Uncategorized — Page 51

But it really is me – Background Checks

August 1, 2013 by Staff Editor

There was an interesting article in our local paper last week. One of our city commissioners had been sent a 1099 form from an employer in a different state. Her first thought was that it clearly was a mistake and a quick background check would clear the matter up.

How far from the truth that was.

She first contacted the company who sent her the 1099. As it turned out, this “employee” had been working there for about five years before they left. Since they had this social on file, there was not any other information they could identify.

In the process of her pre-employment screening, she had not consulted with a background check company or any background check experts to conduct criminal background checks and employee background checks.

The next step was to contact the credit bureaus. No suspicious or detrimental information had been recorded, but a flag was put on the accounts in case of any suspicious activity in the future. That was the good news.

The bad news was that in order to fix the taxes, she had to go through a rigorous process of proving who SHE was. She had to send every document she could showing her identity, as well as copies of her social security card and an affidavit stating who she was. The federal government was ok with the end result and she ahs successfully proven the 1099 and income is not hers.

As for the state revenue department, they still want their cut of this money. So they are not accepting this “proof” of stolen identity. As of this time a lawyer has been brought in to help clear up the matter.

No telling how many more hours and dollars will be spent to clear her name.

Consulting with a background check expert through a background check company to assist with criminal background checks and employee background checks can help ensure you are getting accurate information

This is another reason why background checks and pre employment screening are needed. There is often more damage than just making a bad hiring decision.

To purchase Pre-Employment Screening Services or for more information on background check experts, background checks, criminal background checks, employee background checks or pre employment screening contact us at the background check company or call 1.770.426.0547

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: background check company, background check experts, Background checks, criminal background check, employee background checks, pre employment screening

After They Are Hired – Pre Employment Screening

July 30, 2013 by Staff Editor

You hire a new employee with the intention that they will be proficient in their job after an introductory training period. Once they are up and running, they should be able to complete the assigned tasks of their job description within an allotted time period that maximizes your productivity and subsequent payroll goals. If this hire is unproductive, or even worse begins to alienate customers, you will begin to decrease the leverage you might once have had by hiring this employee. You are now beginning to lose money by having them work for you. That’s why you want to conduct pre-employment screening or hire a background check company to assist you with this before you hire someone.

Pre-employment screening helps to reduce these incurred costs by reducing the likely hood of hiring a bad employee from the beginning. A background check company is a useful resource. Unfortunately, you can’t just terminate an employee without warning for poor job performance. If they commit an unforgivable act like theft or violence, then, legally, you can take a different course of action, but that is an exception.

You have to have a disciplinary action plan where they are given the opportunity to find out that they are not fulfilling the required expectations of the job, and are given an action plan and time frame to complete their turn around. This action plan may be repeated up to three or four times before the employee can be let go. In the mean time, you will continue to suffer losses from this employee.

Pre-employment screening will give you insight into an employee’s previous work history and work habits before you make the mistake of hiring them.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: background check company, background check experts, Background checks, criminal background check, employee background checks, pre employment screening

Go With Plan B – Alpha 2 Alarm

July 29, 2013 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

We recently re-designed the tool area of our store. Because the new area is a closed off horseshoe shape, it was deemed a corral. The concept was to reduce our shrink in power tools. If the shoplifters only had one way in and one way out of the department, there would be a greater chance of them being detected. Unfortunately, this didn’t work as well as expected so we went to plan B – Alpha Security’s Alpha Spider Wrap.

With no one watching the area, it didn’t matter how few exits there were out of the department. What did work was the implementation of our Alpha Spider Wraps. Since they are attached to the outside of the boxes of our high theft power tools, there was now a means to permanently prevent shoplifting regardless of how many labor hours involved.

The best part about having the Alpha Security Alpha Spider Wrap in play is that they are equipped with an Alpha 2 Alarm.

Simply put, the Alpha 2 Alarm is an upgraded retail anti-theft device that sets off alarms at the doors if they are not properly deactivated. Additionally the Alpha 2 Alarm is a tamper evident alarm. If someone tries to remove or otherwise tamper with this retail anti-theft device, it will give an audible alarm to prevent shoplifting.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store for Alpha 2 Alarm, Alpha 3 Alarm, Alpha Fashion2, Alpha Jewel Lok, Alpha Nano Gate, Alpha Shark Tag, Alpha Spider Wrap and other retail anti-theft devices from Alpha Security to use in conjunction with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system that can help you prevent shoplifting in your business.

For more information on how you can use Alpha Security retail anti-theft devices and your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system to prevent shoplifting contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: 2 Alarm, 3 Alarm, Alpha 2 Alarm, Alpha 3 Alarm, Alpha Fashion2, Alpha Jewel Lok, Alpha Nano Gate, Alpha Shark Tag, Alpha Spider Wrap, Fashion2, Jewel Lok, Nano Gate, Prevent Shoplifting, Shark Tag, Spider Wrap

Patience and Persistence – Employee Theft Investigations

July 28, 2013 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

Performing employee theft investigations is often a very tedious process, especially for small to mid-box retailers who do not retain in-store loss prevention personnel. Most small to mid-box retailers hire field loss prevention employees to cover multiple locations and these employees frequently work out of one store without spending much time in any one location.

