or other assets you need protecting. Then a motion detector covering that area is warranted.

Fire Protection is a nice thing to add. This may help reduce your insurance premiums. Keep in mind that you may be in a building that has a sprinkler system. What you should ask is that sprinkler system “monitored by a central station” or is it simply going to ring an outside bell if activated. From a fire perspective you want it monitored. However, what happens if there is a water flow in the middle of the night or on the weekend and no one discovers it until business hours? Monitoring will keep your losses in merchandise and structure more limited.

Burglary sirens are nice but do not go crazy. One siren on the inside is enough. Keep in mind that almost every keypad has a built in siren.

Automatic Testing – This is one of the most overlooked issues. If your alarm system is not checking in with the alarm companies central station on a routine basis then how would you ever know if it stops working? This happens a lot! Alarm systems are electronic and mechanical devices that do break. An electrical surge from a phone line connection or 110 Volt power happens very frequently. If your systems communications go down you may never know it. It will not show up on the keypad.

Look for a “Supervised, Weekly Timer/Test”. This is an automated signal that your alarm control is programed to send every week at the exact same time. The central station computer is watching for this signal and if it does receive it then the central station computer notifies an operator and they then notify you. This process is all automated and normally is programed to happen in the middle of the night. The central station will then notify you the next day during business hours. If you are really concerned, then you may wish to select a daily timer/test signal.

Timer/Test signals are very inexpensive to you and many companies provide a weekly one free of charge.

Notification of an Alarm – This is the call list that the central station uses to get a hold of you in the event of an emergency or a problem. They cannot help you, if they cannot reach you. Keep this list up to date. Some of the better alarm companies can send you an automated email several times a year with your current call list. This reminder helps you to keep the list current. The problem with a call list is that it is out of sight, out of mind. Without these reminders you usually do not know until there is a problem. You should also have the alarm company send you an automated e-mail whenever there is an event such as an alarm, timer/test fail, maintenance problem…. Those should also be included in your service at no charge.

Reports – Another often overlooked feature is an open/close report. Your alarm company can program your alarm control to instantly send a signal to the central station each time the system is armed or disarmed. Your system tells the central station which employee armed/disarmed and at what date/time. A summary report is sent to you once a week by e-mail. You should tell them you want an “all activity” report. This should not cost any more. That way you will also see alarms, troubles…. In addition to the opens/closes. This is much easier for you to read. Most of us only need a “log only” report. The log only version is less expensive because there is no intervention by a central station operator.

This report is a very important tool for business owners and managers. It will let you know who is coming in and when which is a good tool to assist you in tracking employee time when you are not there. It will also alert you to someone coming in after hours. Use this report as a proactive tool. If something falls outside the norm then question the employee about it. This lets them know you are aware and will help to prevent issues such as employee theft.

Alarm System Codes – Every employee should have their own code. Employees should not be allowed to share codes. Tell your employees that they are accountable for what happens with their code. If a theft or incident occurs because they gave their code to someone or someone saw the code, then they will be held accountable. Codes should never be simple such as-1234, 2468, a year, birth month/year combination, phone number…. Anything obvious. You might try using a person’s last four digits of their SSN. People tend to protect that number. Let them know that if their code is compromised for any reason, they must notify you and you will simply change it.

Transmission via cellular or internet – I personally love this feature. Most of the problems with alarm systems involve phone line issues. I think cellular is best. A cellular signal cannot be blocked due to a cut phone line or phone company trouble. Most alarm system cellular units hit at least two towers and many times three. Cellular connections are VERY fast. It is also more reliable than your voice cell service.

You can also send signals via the internet. This is nice because like cellular you eliminate a hard wired phone line and is more economical. But an internet connection is vulnerable to interruption and being cut just like a phone line.

There are a lot of other great services that your alarm company can provide you to fit your individual needs: supervised open/close reports, wireless sensors, video tied to the alarm system, remote connectivity to your alarm system via PC, tablet or smart phone and much more. This allows you to access your alarm or view video anywhere in the world. Many of these are not only convenient but critical in business and asset protection.

