Protecting Your Employees From Shoplifters

October 20, 2015 by Leave a Comment

law-3Protecting your business and employees from shoplifters seem to be getting harder. Knowing when and what to do when a shoplifting incident occurs in your store  can help prevent employees and customers from getting hurt.  Do your employees know who to call? What to do when a shoplifter is taking goods from your store and walking out? Making sure your employees know what do, and how to respond when an incident occurs can help prevent accidents.

Follow the links below for more information about this topic.

Spike in shoplifting drives property crime wave in Taos

TAOS — Taos Municipal Court may seem quaint, decorated as it is with landscapes painted by the judge himself, but it’s not sleepy. The court’s docket of shoplifting cases nearly doubled during the last fiscal year to just under 90.

Judge Dickie Chávez says approximately 3 out of 4 shoplifting cases in his court concern the purported theft of alcohol.

And it’s not usually teens stocking up for parties.

The spike in shoplifting cases comes despite the Taos Police Department’s tough approach, arresting rather than citing virtually every suspect apprehended regardless of how small the alleged theft. But it also raises questions about whether law enforcement and courts are the right institutions to address a problem officials say is driven by substance abuse.

‘Operation GroupMe’ was meant to fight shoplifting, enables racial profiling instead

Georgetown has had a shoplifting problem lately, so local citizens turned to group-messaging app GroupMe for help. The Georgetown Business Improvement District partnered with local police to launch “Operation GroupMe” early last year to connect small businesses, police officers, and community leaders in a concerted fight against shoplifting. Instead, it’s become an exercise in racial profiling.

Local police in the Washington, D.C., neighborhood recorded more than 120 thefts in just the last 60 days, according to CBS News. The group-messaging chat room, which comprises 380 members, was meant to help shopkeepers, police, and others alert each other about shoplifters or people who seem suspicious.

In the more than 3,000 messages exchanged about suspicious people in the Operation GroupMe group since January, nearly 70 percent were black, according to a review by the Business Improvement District. This is a particularly startling finding, given that nearly 80 percent of Georgetown’s residents are white.

Police: Helena man bites Capital Sports employee in shoplifting attempt

A 38-year-old Helena man faces a felony robbery charge on accusations he bit a store employee’s hand during an attempted shoplifting. 

Dwight Edward Pierson is jailed on $20,000 bond.

Police responded to Capital Sports, 1092 Helena Ave., on Friday after receiving a report that a store employee had detained a suspected shoplifter. Officers noted the employee had two open, bleeding wounds on his right index finger, charging documents say.

The employee told police another worker saw a fishing reel sticking out of Pierson’s pocket while in the store. Pierson, who is on probation, ran from the store, court documents say. An employee grabbed Pierson by his hood and pinned him to the ground.

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BOTTLE LOCKS FOR THE WIN!

October 20, 2015 by Leave a Comment

 

BOTTLE LOCKS FOR THE WIN!
I was recently asked to lend a helping hand to a family friend, who just so happens to run a small grocery store in town. We’ve known the owners of this store for decades. This is the only grocery store in my small, hometown. The current owner and my dad were talking one night and my dad brought up that I do LP investigations for a national retailer. Well, turns out that the grocer wasn’t doing too well. His profits were down and he was getting hammered in theft, mainly alcohol. He asked for my help and I was gladly willing to assist. The first thing we talked about was physical security measures, and what Alpha Security could do for his business. 
After spending a few days working in the store, I quickly saw that alcohol theft was a huge problem. Looking over his invoices/deliveries and then his sales, I could see that there was a theft issue. First order of business was to secure all alcohol with bottle lock. It didn’t take long for us to see how the thieves would react. 
It wasn’t but maybe a week after installing the bottle locks that I came to the store to check on things. I went to the back office where the owner was at. He was staring at the camera screen. He was watching a thief (try to) steal a bottle of vodka. I had a few minutes, so I watched too. This was going to be good. 
So our thief walks over to the vodka, grabs two bottles off the shelf and places them in his back pockets. As he walks towards the rear of the store, he takes one out and begins to inspect it more closely. He’s noticing the bottle lock. With a confused look on his face, we see him approach a stocker. They have a brief interaction and the thief continues on. We later asked the stocker what the guy said. The thief asked if “Alpha Security” was the name of the vodka… Did I mention, he was also pretty drunk?
We continue watching the thief as he attempts to remove the bottle lock. He pulls, pries and even attempts to chew it off. Nothing. As if a light bulb had gone off in his head, he stops dead in his tracks. He begins walking feverishly to the small hardware section of the store. He takes a hammer and starts beating the top of the bottle. Alpha security tags are a bit stronger than you would think and the lock holds up to the light beatings of a drunken thief. Just as we think he’s going to give up, he hits the actual bottle with the hammer, shattering the glass right at the neck. 
We both go running down the stairs from the office to meet our thief as he’s walking out the front doors. He’s broken both bottles and has shoved them back into his back pockets. We confront him and he starts to run… only he’s already inebriated so he essentially takes a nose dive into the pavement; vodka spills down his back. As the police arrive on scene, he tries to get rid of the evidence, only to severely cut one of his hands on the broken glass as he pulls it from his back pocket. Not the most elegant thief I had ever encountered. 
A few weeks after that I went back to see if the bottle locks were working. There had only been 3 other theft attempts, but each had failed. A recent inventory showed that the store was selling more alcohol than ever, which meant profits were rising. A great day for all. 
For more information about Bottle Lock, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

