Staff Editor — Page 45

No More Secrets With Visual Merchandise Protection

January 2, 2016 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

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No More Secrets With Visual Merchandise Protection

I read a recent article by the people at Checkpoint, titled Visual Merchandise Protection Helps Keep The Customer Coming Back. There were several great points made, but some really spoke to me. I am a store manager for a small retail pharmacy and I’ve been with the company for nearly fifteen years. I have seen the transformation in our journey of shrink reduction and ways to stop shoplifting. We’ve always had Checkpoint Systems installed, but over time we’ve introduced new tools to the stores. Those changes have made major differences and improvements to my daily activities and my work day.

First of all, when inventory is all locked up behind glass cases, you take away from the shopping experience. Customers can’t pick up what they want, actually turn it over in their hands, and feel the connection to the item if they can’t touch it. Store managers should know their demographics and what their customers want. I know in my old store in a lake community, wine, electronics and cosmetics needed to be readily available for customers to pick up and browse. In my inner city location, many of those things needed to have extra added protection. There was a lot of foot traffic and the store was a hot spot for boosters and simple petty theft. But, I did not choose to keep everything behind the counter for customers to have to ask for them. I used tools like Alpha Keepers and Spider Wraps on high retail items that had the potential to be targeted for theft. I installed Bottle Locks on all the top shelf wines and spirits we sold.

If you’ve ever caught a thief and pressed charges, you’ve likely also been through the hassle of the court system over it. Even if they get caught red-handed, the thief is still entitled to a trial in district court in most states. They ask for a continuance over and over, and the company keeps paying to send someone to court until they finally go before a judge. That’s one of the things that makes VMP so cost effective. Checkpoint Labels and Alpha Keepers send a clear message that the store takes security seriously. These tools are known to criminals and when interviewed, many have said they would rather steal from stores that don’t employ them on their inventory. The labels are placed directly on the package, and since most customers are familiar with them they do not detract from the brand’s image. Your staff does need to ensure that the Checkpoint Labels do not cover vital information like expiration dates, directions for use, and other pertinent details about the product. When using Alpha Keepers, the employees should know that the product should fit comfortably in the box and should never crush or damage the product appearance. VMP is intended to keep your inventory in stock for the customer and keep those shoppers coming back to shop your store. The strategy plays an important role in helping your loyal shoppers feel welcome and safe in your building.

For more information about Checkpoint and Alpha products, contact us or call: 1.770.426.0547

Visual merchandise protection, or VMP, is the new way to attract honest cash paying customers to your store and help make your store less appealing to criminals. In the old days stores would conceal Checkpoint Labels inside the packages and shoplifters would just take the chance on getting away. Hiding the labels was a way to catch a thief, not deter one. That’s the genius of VMP. You and your staff want your efforts to be seen.
First of all, when inventory is all locked up behind glass cases, you take away from the shopping experience. Customers can’t pick up what they want, actually turn it over in their hands, and feel the connection to the item if they can’t touch it. Store managers should know their demographics and what their customers want. I know in my old store in a lake community, wine, electronics and cosmetics needed to be readily available for customers to pick up and browse. In my inner city location, many of those things needed to have extra added protection. There was a lot of foot traffic and the store was a hot spot for boosters and simple petty theft. But, I did not choose to keep everything behind the counter for customers to have to ask for them. I used tools like Alpha Keepers and Spider Wraps on high retail items that had the potential to be targeted for theft. I installed Bottle Locks on all the top shelf wines and spirits we sold.

For more information about Checkpoint and Alpha products, contact us or call: 1.770.426.0547

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Merchandise Return Fraud

December 30, 2015 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

Shoplifting during the holidays is a big problem for retailers in the United States. The holiday season brings more customers into their stores, but shoplifters know this and they take advantage of this fact to go into the stores and walk out with hundreds of dollars in stolen merchandise. But after the holidays, you are dealing with another kind of fraud. Merchandise return fraud has seen an increase over the previous year, and retailers now have to deal with this problem after the holidays are over.

