There’s Plenty To Lose Without Checkpoint Systems

February 12, 2016 by Leave a Comment

 

Stop Shoplifting-2  , Checkpoint Systems-4 , Checkpoint Tags-2  , Retail Theft Prevention-1
There’s Plenty To Lose Without Checkpoint Systems
I work for a small retail pharmacy.  We are located in an inner city setting within close proximity to several highways so we battle petty theft as well as the professional boosters.  It’s a perfect storm.  I try to shop local small businesses when I need something, whether it be for my home or even for my store.  I am always on the lookout for new ways to stop shoplifting and I tend to pay close attention to what my neighbors are doing.  The first thing I look for is the presence of Checkpoint Systems.  If they do have a system in place, I look around to see what types of items or categories they have incorporated Checkpoint tags.  It’s a good idea to know what is being targeted in other stores because you never know what you may get hit for next, especially if you carry similar items.  
I had to go to a local dollar store last week because I needed supplies for my store that we don’t sell.  For one, someone had stolen the toilet paper roller from the restroom.  Yes, someone really stole that from our public restroom, presumably because they needed one.  I hope it wasn’t just to be a jerk.  Anyway, I went to this store and I made my usual observations.  First of all, Checkpoint Systems were clearly in place and being utilized.  And by being utilized, I actually mean they were working it to death.  It was like I was in a Checkpoint Systems wonderland.  This store staff tags EVERYTHING.  I was in the back of the store checking around the housewares and I was simply amazed.  Shower curtains, window curtains, sheet sets, and even table cloths all had Checkpoint Tags attached.  They put them on the packs of socks, baby blankets, and even on bug spray bombs.  These employees had tags on all the bags of beef jerky!  Obviously, retail theft prevention is a priority for the manager or owner of this location.  I could see cameras on the ceiling that looked like the whole place was covered with surveillance.  It was, in my mind, a loss prevention department’s dream.  When I walked up to the guy running the front I had to ask about the extreme measures they were taking to stop shoplifting.  I told him about our restroom bandit and my reason for being there.  He said they had to tag all their stuff because of all the theft that occurred there before.  He then smirked at me and said they still steal the soap from our bathrooms.  Oh well, you can’t win them all.
Now I have to admit, I don’t think I have the time or energy to start mega-tagging like this store does.  And honestly, I don’t have that kind of need for it either.  However, as a store manager, I do what I need to do and so do they.  There’s another store close by that I shop and they don’t have a clue.  Merchandise walks out of that store on a daily basis, and if they know it, they don’t make any changes to their business model.  Checkpoint Systems will give you a return on your investment.  When you use serious asset protection tools, you keep your bottom line in the black.  Shrink can be reduced and thefts can be deterred as long as you know what you are losing and you do something about it.
For more information on Checkpoint Systems, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 

I work for a small retail pharmacy. We are located in an inner city setting within close proximity to several highways so we battle petty theft as well as the professional boosters. It’s a perfect storm. I try to shop local small businesses when I need something, whether it be for my home or even for my store. I am always on the lookout for new ways to stop shoplifting and I tend to pay close attention to what my neighbors are doing. The first thing I look for is the presence of Checkpoint Systems. If they do have a system in place, I look around to see what types of items or categories they have incorporated Checkpoint tags. It’s a good idea to know what is being targeted in other stores because you never know what you may get hit for next, especially if you carry similar items.  

I had to go to a local dollar store last week because I needed supplies for my store that we don’t sell. For one, someone had stolen the toilet paper roller from the restroom. Yes, someone really stole that from our public restroom, presumably because they needed one.  I hope it wasn’t just to be a jerk. Anyway, I went to this store and I made my usual observations. First of all, Checkpoint Systems were clearly in place and being utilized. And by being utilized, I actually mean they were working it to death.  It was like I was in a Checkpoint Systems wonderland. This store staff tags EVERYTHING. I was in the back of the store checking around the housewares and I was simply amazed. Shower curtains, window curtains, sheet sets, and even table cloths all had Checkpoint Tags attached. They put them on the packs of socks, baby blankets, and even on bug spray bombs. These employees had tags on all the bags of beef jerky! Obviously, retail theft prevention is a priority for the manager or owner of this location. I could see cameras on the ceiling that looked like the whole place was covered with surveillance.  It was, in my mind, a loss prevention department’s dream. When I walked up to the guy running the front I had to ask about the extreme measures they were taking to stop shoplifting. I told him about our restroom bandit and my reason for being there. He said they had to tag all their stuff because of all the theft that occurred there before. He then smirked at me and said they still steal the soap from our bathrooms. Oh well, you can’t win them all.

