Use clothing security tags to stop losses and boost profits

October 6, 2010 by

Clothing security tags used as part of an inventory protection / loss prevention system have been around for many years for good reason, they work.  Sure there are those theives out there who are always working on how to defeat any and every security system that exists; however the odds are greatly in the favor of those who trust the clothing security technology.

Checkpoint Security Systems has recently released new clothing security tags that have stronger mechanisms in them to hold the pin in place.

These new Checkpoint Tags require a new stronger detacher as well to remove the pin making them a very secure clothing security solution.

Studies show that 85% of loss due to shoplifters are by habitual shoplifters.  The shoplifters from this group who encounter a security system such as the Checkpoint System will not attempt theft 76% of the time.  It is typical that apparel retailers using security tags on clothes see a reduction in inventory shrinkage by 50% and more.

So if an apparel retailer doing $1mil in business per year with an average inventory shrinkage of 4% (conservative) and a net profit margin of 4% (generous) cuts their losses in half, they just moved $20,000 from the loss column over to the revenues column.  his also naturally translates to a 50% increase in net margin. These systems pay for themselves very quickly and long term are big money makers.

For more information or to buy visit: clothing security tags or call 1-770-426-0547

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Criminal Background Checks – What do the Results Mean

October 6, 2010 by

If you are one of the thousands of employers who conduct criminal background checks on potential employees, you know the results can be open to a good deal of interpretation.

The information contained in the criminal background check usually regards arrests or citations by the police agency and the charges against the person, the severity of the crimes, that is a felony, misdemeanor, or infraction, the disposition, and the punishment, if any.

The first step, the arrest is generally made as a result of an investigation by the police, a crime committed in the presence of the police, or a warrant taken by a private individual.  When the person is arrested or cited, he is charged with the offense.  Felonies are the most serious, followed by misdemeanors, and then by infractions.  The difference between these types is generally defined by the punishment defined by statute for the crime.

A person may be charged originally with one crime and have it dropped or amended later to a different charge, at the discretion of the prosecutor, or even have more charges added.

Felonies, or more serious crimes are generally heard in superior or upper court, and misdemeanors in the state or lower court.  Some low level misdemeanor charges or infractions may be heard in municipal or judges’ court.  The courts are called different names, depending on the jurisdiction or location of the court.

The disposition of the case is simply the verdict or other action taken by the court in the criminal action brought before it.

The disposition is usually either a conviction, meaning the person was found guilty, or an acquittal, meaning the person was found not guilty and charges were dismissed.

But there are other dispositions as well.  Most states have a version of a first offender law, or other means to defer judgment until a later date on a first time offender.  Some of these dispositions may be called deferred adjudication, dead docket, adjudication withheld, or other term used by the court.  The important thing to remember is that these types of dispositions should not be considered as convictions, even though it may become a conviction later if the person does not complete the terms of the deferment satisfactorily.

A criminal background check will also generally divulge the punishment for the crime, which may be prison or jail time, a fine, probation time, community service, or a combination of any of these.

There is a lot of leeway in the court systems in this country, so many outcomes are possible in what would seem to be under similar circumstances, so interpretation of the results may seem confusing.

To simplify your criminal background checks, click here or call 770-426-0547.

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The How-to on Employee Theft Investigations

October 5, 2010 by Leave a Comment

An unfortunate reality for businesses is the need to conduct an  employee theft investigation.  Your business NEEDS these investigations to be profitable.  While we can conduct background investigations when hiring employees, there will always be the potential for an employee to steal from his or her employer.  For a business owner, not much is more frustrating than when an employee commits theft.

An  employee theft investigation is a necessary part of retail loss prevention.  There are a variety of factors that are taken into consideration when conducting an investigation involving employees.  Your organization should have a policy in place to follow when conducting investigations.  This allows for consistency within the process.

Once a loss has been identified, a suspect or person of interest needs to be identified.  Often another employee may learn of a theft and name a suspect when reporting the theft to management.  Losses are also discovered during routine review of business reports (i.e. cash register shortages) and the losses must be analyzed to identify which employee(s) had the opportunity to create the loss.

Evidence must also be collected during an investigation.  Evidence can include register receipts, CCTV footage, and other reports and documents.  It is important to maintain the documentation in an organized manner so that it is accessible during the investigation and possible prosecution.  If witnesses are interviewed, notes from the interviewer should be added to the case file, along with a written statement from the witness.

Once your investigation is complete, review the collected information and determine if there is enough evidence to interview your suspect.  There should be enough evidence collected from your employee theft investigation that the matter can be turned over to the police regardless of what the employee says in an interview.

For more information contact us about employee theft investigation  or call 1.770.426.0547

By Teresa Greenwood

Teresa Greenwood is a former law enforcement officer currently working in retail loss prevention/asset protection for a major retailer.

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Retail Loss Prevention and the use of CCTV (Closed Circuit Camera system)

October 5, 2010 by Leave a Comment

How can retail loss prevention boost your profits? Use CCTV.