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

Post-Holiday Merchandise Return Fraud

Retail theft statistics show that the vast majority of returns are legitimate and part of doing business as a retailer.

Returns and return fraud are a big issue—and getting bigger. In 2014, $284 billion worth of retail merchandise was returned in the United States,according to the Retail Equation. That represented a 6.2% increase over the prior year, and 2015’s numbers are expected to grow even higher. Brick-and-mortar stores report returns in the 5-10 percent range. E-commerce retailers report numbers averaging 10-15 percent, with returns of apparel running as high as 20-30 percent. The research firm IHL Group estimates that, overall, returns cost retailers 4.4 percent in revenue that is lost on items that can’t be resold or must be discarded.

Within the retail loss prevention community, when returns are mentioned, most focus on return fraud. To be sure, it is a huge issue with volume estimated at $9.1 billion, again according to The Retail Equation. When return abuse is added in, that number jumps to an estimated $15.9 billion. But, as large as these numbers are, it is estimated that return fraud and abuse only make up about 6.1 percent of returns. So 94 percent of all return transactions (equating to $245 billion) are legitimate.

Retailers Estimate Holiday Return Fraud Will Cost Them $3.8 Billion, According to NRF Survey

WASHINGTON, December 19, 2014 – Techniques and processes put in place to thwart criminal activity around retailers’ return policies continue to be put to the test, and with steadily improving retail sales, even more is on the line when it comes to losses from return fraud.

According to the National Retail Federation’s 2014 Return Fraud Survey* completed by loss prevention executives at 60 retail companies representing grocery, department, discount, specialty and small retailers, the industry will lose an estimated $10.9 billion to return fraud this year. Additionally, of those surveyed, retailers estimate $3.8 billion will be lost to return fraud this holiday season alone, up slightly from last year’s $3.4 billion. Overall, retailers polled estimate 5.5 percent of holiday returns are fraudulent, similar to last year’s 5.8 percent.

“Today’s sophisticated technology does well keeping criminals at arm’s length but often isn’t enough to completely stop the unethical practices of organized and individual retail fraud occurrences,” said NRF Vice President of Loss Prevention Bob Moraca. “Return fraud has become an unfortunate trend in retail thanks to thieves taking advantage of retailers’ return policies to benefit from the cash or store credit they don’t deserve. Additionally, many of these return fraud instances are a direct result of larger, more experienced crime rings that continue to pose serious threats to retailers’ operations and their bottom lines.”

Reflects on How a Shoplifting Charge Changed Her Life

Shoplifting consequences that ended a 35-year career in journalism.

On February 11, 2012, officers of the Tucson Police Department cited former Tucson KVOA news anchor Martha Vazquez on a shoplifting charge. According to the report that was filed, Vazquez was cited for shoplifting at the Dillard’s in the Tucson Mall after a loss prevention officer observed her conceal an Eileen Fisher jacket value at $338.00. After she was detained, a search of her belongings also yielded a pair of Kenneth Cole sunglasses valued at $30 that had also been shoplifted.

Vazquez said that after the shoplifting charges ended her 35-year career in broadcast journalism, her life hit “rock bottom.” She resigned her prominent position, sank into a deep depression and left Tucson for Washington State. Now, Vazquez says the time that she spent out of the public eye in Washington after her incident in 2012, was “a healing journey.” She is now back in Tucson; is being treated for depression and says that she wants to help others.

Filed Under: Shoplifting Prevention Tagged With: Alpha 2 Alarm, Alpha 3 Alarm, Alpha High Theft Solutions, Alpha Nano Gate, anti-theft devices, anti-theft tags, Background checks, employee background checks, POS ROI, 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

Shoplifting Prevention and Tips

December 22, 2015 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

The security of your store during the holiday season is often tested to the limits by the quantity of customers and employees that enter your store daily. Preventing employee theft and shoplifting during this time of year is not something you expect to accomplish 100% of the time, but if you have preventive measures and procedures in place, you can minimize your loses and keep your employees and customers safe. If you need more tips or information about this topic, follow the links below to read more.