Now I have to admit, I don’t think I have the time or energy to start mega-tagging like this store does. And honestly, I don’t have that kind of need for it either. However, as a store manager, I do what I need to do and so do they. There’s another store close by that I shop and they don’t have a clue. Merchandise walks out of that store on a daily basis, and if they know it, they don’t make any changes to their business model. Checkpoint Systems will give you a return on your investment. When you use serious asset protection tools, you keep your bottom line in the black. Shrink can be reduced and thefts can be deterred as long as you know what you are losing and you do something about it.

For more information on Checkpoint Systems, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 

 

 

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Part 1: Alpha Technology S3i – Taking Alpha Security To A New Level

February 10, 2016 by Leave a Comment

 

 Alpha Security-3                                                                                                              WC blog 27
Retail Anti Theft Devices-3
Alpha Technology-3
Alpha Hard Tags-3
Part 1: Alpha Technology S3i – Taking Alpha Security To A New Level
When we discuss merchandise protection the first thought is always towards preventing theft and fraud.  The same thing can be said in discussing Alpha Technology; our initial thought turns to security devices such as bottle locks, Alpha hard tags and Alpha Keeper boxes.  There is nothing wrong with this, the purpose of retail anti-theft devices is to prevent shoplifting, but, what if it is combined with smart intelligence?  What benefits could your store(s) see by incorporating tools that not only enhance theft prevention but also provides inventory management data?  Alpha Security S3i technology takes merchandise protection to a new level, bringing Loss Prevention and store operations together to optimize store profitability.  In part one of this article, I want to cover the impact Alpha S3i can have on Loss Prevention tactics to save you money.  In part 2 we will review the benefits of S3i from an operations and inventory control perspective.
     It used to be that the primary purpose of retail anti-theft devices like Alpha hard tags and electronic article surveillance systems was to prevent shoplifting. EAS tagging or placing alarmed hard tags was going to deter theft or it was going to sound an alarm when someone attempted to sneak out of the store with product.  Alpha S3i uses the advancements in mobile and cloud based technologies to now make it possible to track merchandise as it is removed from a shelf and moved through a store.  Working with Alpha Technology, monitoring zones will be created for areas that are designated as high risk.  For example, perhaps your store has an aisle or two dedicated to just high risk electronics such as computer routers and hard drives.  That area can be set up as a zone and if merchandise tagged with Alpha S3i alarm devices is moved out of that zone, a real time alert can be sent to store radios, smart phones, tablets, or computers.  These alerts can prompt personnel to offer customer service to the patron who has selected the merchandise and walked out of the area.  Perhaps your business is not large enough to justify a Loss Prevention officer, so alerting store personnel or managers may be your only immediate responder.  Getting that customer service to the individual walking away with the merchandise may be your best means of preventing a loss.
     For Loss Prevention personnel, the benefits are even more pronounced.  In-Store Loss Prevention teams can receive an alert and immediately respond to a signal on their radio or smart device.  Monitoring cameras has always been a hit or miss proposition.  Even with multiple digital cameras hooked up to a closed circuit television system, one person can only see so much at one time.  Alpha Security S3i technology can make security teams smarter in how they focus their efforts.  For smaller stores that may not have the benefit of in-store Loss Prevention, but may be monitored from a district or regional level, S3i still provides alerts and time stamps provide the ability to narrow CCTV review time down to a specific event.  This data may provide information needed to track an organized theft ring or even dishonest employee activity.  I recall my own experiences of video review for missing merchandise.  Sometimes I did not have any more information than what sales tracking reports could provide on merchandise, such as when an item was last received in the store.  Video review could be time consuming and did not always provide the results I was looking for in an investigation.  With Alpha Technology S3i, investigation time for missing merchandise can be reduced to minutes versus hours.
     Make your security system work smarter not harder.  Leverage the advantages of Alpha security S3i technology to keep your merchandise where you want it, in the store or at a point of sale. Checkout what the next generation of retail anti- theft devices such as S3i Alpha hard tags and spider wrap can do to protect your assets. 
For more information on Alpha Security, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

When we discuss merchandise protection the first thought is always towards preventing theft and fraud. The same thing can be said in discussing Alpha Technology; our initial thought turns to security devices such as bottle locks, Alpha hard tags and Alpha Keepers. There is nothing wrong with this, the purpose of retail anti-theft devices is to prevent shoplifting, but, what if it is combined with smart intelligence? What benefits could your store(s) see by incorporating tools that not only enhance theft prevention but also provides inventory management data? Alpha Security S3i technology takes merchandise protection to a new level, bringing Loss Prevention and store operations together to optimize store profitability. In part one of this article, I want to cover the impact Alpha S3i can have on Loss Prevention tactics to save you money.  In part 2 we will review the benefits of S3i from an operations and inventory control perspective.