Retailers worldwide benefit daily thru the use of CCTV to protect assets, increase safety and give a piece of mind. In the world of Retail Loss Prevention, CCTV is a staple. From Investigations of dishonest employees to reviews of customer alleged slip, trip and fall instances and other potential risks and liabilities.

A retailer in a metropolitan market found a return on their investment when the use of CCTV equipment helped the local police department recover thousands of dollars in stolen merchandise. An undercover loss prevention agent working the particular store, observed a team of suspects enter the health and beauty aisle. The suspects, working in teams of 4, quickly cleared off several bottles of shampoos, baby formula and men’s razorblades. The people worked so efficiently, they were sometimes in and out of the store before the loss prevention agent could get out to the salesfloor.  After the last 3 times these suspect had “hit” this store in the last week, the loss prevention agent quickly notified the local police department of the suspect’s presence. Working the store’s CCTV system, the agent kept uninterrupted surveillance on the suspects. While on the phone with the local police department, the loss prevention agent was able to position the responding police officers outside of the store. As the suspects exited, the agent maintained surveillance as the local police department apprehended all four of them.

The loss prevention agent was subpoenaed to court and was able to provide the local prosecuting agency with video evidence of the multiple instance of theft this group had conducted. As a result of the proper use of the CCTV equipment, the store was able to recover a large amount of its losses after the local police department recovered thousands of dollars in stolen merchandise from the suspects.

Retail loss prevention  can create, write and execute loss prevention policies for most companies that can dramatically improve their overall profitability.

For more information visit: retail loss prevention or call 1.770.426.0547

 

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Security tags on clothes decrease loss, increase profits

October 5, 2010 by

Using security tags on clothes is a wise choice for retail businesses.  You do not have to sit back and watch your profits walk out your front doors!  Businesses can prevent retail loss and save money in the long run by utilizing the security options available for their merchandise.

Business owners need to analyze the expense of setting up anti theft devices against the loss they are experiencing from theft.  While there is an initial expense of setting up security tags on clothes, the ROI on your efforts are immediate to very short term and can be substantial to your bottom line.  Profit can be greatly increased simply by preventing shoplifting theft of your clothing products.

The expense of setting up a security system for the clothing you sell usually pays for itself in a short amount of time.  If you are looking into security tags for the clothes you sell, you have probably already identified a loss of merchandise.  By implementing a system, thieves will be deterred.  And thieves will also look to other businesses to steal from, instead of taking the time to combat the clothing security in your business.

The investment of security tags on clothes is one which will increase profits for your business.  Identify the loss, and then take action to combat it for the future of your profitable business.  Security tags on clothes are a smart loss prevention strategy to choose – invest in your potential profitability.

For more information contact us at Security Tags on Clothes or call 1.770.426.0547.

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Employee background checks are a great Loss Prevention tool

October 5, 2010 by

Using employee background checks is the first step in hiring quality, solid character employee and should be a staple in any business’ loss prevention program.

The 2010 University of Florida National Retail Security Survey documents that the majority of retail shrinkage last year was due to employee theft ($14.4 billion). Employee theft accounted for 43 percent of total retail losses in 2009. An estimated 1.7 million people are victims annually of violent crime while working in the United States, according to a report published by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). 1.3 million (75%) of these incidents were simple assaults while 19% were aggravated assaults. The American DataBank has also documented that up to 30% of job applications and 40% of resumes contain false information. Due to a large number of employers not conducting effective employee background checks, 72% of employers lose negligent hiring suits.

An effective use of employee background checks should include, at a minimum, the following:

Criminal Background Check: To include Federal, State and County criminal background checks.

Employment Background Check: Confirm dates of employment, Positions held and eligibility for rehire.

Social Security Background Check: Verify Social Security number, identify other names used and residence history.

Motor Vehicle Report / Driving Records Background Check: Identify citations and suspensions.

Protect your business today. Conduct employee background checks to increase profits and reduce the potential for violent crime in your workplace.

For more information visit: employee background checks

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The truth about Employee Theft

October 4, 2010 by Leave a Comment

It’s no secret, Employee Theft ruins business. It’s a growing and scary trend, and can some times leave a business feeling defenseless, helpless.

There are solutions to employee theft, but the retailer needs to act quickly. Take a look around and truly assess what the business needs. Get a professional to make suggestions. Are there signs of employee dishonesty? Any empty packages in areas only accessible by employees? Is cash missing from safes, registers or deposits?

Understanding the signs of dishonesty can be a big help. As a business owner, these issues, once observed, should be dealt with immediately and without hesitation.

Never forget, a solid investigation will always be needed. Investigations aren’t solely done to nab the dishonest employee; they are done to protect your business. To show the true intent and evidence of the employee or employees involved, and to possibly recover some or all of your losses a detailed investigation of the suspected employee, including evidence gathering and interviewing potential witnesses is very important.

Employee theft is a nuisance. No question about it. However, it is the reality of many retailers and businesses. How you go about dealing with, and preventing the re-occurrence can and will make all the difference when we talk about profitability. Nothing crushes profits more than a dishonest employee.