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Shoplifting Prevention and Your Store Policies

August 13, 2015 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

Video surveillance has been considered for many stores a way to stay abreast criminal acts against their businesses. Shoplifting is crime that is constantly jeopardizing profits for many stores across the world, video cameras and other means to prevent shoplifting have helped stores fight this crime, but is always a battle that is changing with new technology coming into play. Posting and knowing the policies and procedures that govern your retail stores concerning shoplifting, can help keep your employees safe and your store from becoming a hang out place for shoplifters.

Read more about this and other topics by following the links below.

Macy’s employee stabbed trying to stop shoplifting at D.C. store, police say

A Macy’s employee was stabbed in the shoulder Tuesday afternoon as he tried to prevent a suspected shoplifter from leaving the store’s downtown location near Metro Center, according to D.C. police.

The worker was not seriously injured and the suspected stabber was arrested, police said. The incident occurred about 3:30 p.m. near the store’s entrance in the 1200 block of G Street NW, along a street lined with stores four blocks from the White House.

Lt. Sean Conboy said police could not immediately provide any information about the person who was arrested.

Taking steps to prevent shoplifting

In early July, $3,000 in designer dresses, slacks and jackets were stolen from ADORE Designer Retail Boutique in Cary, one of Nancy Alinovi’s two consignment shops in the Triangle. She still feels sick about it.

“It’s just this feeling in your chest,” she said. “It’s not a victimless crime.”

Alinovi said it will be two months before everything returns to normal at the family-owned boutiques, which cut prices in order to stay afloat after the theft. Her experience shows the toll shoplifting takes on small businesses, where margins are small and business is personal.

There were 582 calls to the Raleigh Police Department regarding shoplifting in the past year, said Jim Sughrue, department spokesman. They run the gamut from family-run gas stations to department stores, he said.

According to a National Retail Federation’s security survey, shoplifting accounted for 38 percent of the $44 billion in retail inventory loss due to crime in 2014.

Focus on shoplifting

Police nab thief with aid of video

Video surveillance was a key factor in the arrest of a Grand Falls-Windsor man Aug. 9 after he was caught on film on three separate occasions stealing from local businesses.

Grand Falls–Windsor RCMP arrested and charged the 27-year-old with theft under $5000. He was released from custody, placed on conditions and scheduled to appear in court at a later date.

Grand Falls-RCMP also dealt with a number of assault and disturbance cases among the 68 calls for service fielded at the detachment between Aug. 3 and Aug. 9.

On Aug. 4, the Grand Falls–Windsor RCMP arrested and charged a 30-year-old Grand Falls–Windsor resident for uttering threats. The male had written a letter threatening to kill a local female. The male is scheduled to appear in court at a later date.

Filed Under: Shoplifting Prevention Tagged With: Alpha 2 Alarm, Alpha 3 Alarm, Alpha High Theft Solutions, Alpha Jewel Lok, Alpha Nano Gate, Alpha Spider Wrap, EAS Devices, Loss Prevention Training, Prevent Shoplifting, prevent shrinkage, racial profiling, Retail Anti Theft Devices, retail security, retail security and monitoring, security, security devices, shoplifting, Shoplifting Prevention, shoplifting statistics, shoplifting violence, surveillance

Real Time Anti-Shoplifting App For Your Mobile Devices

August 8, 2015 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

When I look at the Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) marketplace there are two very distinct offerings: Checkpoint Systems and the “other guys”. I realize that this is a bold and maybe arrogant statement. Despite the fact that we are the largest nationwide Checkpoint Dealer for the small to medium size retailer in The United States and yes, I do favor Checkpoint Systems, it really is a true statement.

I wish I could take you on an inside tour of Checkpoint’s facilities from R&D to Manufacturing to Support to Service and everything in between. What you would learn is that there really is only Checkpoint Systems and the “ring the bell, light the light” crowd. Checkpoint Systems is so far advanced beyond the other guys, it is mind boggling.

