Clothing Security Tags

January 7, 2011 by

One of the most popular forms of retail theft prevention is the use of clothing security tags. If used properly they can serve as a huge deterrent to shoplifters who want to go undetected. However, they must be utilized properly or they’re just a waste of time, energy and money. I was in a popular retailer this past holiday season browsing for gifts when the familiar chirp of an EAS pylon filled the air. I instinctively looked towards the nearest exit where a man carrying several bags stopped and looked around with confusion in his eyes. A nearby sales associate, without bothering to look up from his task, blurted out, “Don’t worry about it; it’s been doing that all day!”

First of all you have to understand that there are 2 main types of clothing security tags. The first is the standard ink tag. This tag is attached to an article of clothing and must be removed by a magnetic device upon checkout. If it is not removed properly and someone attempts to remove it by force or some other means, several tubes of ink inside of the tag break permanently staining that article of clothing. This is probably not the best thing to use if tie-dye shirts make a comeback, but otherwise they’re a solid deterrent.

The second type is the EAS (or Electronic Article Surveillance) tag. These are placed on articles of clothing, similar to the ink tags, but instead of being filled with tubes of ink these tags will set off an audible alarm if they pass between EAS pylons without being deactivated or removed completely. However, as in the above mentioned case, if your store associates aren’t trained and dedicated to being vigilant these loss prevention measures are nearly useless. Clothing security tags can serve as a great deterrent, but the best way to combat shoplifters is with dedicated informed associates.

For more information about clothing security or security tags on clothes contact us Clothing Security Tags or call 1.770.426.0547

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HR Uses Background Checks – Atlanta Georgia

January 7, 2011 by

HR Uses Background Checks – Atlanta Georgia

HR managers who use a background check company as part of their overall hiring policy to eliminate undesirable applicants are well versed in the application of the information that can and can’t be used when taking adverse action – that is not hiring the individual base on information contained in a background check.

Any negative information revealed, whether it is a criminal history, poor credit, or something else, should be directly related to the individual’s ability to do the job.  In other words, poor credit shouldn’t preclude hiring a person who doesn’t handle cash or who is closely supervised.  A minor criminal history shouldn’t eliminate a candidate depending on the severity of the offense, the age of the person involved, and the length of time since the offense occurred.

There is leeway in the decision making process, but as most HR professionals will tell you, all policies, including pre employment screening must be fairly and consistently applied for the position.

Conversely, there are situations where the presence of derogatory information absolutely should prevent an applicant from holding a particular position.  A day care worker shouldn’t be a registered sex offender, a home health nurse shouldn’t have a criminal conviction for violence of any sort, and a cashier should be free of any convictions of credit card fraud, obviously.

The HR department should set the breadth and scope of the background check to be conducted for each position and be sure all guidelines are followed.

The HR department should be able to depend on the background check company as a business partner, getting solid advice and guidance about their background check policies.

To discuss your background check requirements, call 770-426-0547 (770-253-4593 in Atlanta, Georgia) or click here.

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Stopping theft with clothing security

January 5, 2011 by

I have helped work cases in which the shoplifter goes to a quiet corner of the business, and then pulls out some sacks and bags up the clothing she has selected.  Then the shoplifter simply walks out of the doors of the business, having the appearance of having paid for the merchandise they are carrying.

This is a common way to shoplift, especially with the increasing popularity of reusable shopping bags that the customer can bring into the store.  However, if your business has security tags on clothes , then this type of theft can be deterred.

A shoplifter wants to be able to quickly remove a tag, or not even have to remove anything off of the clothes that he or she wishes to steal.  So by having clothing security tags , you can proactively combat not only this common shoplifting trend, but any type of theft trick a shoplifter may have up his sleeve.

When investing in clothing security tags , a business owner can take into consideration the amount of investment, which is minimal, compared to the profits saved and merchandise protected.  When a shoplifter knows that there is a clothing alarm in your business, he or she will move on to the next, unprotected business. That is exactly what you want to happen.