I was recently asked to lend a helping hand to a family friend, who just so happens to run a small grocery store in town. We’ve known the owners of this store for decades. This is the only grocery store in my small, hometown. The current owner and my dad were talking one night and my dad brought up that I do LP investigations for a national retailer. Well, turns out that the grocer wasn’t doing too well. His profits were down and he was getting hammered in theft, mainly alcohol. He asked for my help and I was gladly willing to assist. The first thing we talked about was physical security measures, and what Alpha Security could do for his business. 

After spending a few days working in the store, I quickly saw that alcohol theft was a huge problem. Looking over his invoices/deliveries and then his sales, I could see that there was a theft issue. First order of business was to secure all alcohol with bottle lock. It didn’t take long for us to see how the thieves would react.

It wasn’t but maybe a week after installing the bottle locks that I came to the store to check on things. I went to the back office where the owner was at. He was staring at the camera screen. He was watching a thief (try to) steal a bottle of vodka. I had a few minutes, so I watched too. This was going to be good. 

So our thief walks over to the vodka, grabs two bottles off the shelf and places them in his back pockets. As he walks towards the rear of the store, he takes one out and begins to inspect it more closely. He’s noticing the bottle lock. With a confused look on his face, we see him approach a stocker. They have a brief interaction and the thief continues on. We later asked the stocker what the guy said. The thief asked if “Alpha Security” was the name of the vodka… Did I mention, he was also pretty drunk?

We continue watching the thief as he attempts to remove the bottle lock. He pulls, pries and even attempts to chew it off. Nothing. As if a light bulb had gone off in his head, he stops dead in his tracks. He begins walking feverishly to the small hardware section of the store. He takes a hammer and starts beating the top of the bottle. Alpha security tags are a bit stronger than you would think and the lock holds up to the light beatings of a drunken thief. Just as we think he’s going to give up, he hits the actual bottle with the hammer, shattering the glass right at the neck. 

We both go running down the stairs from the office to meet our thief as he’s walking out the front doors. He’s broken both bottles and has shoved them back into his back pockets. We confront him and he starts to run… only he’s already inebriated so he essentially takes a nose dive into the pavement; vodka spills down his back. As the police arrive on scene, he tries to get rid of the evidence, only to severely cut one of his hands on the broken glass as he pulls it from his back pocket. Not the most elegant thief I had ever encountered. 

A few weeks after that I went back to see if the bottle locks were working. There had only been 3 other theft attempts, but each had failed. A recent inventory showed that the store was selling more alcohol than ever, which meant profits were rising. A great day for all. 

For more information about Bottle Lock, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

 

 

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STOP MAKING YOUR CUSTOMERS WAIT! USING ALPHA HANG TAGS CAN SAVE TIME AND MONEY!