So now Checkpoint has moved the EAS industry further again. EVOLVE-Store puts your Checkpoint Systems in your mobile device. An app delivers real-time information through a smartphone or tablet, providing real-time visibility and engagement with your EAS & ORC theft prevention systems.

The EVOLVE-Store app will also help to improve your consumer conversion rates through real-time visibility of the number of shoppers in your store and measures your policy compliance by managing response times to alarm events.

Combine this with Checkpoint Systems VisiPlus which is retail people counting at its best and you have a substantial retail theft management system available to you regardless of where you are. Seeing theft-related events that are affecting your store in real time gives you an edge.

I have been a retailer in the loss prevention world for over 30 years. I have personally apprehended hundreds of shoplifters, investigated over 2300 retail employees for theft, built and directed the Loss Prevention program for several major retailers. But I have never seen such significant advances in such a short period of time in the loss prevention field. But what make Checkpoint Systems so different is that all of this is not just designed for the major retailer. EVOLVE-Store is an affordable program for the small single store and medium sized retailer.

If you are interested in learning more about Evolve-Store and Checkpoint Systems EAS, please contact me, Bill Bregar at 1-770-426-0547.

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: Alpha 2 Alarm, Alpha 3 Alarm, Alpha High Theft Solutions, Alpha Jewel Lok, Alpha Nano Gate, Alpha Security, anti-theft devices, anti-theft tags, anti-thefts devices, EAS Devices, Georgia shoplifting prevention, Georgia shoplifting systems, Prevent Shoplifting, prevent shrinkage, Retail Anti Theft Devices, retail security, retail security and monitoring, security, security devices, shoplifting, Shoplifting Prevention, shoplifting statistics, surveillance

EMPLOYEE THEFT MOVES INTO ONLINE MARKETPLACES

August 8, 2015 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

This past month, I closed out one of the biggest employee theft cases of my career thus far. While it was quite exciting and a huge win for my team, it left a lot of questions about our internal controls, that after this case, surely must evolve. Lots of people that I come into to contact with really misconstrue the facts regarding employee theft. You’ve heard the phrase before… “You have more internal theft than external theft.” Every time I hear this phrase, I find myself trying to educate the manager on this. While most people assume that 75% percent of their employees steal, realistically, only a very small percentage of employees engage in this behavior. Those that do though, create a substantial financial loss to the company.

As part of my investigative routine, I normally check online sale sites for possible stolen merchandise. Selling stolen product online is most likely to quickest and easiest way to get rid of goods in a hurry. As I was browsing through I noticed a pair of wireless headphones that had just hit our stores. Interesting enough, the item still had our company markings on it. From there I was able to quickly identify the geographical area and before long I was able to identify the owner of the page. That owner was a warehouse supervisor at one of my stores.

Well, it didn’t take long for me to find quite literally, hundreds and hundreds of items either that had previously been sold, or were up for sale on this website. Lots of these items were electronics such as cameras, headphones, accessories, phone cases and other large bulk product such as coolers and outdoor furniture. Looking at the store’s inventory I could tell that some of the product had in fact come from that location. Over the course of several weeks, I initiated several online purchases. Most were for electronic devices that had a serial number. Once received, I was able to determine that the items did in fact belong to that store and those particular items were not accounted for. I had made my case.

How was this associate getting this much product out the door without anyone noticing him? I still didn’t have that piece of the puzzle. Without enough ammunition for prosecution, I interviewed this supervisor to determine how he was obtaining this much product. I knew it was stolen, I just didn’t know by whom and in what manner. What I uncovered during this interview was one of the most sophisticated and organized theft operations I have seen in my career.

That particular store was also a hub warehouse. This means that online purchases made by customers in a certain geographical area would be sent to our store and warehouse to fulfill. This of course gets the item to the customer much faster than going through our centralized distribution center. Once the order was filled for a customer, it would be packed and set in a designated area and a private mail delivery service would pick up once a day.