 

It used to be that the primary purpose of retail anti-theft devices like Alpha hard tags and electronic article surveillance systems was to prevent shoplifting. EAS tagging or placing alarmed hard tags was going to deter theft or it was going to sound an alarm when someone attempted to sneak out of the store with product. Alpha S3i uses the advancements in mobile and cloud based technologies to now make it possible to track merchandise as it is removed from a shelf and moved through a store. Working with Alpha Technology, monitoring zones will be created for areas that are designated as high risk. For example, perhaps your store has an aisle or two dedicated to just high risk electronics such as computer routers and hard drives. That area can be set up as a zone and if merchandise tagged with Alpha S3i alarm devices is moved out of that zone, a real time alert can be sent to store radios, smart phones, tablets, or computers. These alerts can prompt personnel to offer customer service to the patron who has selected the merchandise and walked out of the area. Perhaps your business is not large enough to justify a Loss Prevention officer, so alerting store personnel or managers may be your only immediate responder. Getting that customer service to the individual walking away with the merchandise may be your best means of preventing a loss.

 

For Loss Prevention personnel, the benefits are even more pronounced. In-Store Loss Prevention teams can receive an alert and immediately respond to a signal on their radio or smart device. Monitoring cameras has always been a hit or miss proposition. Even with multiple digital cameras hooked up to a closed circuit television system, one person can only see so much at one time. Alpha Security S3i technology can make security teams smarter in how they focus their efforts. For smaller stores that may not have the benefit of in-store Loss Prevention, but may be monitored from a district or regional level, S3i still provides alerts and time stamps provide the ability to narrow CCTV review time down to a specific event. This data may provide information needed to track an organized theft ring or even dishonest employee activity. I recall my own experiences of video review for missing merchandise. Sometimes I did not have any more information than what sales tracking reports could provide on merchandise, such as when an item was last received in the store. Video review could be time consuming and did not always provide the results I was looking for in an investigation. With Alpha Technology S3i, investigation time for missing merchandise can be reduced to minutes versus hours.

 

Make your security system work smarter not harder. Leverage the advantages of Alpha security S3i technology to keep your merchandise where you want it, in the store or at a point of sale. Checkout what the next generation of retail anti- theft devices such as S3i Alpha hard tags and spider wrap can do to protect your assets. 

 

For more information on Alpha Security, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

 

 

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Security and Loss Prevention

February 9, 2016 by Leave a Comment

theft (2)The cost of cyber security for retailers seems to double year after year. The cost of a data breach in this country in 2014 cost the retailer an average of  3.5 million, and that was a 15% increase from the previous year. Not only do retailers have to worry about data breaches in their business, but shoplifting, employee theft, administrative errors and vendor fraud  are major problems they have to deal with year after year.  The losses for retailers in 2014 amounted to $44 billion, it is no wonder  then, that year after year retail executives say they plan to increase their loss prevention budgets for their business.

Counterfeit Goods and Trademark Enforcement

By aggressively protecting our brand through enforcement of trademark rights, loss prevention professionals can combat the spread of counterfeiting and retail fraud.

In the early part of November 2002, we received a call from an informant indicating she had information on counterfeit Tiffany & Co. merchandise sold at “home parties” in a suburb of a major city in Ohio. The caller claimed that one woman organized the parties and made a large amount of money in this counterfeit goods business. She also said that the local police had been notified and, if Tiffany was interested, were willing to support an investigation.

Our senior legal and security executives reviewed the caller’s information and the decision was made to go forward with the investigation. Within days we set up a meeting in Ohio with the detective in charge, the informant, and an undercover female police officer. At the meeting it was decided to attend an upcoming party where counterfeit Tiffany & Co. merchandise would be sold.

Shoplifting suspect dies hours after confrontation with Walmart employees

LAKELAND, Fla. —Lakeland police said a 64-year-old man accused of trying to leave Walmart with $380 worth of DVDs without paying for them has died.