Business Owner’s Rights for Shoplifters

Shoplifting is a major expense for many businesses. A retailer suffers a loss from the unpaid merchandise, and it has the added expense of surveillance equipment and personnel. Each state enacts its own shoplifting laws that should be read by the prudent business owner. While an employee may be justifiably angry when he witnesses a crime in progress, he must follow the store policy or face the possibility of the thief suing him and the store for a violation of his civil rights.

Surveillance

Most consumers realize that the majority of stores have security cameras installed inside and outside the building. In addition, loss prevention specialists walk the aisles looking for suspicious activity and responding to alerts from the monitors. What people may not realize is that the insides of dressing rooms are under surveillance in at least one major department store. On July 21, 2011 Channel 10 News in Tampa Bay, Florida, reported that Macy’s flips the doors to dressing rooms so the slats face downward. This allows anyone — or any camera — outside the room to see in, although that’s not obvious to the customer inside the room trying on clothes.

SHOPLIFTERS STEAL AN AVERAGE OF $134 EACH TIME

November and December are peak months for shoplifting. Not really a surprise. Shoplifting increases 10 percent or more during the holidays, according to security companies.

Retailers are getting better at preventing shoplifting and recovering some of their merchandise, but the losses are still staggering. The average value of items stolen per case is $134.

Over $10 billion in merchandise is lost annually, according to University of Florida research of the nation’s largest retailers, and just $159 million in stolen merchandise was recovered in 2014. Another $82 million was recovered when the shoplifter got away.

Nearly 1.2 million shoplifters were caught in 2014, an increase in apprehensions of 7.4 percent over the previous year, according to the annual retail theft survey by Jack Hayes International, a loss prevention consulting firm. The survey included 25 large retailers with over $700 billion in sales and 23,250 stores.

10 Tips to Prevent Shoplifting

Shrinkage, or retail theft, can have a serious impact on your bottom line. The National Association for Shoplifting Prevention says more than $35 million worth of goods are stolen from retailers every day. And while all businesses are susceptible to shoplifting, some — like clothing, book and jewelry sellers — are more so.

While teaching your staff to spot and handle shoplifters properly is a crucial deterrent, you can also implement store design tactics to help prevent stealing. Here are 10 of the best ways your retail small business can deter shoplifters today:

Maximize Visibility: Keeping an eye on merchandise is the first step in loss prevention. Place shorter displays close to the register and taller displays near the perimeter of the store so all merchandise is completely visible from your perch. Use mirrors to eliminate any blind spots, and be sure to keep your store neat and tidy, so employees can tell at a glance if something is missing or out of place.

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

CHEERS TO BOTTLE LOCKS

December 21, 2015 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

“I can’t take you anywhere!” Is the normal phrase I get from my girlfriend when we are out shopping and I tell her that I just saw someone steal some merchandise. She can’t understand why I’m so worried about someone else’s store, or why we can never go out without me helping throw someone in jail. It’s just that I feel as though I have a moral obligation when my LP spidey senses start tingling… plus, I’m usually bored to tears shopping with her anyway. (Please don’t tell her I said that). Just last week, I introduced a restaurant manager to bottle locks.

We had just spend the majority of the day applying for our passports when that all too familiar feeling hit. It was 2pm. I was hungry. We went to a little place known in our town for their Greek cuisine. We sat near the bar and I began to enjoy my hummus and pita. I was admiring the display of top shelf liquor when I noticed a woman acting a bit strange near the bar. When the bartender would walk to the kitchen, she would hover, just like a shoplifter does. I told my girlfriend what I suspected and she laughed. I tried to convince her of my point, after all there were no bottle security measures in place. It would be quite easy to simple walk away with some booze.