The supervisor had gained access to the shipping account, so he was able to ship product out without anyone second guessing the boxes. At first, according to our records and his online account, he was shipping merchandise directly to his customer’s houses. He said that he thought that was a bit risky and ultimately began shipping massive quantities of merchandise to a vacant home close to his. Each day, he would pass by and take the packages from the porch. From there, he would run his online store. This had been going on for the past two years. This one employee, working alone had taken nearly $250K worth of merchandise over this time period.

With the dishonest employee out of our store, we focused on what went wrong. We began a program of inspecting all boxes and shipments prior to them being sealed and implemented a system that a number of shipping boxes each day could be verified. We also set up exception style reports that showed any time a delivery was sent to the same address more than 5 times a month. This was a costly lesson for us to learn and hopefully with better controls and more oversight, it will never happen again.

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: Alpha 2 Alarm, Alpha High Theft Solutions, Alpha Jewel Lok, Alpha Security, anti-thefts devices, employee background checks, Employee Theft, mobile POS loss prevention, Perpetual Inventory, POS ROI, Prevent Shoplifting, prevent shrinkage, Retail Anti Theft Devices, retail security, retail security and monitoring, security, security devices, Shoplifting Prevention, shoplifting statistics, surveillance

Your Store’s Reputation

January 5, 2015 by admin Leave a Comment

Your store’s reputation is based off of not only customer perceptions, but also how different elements of your community view your store. Beyond your customers, you employees, local law enforcement, criminals, and members of the court system all have a perception of your reputation. How you approach each of these community members plays a big role in how each one interacts with your store.

Customers are probably the easiest to understand. For the most part, they want a clean and safe shopping experience where they are going to get the best value for their money. The value placed on the goods you sell can be either through price reductions, or by offering designer or name brand goods, with stellar employee interaction as part of the shopping experience.

Employees are very similar to customers in their needs. They want a safe and secure place to work. They want to feel valued by their employers. When they see these things, employees are more likely to perform better at their jobs, and take better care of the people entering your store. When employees do not feel safe, secure, or valued, their job performance declines.

Employees are less likely to give good customer service, which can create a decrease in sales over time. It also allows for shoplifters and other criminals greater access to your store’s assets, without the same risk of getting caught. The more these events take place, the lesser of a reputation your store starts to have with the paying customers and your employees.

This can set of a chain reaction where it is now the criminals who favor your store. Your reputation becomes one where it is easy for shoplifters to steal from your store. This reputation will be passed from criminal to criminal and more thefts will begin to happen. The losses will become greater, and more brazen as the risk and fear of being caught diminishes.

Your local police station also has a perception of your store. If you are in a high theft area, but have low case production, they are wondering what is going on in your store. Is your reputation with the local police one of ignorance? Do they think you and your employees are incompetent and unobservant? Or do you maintain a relationship with the local police, and occasionally catch some shoplifters?

When you catch shoplifters, you send a message to your community that you are aware of what is going on in your store, and make efforts to eliminate the criminal element from your premises. Customer’s and employees feel safer and more at ease when they shop. Local police departments are more confident in your store’s level of awareness, as they see more calls and reports being filed from your store.

To maintain your reputation with law enforcement, you also need to show that your cases are reliable when you go to court. A reliable case equates to a stronger reputation for your store within the legal community. When you present shoplifting cases to the prosecuting attorneys and you have solid evidence as proof of who committed which crime, the attorney’s job is much easier. The more often you present solid cases, the better your reputation is within the court system.

Other things you can do to help perpetuate your reputation is to always show up to your given court cases. You should come dressed professionally, and should show up early. This allows you to confer with the attorneys ahead of time, creating a smoother case for everyone involved. You will find that many retailers’ representatives do not show up for court, or do not bring case files or other evidence with them. By doing these things your reputation starts to precede the cases that you bring. Having a consistent history of solid case work and reliability will also filter back into the criminal community, as they can’t plan on your absence to get away with their crimes in court.

