What clothing security tags are you using???

August 11, 2011 by

With all of the clothing security tags out there how do you know what is right to use?  Do placing security tags on clothes really help?  Finding the right solution for clothing security can be quite a daunting task for those who have never tried.  Checkpoint tags make clothing security easy.

 

I have worked in several different retail settings and I have found clothes to be one of the hardest products to protect.  There are so many ways shoplifters and employees can steal them.  I think the easiest and most affordable solution is to put security tags on clothes.  By doing this, I am able to know when unpaid for merchandise is walking out of my door and I am also able to deter a lot of the theft.  One decision is what type of tag to use.  Checkpoint tags offer soft and hard tags as well as lanyards and a clothing alarm.  All of these clothing security devices work together to prevent theft.  The soft tags can be used in items like wallets, purses, shoes, etc.  The hard tags can be used on shirts, pants, coats and things of that nature.  You can use hard tags with lanyards to put on high end handbags, coats, silk items, shoes and others where you don’t really want to leave a hole in the product.  (Little tip, put hard tags in the seams of product to avoid leaving the holes that damage the product).  Finally, I use a clothing alarm for some of my really high end product.  This device actually clamps on the product and creates an audible alarm if tampered with.

 

Clothing security is a hard part of business, but Checkpoint tags make the process much easier.

 

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase a clothing alarm or clothing security tags.

 

For more information on security tags on clothes, clothing alarm, clothing security, Checkpoint tags, or clothing security tags contact us at or call 1.770.426.0547

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Clothing Security Saves Inventory

August 11, 2011 by

 

When is the use of clothing security appropriate?

 

Anytime an apparel retailer opens the doors to his business to the public, clothing security of some sort is not only appropriate, it is mandatory.  If there were no security of any sort, the shoplifters would soon steal the store.

 

Apparel security has its own unique set of challenges.  The merchandise itself is desirable (necessary actually), expensive in some cases, and it is fairly easy to conceal a large amount of clothing into a small space.

 

Thieves conceal clothing in all kinds of places: bags, boxes, sacks, socks, pockets, inside their underwear, in umbrellas, in rolled up newspapers, even in various places on their bodies.  Baby strollers have become popular vehicles to use in stealing clothes and other items.

 

The retailer has to display merchandise openly so customers can examine it or sales would surely suffer.  Can you imagine having to make an appointment for a one on one visit to a store to buy a pair of jeans?  Jeans, by the way, are a high theft item.

 

The retailers fortunately do have a way to openly merchandise clothing and still have adequate clothing security.  This is provided by security tags on clothes, those items that shoplifters refer to as sensors or probably by many other names that are unprintable here.

 

The clothing security tags are attached by the store to merchandise that they want to protect because of vulnerability, price point, popularity, or any other reason that causes it to be classified as of high risk to shoplifters.  Once the clothing security tags are attached they can only be removed by an employee using a special detaching tool at the point of sale. 

 

If the security tags on clothes are not removed, an alarm will sound as the protected merchandise passes through a detection field located at the exit from the store.  The alarm attracts the attention of the store employees who can then react accordingly.

 

Any time apparel is at risk to shoplifters, the use of clothing security can be a profit saver.

 

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase a clothing alarm or clothing security tags.

 

For more information on clothing security, clothing alarm, or clothing security tags contact us at security tags on clothes or call 1.770.426.0547

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Can You Stop Employee Theft Before It Starts?

August 9, 2011 by Leave a Comment

The bad news is there is no way to stop employee theft from happening except to not have employees.

You can institute all kinds of policies designed to curb internal theft, and gear all your procedures toward that end and sooner or later, employee theft is going to happen.

The good news is that you can stop internal theft by some people by not making them employees in the first place by using a pre-employment background check to screen out undesirable applicants.

The first check that most employers use is the criminal history check.  No one can connect the dots from a youthful shoplifting offense or a disorderly conduct charge to employee theft, but multiple arrests for serious theft related charges might be reason not to allow an individual unfettered access to your inventory or cash.  Even part timers may be working an extra job to pay a fine, probation fees, or restitution.  Even if an employer chooses not to exclude an applicant for having a police record, it might be a fact to be considered when assigning responsibilities and tasks.