Some time passes and we get our food. The woman stays at the bar. Sipping on some white wine and eating her salad. The bartender walks into the kitchen again and almost as fast as a bolt of lightning, the woman reaches behind the bar, grabs a bottle of high end tequila and shoves it in her purse. Since there were no bottle security measures in place, it was almost too easy. Of course, I get excited at this point, all while my girlfriend just buries her head under her arms.

I wait until the woman purchases her meal before calling over a manager. I discreetly inform him of what I saw and he exclaims, “Again!” As our boozy bandit attempts to leave her spot at the bar, the manager and a police officer take her outside where the tequila was eventually recovered. When the dust settled, the manager came back and thanked me for speaking up. Apparently, this wasn’t the first time someone had stolen liquor from behind his bar recently. I asked him if he had ever heard of bottle locks.

Well, the next thing you know, I’ve got my phone pulled out and I’m showing him how bottle locks could ultimately stop people from stealing his liquor. He was amazed. He’d worked in the restaurant business his entire life and had never thought that bottle security was an issue until running this particular place. He told me that he’d lost countless thousands in stolen liquor in the past year. Now, he had something that could help curb his losses.

I left that day with a heavily discounted meal and a feeling of pride. Not pride that I helped throw another thief in jail, I was proud that I could help a fellow manager control the losses he was experiencing with a simple tool and a little advice. It’s why I enjoy writing these posts for all of you out there. I know someone, somewhere has this very same issue, and you’re sick and tired of it. Hopefully and it is my goal, that you read this and my little nugget of advice resonates with you and it ultimately makes your business stronger and more profitable. We can all drink to that!

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

Filed Under: Security Tagged With: bottle lock, bottle locks, bottle security

Employee Theft

December 16, 2015 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

Shoplifting costs the retail industry million of dollars daily. The harm done to the businesses and the economy in general is socially and economically harmful, but employee theft hurts the company’s culture, damages trust between owners and employees, and financially are responsible for billions of dollars that companies lose due to this horrible crime. For more about this topic follow the links below.

A New Employee Theft Study

An Analysis of Employee Theft at a Specialty Retailer.

When I was a doctoral graduate student at the University of Minnesota during the late 1970s, I began conducting research on employee theft. At the time this was an area of criminology that was virtually unexplored. I found that it was very hard to study this subject then, since few retailers were willing to let a social scientist have full access to the records on this subject. Over forty years later, the scholarly literature on dishonesty in the workplace is still understudied and poorly understood despite the best efforts of a handful of researchers.

As such, I am always on the lookout for new and cutting-edge research on this topic. This month I wish to share the results of a quality employee theft study that was recently published as a doctoral dissertation. The author is Dana N. Baxter. She completed her research while studying under Dr. Dennis Giever at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She finished her dissertation this past spring and graduated in May. She is presently an assistant professor at Davis and Elkins College in West Virginia.

A Snapshot of Employee Theft in the US

The majority of employee thefts are occurring in organizations with 500 employees or less. The sizes and types of thefts vary by industry, but smaller organizations across the spectrum exhibited high incidences of embezzlement overall.

The unfortunate reality of employee theft is every organization is at risk.

When we looked at the totality of federal actions involving employee theft over the calendar year, nearly 72% involved organizations with fewer than 500 employees. Within that data set, we found that four of every five victim organizations had fewer than 100 employees; more than half had fewer than 25 employees. Is there a connection between the size of an organization and the size of the loss? Our research suggests that there may be. While some of the largest losses occurred in organizations with fewer than 50 employees, in the aggregate, we note the following:

U.S. retail workers are No. 1…in employee theft

Light-fingered employees cost American stores (and consumers) more than shoplifters do.

It’s almost Groundhog Day, but for retailers, the holiday season is finally winding down.

“The four months from October through January are when stores see not just their biggest sales volume of the year, but also the most returns and exchanges,” says Ernie Deyle, a 30-year veteran of the retail loss-prevention wars who leads the business consulting practice at London-based data analytics firm Sysrepublic. “Unfortunately, the same four months account for about half of all annual shrinkage.”