Word then spreads that your business has clothing security , and therefore is not the appealing target to shoplifters that other businesses may be.  So the shoplifters go to the unprotected businesses, and the honest customers come to you.

No matter how a shoplifter chooses to steal, clothing security tags can be a great deterrent and a worthwhile investment. A shoplifter needs to opportunity to steal from you, and without that opportunity, the theft cannot occur. Clothing security takes away that opportunity, and protects your merchandise at the same time.

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

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Signals that indicate internal theft with Data – Part 10 of 10 – Atlanta Georgia

January 5, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Signals that indicate possible employee theft or internal theft with data that would require an employee theft investigation.

  • A number of resignations occur in a short period. This often follows a palace revolt whereby a number of key employees have left the company and started their own company or work for a competitor. After their departure you may think that the situation is under control. However, they may have left a collaborator behind who leaks information to them.
  • Competitors know your technical innovations, plans and formulas.
  • Merger or takeover plans leak out.
  • Commercial data, turnover figures, client lists or buying details seem to be known ‘outside’.
  • Rumours keep surfacing about the willingness of personnel to supply information for money or simply out of spite.
  • Loss of clients without any clear explanation.
  • Unexplainable drop in turnover.
  • Clients and other marketing data are offered to competitors.
  • Unexplainable mistakes and disturbances in the computer system.
  • Instructions for operating computer programs are not adhered to.
  • Computer files are altered or disappear.
  • Financial statements are missing or ‘accidentally’ destroyed.
  • Production details, inventory figures, raw materials, and finished products are incomplete or missing.

Do you have a proper, enforceable employment agreement in place that each and every employee signs? Employees who feel no guilt or are entitled to steal you customers or work product are a serious dander to every business. Many times these employees feel that your customers are really their customers because they have built the relationship. What they conveniently forget is that you are paying them to do this for you to build your business. Employee theft or internal theft of this nature can destroy your company unless you have strong agreements and management in place.

Have a problem and need an employee theft investigation ? We can handle it for you!

For more information about internal theft or employee theft contact us at employee theft investigation or call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta Georgia

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What are Loss Prevention Consultants? – Atlanta Georgia

January 5, 2011 by

 If you’re like most people you know very little about what loss prevention consultants are and what they do. Don’t feel bad, I’ve been in the loss prevention field for over a decade and had to brush up a bit on what exactly the job of a consultant was versus the everyday detective, investigator or LP supervisor. In short, loss prevention consultants are individuals who work with one or more companies to provide evaluation and assistance with various loss prevention issues.

These consultants use procedures that can include anything from mystery shopping and running background checks on potential employees to investigating occurrences of theft and performing employee interrogations. While major corporations and larger companies typically have dedicated loss prevention associates and have employees who work full time in loss prevention, other smaller companies cannot often afford to pay for loss prevention on a full-time basis. Loss prevention consultants will typically work with these types of companies to provide the protection and services of a loss prevention department without the need for ongoing, full-time pay.

The methods used and services provided by loss prevention consultants will typically vary from company to company, and are based on the needs of the business looking to hire a consultant. A good company will work with you based on your individual needs rather than simply having a kind of cookie-cutter formula mapped out for everybody. Do your research and find out what company works best for you. Loss prevention consultants can be a cost effective way of keeping your company’s shrink under control.

For more information about loss prevention consultants or loss prevention investigator contact us call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta Georgia

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Watching profit not loss: Prevent shoplifting in your business

January 4, 2011 by Leave a Comment

My employees that watch and catch shoplifters spotted an individual who concealed an electronic item between two pairs of pants, then entered the fitting room of the business. The fitting room attendant did not handle or touch the clothing, and therefore did not prevent shoplifting in this case.  The electronic item was stolen while the shoplifter was inside of the fitting room.

This is a common occurrence among our employees – a simple act such as handling the items going into the fitting room could have be enough to prevent shoplifting in this situation.  Training our employees to be aware of the techniques shoplifters use can go far to prevent shoplifting within your business.