An employment related credit check might be appropriate for some potential employees as well.  There are restrictions on the use of credit checks on employees, so be sure it is substantially related to the applicant’s duties before requesting one.  Your attorney or background check company can offer guidance on this.

Some employers object to background checks because of costs.  But when compared to the potential savings gained by not hiring a thief, the cost of an effective employee theft investigation or even terminating an employee for theft and hiring a replacement, the cost begins to look a lot more attractive.  And don’t forget the property lost to internal theft that may never be recovered through an employee theft investigation.

While employee theft will never be totally stopped, the risk can be reduced through the use of a pre-employment background check during the hiring process.

For more information on employee theft , an employee theft investigation , or internal theft , contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta Georgia

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Stop Thief! Prevent Shoplifting the Efficient Way – Atlanta Georgia

August 9, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Yelling “Stop Thief!” at a shoplifter who is leaving a retail store probably isn’t the most efficient way to prevent shoplifting, although some business owners would probably argue that it couldn’t hurt.  Shoplifting does hurt retailers, however, right where it does the most damage – in the pocketbook.  Shoplifting means lower profits, lower stock levels, and lower morale among employees.

 Checkpoint Systems has a way to control customer theft that is a lot more acceptable than screaming at the top of your voice at a shoplifter exiting your store.  Checkpoint is designed to detect protected merchandise that has not been purchased as it passes through a detection field at the store’s exit.  Once the sensor is detected, an alarm sounds that alerts the store staff and the customer that there is an item passing through that still has an activated label or a special tag attached.  These labels and tags can only be deactivated or removed at the point of sale by a store employee.

 Once the alarm sounds, store staff approaches the customer to determine the cause of the alarm.  Training on the best way to accomplish this is provided by Checkpoint Systems so that legitimate customers aren’t offended and shoplifters are dealt with quietly and quickly.

 The presence of a system, tags, and labels are enough to discourage retail thieves and prevent shoplifting by casual shoplifters and most professionals, who had rather target an easier victim than one protected by a retail anti theft device.

 Retail businesses of all kinds are using EAS (Electronic Article Surveillance) systems and are finding that their shrinkage figures are substantially reduced and their net profits are maximized as shoplifters migrate to other locations to carry out their crimes.

 Using one of Checkpoint Systems retail anti theft devices is a much more efficient way to prevent shoplifting than to find a shoplifter and yell at him as he leaves your store.

 Visit the Loss Prevention Store for Checkpoint Systems and other products to help you prevent shoplifting in your business.

 For more information on how you can prevent shoplifting contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta Georgia

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Retailers Rejoice Over Clothing Security

August 9, 2011 by

Retailers have a lot to be thankful for with the creation of clothing security. Since clothing was made and sold, the sellers have been looking for ways to better provide clothing security.

The 20th century saw the creation of clothing security tags, a feature used by many retailers to protect their merchandise and their profits from the qualms of potential shoplifters. Security tags on clothes are straight forward and offer no disguise, simply stating to the would- be- thief, “We are protection!”

A business partner of a local store owner was worried that his store would suffer the negative effects of shoplifting, but didn’t think clothing security tags were the solution.  This guy believed the key to boosting his profits was through the direct apprehension of shoplifters. Although this method helps, it doesn’t prevent the theft from occurring. What he didn’t understand was the proactive approach a clothing security program, like security tags on clothes, offers.

It took a team of professional to make this business partner understand the benefits of clothing security tags and what could be done to help him protect his profits. Hearing the team speak of positive profits was proof enough that this clothing security plan would work and agreed to implement a program. First, he was shown a clothing alarm. The clothing alarm was attached directly to the garment. He was asked to try and defeat it. In his efforts, he was not able to. He then agreed to install the clothing alarm on several items throughout his store as a test. As time went on, he realized what his store had been missing, a good security program.

Retailers certainly do have a lot to be thankful for, because without the advent of items like the clothing alarm, clothing business could not survive.

Visit the Retail Loss Prevention Store.

For more information on clothing alarm, clothing security tags or security tags on clothes contact us at clothing security or call 1.770.426.0547

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Prevent Shoplifting – Watch Your Receipts

August 6, 2011 by Leave a Comment

 

Keeping up with register receipts can prevent shoplifting.