That shrinkage, made up of missing goods from shoplifting and other causes, costs U.S. retailers about $42 billion a year, according to the latest Global Retail Theft Barometer, an annual industry study led by Deyle and inventory management firm Checkpoint Systems.

Shoppers pay the price for such theft. The cost of mysteriously vanishing merchandise comes to $403 annually per U.S. household.

Of course, retailers everywhere deal with shrinkage, but there is one big difference between the U.S. and the rest of the world: Globally, dishonest employees are behind about 28% of inventory losses, while shoplifters account for a markedly higher 39%. Not so stateside, the study says, where employee theft accounts for 43% of lost revenue. That’s about $18 billion, or $2.3 billion more than the cost of five-finger discounts taken by customers.

Filed Under: Shoplifting Prevention Tagged With: Alpha 2 Alarm, Alpha 3 Alarm, Alpha High Theft Solutions, Alpha Jewel Lok, Alpha Nano Gate, Alpha Security, Alpha Spider Wrap, Anti-shoplifting training, anti-theft devices, anti-theft tags, anti-thefts devices, Background checks, Employee Theft, Georgia shoplifting prevention, Georgia shoplifting systems, internal Audit, Loss Prevention Seminar, Loss Prevention Training, Prevent Shoplifting, Retail Anti Theft Devices, retail security and monitoring, Shoplifting Prevention, shoplifting statistics, shoplifting violence, surveillance

Preventing Shoplifting This Holiday Season

December 14, 2015 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

By now the holiday season has been in full force for a few weeks, and the stress your management team, employees and security personnel are feeling is a bit overwhelming. Shoplifters during the holiday season are abundant, and police and retailers try to be more vigilant and proactive by implementing security measures during this time than at any other time of the year. Follow the links below for more information about this and other topics.

Police step up efforts for holiday crime

As the holiday season gets under way, local police are gearing up for the all-too-predictable spike in property crime.

Hanford police Capt. Pat Crowe said officers will be stepping up their game over the next few weeks to deter vehicle burglaries, robberies and other crimes typical of this time of year.

“Every [patrol] shift was tasked with coming up with their own holiday project,” Crowe said.

Crowe said those projects include probation and parole sweeps focusing on individuals with known histories of gang activity, drug-related offenses and property crimes. Foot patrols and motorcycle units will also increase their presence at the Hanford Mall and other major shopping centers.

“Our main focus is to be visible and hopefully deter criminals from doing what they’re going to do,” Crowe said.

Lemoore Police Chief Darrell Smith said each of his department’s patrol shifts also devised a plan to tackle holiday crime. The result was a number of special operations that will unfold through New Year’s Eve.

Police offer tips to stay safe during holidays

If you’re tempted to share your holiday plans or photographs of Christmas loot on social media, local law enforcement officials want you to think twice.

“We live in an age where people put so much information out there about themselves,” said Cindy Kozerow, crime prevention specialist with the Lynchburg Police Department.

“Do not announce on Facebook, ‘Hey, we’re going to grandma’s for the holidays,’ because what that says is ‘Hey, my house is empty, so come and steal my stuff.’”

She explained how the holidays present a unique opportunity for thieves looking to capitalize on people’s good will and sense of safety in their own homes.

Checking in at stores on social media pages or opening window curtains at night to show off decorations lets potential thieves know when your home is empty, and gives them a glimpse of goods stashed under your Christmas tree.

‘Shoplifting Season’ for local businesses

Rogue River, Ore — The holiday shopping season can mean trouble for local businesses as big crowds come in but some say they’re sick and tired of getting ripped off. Sometimes it’s as simple as a Facebook post.

In Rogue River the police are working with one local business to make sure their products stay on the shelves and don’t fall into the hands of thieves.

“We’re a small store, and it really hurts us,” said Justin Norris.

