Uncategorized — Page 135

The Many Efforts of Retailers to Stop Shoplifting

July 2, 2011 by Staff Editor

Is it easy to be anti shoplifting? Businesses since the beginning of retail have dreamed of ways to completely stop shoplifting. Honestly, without dramatically impacting sales in your stores, to stop shoplifting could be impossible.

However, there are ways to seriously put a damper on shoplifting activity in your stores. Stores looking to stop shoplifting must look at retail anti theft devices. Retail anti theft devices offer stores the benefit of securing merchandise and the avenues to becoming anti shoplifting.

As a loss prevention professional, I have been very successful at implementing retail theft prevention methods designed to help stop shoplifting. At the top of my list are retail anti theft devices such as Checkpoint security tags and Checkpoint labels. Truly, as important as properly displaying merchandise, making sure it is protected is equally important to secure profits in your stores.

Working loss prevention in stores selling a range of merchandise, I have seen the negative impacts of stores not utilizing Checkpoint Security tags and Checkpoint labels. In some cases, I feel the store is somewhat negligent and encouraging shoplifting because they either refuse to use retail anti theft devices or simply believe retail theft prevention is not important. A big misconception by retailers is that if they sell merchandise quickly, they’ll eliminate the acts of shoplifting.

In reality, retail theft prevention is a must for any retailer looking to grow their business and help reduce the amount of loss they certainly will experience. When I visit stores, I always look for the manager who can speak realistically about the business of their stores. Any business manager worth their salt knows how retail theft prevention plays a huge part in their profits.

Walk your stores. Take a serious assessment of your needs. Do you have shoplifters (yes you do). Do you need merchandise security (yes you do!)

Visit The Retail Loss Prevention Store to purchase Checkpoint Security tags and Checkpoint labels.

For more information on how you can become anti shoplifting contact us at stop shoplifting or call 1.770.426.0547

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Employee Theft – What You Don’t Know Will Hurt You – Atlanta Georgia

June 29, 2011 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

There are a couple of common denominators in over 90% of the employee theft cases that I’ve been involved in as a corporate fraud investigator over the years, and they are 1) The perpetrator held a position of trust; and 2) The thief started taking small amounts and became bolder as he continued to steal and stole more and more until he was caught.

A business owner who undertakes his own employee theft investigation does so from a position of having an employer/employee relationship with the people he suspects may be stealing from him. Although the employee may see his actions as being taken against an impersonal company, the company owner or manager sees it as a personal affront, in effect taking money out of the employer’s own pocket. This is not the best place from which to impartially look at a potential internal theft situation, as emotions are likely to enter into a situation that requires an objective look to remain impartial.

The employer often has a tendency to rush into the employee theft investigation to find the guilty party, confront them, and get them out of the business. Haste in this case can be costly because early into the investigation, there is undeveloped knowledge about both the depth and the scope of the employee theft. How many are involved and how long have they been doing it? These are important questions that need to be asked and answered for the health of the business.

All the employees who were involved in the theft and all who knew about it and didn’t speak up should be disciplined and separated from the company.

A corporate fraud investigator is frequently called upon to investigate cases of internal theft, whether it’s money, merchandise, company property, or even intellectual property.

The corporate fraud investigator has a good working knowledge of business operations based on experience in both investigations and exposing vulnerabilities in the operations of different types of businesses through audits and policy formulation.

The causes of internal theft can be complex and not the result of a single employee, and the corporate fraud investigator is experienced and qualified to get to the root cause of the problem and fine a viable solution for the business, whether it’s a hole in the procedure or out and out employee theft.

For more information on employee theft , employee theft investigation , internal theft , or to speak with a corporate fraud investigator contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta Georgia

How can you afford to not prevent shoplifting?

June 29, 2011 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

Some retailers I have dealt with claim that they can’t afford to prevent shoplifting. They don’t see why they should spend the money on anti shoplifting devices and training for their employees. They don’t think they need to prevent shoplifting because they don’t think it’s really a problem.