October 17, 2015 by Leave a Comment
STOP MAKING YOUR CUSTOMERS WAIT! USING ALPHA HANG TAGS CAN SAVE TIME AND MONEY!
It wasn’t but two years ago that I decided that I was going to let my beard grow out. It wasn’t “No Shave November”, nor was I going through any Hipster phase. No, I simply no longer felt it was worth my time to deal with retailers and the ridiculous ways they were locking up razor blades. As a long time loss prevention professional, I completely understand that you have to prevent shoplifting if you want to stay in business. You also need to have the product accessible and inviting to your customers, or they will in fact, go somewhere else. 
I’m not kidding about the beard, or the reason behind it. I go to the grocery store and I would have to go to customer service if I wanted razor blades. This meant I had to stand in another line, after I had already checked out (10 items or less…). If I went down to the world’s largest retailer, I was faced with even more challenges just to find a simple razor blade. First, if they were in stock, they were in some ridiculous, overbearing case. Again, once I stood in the only line open, of 385 possible registers, I had to again wait for a manager to unlock the little case. Seriously? Who has time for this? The same thing went for the corner drug store. They may be on the corner of Happy, but I sure wasn’t when I had to wait 20 minutes for a manager to come open the giant glass case. Has no one heard of Alpha Hang Tags?
I get it folks. These are super popular with the thieves and bands of organized criminal groups. They’re expensive, small and can be resold in minutes. Yes, as retailers we have to prevent shoplifting. We also have to actually sell the product as well. It may look great in that glass case where it’s sure as heck is not going to be stolen, but what’s that doing to your sales? You should probably look into Alpha Hang Tags. 
Again, I can hear your grumblings from behind my keyboard. “Grab and run shoplifters don’t care about EAS devices!” You are correct. They are concerned about a quick resell. When they are reselling stolen goods, it can’t look like it was stolen, especially if they are trying to sell at a flea market, online or in another brick and mortar store location. The Alpha Hang Tag would have to be destroyed in order for it to come off the product. This would damage/blemish the case of razors, thus diminishing the chances of an easy resell. The tag alone is a great physical deterrent and will stop most organized criminals. 
Take in mind that the Alpha Hang Tag isn’t used exclusively on razors. It can help you to prevent shoplifting on virtually all product that comes in a blister pack, or clamshell. That’s a lot of product protection. Its sleek design allows it to integrate almost seamlessly into the product packaging to a point where most customers aren’t aware that it’s an active EAS device. These really are a great solution to some of the highest theft items out there. I just wish more retailers thought about them… or the collective hours their customers wait for locked up merchandise. 
 
For more information, contact us: Alpha Hard Tags, or call 1.770.426.0547

It wasn’t but two years ago that I decided that I was going to let my beard grow out. It wasn’t “No Shave November”, nor was I going through any Hipster phase. No, I simply no longer felt it was worth my time to deal with retailers and the ridiculous ways they were locking up razor blades. As a long time loss prevention professional, I completely understand that you have to prevent shoplifting if you want to stay in business. You also need to have the product accessible and inviting to your customers, or they will in fact, go somewhere else. 

I’m not kidding about the beard, or the reason behind it. I go to the grocery store and I would have to go to customer service if I wanted razor blades. This meant I had to stand in another line, after I had already checked out (10 items or less…). If I went down to the world’s largest retailer, I was faced with even more challenges just to find a simple razor blade. First, if they were in stock, they were in some ridiculous, overbearing case. Again, once I stood in the only line open, of 385 possible registers, I had to again wait for a manager to unlock the little case. Seriously? Who has time for this? The same thing went for the corner drug store. They may be on the corner of Happy, but I sure wasn’t when I had to wait 20 minutes for a manager to come open the giant glass case. Has no one heard of Alpha Hang Tags?

I get it folks. These are super popular with the thieves and bands of organized criminal groups. They’re expensive, small and can be resold in minutes. Yes, as retailers we have to prevent shoplifting. We also have to actually sell the product as well. It may look great in that glass case where it’s sure as heck is not going to be stolen, but what’s that doing to your sales? You should probably look into Alpha Hang Tags. 

Again, I can hear your grumblings from behind my keyboard. “Grab and run shoplifters don’t care about EAS devices!” You are correct. They are concerned about a quick resell. When they are reselling stolen goods, it can’t look like it was stolen, especially if they are trying to sell at a flea market, online or in another brick and mortar store location. The Alpha Hang Tag would have to be destroyed in order for it to come off the product. This would damage/blemish the case of razors, thus diminishing the chances of an easy resell. The tag alone is a great physical deterrent and will stop most organized criminals. 

Take in mind that the Alpha Hang Tag isn’t used exclusively on razors. It can help you to prevent shoplifting on virtually all product that comes in a blister pack, or clamshell. That’s a lot of product protection. Its sleek design allows it to integrate almost seamlessly into the product packaging to a point where most customers aren’t aware that it’s an active EAS device. These really are a great solution to some of the highest theft items out there. I just wish more retailers thought about them… or the collective hours their customers wait for locked up merchandise. 