Officers were sent to the store off U.S. 98 to investigate early Sunday morning. While en route, dispatchers told officers the suspect was not breathing and CPR was being administered. The first responding officer began life-saving measures, inclusing using a defibrillator and taking over CPR until medics arrived.

The man, later identified as Kenneth E. Wisham, of Lakeland, was taken to Lakeland Regional Health in critical condition.

According to the investigation, Wisham was trying to leave the store with a shopping cart full of DVDs when he was confronted by employees. Officials said Wisham ran off, and during the chase, he fell to the ground and was detained by employees. That’s when employees realized he wasn’t breathing and called 911.

Wisham was pronounced dead at the hospital Sunday afternoon.

The cause of death has not yet been determined by the medical examiner.

Observation skills, quick thinking help prevent shoplifting

About 27 million shoplifters live in the United States today, with offenders spanning generations.

According to the National Association for Shoplifting Prevention (NASP), that means 1 in 11 people have shoplifted. There is no “typical” offender.

“It could be anybody,” said Nathan Hershley, the security supervisor at East Hills Shopping Center. “I’ve personally dealt with (shoplifters) from 14 years old, clear up into their 50s.”

Shoplifters target all types of stores, according to NASP — from drug stores to supermarkets, convenience stores and even thrift shops.

Store employees and customers who shop there play an important role in helping catch anyone suspected of stealing. Staying alert for suspicious behavior and catching the suspect(s) on photo or video can help authorities make an arrest.

“It’s all about the information we get, so get as detailed of a description as possible,” Hershley said. “That allows us to find the suspects, and communicate with the police department better.”

Local police said helping catch shoplifters helps not only the store, but the whole community.

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YOU CANNOT STOP SHOPLIFTERS!

February 8, 2016 by Leave a Comment

theft (12)I don’t care about solving social problems. I don’t care about saving the world (okay maybe I really do). But I cannot fix many of these things myself. I cannot make shoplifters change their evil trade for real work. But I can make shoplifters go somewhere else and leave my customers alone. 

I have been doing this all throughout my career starting as a Store Investigator through District and Regional Loss Prevention Manager positions. This culminated with being the successful Director of LP for several large Retailers including one international company.  Add to that all these years with my own company. I know how to stop shoplifters and what to look for.

If you want to attack shoplifting and fix it once and for all you need to understand who the shoplifter is and how they shoplift. There is not enough space in this article to teach you all that needs to be said. However, there are several important points you must understand to fight off the shoplifters.

First, you must understand that you are not going to “stop” shoplifters from doing what they do. They are going to steal regardless of what you do. What you can do is send them elsewhere. Down the street to someone else who is not prepared. Don’t be THAT guy!

To do this you need to do two things: know your enemy and have the equipment (Checkpoint & Alpha) in place to make your store a hostile environment for them but a delight for your good customers.  I am not going to talk about Checkpoint and Alpha here. You know how to reach us for that.

I want to discuss knowing your enemy, the shoplifter.  There are three types of shoplifters:

  • Impulsive shoplifters who steal because the opportunity exists.
  • Amateurs who steal consistently. They usually keep the merchandise.
  • Professional thieves who steal to resell the merchandise.

Shoplifters can look like anyone! In fact, if you think you know what they look like, you are fooling yourself. Because you have a stereotype in your mind, then you are missing most of them. Shoplifters will most likely try to blend in and look like your normal customer traffic. That is their stealth: hide in plain sight.

When do they tend to steal? The simplest and best answer is any time you or your staff is not paying attention. I can give you a list but not all of it will apply to your individual store. So do this. Observe your operations, I mean take a hard look. Ask yourself, “When would I steal, if I were a low life scum of the earth shoplifter?” Even better, since you are probably too close to the forest to see the trees, ask someone you trust to look at this. Not a Police Officer, employee….. someone that will give you a real, sometimes hard to swallow answer.  Then make adjustments to what and how you operate.

How do they conceal and steal your merchandise?  Well, the list is almost endless and you should ask me to conduct my live webinar for you and your staff (my commercial). By the way my webinars are free of charge and can be as frequent as necessary for our customers. 

Now that the commercial is over, some of the most common ways they conceal is with pockets and purses. Simple is usually the answer.  You also want to watch for shopping bags and baby strollers (also known as shoplifting buggies). 

There are other issues you need to understand such as distraction, refunding, tag or package switching and more. But for that I guess you will just need to become a customer or if you already are a customer, simply pick up the phone, call us and schedule the free training. 

Have a SUPER February! 