This is challenging at best and non-productive at worst, because it then falls upon field loss prevention and operations management to utilize sales performance, inventory reports and store audits to uncover any internal theft which may be occurring.

The highest source of loss in retail is employee theft. For most small box retailers, their high-end product is not “live” on the sales-floor; pushing internal theft to an even higher ratio percentage. There are usually no more than five to eight employees on staff in these stores; however, if only one employee is stealing, roughly 20% of the store’s work force is guilty of employee theft.

This is an alarming revelation that should give every business owner a sense of urgency to acquire the best tools and people available to perform employee theft investigations.

It is tempting in smaller locations to conduct an investigation that merely focuses on one or two employees because of information indicating their guilt. It requires extreme patience and persistence to conduct an effective employee theft investigation when dealing with employee theft in this type of setting.

The successful investigation must involve every employee in the store as well as every type of theft. One or two people may be committing product theft while another employee might be involved with refund fraud and yet another may be supervising employee discount fraud.

If the employer addresses only one of multiple issues during an employee theft investigation, one facet of theft may stop for a while and then continue unfettered. It is also imperative that performance issues be addressed at the same time as internal theft issues are confronted. Remember – poor performance often leads to theft.

It can be challenging to observe theft occurring while conducting a thorough employee theft investigation; however when finished, all performance and theft issues will be dealt with thus giving you a clean store to rebuild.

For more information on employee theft, employee theft investigation and internal theft please contact us or call 1.770.426.0547.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: employee theft, employee theft investigation, internal theft

When size matters- Anti-Theft Devices

July 27, 2013 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

There are few things more frustrating than trying to accomplish a task, and to be thwarted by a seemingly miniscule detail like the size just doesn’t match up. I have tried to help friends move couches that are two inches too big for the doorway. How about trying to use a ladder that is a foot too short to reach what you need. It is nothing more than pure frustration.

So how about trying to use anti-theft devices to prevent retail theft when part of the tag is hanging off of the product. That doesn’t work very well for anyone in involved in retail security except the shoplifters.

The Checkpoint labels come in a variety of sizes to suit your anti shoplifting needs. Each one comes in plain, which can be run through a thermal printer, or pre printed with a bar code.

When size does make a difference, it is nice to know that you have options. You can pick the smaller size 31 label or the larger size 33 labels.

Visit RBC Security Solutions for Checkpoint Compatible Anti-Shoplifting or Anti- theft Devices that can help you with your Retail Security needs like Cheap Labels and Cheap Tags. Our Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS Labels and Tags are not cheap they are inexpensive and made in the U.S.

For more information on how you can use Anti- theft Devices in conjunction with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system to help you prevent retail theft in your business with products like Cheap Labels and Cheap Tags contact us.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Anti-Shoplifting, anti-theft devices, Cheap Labels, Cheap Tags, retail security

The Final Piece of Evidence – Security Tags On Clothes

July 23, 2013 by Staff Editor

There is a reason why retailers almost universally use security tags on clothes as their preferred choice of retail anti-theft devices, specifically Checkpoint Tags. Just because you use clothing security tags doesn’t mean the crooks will simply throw their hands up and walk away. Some will make a valiant effort to defeat them and your clothing security.

For example, a famous actress was arrested stealing clothes from a high dollar retailer. When she was apprehended, there was a cut on her finger. While that little detail might not mean anything to the common observer, to anyone in the clothing security department, it meant all the difference in the world.

She tried to pry apart a brand name Checkpoint Tag. The knife slipped cutting herself when it didn’t easily open. This action not only prevented the tag from being disabled, but it also gave the store further proof, legally, of her intent to commit the crime she had been accused of.

That means your security tags on clothes need to be beyond reproach. No one should be able to come in with a pocket knife or a pair of pliers and pry open the tags to defeat them. This would ultimately help them circumvent your clothing alarm. Your tags should be seamless and fool proof.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase Checkpoint Tags, a Clothing Alarm, Clothing Security or Clothing Security Tags to put Security Tags on Clothes and an Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system.

For more information on Checkpoint tags, clothing security, clothing alarm, or clothing security tags how they can work with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system contact us at security tags on clothes or call 1.770.426.0547

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

Are They Working? – Pre-Employment Screening

July 23, 2013 by Staff Editor

When you have background check experts conducting your pre-employment screening, it can be difficult to tell if they are actually doing a thorough job. If you have check after check come back with nothing on it, is it because there is nothing to find, or because the experts aren’t doing their job properly?

The best way to find out is to have the background check experts that you have hired, tell you what areas of screening they are conducting. You should be able to see each of the background checks that they run. Some examples would be employment and education verifications, perhaps a driver’s license inquiry for moving violations (or worse) and a look for outstanding warrants.

I had a professor once tell me that you will never hear about a good design, a bad one- yes, but never a good one. It makes sense. If something is working well, we simply use that item or process and keep going. It is the bad designs that take up our time as we try to fix or amend them. The same thing goes for pre-employment screening.