For more information about Alpha Hard Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

 

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Return Policies Are Key In Return Business

October 15, 2015 by Leave a Comment
A study just published this past April showed that a super strict return policy where the staff said “no receipt-no refund”, actually resulted in lost revenue.  It was a significant loss of over 8%.  The stores that had a more relaxed policy kept their sales at pace and did not experience any rise in number of refunds processed.   The stores that stayed business as usual did not really have any changes in number of returns or sales levels.  This is eye opening for sure, since many small business owners and managers are under the assumption that if they do not accept returns their sales are sure to be above budget.  The problem is that people do lose receipts, and customer service is what brings back loyal shoppers.  Our store certainly cannot afford to lose 8% of our sales, so we utilize a simple solution to help deter shoplifter/returners, and that is Checkpoint Labels.
The big box store down the street from us has the reputation that they will accept just about any returned item, with or without a receipt, as long as it rings up in their system.  That has been a huge frustration for the rest of us in the surrounding area.  Our store has a pretty standard return policy.  If the customer has a receipt, then we take care of their returns with no questions asked.  If they do not have a receipt it can get a little tricky.  Those are done strictly at the manager’s discretion.   Checkpoint Labels have made a big dent in some of the attempts that we know are fraudulent.
We have the occasional knucklehead that tries to return high retail merchandise without proof of purchase.   Sometimes I think they work at competitors and are actually stealing these items from them, instead of us, since it’s mainly OTC items like high retail CoQ10 vitamins.  But I do not want to encourage them to continue, so we have had to get more creative in protecting some of these more targeted items.   We have adhered Checkpoint Labels to all of the strengths of this particular item, and without it still attached, we will deny any refunds for them.   They actually have our store location printed on them, so we are easily able to determine whether or not they did come from our store.  We also sell salon brand hair care items, and these are actually source tagged by the vendor.  It’s even better that our store location number is pre-printed on the label as well.  Without that still attached in legible, we have the ammunition we need to prove or disprove the person’s story of where they bought the item.  We never want to just say no across the board to all refunds and returns without receipts.  We also never want to use any bias or discrimination in our decisions.  We have Checkpoint Labels  and we have common sense.  No normal person purchases five packs of lithium camera batteries and then gets home to discover they were the wrong one!
For more information contact us 1.770.426.0547 or Antishoplifting.net

A study just published this past April showed that a super strict return policy where the staff said “no receipt-no refund”, actually resulted in lost revenue.  It was a significant loss of over 8%.  The stores that had a more relaxed policy kept their sales at pace and did not experience any rise in number of refunds processed. The stores that stayed business as usual did not really have any changes in number of returns or sales levels. This is eye opening for sure, since many small business owners and managers are under the assumption that if they do not accept returns their sales are sure to be above budget.  The problem is that people do lose receipts, and customer service is what brings back loyal shoppers.  Our store certainly cannot afford to lose 8% of our sales, so we utilize a simple solution to help deter shoplifter/returners, and that is Checkpoint Labels.

The big box store down the street from us has the reputation that they will accept just about any returned item, with or without a receipt, as long as it rings up in their system.  That has been a huge frustration for the rest of us in the surrounding area.  Our store has a pretty standard return policy.  If the customer has a receipt, then we take care of their returns with no questions asked.  If they do not have a receipt it can get a little tricky.  Those are done strictly at the manager’s discretion. Checkpoint Labels have made a big dent in some of the attempts that we know are fraudulent.

We have the occasional knucklehead that tries to return high retail merchandise without proof of purchase.   Sometimes I think they work at competitors and are actually stealing these items from them, instead of us, since it’s mainly OTC items like high retail CoQ10 vitamins.  But I do not want to encourage them to continue, so we have had to get more creative in protecting some of these more targeted items.   We have adhered Checkpoint Labels to all of the strengths of this particular item, and without it still attached, we will deny any refunds for them.   They actually have our store location printed on them, so we are easily able to determine whether or not they did come from our store.  We also sell salon brand hair care items, and these are actually source tagged by the vendor.  It’s even better that our store location number is pre-printed on the label as well.  Without that still attached and legible, we have the ammunition we need to prove or disprove the person’s story of where they bought the item.  We never want to just say no across the board to all refunds and returns without receipts.  We also never want to use any bias or discrimination in our decisions.  We have Checkpoint Labels  and we have common sense.  No normal person purchases five packs of lithium camera batteries and then gets home to discover they were the wrong one!

For more information contact us at Anti Shoplifting or call 1.770.426.0547 

 

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You Can’t Afford to Ignore Employee Theft

October 14, 2015 by Leave a Comment

theft (2)People like to believe that the hard work, dedication and sacrifice that goes into starting and building a business will be rewarded, but that’s not always the case. It’s sad to see a business fail, especially when an owner has put a lot of time, energy and money into it.