The sad part is these retailers often don’t realize they were wrong until inventory time. Lets say you find packaging for a $10.00 bracelet shoved in a shelf. Someone has obviously taken this product. After you figure in the net markup for this product (Including your bills and payroll which is usually 2% for most retialers). To make up the cost of loss for the $10.00 bracelet you would have to sell 50 of the same $10.00 bracelet. Don’t believe me? Check the math!

$10.00 / 0.02= $500.00

Now when you think about it, think about how many packages for $10.00 bracelets or wrappers for $20.00 dvd’s or tags for $50.00 dresses you’ve found this year. Can you really afford to not prevent shoplifting in your store?

The cost to prevent shoplifting can be incredibly low compared to the cost of theft. If you spend an extra $100.00 of payroll to take the time to train your employees on how to spot a shoplifter you could save hundreds! Everything from an open merchandising floor plan to simply greeting every one of your customers can deter shoplifters from your business. Even further, if you spend a few hundred on retail anti theft devices you can save thousands.

When you look at it this way, don’t you think it’s time to prevent shoplifting in any way you can?

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchae anti shoplifting devices.

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

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Prevent Shoplifting

Inventory looking slim? Maybe it’s time for Clothing Security.

June 29, 2011 by Staff Editor

We all know that June inventory is coming up and some of us are dreading it. Your employees have been finding more tags on the ground, empty hangers on the sales floor, even mismatched clothing sets. You’re dreading those inventory numbers.

Have you thought about implementing Clothing Security in your store? There are many forms of Clothing Security out there; the best ones, however, use paper thin clothing security tags and a clothing alarm to stop shoplifters in their tracks. Security tags on clothes are small hard plastic clothing tags that are nearly impossible to remove without a special key kept next to your registers.

You have probably noticed clothing tags on your floor or shoved into shelves and empty hangers. Unfortunately, shoplifters have realized that you aren’t using clothing security tags and you are an easy target. They run no risk of being seen attempting to remove the clothing security tags and you aren’t using a clothing alarm to sound off with they take your merchandise. The only way to stop this loss now is to start taking it seriously.

You need to invest in clothing alarm going off and alerting everyone in the store that they’re trying to walk out with active security tags on clothes. It’s a small investment to protect your inventory and let shoplifters know you are no longer the easy target they’re after!

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

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

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: clothing alarm, Clothing Security, clothing security tags, security tags on clothes

Stay a step ahead of shoplifters with clothing security

June 26, 2011 by Staff Editor

Want to make a quick buck? Some people do by stealing merchandise from businesses, then trying to return the merchandise for cash. This type of theft can be deterred by requiring a receipt for refunds, but even then some thieves will just steal what they have on a receipt already, or even create a fake receipt.

It sometimes seems that the thieves are always one step ahead – but that does not have to be case. If your business sells clothing, utilizing clothing security can be something that you can do to reduce your losses. Clothing is simple to steal, and it is often targeted for those seeking to make a profit by committing return fraud. By having security tags on clothes, you can reduce the appeal of your clothing to shoplifters without reducing its appeal to your honest and paying customers.

You will not find very many shoplifters that want to risk the clothing alarm sounding off in order to steal your merchandise. Also, clothing security tags are a visual deterrent, which once seen scare some shoplifters enough to not even want to try to steal the clothing in your business. That’s a good situation to create.

Your paying customers will not mind your using clothing security tags. The security tags on clothes don’t take away from the visual appeal of your merchandise, and your customers can still handle the clothing and try it on as they would if it was unsecured. What using clothing security will allow for is peace of mind for you, the business owner.

Using clothing security is going to make your business one step ahead of the shoplifters, instead of the other way around.

To purchase clothing security tags and a clothing alarm visit our website!

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

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: clothing alarm, Clothing Security, clothing security tags, security tags on clothes

Employee Theft – 17-Year Career Down the Drain in Georgia

June 25, 2011 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

In a strange case of employee theft – ex employee theft in this case – a retired assistant school superintendant was arrested and charged with stealing 3 to 20 gallons of gasoline from a school facility. Read the entire story here.