If profitability is a goal in your company, you must have a plan in place to deal with Employee Theft. It is inevitable. It is part of the business. Be proactive and don’t wait for issues to spin out of control. Have a plan in place, so when a dishonest employee arrives, the concern is immediately address, losses are cut and profitability is protected.

Delivering the desired results is the responsibility of any solid loss prevention program, remaining profitable, driving sales, safety and service should be the outcome.

For more information visit us at employee theft or call us at 1.770.426.0547

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Gaining profits through controlling Internal Theft

October 4, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Controlling internal theft is a daunting task at times.  Retailers and businesses alike are not immune to this “disease”, however there are solutions.

Take a former sporting goods company I worked for. A remote location offered the perfect setting for internal theft. The infrequent district, regional and corporate visits gave the dishonest employees the feeling of being at home with “mom and dad”. The new store manager was in over his head. A high sales volume store, he just couldn’t keep up with the demands of his customers and the company alike. As a result, his store suffered high shrink numbers and deep cuts into the store’s profits.

I took the district over and immediately looked into the root cause of shrink in the store. I talked with associates, reviewed the receiving practices, and conducted external store surveillance and random audits via CCTV of employee only areas. What was the biggest common denominator?  Internal theft!
That’s right, dishonest employees. The manager, who was new to the position, had actually been with the company for a few years. When I approached him to discuss the issues, and what I needed to do, he just could not believe that a couple of his trusted employees, including a supervisor could be contributing to the losses in his store. None-the-less, I scheduled interviews with 5 suspected employees. The first two interviews I considered to be easy. I had video of each of them on 5 separate occasions, taking merchandise from the stockroom and out of the store, passing merchandise off at the point of sale to friends and family and under ringing. The other 3 were a little more challenging. They were well educated, had been with the company for awhile and somewhat aware of what I was doing in the store.

Upon successfully completing the interviews, each admitted to thousands of dollars in merchandise theft and two (including the supervisor) admitted to a couple of thousands of dollars in cash theft. Internal theft can be controlled by ensuring we have the best leadership in place, proper execution of the company programs and a solid loss prevention program.

For more information, contact us at internal theft or call 1.770.426.0547

 

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Increase your profits by reducing retail shrinkage

October 4, 2010 by Leave a Comment

According to the website About.com,  retail shrinkage  is a reduction in inventory due to shoplifting, employee theft, paperwork errors, and supplier fraud. A business owner can be proactive in reducing shrinkage by having loss prevention policies and strategies implemented within their store.

Shrink costs retailers an estimated $31 billion a year, according to the National Retail Security Survey report on retail theft.  Retail shrinkage  is an unfortunate part of operating a business, but it does not have to be tolerated. A business owner can help reduce his or her losses significantly in a variety of different ways.

A business needs to have loss prevention procedures in place in order to have consistency when trying to control retail shrinkage. The advice of a professional loss prevention organization is often beneficial in helping a business set up these policies and procedures. All current and new employees must then be taught about theft, shoplifting, and the policies that are in place to reduce these losses.

Businesses often do not recognize that employee theft costs retailers more every year than external (customer) theft. A business owner and managers must be alert to the signs of employee theft within their business. Register shortages, unaccounted for merchandise and empty packages in “employee only” locations can all point to an employee theft issue. Controls such as locked back doors with limited access, accountability with keys to locked cases such as a key log, and CCTV for random video research of employees are all important to help prevent retail shrinkage, and to perform an investigation if there is an employee choosing to steal.

For more information contact us: retail shrinkage or call 1.770.426.0547.

 

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What can a Loss Prevention Agent do for your business?

October 4, 2010 by

A loss prevention agent can offer a wide variety of services for any business. Their main role or typical job duties involve the apprehension of shoplifters.

Apprehending shoplifters is an important function of the retail environment, especially in areas where instances of customer theft is high. Metro areas, low income high crime areas and the type of retailer can all indicate customer theft trends. Identifying the best fit for your business can make the difference.

As an example, when I worked as a loss prevention agent many years ago, a particular retailer was having a problem with shoplifters. Daily, the employees witnessed customers entering the store, selecting merchandise and simply walking out. The managers were too busy with their tasks, and the other associates were intimidated to approach these customers.

I was assigned to the store with the task of impacting customer theft. Immediately, I identified the “hot spots” or areas where customers left empty packages. I would then take notice the types of merchandise being taken and plot my day out from there. Usually, I would spend the greatest amount of time in the health and beauty section. Just like a customer, I’d dress the part and play the part. I read the backs of product packaging and at the same time I’d glance over and watch the various customers’ habits.

As a Loss Prevention Agent, working this store was fun. It took no time at all to identify the first shoplifter. As time went on, I was apprehending a lot of shoplifters and in a brief amount of time, the shoplift activity slowed.

A good Loss Prevention Agent can dramatically impact the shoplift activity in your stores and businesses. My recommendations for anyone looking to hire a loss prevention agent… do your research and find one that best suits your business needs.

For more information visit us at:  loss prevention agent or call us at 1.770.426.0547

 

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