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SOCIAL MEDIA AND ITS BENEFITS TO A LOSS PREVENTION PROGRAM

February 8, 2016 by Leave a Comment

shoplifting4Over the past five years or so, social media platforms have exploded. Sites like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram are essentially a one stop shop for all your news, entertainment and whatever your Aunt Dolly is doing today… Like most Americans, I visit these websites frequently throughout the day (although, I am weaning myself off this addiction slowly, but surely). Businesses have also been quick to jump on the bandwagon and have found that direct to consumer marketing, especially the free kind of marketing, can really help a small business soar. With so many people, places and things interconnected, you can see how the Loss Prevention Industry uses these platforms to not only aid in investigations, but to help track down fencing operations, retail ORC groups and even dishonest employees.

  About a month or so ago, I was scrolling through a Facebook “online garage sale group” in my area. A few scrolls down, I noticed a guy was selling a store merchandise credit from one of my stores. I looked up the name in our internal system for any hits and sure enough, it was an employee at one of my stores. A little investigating showed that he had conducted a return of a high end baseball bat, but according to our sales records, the store he worked in had not sold that particular sku. Furthermore, inventory data showed that store to be missing one unit. A little more leg work, and I was able to determine that the employee had altered the price on a high end bat, purchasing it for only a few dollars. He returned the bat for full value at another store and posted the credit on Facebook to sell. From our research, he had done this about a dozen or so times with various merchandise. I was able to make a pretty substantial case from a lead generated from social media.

Take things a little further. Most of you reading this are small business owners. Chances are, you don’t have some large Loss Prevention department; heck, your LP department might be the 16 cameras you have set up in your store. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that; in fact, without the hassle of a large company’s legal department, you have more freedom with those CCTV images of a thief than I do. Most police departments and sheriff’s offices around the country have also been accepting of a social media presence. From the community outreach and the ability to hear concerns directly from citizens, it’s a great way for law enforcement to take a big step into the future. This also gives those agencies the ability to share BOLOs with an enormous amount of people.

Not two weeks ago, a local sheriff’s office shared some CCTV images from a clothing boutique store that showed a female shoplifter, who made away with several hundred dollars in clothing. The boutique had a very good camera system and shared those images from their Facebook page to the Sheriff’s Office page, who in turn shared it with their followers. Literally, within 30 minutes, the comment section was full of tips, eventually leading to the shoplifter’s identity. Heck, some people even began tagging this woman in her own wanted poster. Classic. Without this platform, this crime may have gone unsolved, and that business would have taken a hit out of their own pockets.

While social media can boost sales and drive traffic into your store, it can only be a great tool to reduce shrink. The ability to quickly search through your employee’s friends, or search in wanted ads for particular items and the ability to share CCTV images quickly and with great success, makes social media almost a necessity of today’s small business’s plan to combat shrink and increase profitability.

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IDENTIFYING COMMONALITIES AMONGST SHOPLIFTERS

February 8, 2016 by Leave a Comment

shoplifting1Ever notice how so many different shoplifters, from various backgrounds and demographics all share similar characteristics in the manner in which they steal, the product that they steal and the methods used to conduct their acts? Well, I did and it really got me thinking. Why was this so? Is there some large underground shoplifting network where this information is swapped amongst the thieving brethren? Kind of.

A while back, I did a piece on how shoplifters were brainstorming ideas on the blog site, Tumbler. A few searches here and you can find the easiest way to steal from just about any big name retailer, what product was the easiest to steal, and how to steal without being caught. Check it out if you have some time. That led into some research of my own. Shoplifters, especially the frequent flyers, we’re obviously communicating with one another, but I was curious as to where, and how. If you’ve been in the LP industry for a few years now, you agree that there are certain driving factors behind a rise in shoplifting. My two theories (and I have only my intuition to back this up) on the rise are the heroin epidemic that is sweeping through the country and the (almost) decriminalization of shoplifting in some states.

Heroin is a terrible drug. Most law enforcement sources attribute the rise in heroin use to the crack down on prescription opioids. When law enforcement began devoting resources to dry up “Doctor shopping”, it created a vacuum. Heroin filled that void. This highly addictive drug will get a user addicted on the first shot. It’s only a matter of time before the user will lose their job, house, vehicle and resorts to stealing on a full time basis to support their habit. What do all heroin addicts have in common, aside from the obvious? A dealer.