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: prevent shrinkage, racial profiling, Retail Anti Theft Devices, retail security, retail security and monitoring, security, security devices, shoplifting, Shoplifting Prevention, surveillance

High Profile Cases

November 6, 2014 by admin Leave a Comment

A high profile, professional athlete was arrested recently for shoplifting. Allegedly, he paid for a bottle of cologne and then proceeded to the menswear department. He placed a few packages of underwear in his shopping bag. At the point of his apprehension, he was also found to have a “tester” bottle of cologne in his bag (unpaid for) as well. He is not the first athlete/ celebrity to be caught shoplifting, and most certainly will not be the last.

A similar situation would include a shoplifter who is related to (or claims to be related to) a high profile personality. It is a frequently used tactic that a shoplifter will try to intimidate their accusers by name-dropping congressmen, chief or police, celebrity, etc. More often than not, these claims are unfounded, or play no significant role in an investigation. For the few times that the claims are true, your store will have more to contend with than the loss of merchandise.

These high profile shoplifters do not steal out of need. They clearly have the money to pay for such items. They are stealing out of boredom, entitlement, or simply because they are looking for a challenge- to see if they can get away with it. Their crimes are not necessarily expensive items; sometimes it can be simple items like underwear, health and beauty items, even food items. This means that it is not improbable that a celebrity can shoplift from a small, local store.

That being said, it is not a common occurrence for a store to experience a shoplifting incident by a high profile person. It is merely a fact to keep in mind while you are making shoplifting apprehensions. You never know whom you might be picking up, so it is best to make sure your policies, practices and actions are completely by the book for each incident.

After making an apprehension, the suspect might try to bully their way out of the situation by telling you who they are, or who their relations are. This is the time to be professional, avoid making sarcastic or snarky comments and stick to the facts. If they truly are a high profile personality, every little step may be dissected and criticized later on. The media outlets will inevitably catch wind of the apprehension and will try to make it a bigger story that what it needs to be.

You can be faced with news reporters, bloggers, fans, etc coming into your store. Some will just look around to see the now infamous store. Others will come in and try to make trouble- asking questions, making comments, even potentially making threats.

I worked loss prevention for a retailer, who many years ago made an apprehension of a very famous actress. Even though the case was air tight, national news sources hovered throughout the entire process. Statements had to be made to ensure the integrity of our company’s reputation remained in tact. At the same time, it was very important that our own legal team was involved to make sure we did not overstep the legal boundaries of an open court case. If for some reason the apprehending officer made statements to the media, and the case was lost in court, we could have had potentially disastrous civil liability cases brought against us by the actress. On the day the verdict from her criminal trial was to be released, every one of our stores across the country received numerous threatening phone calls. Some merely threatened to never shop with us again if “we” found the actress guilty of shoplifting. Others had more severe threats of violence.

With the increased chance of media scrutiny during a high profile shoplifting incident, retailers can often find themselves faced with more variables and consequences than what was anticipated for a seemingly routine shoplifting apprehension. Without black and white policies in place, the added liability from a case gone wrong can have devastating and lasting consequences both to a retailer’s image, and their financial bottom line.

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: Prevent Shoplifting, prevent shrinkage, Retail Anti Theft Devices, retail security, retail security and monitoring, security, security devices, shoplifting, Shoplifting Prevention, shoplifting statistics, surveillance

Same Time Next Week

July 1, 2014 by admin Leave a Comment

Shoplifters are surprisingly creatures of habit. My initial assessment was that a shoplifter, who is desperately trying not to get caught, would work hard to vary the times and days that they would come into a store to steal. I thought they would want to take a surprise approach to their thieving ways. I was actually quite wrong in my assessment.

The truth is most shoplifters want to find a comfort zone to steal in. They are looking for a tried and true way to get in and out of a store undetected. That is why if they steal something and get away with it on the first try, they will continue to use those same methods and manners in their subsequent thefts.