 In a new twist on an old trick, a man and a woman were cited for shoplifting in Cookeville, Tennessee, despite using a somewhat elaborate (for shoplifters, anyway) scheme.  The couple was shopping at a big box retailer and was selecting items from the shelves and putting them into a shopping cart.

 Oddly enough, they were following another female shopper who was selecting the very same items for her shopping cart.  Either this was quite a coincidence, or a shoplifter conspiracy.

 It turned out to be a shoplifter conspiracy as the first female shopper went through the line and paid for the merchandise.  Once outside, the male shopper went out and retrieved the receipt and brought it back inside the store, hoping to convince store employees that he had already paid for the merchandise when he left the store.

 The scheme didn’t work, however, as the employees’ effort to prevent shoplifting was successful and the police were called, giving the two shoplifters a date to appear in court.  The third member of the trio got away, but police are hopeful that further investigation will reveal her identity.

 My guess is that even if these shoplifters had gotten away with the merchandise, they would not have been finished with the receipt they had already tried to use twice.  They would have had duplicate items of everything they had stolen. And the receipt would most likely have been used to return one of each item to the store and receive a full refund.  Paying retail for stolen merchandise is not good for the store’s profit margin.

 Far more often the thief will enter the store with a receipt, go pull the merchandise from the shelf, and proceed straight to the refund desk. 

 Don’t fall victim to a refund fraud.  Prevent shoplifting and check returns carefully.

 

Visit the Loss Prevention Store for products to help you prevent shoplifting in your business.

 For more information on how you can prevent shoplifting contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta Georgia

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Clothing Alarm Sends Message to Thieves

August 6, 2011 by

Did they get the message? I heard the clothing alarm activate in the far rear corner of the store. As I headed over, I saw a suspicious looking person lingering near the high risk merchandise.  Remaining undercover, I commenced surveillance on the lingerer. He headed to the other side of the store. Noticing clothing security on the merchandise he stopped and looked around. I maintained surveillance, covertly.

Clothing security tags were put on nearly all merchandise in this store just last week. We had seen an increase in theft activity of non-protected merchandise or merchandise without clothing security, so the manager and I decided it would be a good idea to spread the security tags on clothes to items at a lower price point that were also being impacted by theft.

The suspected shoplifter picked an item from the display rack. He saw the clothing security tags on everything he was interested in. He placed the item back on the shelf and headed towards the athletic apparel. Security tags on clothes were sticking out and completely visible. With an annoyed look on his face, the shoplifter picked up 3 items from the display rack and went to the fitting room.

It was a slow day in the store, somewhat quite. The fitting rooms were placed in the center of this 15,000 square foot store accessible to customers without an employee present. As I observed from a distance, the shoplifter picked a stall and went to work. He was in the stall for no longer than 2 minutes when he attempted to remove the attached clothing alarm. EEEEEEEEEEE!!! The clothing alarm activated. I moved closer and waited for the suspect to exit. He did, and went straight for the front of the store. I quickly walked in the fitting room, and found all 3 items he had taken sitting on the floor, clothing security tags still attached and the clothing alarm still activated.. I think this thief got the message.

Visit the Retail Loss Prevention Store.

For more information on clothing security, clothing security tags or security tags on clothes contact us at clothing alarm or call 1.770.426.0547

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Employee Theft – The 10-10-80 Rule Atlanta Georgia

August 4, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Regarding employee theft, there is a widely held rule of thumb among professional auditors, accountants, and most everyone else involved in the detection and/or apprehension of dishonest employees called the 10-10-80 rule: 10 percent of employees will steal no matter what measures employers take; 10 percent will never steal regardless of the circumstances; and 80 percent will steal if all the right conditions are met.

The employer’s goal then, is to reduce the likelihood that the 80 percent will steal by reducing the opportunity that an employee will be able to steal and get away with it.

This is accomplished through a number of sound personnel practices such as separation of duties so that one employee doesn’t have responsibility for all tasks in a given operation (such as receiving or accounting), adequate supervision and review of bank reconciliation and payroll and vendor checks, and conduct unannounced audits of all operations front to back.