The employee theft investigation by the local police department was initiated based on information received from some bus mechanics who observed the former assistant superintendant filling a gas can. He was in his personal pickup truck and had several fuel containers in the bed of the truck.

The former county official who had retired 8 months earlier was employed at the time by the state board of education as consultant, but resigned his position immediately without giving a reason.

He has been released on bond.

This individual potentially had a lot to lose by committing employee theft, but decided to go ahead and take the chance anyway. He may have felt what he was doing was OK based on his position or the convenience of the location, but apparently his former employers disagreed.

Internal theft is a huge problem in both the public and the private sector. One of the disadvantages facing private businesses is that theft, especially employee theft, can affect the business enough to shut it down, so it’s vital that internal theft be kept to minimum.

Any hint of internal theft should trigger an employee theft investigation, because frequently the problem goes much deeper and is more widespread than it appears on the surface. Once detected, the act of internal theft should be analyzed and the affect it has had on the business thoroughly considered.

It’s not normally a good idea for a business owner or manager to undertake his own employee theft investigation. No matter how hard he tries, it is next to impossible to maintain an objective opinion when there is a relationship between the investigator and the investigated. And involvement in the business creates a preconceived idea of the ways the business is run.

Outside involvement from a corporate fraud investigator can open the door to wide areas of theft that were unknown to those who run the business. The eyes of the professional corporate fraud investigator are not only trained to see signs of theft, but they are fresh to the business, noticing activities that are suspicious but overlooked by local management.

There are employees with far less to lose than the alleged gasoline thief. Don’t be blind-sided by employee theft.

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

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Don’t let your merch walk right out the door!

June 25, 2011 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

Shoplifters, which amount to one in every ten people that walk in your door, are stealing from you. Why are you allowing it? You can easily prevent shoplifting. Don’t wait any longer and let even more of your hard earned money walk right out the door.

To stop shoplifting you need to address the following points:

Your Environment – Customer service is the key. Customer service is your primary tool to prevent shoplifting. Your honest customers love it, like it can’t get enough of it. Shoplifters hate it and will actually avoid customer service. A good customer that has entered your store is looking for help. That’s why they are there. They enjoy being noticed and paid attention to. In many cases that is why they are in your store as opposed to a large retailer where customer service is basically non-existent. Shoplifters need privacy to steal, don’t give it to them.

Your Attitude! – If you believe that you can’t do anything to prevent shoplifting you won’t. Shoplifters are criminals that steal if YOU give them the opportunity. You will never stop every single shoplifter. But you can create an environment where your good customers like being in your store, visiting with your employees and purchasing your merchandise. At the same time shoplifters will find that the environment is very hostile to them. This is true even if both a good customer and a shoplifter are standing next to each other.

Tools To Help – We know that even with the best customer service provided by trained highly motivated employees that you cannot be everywhere at once. The shoplifter knows that to. So if they can create a distraction or slip away then they have you. Not unless you have an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) system. Your more vulnerable merchandise is tagged or labeled. If the shoplifter is able to hide the product it will then trip the sensors at the doors when they try to leave. But this will ONLY work with a combination of good customer service, a great attitude, and EAS.

Don’t let your hard earned sales or merchandise walk out the door with out payment right under your nose!

For more information on Electronic Article Surveillance, shoplifting or shoplifting training contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Prevent Shoplifting

Return fraud can be stopped with Clothing Security

June 24, 2011 by Staff Editor

One scenario that I have seen in the retail theft prevention world is a “buy one get one free” type of scam. The customer comes into the business and buys items that he or she wants. Then the customer leaves and later returns to your business. He or she steals the exact items that they had previously purchased. Assuming that the shoplifter gets out of the store without being caught, the shoplifter can then return again with the stolen merchandise and return it for cash, since they have a “receipt.”

Businesses using clothing security can make this type of fraud more difficult for shoplifters. Clothing security tags, a great deterrent for thieves, and this type of scam is no exception. A shoplifter that is considering this return fraud is not going to want to have to figure out how to get around security tags on clothes just to return the stolen merchandise.