Good design or a good employee will not produce much comment. It is the bad design or the bad employee that you will hear about. That is when you will truly know what the background check experts have done. When you find the one bad seed in the mix, which is when the pre-employment screening will produce multiple red flags in their background check. You will then have the confidence that the background check experts really are doing a thorough job for you.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: background check company, background check experts, Background checks, criminal background check, employee background checks, pre employment screening

Where You Going? – Alpha 3 Alarm

July 22, 2013 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

Most of us are aware that equal parts effective customer service, and consistent use of retail anti theft devices are needed when trying to prevent shoplifting in your store. However, it is a matter of when each part is most effective and should be utilized.

Let me explain, at some point, your associates have to stop engaging a shoplifter and attend to other tasks. Even when you know that they will steal, at some point, you may have to back off.

I have spent countless hours watching shoplifters, so I know the time involved to prevent shoplifting. One time I spent half an hour “cleaning” the fitting room, because there was a girl inside, who was going to steal a shirt, and wasn’t going to do it while I was around. Eventually, I had to go attend to another managerial issue that could not wait. Sure enough, as soon as I left, the girl took the shirt.

This is a prime example where retail anti theft devices can pick up where customer service lets off.

Not only did I lose the shirt, but I also lost the thirty minutes of productivity (and a bit of my ego) in the process.

Had we used some of the Alpha Security Alpha 3 Alarms, we never would have been in that situation. The Alpha 3 Alarms act like a normal EAS tag that sounds at the doors. Additionally, Alpha Security made sure that the tags would alarm if they were tampered with by, say a shoplifter in a fitting room? They also create an audible on the tags so if the shoplifter just makes a break for it without removing the alarm, the audible will sound from the product as they continue to run from the store- so you and everyone else will know where they are.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store for Alpha 2Alarm, Alpha 3Alarm, Alpha Fashion2, Alpha Jewel Lok, Alpha Nano Gate, Alpha Shark Tag, Alpha Spider Wrap and other retail anti-theft devices from Alpha Security to use in conjunction with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system that can help you prevent shoplifting in your business.

For more information on how you can use Alpha Security retail anti-theft devices and your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system to prevent shoplifting contact us or call 1.770.426.0547.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: 3 Alarm, Alpha 3 Alarm, Alpha Fashion2, Alpha Jewel Lok, Alpha Nano Gate, Alpha Shark Tag, Alpha Spider Wrap, Fashion2, Jewel Lok, Nano Gate, Prevent Shoplifting, Retail Anti Theft Devices, Shark Tag, Spider Wrap

Inside Losses – Employee Theft

July 21, 2013 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

Unfortunately the people ripping you off behind your back are often the same people you work with every day, the people you hired and trained, the people who say good morning to you every day, and the very people whom you may have grown to know and like personally. Regrettably, employee theft strikes most employers and is oftentimes responsible for at least half of the losses in the workplace in any given year.

I have taken part in detailed conversations with employees in my twelve years as a Loss Prevention Manager and I was able to establish the facts about internal theft after conducting comprehensive employee theft investigations. Facts like how many times a week one employee stole, how much was lost in dollars due to this same employee, as well as the method used to accomplish the task.

You will also learn other facts about internal theft that may surprise you during the course of the interview with this associate – like why they committed the theft and how long they had been stealing from their employer and customers.

Over the years I have encountered cases totaling more than $100,000 with multiple employees involved in my investigation of internal theft. I also discovered that some of the largest dollar value cases frequently involved the most trusted employees. The fact that managers and security personnel have access to more merchandise than anyone and no one tends to question their integrity can be very tempting to some employees.

Conducting an employee theft investigation often unveils some shocking finds about one’s employees. Experts can quickly identify problem areas and target these areas to uncover employee theft; protecting your profit and at the same time setting the tone that theft will not be tolerated inside your place of business.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase CCTV Systems that will eliminate your internal theft and employee theft problems in your management of employee theft investigation.

For more information about employee theft, employee theft investigation and internal theft please contact us or call 1.770.426.0547.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: employee theft, employee theft investigation, internal theft

Is That Jacket One of Ours? – Security Tags On Clothes

July 16, 2013 by Staff Editor

One of my first experiences with a shoplifter was a man who came into the department store that I worked in. He started looking at sweat jackets, which was not anything suspicious in and of its self. What I found suspicious was when he started looking for the Checkpoint Tags.

It didn’t take him long to find out that security tags on clothes in the men’s department were not consistent. He took the jacket off the hanger and went into a fitting room. When he came back out mere seconds later, he was wearing the sweat suit jacket.

I first tried calling someone in the menswear department to get them to offer customer service, but it was too late. The man had already started to head toward the exit door.

Clothing security tags, or any other form of clothing security, would have helped us prevent this theft. Without one, none of the employees could readily identify that this jacket was one of ours that had not been paid for. The clothing alarm did not go off without a Checkpoint tag, and alert any cashiers or managers to this man’s actions. The man had exited the store and sped off in a car waiting for him in the parking lot.

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