It’s particularly troubling when the reason for the failure is employee theft or occupational fraud (stealing money, property and time).  Occupational fraud accounts for about 30% of small business closures per year (U.S. Department of Commerce).  It’s destructive to them because they’re unable to absorb the losses created by the fraud. 

The 2014 Global Fraud Study “Report to the Nations on Occupational Fraud and Abuse” estimated the average small business loses about 5% of revenue each year to fraud (The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners).  When they have small margins 5% can be the difference between profit or loss — the difference between remaining open or closing the doors. 

Most owners don’t think their employees are stealing from them.  They believe their workers are more honest and loyal than the average.  If they do suspect theft they ignore it by rationalizing “it’s not much”.  They assume the statistics are because of the other guy’s workers, who must be taking a lot from him. 

Unfortunately, that’s not a valid assumption.  There have been many studies, done over decades, about employee dishonesty and the results are interesting — as well as disheartening.  Depending on the study, 75% — 85% of people admit that they have in the past, are currently or will in the future steal time, money or property from their work place.

One of the constants, in the studies, is the conclusion that how an employee is treated doesn’t have much to do with whether they commit fraud or not.  They’ll take from a boss who they like as well as from one who they don’t.  Some of those 30% of business who failed were run by nice guys.  No small business owner can afford to ignore occupational fraud.

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Don’t Confuse Training with Meetings

October 13, 2015 by Leave a Comment

meetingpic.Initial and continued on-the-job training is one of the most effective ways to curb shrinkage and loss.  When done correctly it can reduce employee theft, lower shoplifting loss, cut down on administrative mistakes and catch vendor fraud.  Unfortunately, it’s become one of the most dreaded parts of a job.

It’s dreaded, by both managers and employees, for a good reason.  On-the-job training has become confused with and replaced by the employee meeting, which is usually boring, poorly run and downbeat.  But, they aren’t the same thing.   

Over the years experts have promoted replacing the “old way” of individualized on-the-job training (and management) with the “new and time saving” plan of having employee meetings instead.  The idea of managing and training people by group, rather than individually, is becoming the norm.

Supervisors are trying to change and manage behavior through group meetings, instead of properly training (at first and on a continuing basis) employees individually.  But, that way of managing only goes so far with good or average employees, and it especially doesn’t work with problem ones. 

It’s not uncommon for a new policy to be created as a response to one or two people’s problem behavior.  The policy is then presented in an employee meeting as a store wide issue, rather than the individual one it actually is.  Often, new policies don’t need to be written – the old ones just need to be enforced. 

They need to be enforced at the individual on-the-job training or coaching level.  Employee meetings are, at best, ineffective places to address one person’s behavior; at worst, they undermine management’s credibility and authority.

For example, this was overheard in a retail store – “Don’t forget the employee meeting at 3.  You know, where we all get yelled at for something Brittney and Josh are doing, but the team leaders are too scared to say anything to them.” (These weren’t their real names.)

It’s a given that proper training is the best defense against mistakes, loss and shrinkage.  Employee meetings are good places to give information and do general training.  But, the best and most effective training is still individual coaching based on the employee’s strengths and weaknesses. 

Nicole Abbott is a writer and psycho-therapist with over 20 years of experience in the fields of mental health and addiction.  She’s an educator, consultant, lecturer, trainer and facilitator, who has conducted over 200 workshops, trainings, presentations, college classes and seminars. 

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The Cost Of Shoplifting In Your Store

October 9, 2015 by Leave a Comment

shoplifting4

Training your security personnel how to handle shoplifters, and the security and safety measures they need to take before stopping anyone believed to be shoplifting cannot be stressed enough. Lawsuits are predominant in our culture, and safeguarding yourself and your business from possible lawsuits and loss of money is imperative if you want to make a profit.  Well trained security personnel can be an asset to your store, the money you spend training them and educating them is well worth it. Follow the links to read more about this and other topics.

Shoplifter who suffered skull fractures, brain damage wins $750,000 in lawsuit against store

He was convicted of stealing two pairs of miniature scissors from Shopko.

But his punishment came long before his court case ended.

In November 2008, Richard “Dave” Moore suffered several skull fractures and a brain injury when he was thrown to the ground by a Shopko loss-prevention officer outside the retailer’s store at 90th and Fort Streets.

Friday afternoon, a jury of 12 Douglas County residents ordered Shopko to pay $750,000 to Moore in a civil lawsuit Moore brought alleging that Shopko employees used excessive force.

Moore, 59, was overwhelmed by the verdict, said his attorney, Richard Schicker of Omaha.