Return fraud of clothing is an easy way to earn some quick money. Clothing is easy to steal, especially if the business does not use clothing security. Returning the clothing to the business for cash, the shoplifter gets 100% profit with no monetary investment. Shoplifters can receive a pretty hefty payout for only a few minutes of work, so no wonder this type of scam is tempting.

You do not have to allow this to happen in your store. Security tags on clothes will be a worthwhile investment against shoplifters wanting to profit off of your loss. Shoplifters know that they cannot return merchandise that has these clothing security tags, also most do not want to even attempt the theft, knowing the risk of activating the clothing alarm. A quick buck isn’t worth the risk if you use clothing security. And when the thief can move on to the next unprotected business, why risk it?.

To purchase clothing security tags or a clothing alarm please visit our website!

For more information on clothing security , clothing security tags, security tags on clothes , clothing alarm and other forms of retail theft prevention contact us or call 1.770.426.0547.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: clothing alarm, Clothing Security, clothing security tags, security tags on clothes

A Focus on Clothing Security Pays Off

June 22, 2011 by Staff Editor

It is a fact that the world we live in has shoplifting and theft and because of this clothing security is absolutely necessary. No one business is exempt from these crimes, especially those that sell clothing. It would be nice to only focus on driving our business, to make a profit while providing quality products. However, in order to have that profit, a business owner must protect the assets that create the business in the first place. In the clothing retail world, security tags on clothes are an option that can produce real results.

Clothing security tags are applied to your high theft clothing in your business. These are removed at the time of purchase by employees at the register. Many shoplifters are immediately deterred just by seeing the clothing alarm on your merchandise. Security tags on clothes also make a shoplifter stop and think about the risks of either stealing merchandise with clothing security tags, or trying to remove the tag before leaving your business.

Shoplifters are only successful as long as they do not get caught. Risking a clothing alarm sounding should they steal merchandise is often a risk many are not willing to take. Shoplifters also thrive on not having any attention while they are in your business. By having clothing security tags, the customer considering shoplifting may worry that if they mess with the security tags on clothes, they will get that attention that they are trying so desperately to avoid.

By focusing on clothing security business owners can, essentially, focus more on improving business without as much worry about what is being stolen. The clothing security tags do the work of many employees by protecting your merchandise and deterring theft, while you can enjoy the rewards of decreased shrink and increased profitability.

Visit the Retail Loss Prevention Store

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

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: clothing alarm, Clothing Security, clothing security tags, security tags on clothes

Employee Theft Interviews

June 22, 2011 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

So, you’re a corporate fraud investigator and it’s time for you to conduct an employee theft interview. We all know that the ultimate goal of your interview is to get the subject to confess that they have taken part in some sort of internal theft, right? Well, what you may not know is that what the subject does is just as important as what they say. Non-verbal communication makes up 90% of the average person’s daily communication. Therefore, as a corporate fraud investigator it is extremely beneficial for you to know what to look for in order to quickly and efficiently get that confession that you so desperately want.

The phrase “neuro linguistic programming” refers to the almost involuntary movement of your eyes when asked a direct question. How is this useful in an employee theft interview? Well, let’s say you’re smack dab in the middle of an employee theft investigation and you ask your subject, “What happened in the cash office on Tuesday night?” Watch their eyes. If they look up and to the left (the part of the brain that controls imagination) they’re most likely making up a story to tell you. Conversely, if they look up and to the right (the part of the brain that controls memory) they’re likely trying to remember exactly what happened Tuesday night.

During an employee theft investigation, an individual’s body movements, posture, etc. can all be visual clues as to whether it is the right time to close in and push for that admission of internal theft. If someone sits with their arms folded indignantly staring at you and denying all wrong-doing through most of the interview then suddenly drops their arms, slumps their shoulders and stares at the ground it’s a good indication that mentally they’ve given up and it’s time for you to close in. As a corporate fraud investigator it is vital that you understand the part that non-verbals play in the employee theft interview process.

Visit the Retail Loss Prevention Store

For more information in internal theft , employee theft , employee theft investigation or a corporate fraud investigator contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: corporate fraud investigator, employee theft, employee theft investigation, internal theft