Every day, those addicts must find their dealer to score another hit. At some point, they run into the same faces day in and day out. No one has a job. No one has an honest income. I’ve interviewed several dozen shoplifters over the past few weeks; mostly those suffering from a heroin addiction. They all tell me the same things. When they go out and score their drug, they run into other addicts and they share what stores are the easiest targets, what merchandise most easily stolen, where to take the stolen goods to and even some pretty sophisticated return fraud schemes. Enter the decriminalization of shoplifting.

There’s a reason these people gravitate towards shoplifting and not armed robbery, or another form of criminal activity. It’s easy. There’s high reward and little risk. It also doesn’t help that legislatures across the country seem to be working against law enforcement agencies when new laws are adopted that lessen the penalties for shoplifting, or raise the threshold for felony cases. Several states have recently raised the dollar threshold for felony theft. Why? Too many people were being charged with felonies. Is that really the way to tackle the problem? What if we did away with punishment for murder because too many people are doing it?

I don’t see the rising shoplifting trend to start going down anytime soon. Not until we address some of the root causes of the behavior and start giving out more serious consequences to those who choose to shoplift. Until that day comes, we have to remain ever vigilant to the threat we are faced with each day. It is our jobs to be proactive and to constantly outsmart the criminal element before they have a chance to make off with our profits.

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STAYING SAFE DURING AN APPREHENSION

February 8, 2016 by Leave a Comment

shoplifting5What is the most important factor to consider when you make a shoplifting apprehension?

Safety. There is no single factor that is stressed more heavily within my department than personal safety when making a shoplifting detention. Not only do I implore my teams to be vigilant of possible weapons, but to also make sound business decisions before making a detention that could jeopardize their safety, the safety of the employees of the store and the safety of our customers. In the blink of an eye, what seems like another routine apprehension can quickly turn violent.

Play by the rules.

Our industry, over the past decades, has come a long way from the days of chasing down shoplifters by any means necessary. We’ve evolved from brute strength and a show of force, to a more pro-active and analytical approach to shrink, especially the way we approach shoplifting incidents. Enter the 5 steps for an apprehension. Selection, display intent, conceal, maintain visual, exit store. Every LP department, for the most part, has adopted this. In addition to no touch policies, this greatly reduces the chances for an apprehension to become physical in nature.

Cooler heads will always prevail

Hiring someone that cannot control their own temper is a dreaded mistake. Even I am not immune to making this type of mistake. Granted, we ask our agents (and ourselves) to be there to stop someone from stealing from us. Shoplifters come from different backgrounds, and often we are facing career criminals, or those with drug addictions that are not in a stable mindset. More often than not, the shoplifter will immediately escalate a detention from the moment they are approached. How many times have you stopped someone and they immediately began yelling at the top of the lungs every swear words known to man? I experienced this three times this past week for me. This is where a calm, collective LP professional is most needed. What if you started yelling and screaming back? Chances are, things will get ugly. My advice is simple. Act like an airline pilot. It doesn’t matter if the wings are on fire and you’re hurtling towards the earth at 500 mph. That pilot will still speak in the same tone and pace. It’s to keep the masses calm. This technique works great with rowdy shoplifters too.

What if I’m faced with a weapon?

This has happened to me personally on 3 occasions. Once, a heroin addict pulled a knife on me. The second time, a firearm fell from the pants of a shoplifter and the third, my personal favorite, is when I was pepper sprayed by a shoplifter. Even though it was hard to do so (especially my sprayer), I immediately disengaged the apprehension and allowed them to make quick egress of the store. Yeah, I was pretty upset for a day or so that they got away, but the end result is that no one got hurt. That’s the key; there is nothing in your store that is worth sacrificing the safety of anyone for.

There really isn’t another job in the retail industry where personal safety can be compromised in the blink of an eye. I bet that guys in the IT department never have to worry about being pushed to the ground by a maniac as they try to run out of the store with $2,000 worth of cologne. LP is a unique business. We thrive on what others shy away from. While you’re out this week busting thief after thief, please remember your safety, and the safety of those around should take absolute priority above all else. There is nothing in your store that is worth the risk of injury. Be safe and happy hunting.

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Shoplifting And Organized Shoplifting Rings

February 3, 2016 by Leave a Comment

shoplifting6

For a long time now police departments across the United States have been working closely with retailers in their areas to protect their stores, the safety of customers and residents alike. The cost associated with shoplifting goes beyond the loses it causes to the retail store and consumers, and violent crimes associated with shoplifting keeps police departments busy and the crime rate increase is bad for business.

For more about shoplifting follow the links below.