“He started to cry,” Schicker said. “He said, ‘Thank you so much — you saved my life. I would have never made it if we didn’t win this case.’”

An attorney for Shopko couldn’t be reached for comment. It is unclear whether the retailer will appeal.

Over the past week, jurors heard testimony of an ordeal that began Nov. 23, 2008.

Store’s Facebook video post of accused bikini shoplifter goes viral

AN ACCUSED shoplifter has been shamed on social media over the brazen theft of bikinis caught on camera at a surf wear store in Fannie Bay.

Fed-up owner of Beach Bums, Mary Meyer, posted CCTV footage of the alleged thief pocketing more than $200 worth of bikinis on the store’s Facebook page.

The post has gone viral, with more than 45,000 views and 1800 shares along with messages of support from business owners since Sunday.

The minute-long clip captured the thief — wearing a black singlet-type top and sunglasses on her head — putting bikinis in her bag as other shoppers browsed beside her for a pair of swimmers.

Ms Meyer said she checked the CCTV after discovering empty hangers on the rack.

She posted the clip with the intention of publicly shaming the alleged thief.

“I put it up to shame her because it shouldn’t be happening. I was very surprised (by the reaction), I just didn’t think it would go like it did. I guess people don’t like it either,” she said.

Lead in $2.5 million shoplifting heist sentenced to prison, Walnut Creek man among those involved in the ring

The lead defendant in a shoplifting ring that stole more than $2.5 million in retail goods and resold them on eBay was sentenced Tuesday to seven years in prison, announced United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner in press release.

A restitution hearing is set for Dec. 1.

Jason Samuel Schroeder, 36, of Sacramento, is the sixth defendant sentenced to prison in this case. Kirk Arthell Sanderson, 37, of Walnut Creek, was previously sentenced to four years in prison; John Judah Young, 34, of Sacramento, was sentence to two and one half years in prison; and David Reed, 29, of Vacaville, was sentenced to one year in prison. Two others, Andrea Lynn Turner, 34, of Roseville, and Joshua Roy Payne, 30, of Vacaville, also were sentenced to two months in prison. Jason Nathaniel Reed, 36, of Portland, Ore., is scheduled for sentencing later this year.

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Using Checkpoint hard tags for Physical Security

October 9, 2015 by Leave a Comment
JD-Blog-008 Keyword: Checkpoint hard tags-5 (Secondary: hard tags-4)
Using Checkpoint hard tags for Physical Security
I use Checkpoint hard tags for more than just merchandise.  They can be a total physical security solution.  Since we already the tags and pedestals in place, we thought about what else we could use the tags for and came up with several great areas where the hard tags can help.  
The most natural transition was for key control.  Losing register keys, Electronics cage keys, dock door keys, and cash office keys becomes very expensive since not only do you need to replace the missing keys, you need to have those locks re-keyed.  That’s not a cheap fix.  We attached every key ring in the building to a lanyard with a hard tag attached.  That way, whenever someone left with the keys the pedestals would alarm, reminding them that they have the key set.  When combined with a simple sign in/sign out log and daily key inventory, the loss of keys has been eliminated, helping us save a lot of money on the physical security budget.  Another benefit was time savings in two different ways.  First, we reduced the time spent looking for missing keys.  Second was the unexpected side benefit of faster key sign outs because the tags enabled us to label the keys better.  For example, there is enough room on the tag to write what area the keys go to right on the tag itself.  Keys bearing a Checkpoint hard tag are also less attractive to external parties who may be considering stealing a set of keys.
We decided then to look into other, non-traditional uses for the Checkpoint hard tags.  Our next use was to secure register cash bags used to transport cash from the register to the cash office.  We put the pin of the hard tag through the outside of the bag itself, not on the zipper pull.  We decided against the zipper pull because it is easily pulled off by a dishonest employee.  Putting it right through the bag eliminates the ability to defeat it.  We also tagged the bag used for cash pickups and the one used for change runs.  Since we have registers throughout the store and not just in the front end, this made sense.  The use of Checkpoint hard tags to secure the cash bags makes prefect sense whether you have perimeter registers or a front end set up.  Placing the tags made internal theft of a cash bag a little more risky, and it does the same for snatch and run type robbery exposure.
The final area we deployed the Checkpoint hard tags in was fixed asset control.  We placed tags and lanyards on our remote data handheld units throughout the store and implemented the same sign in/sign out protocol.  This eliminated the loss of these expensive items.   Hard tags were also put on ticketing guns, label printers, and mobile devices (tablets) intended for use in-store by our sales team to place online orders.  These fixed assets that were subject to both internal and external theft were much better protected and less attractive to thieves.  One of the concerns was that the tags would get in the way, but we used a few different sizes and there have been no problems at all.  
A lot of loss can be prevented by using Checkpoint hard tags for more than just merchandise.
For more information about Checkpoint hard tags contact us at losspreventionsystems.net or call 1.770.426.0547.