At Rogue River Pharmacy and variety store shoplifting is something assistant manager Justin Norris has to deal with far too often.

“Lately we’ve had a problem with people from out of town coming in and shoplifting,” said Norris.

Rogue River police are looking to put an end to it by posting pictures online of suspected shoplifters and suspicious persons, one of whom confronted a uniformed police officer before leaving empty handed Tuesday.

Filed Under: Shoplifting Prevention Tagged With: Alpha 2 Alarm, Alpha High Theft Solutions, Alpha Jewel Lok, Alpha Nano Gate, Alpha Security, Alpha Spider Wrap, Anti-shoplifting training, anti-theft devices, anti-theft tags, anti-thefts devices, Background checks, employee background checks, Employee Theft, Georgia Alarms systems, Georgia shoplifting prevention, Georgia shoplifting systems, Loss Prevention Training, racial profiling, Retail Anti Theft Devices, retail security and monitoring, Shoplifting Prevention, shoplifting statistics, shoplifting violence, surveillance

CHECKPOINT SECURITY SYSTEM: A VISUAL AND ACTIVE DETERRENT TO SEND THIEVES RUNNING

December 14, 2015 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

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CHECKPOINT SECURITY SYSTEM: A VISUAL AND ACTIVE DETERRENT TO SEND THIEVES RUNNING

There aren’t too many variables when it comes to the overall goal of loss prevention professionals. It’s quite simple to stop loss and reduce shrink. The only way this can get done is with a sound loss prevention plan and one that includes the proper tools to achieve the goal. Retail theft prevention measures are most effective when used in conjunction with all available resources. One such resource is having a first line of defense with a Checkpoint security system.

I recall one time where I was working in a retail store where the management had a lax program in place. It was so bad that after we would apprehend them, thieves would actually make jokes about the measures that were in place. Telling us “Man this place is a joke”. Or, “I lift here more than the gym!” I’ve heard it all. What I also heard was that if management didn’t bother to install some sort of EAS (Electronic Article Surveillance) system soon, that we would never stop shoplifting in that store. The lack of accountability at the door was one of the things that thieves counted on at the store. They knew that if they could conceal it, they could get it out the door.

See an important part of retail theft prevention is being able to thwart the loss that you don’t always see or even know about. There is no way to tell just how much product is leaving your store really but with the use of EAS measures like a Checkpoint security system, you’ll at the very least know about attempted occurrences. The five finger crooks that brazenly lift your store blind will no longer have a free ticket to just waltz right out the front door with your product. It’s this degree of accountability at the very least that makes all of the difference. See, by installing an EAS system in your store, you add an element of utter inconvenience and deterrence to your plan to stop shoplifting.

EAS systems work by using RF (Radio Frequency) technology within your store. Some systems also include the use of AM (Acoustic Magnetic) technology. The differences between the two technologies are in the way the system interacts with your products. In both cases, select items are tagged with small asset tags, labels or stickers that are unobtrusively placed somewhere on the products themselves. Once the tags come within a prescribed proximity of the EAS pedestals installed at the store exits, the system will alarm alerting store staff.

This form of technology is widely available to you as a retailer and comes with various options and installation configurations. It is important to understand that the use of EAS systems can provide a much needed visual deterrent to ‘would-be’ shoplifters above and beyond totally embarrassing the ones that fail to estimate the full functionality of them. The casual shoplifter may not know how they work to their disadvantage however; they do know that they are there. You can hardly miss the pedestals at the front of the stores and almost all of us have witnessed them being triggered before whether accidentally or intently. Since most people recognize the EAS pedestals as an anti-shoplifting resource, when they see them in your store, they know you aren’t playing around. They know your serious and plan to stop shoplifting in your store.