Having a strong loss prevention program in place is beneficial in protecting the assets of a business.  Employing the expertise of a loss prevention consultant can make this daunting task a reality for businesses that may not know where to start in creating a program.

Once there are guidelines in place, employees can be trained to prevent shoplifting in their everyday work.  Some basic guidelines are to teach employees to pay attention to the shoppers in their area, and to provide good customer service.  A potential shoplifter does not want attention, so if attention is provided to every customer in your business, the shoplifter knows he or she has been noticed.  This is exactly what a shoplifter does not want.

Additional loss prevention ideas are to have controls in place in areas like your fitting room.  Fitting room attendants should handle the clothing that goes into the fitting room to make sure that merchandise is not concealed within it.  The attendant should also count and limit the number of garments going in, and then make sure that is the number that comes back out.

When you prevent shoplifting within your business, you decrease your shrink and increase your profits – common business sense.

For more information contact us at prevent shoplifting or call 1.770.426.0547.

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Background Checks 101

January 4, 2011 by

Criminal Background Check 101

When an employer requests a criminal background check and the results include a positive criminal history, where does that information come from?

A good place to get the answer to this question (and more)  is to have a basic understanding of how criminal records are generated, stored, and made available to the public.

The origin of a criminal record occurs when an individual is arrested by a law enforcement agency because he is suspected of having committed a crime.  The person is then formally charged in a court, after an investigation is conducted.  All criminal records are under the supervision of the clerk of the respective court that has jurisdiction of the case.

Eventually, the case is heard and adjudicated and the charged individual is either released as a result of a non-conviction, or convicted and sentenced to a penalty that depends on the severity of the crime, previous convictions and other mitigating or aggravating issues.  All these records remain in the custody of the clerk of the court, but are considered public record, unless there is some special circumstance.

If anyone wants to see the record or if there is a record on someone, she generally must physically go to the courthouse, look up the case number in an index, give that to the clerk who will then go and pull the file containing the paperwork pertaining to the case and let the retriever view it there in the records room.  If copies are required, they are generally done by the clerk for a fee.

Some counties, however make this information available on the internet, where it may be viewed by the general public.  Caution is advised when using the internet to obtain a criminal background check, because while some sites are quite good and complete, others are difficult to use and often incomplete or inaccurate.

County courts as well as law enforcement agencies in most cases also report activity to a central state repository, which may be made available to the public.  The quality of the information contained in these repositories can range from accurate and adequate to less than useful because of omissions and inaccuracies.  Many states don’t make the information in their repositories available at all, and others make access so inconvenient that it is basically worthless.

Crimes are also reported to a national criminal database known as NCIC, but these records are not generally made available to the public.

Commercial databases purchase information from courts that allow it, but although the information from these sources is usually fast and cheap, it should never be used as an employer’s primary source for a criminal background check.

For more information on how to obtain a quality criminal background check call 770-426-0547 or click here.

Fine Print:  We are not attorneys, and the content in this blog should be considered as informational and not as legal advice.  If you need legal advice, contact an attorney.

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Signals that indicate internal theft, Time Theft – Part 9 of 10 – Atlanta Georgia

January 3, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Signals which indicate a possible employee theft or internal theft with time. Do you need an employee theft investigation ?

  • Personnel who, seemingly self-sacrificingly, take over their co-workers tasks while they have lunch and coffee breaks. This time can be used for taking money from tills, helping their friends, or placing goods ready to take later or even loading goods into their own vehicle.
  • Personnel who offer to work overtime or who create overtime.
  • Overtime which always takes place with the same group of volunteer employees.
  • Personnel who send their co-workers home while they stay late to count cash or lock the premises.
  • Reporting sick according to a fixed pattern such as an annual event, good weather, during holiday periods, to coincide with a sporting event, or before or after a weekend.
  • Signals that indicate employment for other employers while they claim to be sick, such as not being reachable, fixed patterns of reporting sick, no complaints about reduction of salary.
  • Clients complain that a representative does not visit despite reports submitted by the representative that states a visit has taken place.
  • Raising the hourly rate by declaring un-worked overtime.
  • Carrying out work for his or her own business, or a family business, or for another third party. Working in the same line of business on a “temporary” basis.
  • Regularly preparing private commercial work on the firm’s premises during working hours, evenings or weekends.
  • Lack of control over presence of employees.

