Alarm…Alarm Checkpoint Security System Alarm…Now what?

OK, your checkpoint security system at the front door goes into alarm. A customer that just left the point of sale is there with a package. They have stopped and are looking back at you. What do you do now?

How many time have you seen this happen and the sales clerk just waves the customer on? That is the worst thing that can happen. Several things have happened. You have allowed an employee to completely circumvent your anti shoplifting program. You have also sent a message to your customers that your people are not professional. And worst of all you tell shoplifters that they can defeat your checkpoint security system.

A lack of training and enforcement of that training is primarily at fault. Installing the system and believing that your shoplifting problems are over is short sighted. Your employees must know how to handle a checkpoint security system alarm properly and do it every time. Otherwise a person who is shoplifting in your store will simply view it as an inconvenience and create a situation where they can simply cause an alarm and be waved on.

Training is simple: Provide good customer service! Teach your employees that they are not to be afraid to approach a customer/alarm. Make a clear friendly statement like “excuse me sir we must have forgotten to remove or deactivate an inventory control device on your purchase. Let me take care of that for you”.

Anti theft devices like a checkpoint security system will tell you if a tag is present but your employees must resolve the situation. Check the packages for tags and labels. The easiest way is for the employee to ask the customer for their package, the employee then passes the package through the antennas themselves. They should then locate the checkpoint security tags and resolve the situation. If no tags are found in the package ask the customer to walk through the checkpoint security system antennas with out the package. If there is an alarm then again your stores training should tell them what to do next.

Want more information about anti theft devices or shoplifting? Contact us or call 1.770.426.0547