The presence of the EAS pedestals alone may even be enough to make casual shoplifters think twice about stealing from your store actually. Hypothetically, even if the system was inactive (powered off) the simple visual presence of them alone would still have a strong visual impact on all that notices them. The bottom line though is that if you install these retail theft prevention items in your store, it is absolutely going to stop shoplifting in your store to some extent. In the long term, the system will more than pay for itself monetarily when you consider the shrink you are preventing. Thieves will be less cocky about how easy it is to steal from your store and casual shoplifters will be stopped in their tracks.

For more information about the Checkpoint security system please contact us at 1-770-426-0547.

For more information about the Checkpoint security system contact us or call 1-770-426-0547.

Filed Under: antishoplifting Tagged With: Anti-Shoplifting, checkpoint security system, retail theft prevention, stop shoplifting

Shoplifter Quick Tips

December 11, 2015 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

Since you are in the middle of your Christmas selling season and do not have much spare time I wanted to give you a very brief list of important shoplifting prevention tips:

Impulse, amateur and professional shoplifters are all deterred by customer service. If you suspect shoplifting, pour on the customer service. They will get the message.

Shoplifters tend to hit when you are busy and not paying attention. Do not give them the opportunity, they will exploit it.

Some shoplifters work in teams. One person will distract as many of your staff as they can allowing their partners time to steal.

Greet EVERYONE who enters your store! Well, established studies have shown that a solid verbal greeting such as “Welcome to XXXX” WITH brief eye contact will deter most impulse shoplifters.

If you see or suspect a person has concealed your merchandise, customer service them “to death”. Try one of these:

“May I help you?”
“Can I show you a _____________ to go with (concealed item)”?
“Can I hold (concealed item) for you at the register?”
“Will this be a charge or cash sale?”
“May I ring this purchase for you?”

At checkout EVERY CUSTOMER should be asked, “Is there anything else”. There are 2 very good reasons for this question:
- Legitimate customers may remember an item they forgot. Can you say “add on” sale!?!
- Impulse and amateur shoplifters may feel anxious or guilty about what they have done. Or they may fear that you know or saw them and produce a concealed item.

I hope this helps you this season. Please let us know, if we can assist you. FYI Checkpoint Systems has just released the new N10 EAS system that fits on your door frame. We have it! It is an awesome system at an awesome price.

Happy Holidays!

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: Alpha 2 Alarm, Alpha 3 Alarm, Alpha High Theft Solutions, Alpha Jewel Lok, Alpha Nano Gate, Alpha Security, Alpha Spider Wrap, Anti-shoplifting training, anti-theft devices, anti-theft tags, anti-thefts devices, Employee Theft, Georgia Alarms systems, Georgia shoplifting prevention, Georgia shoplifting systems, Loss Prevention Workshop, mobile POS loss prevention, prevent shrinkage, Retail Anti Theft Devices, retail security and monitoring, security devices, Shoplifting Prevention, surveillance

HOW SECURE IS YOUR BACKDOOR

December 11, 2015 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

Where are you losing the most to employee theft? Is it cash through the point of sale, bogus invoices, or fraudulent discounts? If you’re like most retailer stores, it’s more than likely a little bit of each. One area that is so often overlooked is our back doors. If not properly controlled, you can lose tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of merchandise before it even hits your sales floor.

Just this past year, I worked a case in one of my high shrink stores. The managers were reported huge losses in electronics items and hunting accessories. After an investigation was conducted, we were able to determine that the product had never made it to the shelves. After a few days of surveillance, it was clear that a handful of receiving associates were operating their own small business. Product was simply taken off the truck and taken right out the back doors.

Just a few months ago another store was missing approximately 10,000 units of ammunition. We tracked this shipment from our warehouse, where we had video of it leaving the dock, as well as video of the merchandise being unloaded at the store. Video also showed a receiving employee wheel it out the back door on a pallet and load it into his personal vehicle.

I could sit here for hours recalling case after case, where employees exploited physical security failures around our back doors. In just about every single case, there was a violation of our company’s policy that led to the associate being able to steal the product. As managers, you have to take ownership of this area, or else it will bleed you dry.