Employee theft or internal theft through time fraud is very common. Managers who do not keep and eye on the comings and goings of employees are setting the company for loss. Employees that are not properly supervised may be working for themselves on your time.

Watch for more about employee theft investigation in future blogs!

For more information about employee theft or employee theft contact us at employee theft investigation or call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta Georgia

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Loss Prevention Agent – Recovering your Loss – Atlanta Georgia

January 3, 2011 by

A loss prevention agent can be an employee of your business that is out on your sales floor, watching for shoplifters.  They can be a valuable resource in your efforts to reduce shrink.

Agents should be trained to know what specifically to watch for when they are looking for suspicious activity.  Agents should never profile based on the way a customer looks, their gender, race, etc.  Shoplifters do not fit into a specific category and can be anyone – young or old, wealthy or poor, male or female.

Some customers that come into your business may not realize that their actions appear suspicious.  I have seen customers put $100 worth of small merchandise right on top of their open and empty purses, just to go to the register and pay for it all.  Some customers will conceal items in their coat pockets, then later take it out and pay for it at a register.

These customers know that they are honest, so they do not take into consideration that their actions appear dishonest.  A loss prevention agent will encounter this type of behavior, and must learn how to differentiate between it and the actual shoplifters that will come into your business.

A loss prevention agent must be completely sure of the acts that they have witnessed fall within your policy of detaining shoplifters.  The agent must know that the merchandise is from the store, is unpaid for, and is not going to be paid for.  A loss prevention agent should detain a shoplifter only past the last point of sale, to rule out the possibility that the customer will pay for the merchandise.  The agent must also maintain constant surveillance of the suspected shoplifter after he or she has concealed the merchandise.  If the agent does not, there is the chance that the customer actually went to a register and paid for the concealed merchandise.

A loss prevention agent can be a valuable asset to reducing shrink in your store, as long as policies and guidelines are followed so customers are not unlawfully detained.

For more information about loss prevention consultants , loss prevention investigator contact us: loss prevention agent or call 1.770.426.256 – Atlanta Georgia

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Clothing Security In The New Year

January 3, 2011 by

Shoplifting is on the rise. National studies show that shoplifting is higher than ever. Unfortunately it will probably stay this way for some time. Those retailers who want to turn a profit have to maximize every sale and reduce every loss possible.

This makes clothing security even more important than ever.

If you are not protecting your company aggressively you WILL LOOSE MONEY. Are you taking the following clothing security actions?

  • Do you have adequate floor coverage at all times (shoplifters will watch for vulnerabilities)?
  • Are you and your employees properly trained in anti shoplifting techniques?
  • Is that training reinforced regularly?
  • Do you have policy and procedures that outlines how your company protects its employees, customers and merchandise?
  • Are you doing routine cycle counts on “hot” merchandise?
  • Are you making adjustments to your shoplifting prevention plan? If an item becomes hot are you aware and protecting it with Checkpoint Systems or other anti shoplifting devices?
  • Do you and your employees approach anyone suspected of shoplifting with an intensive customer service approach.
  • Are your Checkpoint systems working properly? Are false alarms and phantoms address?
  • Is a front-end employee assigned and immediately approaching customer’s when the Checkpoint systems alarms to resolve the situation. Or do they just wave them on (shoplifters love this and look for retailers who do this)?
  • Is the merchandise you have identified in your clothing security plan being tagged before it hits the floor? Is every bit of it tagged or are you hearing “I couldn’t get to it”?
  • If you use Checkpoint systems tags or Alpha hard tags are ALL of the detachers accounted for and physically bolted or tied down to prevent unauthorized use or theft of the detacher itself?

Let’s go into 2011 with a positive clothing security attitude and make it a more profitable year!

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

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