In the retail environment, there are five steps associated with stopping shoplifting in progress. While they may not correlate directly to a legal apprehension made by local law enforcement, these five steps are designed to keep a retail establishment in the clear from wrongful detainments.
If you are going to allow employees, whether it might be a manager, or a dedicated loss prevention employee (if you are so lucky to afford one), to make an apprehension, you need ensure these steps are followed to a T.
Loss prevention training is extremely important as the elimination of even one step can create a huge lawsuit and liability for your business.
The steps are as follows: First, you need to see the subject enter the store. The point is to see what they have, what they are wearing or carrying, so you can conversely know what merchandise they are stealing from you.
Next you need to see them enter the area where the merchandise is sold. You absolutely need to see them select (pick up) the merchandise in question. Again, this ensures you can verify the merchandise is absolutely your property and not theirs.
At this point you need to see them conceal the product or otherwise demonstrate that they are intending to steal.
Maintain constant observation of the merchandise. If you loose contact, can you be sure they did not discard the merchandise somewhere along the way? Some shoplifting suspects do get spooked and drop the product.
Finally they need to exit the store and pass the last point of sales. Loss prevention seminars are out there that can further expound on these steps, and explain the subtle nuances that can arise during an actual shoplifting stop.
For more information on Loss Prevention Seminars, Loss Prevention Training, or Loss Prevention Workshop contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta Georgia
Visit the Loss Prevention Systems website for more information on Retail Employee Theft and Retail Shoplifting problems and view the Retail Loss Prevention Seminars, Retail Loss Prevention Training and Retail Loss Prevention Workshop we offer to help with your Employee Theft and Shoplifting problems.