I use Checkpoint hard tags for more than just merchandise. They can be a total physical security solution. Since we already the tags and pedestals in place, we thought about what else we could use the tags for and came up with several great areas where the hard tags can help.  

The most natural transition was for key control. Losing register keys, Electronics cage keys, dock door keys, and cash office keys becomes very expensive since not only do you need to replace the missing keys, you need to have those locks re-keyed. That’s not a cheap fix. We attached every key ring in the building to a lanyard with a hard tag attached. That way, whenever someone left with the keys the pedestals would alarm, reminding them that they have the key set. When combined with a simple sign in/sign out log and daily key inventory, the loss of keys has been eliminated, helping us save a lot of money on the physical security budget. Another benefit was time savings in two different ways. First, we reduced the time spent looking for missing keys. Second was the unexpected side benefit of faster key sign outs because the tags enabled us to label the keys better. For example, there is enough room on the tag to write what area the keys go to right on the tag itself. Keys bearing a Checkpoint hard tag are also less attractive to external parties who may be considering stealing a set of keys.

We decided then to look into other, non-traditional uses for the Checkpoint hard tags. Our next use was to secure register cash bags used to transport cash from the register to the cash office. We put the pin of the hard tag through the outside of the bag itself, not on the zipper pull. We decided against the zipper pull because it is easily pulled off by a dishonest employee. Putting it right through the bag eliminates the ability to defeat it. We also tagged the bag used for cash pickups and the one used for change runs. Since we have registers throughout the store and not just in the front end, this made sense. The use of Checkpoint hard tags to secure the cash bags makes prefect sense whether you have perimeter registers or a front end set up. Placing the tags made internal theft of a cash bag a little more risky, and it does the same for snatch and run type robbery exposure.

The final area we deployed the Checkpoint hard tags in was fixed asset control. We placed tags and lanyards on our remote data handheld units throughout the store and implemented the same sign in/sign out protocol. This eliminated the loss of these expensive items. Hard tags were also put on ticketing guns, label printers, and mobile devices (tablets) intended for use in-store by our sales team to place online orders. These fixed assets that were subject to both internal and external theft were much better protected and less attractive to thieves. One of the concerns was that the tags would get in the way, but we used a few different sizes and there have been no problems at all.  

A lot of loss can be prevented by using Checkpoint hard tags for more than just merchandise.

For more information about Checkpoint hard tags contact us or call 1.770.426.0547.

 

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After Dark Is Not Just For Vampires

October 8, 2015 by Leave a Comment

Money1For Retailers there are a number of scary things that happen when the sun goes down. As we get into fall it becomes darker, earlier. This can become problematic for us. We have issues that get magnified with darkness that concerns employee/customer safety and the safety and security of our businesses. There are the usual concerns of employees walking to their cars after closing and the like. I want to bring up some that you may have not considered.

Employees – Are you taking your deposit after closing? Night makes this a much more dangerous task. Consider changing this to mid-day. Take it at lunch time. Lock the deposit into the safe overnight. Then take it during the day when there is less risk. Safes are not very expensive. $400 will get you a decent safe. Bolt it to the floor so someone does not steal the safe. When you take the deposit to the bank conceal it in something other than the bank bag. Let’s not make it too obvious. 

Robbery – Many of us never discuss this with our folks, we should. What is your plan? Do they understand that their safety and the safety of your customers trump everything else? If you are not sure what you should do or say, contact us.  I can send you a draft policy and some materials you can use (free of charge and I am not going to try to sell you anything). 

Customer and Employee Safety – Yes you could be liable for something that happens while on your property. This includes your parking lot. Even if you are leasing in a strip center. If there are lights out in the parking lot or if it is poorly lit then do or say something. An email to the management company or property owner will put them on notice that you have a concern. If you have control, get it fixed. If there are people hanging around that you are uncomfortable with, then contact the Police. Ask to meet with a Sgt. or Lt. over your area. They would rather prevent an issue than deal with the results. If the department has public business meetings, you should attend. This will give you information on crime trends in your area and ideas on how to combat them.

Speaking of the Police, have you taken the time to make acquaintances with the Police Officers working your area? Do they know that you always have a cup of coffee available and want their presence in your store? Do they know that you encourage and support their efforts? A uniform officer and a patrol car in the area of your business goes a long ways to preventing problems. 