Shoplifting putting the pinch on police, businesses

Shoplifting is a significant problem that costs retailers as well as consumers, and may lead to other crimes, according to Martinsville’s Police Chief.

Shoplifting accounted for a fifth of Martinsville’s total Part I crimes in 2014 – crimes that are the best indicator of the safety of citizens, including violent and property crimes, Police Chief Sean Dunn said. Shoplifting accounted for 92 of the city’s 441 total Part 1 crimes (nearly 21 percent) in 2014.

“This is a significant cost to our local retailers, which certainly translates to a higher cost for all of us. As a result of the large percentage of shoplifting incidents, we decided to tackle this from a department-wide approach and enhance our partnership with the business community,” Dunn said.

“This is a significant cost to our local retailers, which certainly translates to a higher cost for all of us. As a result of the large percentage of shoplifting incidents, we decided to tackle this from a department-wide approach and enhance our partnership with the business community,” Dunn said.

The Martinsville Police Department’s initial response included patrol officers making periodic stops at local businesses “to deter unlawful activity and to reinforce with the business community their importance to us,” Dunn said.

Observation skills, quick thinking help prevent shoplifting

About 27 million shoplifters live in the United States today, with offenders spanning generations.

According to the National Association for Shoplifting Prevention (NASP), that means 1 in 11 people have shoplifted. There is no “typical” offender.

“It could be anybody,” said Nathan Hershley, the security supervisor at East Hills Shopping Center. “I’ve personally dealt with (shoplifters) from 14 years old, clear up into their 50s.”

Shoplifters target all types of stores, according to NASP — from drug stores to supermarkets, convenience stores and even thrift shops.

Store employees and customers who shop there play an important role in helping catch anyone suspected of stealing. Staying alert for suspicious behavior and catching the suspect(s) on photo or video can help authorities make an arrest.

 Along with holiday thefts, stores see increase in organized shoplifting rings

​Experts say organized crime rings are on the rise. A September survey by the National Retail Federation showed 97 percent of retailers contacted believed they were victims of organized retail crime within the last year. Almost half reported a “significant” increase in such crimes.

Jan. 02–Supermarkets across Central Florida were puzzled after more than $50,000 worth of merchandise vanished from shelves.

It wasn’t the result of closeout deals or the green-haired Christmas villain known as the Grinch making off with cartloads of products from Publix and Winn-Dixie stores. Rather, a posse of Central Floridians pilfered pricey grocery stock such as Crest White Strips and Gillette razors from almost 100 stores.

Security camera footage eventually revealed the coordinated thievery, which led to the arrests of five suspects. The organized shoplifting ring busted in August is part of a growing trend that has stores on their toes, especially with the increases of retail theft around the holiday season.

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Clothing Security Tags – A Hard Or Soft Approach To Preventing Theft, The Choice Is Yours

February 3, 2016 by Leave a Comment

Have you ever had a problem with clothing theft and found yourself frustrated by empty clothes hangers on the sales floor rack or lying in a fitting room? Maybe you found price tags and manufacturer labels lying on the floor and you are at your wits end trying to combat the shoplifting you know is taking place but can’t seem to prevent. I remember the frustration of finding multiple hangers in the fitting room of one department store I worked for and wishing there was a solution that would deter more of the theft activity. I liked the satisfaction of catching shoplifters, but I was also aware we were only able to scratch the surface of the theft that was taking place.  When we did use security tags on clothing, it was limited to placing hard tags on high end coats and jackets we carried.

 

Several years later I worked for a big box retailer and we did use a combination of clothing security tags. In some instances we placed soft Checkpoint tags on clothing hang tags and went as far as to hide the tags in the pockets of items to try to keep the tags from being found and removed. In other situations when we had a higher priced item, or when we saw a theft trend on merchandise such as denim jeans, we began enhancing clothing security with hard tags. The hard tags were extremely difficult for shoplifters to defeat, requiring them to damage the merchandise the majority of the time in their efforts to remove the tags. Both styles of tags were compatible with the store Electronic Article Surveillance system. Any attempt to exit the store with security tags on clothing that had not been deactivated or removed would activate the alarm.    

 

Over the years I have seen changes in the industry as electronic article surveillance tags have been embedded in manufacturer hang tags and UPC codes have been printed on the EAS tags themselves. Shoplifters were becoming adept at identifying the soft clothing security tags and were removing them more frequently. Others who were in a position to make changes were seeing the same problem we faced in the field. They figured out that if we could identify clothing security tags, so could the shoplifters and they were determined to find new ways to disguise tags. Steps were taken in the clothing security business to stay one step ahead of the bad guys. The results are seen in the current styles of soft tags and hard tags on the market today.