First, ensure that only managers have a key to the back door and that a manager is the only one using those keys! All too often, I’ve seen managers give their keys to a “trusted” associate, in an attempt to delegate tasks, only to have that associate rob them blind. Your managers are key holders for a reason; and that trust should only stay with them.

When manager does open the back door, they should stay at the doors. I’ve had cases where a manager would step out of the warehouse for a minute with the door open, and an employee would run product out. If the door is open, the manager stays posted until the doors can be locked. This is a non-negotiable item for my company. Unsecured and unattended back doors can get a manager a coaching in their file. It’s that serious.

Plenty of stores don’t have the luxury of a compactor and have to take the trash out to an open-top dumpster several times a day. This is a great time for employees to stage product inside of trash bags. To prevent this, you should mandate that all boxes be broken down prior to the door being opened. In addition, use clear garbage bags instead of solid black. This lets you see what each bag contains before it goes outside.

Securing the back door, to me, is just as important as any other physical security measure used in the store. I can use all the EAS devices and anti-theft tools in the world, but they won’t be effective if the product is flowing out of the back door. This is one of the biggest areas of potential loss for any store and I can guarantee that if you have any weaknesses, or lapses in policy, a dishonest employee will find them and they will exploit them. Do yourself a favor and make sure your back door policy is locked down this holiday season.

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HOW TO SPOT A SHOPLIFTER

December 11, 2015 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

What does a shoplifter look like? How do you know if someone is going to steal from you? I get asked these questions all the time by store associates and mangers. The real answer is, a shoplifter doesn’t fit any specific demographic. There is no common appearance to a thief. I’ve personally apprehended 12 year old kids, soccer moms, grandmothers, lawyers, doctors, truck drivers, college professors in addition to the professional thieves. There are a few tips to look out for that you should share with your teams.

Looking around/up for associates and/or cameras

Most people shop by looking at the product in front of them. I always get suspicious when I see someone looking everywhere but in front of them. Subjects that are constantly looking up (for cameras) are pretty easy to spot; when’s the last time you looked at the ceiling at the supermarket? These people usually catch my attention rather quickly.

Grabbing items without regard to size, color or size

If I’m shopping for a pair of pants, I am looking for a specific style and size. Thieves who are looking to steal to resell usually will just take whatever they can get their hands on. If you see someone walk by a display of clothing and just start randomly selecting product, they may be planning on stealing that product from you.

Clearing pegs/shelves

If I’m buying *electronic item x*, chances are, I’m only going to buy one. If you notice someone clear an entire peg or shelf, especially if it’s a high risk product, which is another great indicator that their intentions may be less than honest.

Wearing unseasonal clothing

This one is my favorite. Every time I’ve seen someone wearing a coat in the summertime, I’ve ended up throwing them in jail for stealing from me. If it’s 90 degrees outside, someone wearing a thick coat should send up some major red flags.

Staging merchandise

Maybe you walk by a quiet corner of the store and see a subject place a few pairs of headphones on a back aisle. Perhaps they decided not to purchase them; or perhaps they’ve staged them to steal after they’re convinced that the area is clear. I’m always suspicious of buggies of product near fire exits. Often times, a thief will stage product prior to committing the theft. If you find product out of place, it’s best to simply return it to its home location

Removing/attempting to remove EAS devices

No brainer, right? If you walk by someone and they are really struggling to remove an EAS device, they probably don’t have intentions on buying the item. If you, or your team see this, the customer should immediately be given customer service. I usually ask if I can help them with the security device… it gets the point across that I am aware of their actions, without me actually having to say anything accusatory.

While not every shoplifter will demonstrate the same overt acts, if store personnel are attentive and engaging with all customers, these behaviors can be picked up on and properly relayed to store managers. Remember, there is no better anti-theft tool than a well-trained, attentive employee. By looking out for these subtle cues, your team can better protect your #1 financial investment, store inventory.

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