As a former Police Officer, I can tell you that these things mean a lot to them. The majority of contact they have with people is with criminals and victims. Normally they do not see the rest of us as we are not their normal “customers”. Especially in today’s times a kind word, show of support and asking for their opinion and guidance mean a lot to them. Do this enough and when you really do need them, They will be responding to the face of a person they know instead of an address.

Remember, those Officers, their spouses and friends are also your potential customers.

Shoplifters – Remember that shoplifters need one thing to ply their craft: concealment. Even if you have a Checkpoint System make sure that your store is brightly lit, that there are no hidden spots that make a shoplifter feel warm and fuzzy about concealing merchandise. Make sure that your folks fully understand your vision of customer service. Staff that display good customer service skills will shut off most impulse shoplifters. Consequently good customer service skills are not just a tool for sales but a weapon against shoplifting.

Customers that have Checkpoint Systems that LPSI installed can always schedule a free, live on-line shoplifting seminar. We are happy to help. October is a great time to schedule this before the holiday season gets in full swing. This will help raise your staff’s shoplifting awareness for the holidays.

Let us know, if we can help you get ready for your holiday selling season!

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THE SHOPLIFTING NETWORK

October 8, 2015 by Leave a Comment

shoplifting7We live in a world where technology helps us with everything. From the mundane, to sending a rocket to the edge of our solar system to beam back pictures of Pluto. Without the rampant growth of technology and the way we communicate today, none of this would be possible. In the Loss Prevention World, our technology helps us to detect anomalies that could be indicators of fraud. We have the latest high definition camera systems (that we can also access on our smart phones) to view those anomalies with the push of a button. I often think about our industry 20 -30 years ago and wonder how we ever got by. Could you imagine prosecuting an internal fraud case with absolutely no video? I’m sure there’s a lot of you out there that remember those days.

One thing we, as a society, probably take for granted the most is ease of communication. With the touch of a button you can communicate with anyone, from anywhere, so long as there is an internet connection. So what has that done for the LP industry? It’s allowed us to connect and share ideas with our peers across the country and across the globe. We can share information with our law enforcement partners anywhere, at any time. If there’s a big ORC group, we can identify them, track them, share information with others and ultimately have them arrested. The greatest advancement in the LP world, in my opinion, is how well we network with one another.

Networking is key to our survival. I want to know what’s happening somewhere else before it begins to affect my stores. Likewise, I want to share new ideas and tools to help my peers, even if we work for competing retailers. No matter who we work for, our main goal is the same; reduce losses caused by theft, fraud and other forms.

What if I told you criminals operate in the same manner?

shoplifting1

This is a screen shot from a popular blog website. If you know where to look, you can find a treasure trove of shoplifting “how to” guides. What we see above is someone who wants to boost some alcohol. Simply ask the “community” and someone (usually multiple someones) will be more than happy to provide you with tips, tricks and even specific methods to steal from whatever store your heart may desire.

Not only are these individuals concerned about what’s the best way to shoplift, some (if not most) are concerned with potential consequences of actually getting caught. There exists here, a somewhat underground community of shoplifters who are more than eager to share thshoplifting2eir knowledge to others who may be new to the game. Much like a tenured LP manager taking a green agent under their wings.

I must admit that is very easy to distinguish the “rookies”. This community is very well versed on all the latest EAS devices that we use to (try) stop them. I’ve even seen links posted to different websites where one can purchase magnetic detachers and
other tools that would make the most seasoned LP professional cringe at the thought.shoplifting3

Of course, it doesn’t just stop at shoplifting. Take this one for example. This member is boasting about a new computer and monitor he “walked out” with. This was your classic “sweetheart deal” with a dishonest associate. Note how they state the dishonest employee was able to fake a transaction because “everyone trusts him and no one pays attention.”

Does that sound like your store?

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I could sit back here and post screenshot after screenshot. The one common theme amongst all these posters is that stealing from big box retailers is a victimless crime. They see what they do as something that is not “a big deal” as they perceive that our insurance will cover our losses. What they fail to see is the actual damage they are doing to our stores. Lost product = lost payroll = lost wages. They, like every shoplifter and dishonest employee, are taking money right out of the pockets of our employees (including us!).

I hope by reading through this today, you will have a little better understanding of how the 21st century shoplifter operates. No longer is shoplifting a shameful thing. Tto people like this, it is something to be celebrated. By “saving” money, they may very well put each and every one of us out of business.

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