Alpha Bottle Locks Reduce Theft And Increase Profit

So yesterday on my way home from work, I stopped by one of the local liquor stores, to pick up some Huckleberry Vodka for our weekend trip. Before you start judging me, I don’t drink very often and although technically the item was for my husband, I do occasionally partake in a good Moscow Mule. I am not sure if you have had one before, but they are pretty delicious. Anyway, we are going to my Aunt’s wedding on Saturday and thought I would pick some up just in case. While in the store, another patron came in and I overheard her ask where the Fireball had moved to. Apparently, that shopper was a more frequent customer, by the sounds of it. The store clerk said that she had to move the Fireball to a shelf near the counter, because having it displayed by the door was resulting in it, “walking away”. Now being in law enforcement for over 15 years and in loss prevention for over 3 years, I am very familiar with what she meant by “walking away”. I have responded to my fair share of alcohol thefts from the local grocery stores, resulting from stacking product in close proximity to the doors. As most people in law enforcement or loss prevention know, this results in a quick get-a-way, and lengthy investigation. These types of investigations rely on a low quality camera system to identify the subject. Often times a suspect cannot be identified in this process. If you are a retail store owner you want nothing more than to increase your bottle security, but is there a better way? I am here to tell you there is. Bottle locks are devices that are designed specifically for protecting bottles of any kind from “walking away”.  

These bottle security devices are some of the best on the market, not only do they prevent someone from removing the cap without the bottle shattering, they can also be equipped with RF technology to prevent thieves from exiting the store with the bottle. I am not sure if you have had the opportunity to see these devices in person, but I have, and I tell you they are a huge deterrent. In the military we had liquor stores that sold liquor, beer and wine, and the majority of them had this type of bottle security to prevent shoplifting. The best thing about Bottle locks is they can be used over and over again. The store clerk simply removes the device with a specially designed key at the time of sale, and those Locks are then placed on other merchandise. They come in various sizes and shapes to meet any retailer’s product and stocking needs.         

You have to ask yourself, why would your average thief want to try and steal an item with bottle security, when they can go somewhere that doesn’t have them and get what they want much easier? Although these devices can be used in liquor stores they can also be used in convenience stores and grocery stores that sell wine or liquor. They can also be used in taverns, nightclubs and restaurants to prevent employee theft of stored inventory. 

I would say most liquor stores I have been to, are small locally run businesses. They have limited staff on hand and profit margins tend to be a lot smaller then some of the major retail chains. So as I was standing there pondering which brand of Vodka to buy, I couldn’t help but think about how unprotected that small business was to theft. There was only one employee working at the time, which is probably pretty common on a Tuesday afternoon, yet there were three customers wandering around the isles unattended and unsupervised. I imagine some small businesses see these and other types of security devices as an added expense, but even though upfront costs may be greater, preventing shoplifting will only increase profit margins long term. It also ensures lower prices for your customers, which is always a means for bolstering sales and increasing profit. Bottle Locks lead the industry for bottle protection and can provide the small business owner with added protection and peace of mind.   

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