Luckily for us, when a shoplifter develops a pattern, it makes it easier for us to catch them and put a stop to the shrink losses they are creating. By identifying the pattern they created, we can be one step ahead of them and can be waiting to catch them, just like this shoplifter.

I was working for a home improvement store. We started loosing large rolls of electrical wire worth several thousands of dollars. Since these were large, heavy items that were not frequently shuffled around, we set up a camera to see if we could find out where they were going. After a few weeks of watching, we saw that every Friday around noon a man came in, loaded a roll onto a cart and then switched the price tag out for a less expensive one. The cashier charged him for the roll of wire based on this lower priced tag.

Since we found his pattern, we waited until the following Friday. Sure enough he was just like clockwork. Noon came and so did he to walk off with another one of our rolls. This time, we were there to intercept the transaction and have him arrested.

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: anti-thefts devices, Loss Prevention Seminars, mobile POS loss prevention, retail security and monitoring, security, security devices, shoplifting, Shoplifting Prevention, surveillance

Loss Prevention Programs For Your Business

January 27, 2014 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

The economy’s downturn has had an effect on the American consumer and retailers across the nation. In an industry where every dollar counts, loss prevention is paramount to every retailer and can be the difference between profitability and losses in the company. Having an understanding and a program in place to educate your employees about loss prevention practices can save your company thousand of dollar every year.

Read more about this topic by following the links below.

U.S. Security Associates Shuts Down Shoplifters with its Loss Prevention Program

In 2013, U.S. Security Associates (USA) Loss Prevention Associates made over 25,000 successful apprehensions and effectively assisted in reducing shrink for retail customers nationwide. Every day, details reported by USA’s Retail Loss Prevention Associates help lead to the identification and arrest of individual shoplifters and ones associated with Organized Retail Crime (ORC) rings.

USA’s Retail Loss Prevention (LP) Services are developed to meet the shoplifting and theft prevention needs of the retail community and reduce shrink for clients. Among its suite of services, the LP Division provides uniformed retail security officers, store greeters and specially trained Loss Prevention Associates. In contrast to traditional, uniformed security officers, USA’s LP Associates work in plain clothes and covertly observe the behavior and actions of visitors to collect sufficient evidence to warrant intervention. LP Associates preserve the inviting atmosphere maintained by retail customer service personnel while performing a security service that is critical to the continued viability and improved expense control of retail businesses.

The Importance of Face to Face Loss Prevention

Technology has afforded us the opportunity to be in two places at once. Using remote connectivity, a person can be in one location conducting business, while “connected” to another watching video or conducting a video conference. Even though technology provides us this convenience to conduct business remotely, face to face loss prevention still provides greater benefits as it comes to a solid loss prevention program.

The Benefits of face-face loss prevention

Relationship Building: The success of any loss prevention program depends on the ability to get buy-in from store associates. That buy-in starts with building a positive relationship between loss prevention and associates of all levels. Working remotely doesn’t bring the personal touch that is necessary in building relationships. In-store presence provides more opportunities to get to know them and understand their needs so they may help your program be successful.

Why Do I Need a Loss Prevention Program for my Business?

The goal of loss prevention is to reduce the costs associated with running a business including workers’ compensation claims, equipment and contractual losses, employee and customer mistreatment, or other problems. Any loss prevention program can be tailored to reduce loss in the way affecting the company. Therefore, it’s important to take steps to start a loss prevention program in your organization.

A well-managed loss prevention program can help to reduce the frequency and severity of workers’ compensation claims. In 2010 alone, the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report estimated that there were some 4,690 fatalities caused by workplace injuries. This costs businesses millions of dollars in workers’ compensation claims, increased premiums, and loss of personnel.

Filed Under: Shoplifting Prevention Tagged With: Loss Prevention Seminar, Loss Prevention Training, retail security and monitoring, security, Shoplifting Prevention