But every business will eventually become victim to some form of employee theft and loss of assets such as cash, merchandise, supplies, or intellectual property.

When internal theft is suspected, the next step is an employee theft investigation conducted by a loss prevention or corporate fraud investigator.  A business owner has expertise in operating his business, but often trusts others to handle the back office and routine tasks.  Once a dishonest employee discovers that he has free reign to steal it can take months and years to discover the thefts.

A loss prevention or corporate fraud investigator can help determine the depth and scope of the employee theft.  Often, the perceived involvement of one employee is only the proverbial tip of the iceberg, as there are collaborators or witnesses that should also be developed.

The advantages of using an experienced fraud investigator in an employee theft investigation situation are many.  Among them are experienced in interviewing suspects and witnesses and developing evidence; familiarity with legal issues and employment law that affect employees; exposure to many types of internal theft; and working for the welfare of the business alone.

Reduce or eliminate employee theft through careful planning and a swift reaction to any suspicion of internal theft.

For more information on employee theft , employee theft investigation , internal theft , or corporate fraud investigation contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta Georgia

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Business Owner Uses Social Media to Prevent Shoplifting

August 4, 2011 by Leave a Comment

 

Always looking for new ways to prevent shoplifting, and Eau Claire business owner has tried a rather new method. Link to full story here.

 The owner of a downtown children’s boutique noticed a pregnant shopper who seemed “very normal” walking around the store and looking at the merchandise.  The shopper went upstairs and continued to look through the racks of clothing.  The owner saw that when the shopper come down from the second level of the shop, she was carrying a large shopping bag with her coat draped over it.

 This made the owner suspicious and she began to watch the shopper, thinking that her presence might prevent shoplifting if that’s what the customer was thinking.

 When a deliveryman came in with a package, the shopper took advantage and followed closely behind him as he left the store.

 Still suspicious, the owner decided to review the recording from the store’s CCTV system to see if there had indeed been any theft going on.  Sure enough, the video showed the woman taking several items of clothing and putting them in the bag.  The video confirmed what the owner suspected:  She had been victimized by a thief.

 The owner happened to be working on an ad for a page she maintained on a popular social networking website.  She realized that she had over 1400 “fans” of her site and wondered if any of them might know her shoplifter.  She used her smart phone to record the video of the shoplifter in action and uploaded it to the social networking web site for all her visitors to see.

 It remains to be seen if there will be any results from the posting, but this does show the frustration business owners experience when customers steal from them.  It also demonstrates that retailers are always ready to use new and innovative ways to prevent shoplifting.

 Visit the Loss Prevention Store for products to help you prevent shoplifting in your business.

 For more information on how you can prevent shoplifting contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta Georgia

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Keep Prices Low with Clothing Security

August 4, 2011 by

One of the most shoplifted items in businesses is clothing. Everyone needs it and it is fairly easy to conceal. Businesses that sell clothing have an extra challenge to make sure that they can still bring in a profit while protecting the merchandise that they sell. Clothing security tags can be an option to help out with this task.

 

Clothing security tags are attached to clothing, making it less desirable to steal. The clothing security device is removed at the registers when the item is paid for, and then it can be reused on other clothing that you would like to display. Security tags on clothes are a visual deterrent to the potential shoplifter, and they also sound a clothing alarm should the merchandise go out of the business’s doors without being purchased.

 

In today’s retail environment, along with today’s challenging economy, most people are looking to save a few dollars. For shoplifters, it may mean that they would like to steal more so they can spend less. For honest customers, saving a few dollars may mean making their hard earned money spread a little further by finding the best deal available. For businesses, a minimal investment in clothing security can have a powerful impact on profitability.

 

 When shoplifting is out of control, costs to businesses increase substantially. The price of items offered to customers has to increase as well, in order to recoup the losses experienced due to shoplifting. Clothing security can help stop this vicious cycle by reducing losses due to shoplifting, so you can keep your prices reasonable.

 

There is something you can do to protect the clothing that you sell. Consider security tags on clothes to protect your merchandise and increase your bottom line.

 

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase a clothing alarm or clothing security tags.

 

For more information on clothing security, clothing alarm, or clothing security tags contact us at security tags on clothes or call 1.770.426.0547

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