Another major advancement in checkpoint tags is the development of the “Gen 3” Hard Tag. This tag is round and is more pleasing to the eye than the “Gen 2” Hard Tag, and yet has the same capabilities as the “Gen 2” model. The previous version is effective and provides a strong visual deterrent effect but the “Gen 3” has a look that is more upscale and sleek in my opinion. Security tags on clothing can also be source tagged so that a store owner does not need to have staff take the time to do the work. Payroll is used to run the store so staff can focus on customer service and other tasks. These advancements in clothing security should be reason enough to encourage businesses to invest in these security devices.  

Checkpoint tags have become versatile enough that they are no longer easy to identify on merchandise. With soft tags embedded in hang tags or having printed information on them, shoplifters fail to realize a tag is a security tag, and are more prone to leaving tags on when they attempt to steal. Hard tags make both a visual deterrent and strong defense against shoplifting. Using security tags on clothing will go a long way in preventing those empty hangers and torn tags from cluttering your floors.        

 

For more information on clothing security tags contact us or call 1.770.426.0547                

 

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Using Social Media To Capture a Shoplifter

January 27, 2016 by Leave a Comment

law-3Using Facebook, their own websites and other social media outlets, many retailers have for years posted  pictures of shoplifters on line in hopes of catching the shoplifter.  Posting images and descriptions of suspected shoplifters can be helpful in apprehending them, but it can also be legally harmful to you and to the business if you don’t know the laws in your state regarding shoplifting laws, and you post the wrong images and descriptions of the suspected shoplifter. If your store has an LP program or department, you need to check with them before any pictures are posted on social media.   And do you have insurance that will cover you in a potential law suit? Are the shoplifters juveniles? From the time you apprehend a shoplifter till the time you charge them with shoplifting, there are rules you must follow.  Check the laws in your state, a lawyer, or the legal department in your store before posting any images on line.

For more about this and other stories, follow the links below.

Local business uses Facebook to catch shoplifting suspect

A small business in Olive Branch is fighting back against shoplifters by using social media.

If the Pink Coconut Boutique catches you stealing, they will post you picture on Facebook. It’s a tactic they’ve always used, and it seems to be working well.

Store manager Debbie Ham recently posted a picture of an alleged shoplifter on the businesses page. She called for the 1.1 million Facebook followers to help identify the suspect.

And in less than 24 hours, 25-year-old Christian Tatum was identified.

“The fans were very upset (because) we do keep our prices down at the Pink Coconut,” Ham told FOX13.

This is not the first time the store has done it. They use the practice to help keep prices low.

Police would not comment on the matter. They only said it was the Facebook post that led to Tatum being identified.

“We do have 30 cameras in our store that we are very quick (to use). If there is an incident, we take our camera and review our video and burn a CD and we also post it to social media,” Ham said.

With millions of Facebook fans, the post led the Pink Coconut getting swamped with people reporting the accused criminal.

Shoplifting Laws by State

Alabama Shoplifting Laws

Detention and arrest of person suspected of larceny of goods held for sale.

(a) A peace officer, a merchant or a merchant’s employee who has probable cause for believing that goods held for sale by the merchant have been unlawfully taken by a person and that he can recover them by taking the person into custody may, for the purpose of attempting to effect such recovery, take the person into custody and detain him in a reasonable manner for a reasonable length of time. Such taking into custody and detention by a peace officer, merchant or merchant’s employee shall not render such police officer, merchant or merchant’s employee criminally or civilly liable for false arrest, false imprisonment or unlawful detention.

(b) Any peace officer may arrest without warrant any person he has probable cause for believing has committed larceny in retail or wholesale establishments.

Kohl’s shoplifters identified after public’s response to released photos

​D’IBERVILLE — A surveillance picture released to the media has helped lead to the identity of two women accused of shoplifting and assaulting a Kohl’s employee, police said.

Police obtained arrest warrants for Michelle Quin and Tykeshia Barnes, both 18, and released their names Monday.

Deputy Police Chief Clay Jones said a third woman who appeared in the surveillance picture was not arrested.

Quin and Barnes each face charges of shoplifting and simple assault.

Police said the store on Promenade Parkway had reported the women stole merchandise Jan. 8 and said two of the them assaulted a loss-prevention officer who tried to get them to return inside the store.

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