A helpful tip…

We all know retail security is a tough game.  There are so many different facets to performing the job that it can seem daunting at times.  What makes it worse is that even after you have taken every possible anti-shoplifting precaution or have access to, and use, every anti-theft device on the planet, somehow there is someone out there who will still steal from you.  It doesn’t matter HOW they do it or even WHY they do it, they just do it and that’s all we need to concern ourselves with.  That is why when we get beat (and don’t say you haven’t because we know that’s a lie) we need to learn what our weakness was and adapt to compensate for it.

An example would be a recent endeavor to stop a series of snatch and grab thefts occurring in our high-end children’s clothing area, which is unfortunately positioned within twenty feet of a main exit.  It took two hits to that area before we realized what was happening and required installing and affixing more anti-theft devices.  When that didn’t work we installed a brand new camera to catch him in the act.  That failed too.  He was too quick and there wasn’t enough time to spot him and apprehend him.

The solution:

Move his target section to the far end of the second floor.

When it comes to retail security you just need to think outside the box to succeed.

 Visit RBC Security Solutions for 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.

 Click here for your Free Sample of these new Cheap Labels and Cheap Tags for your Retail Security and Anti-Shoplifting needs.

 

Alpha’s Cable Lok Will Secure Your Handbags

While employed at a department store, we began experiencing an increase in grab and run incidents involving handbags. One or more shoplifters would enter the store, pile purses on their arms, and quickly flee the store and enter an awaiting vehicle. For Loss Prevention, our ability to prevent shoplifting of this merchandise proved arduous; unless we were fortunate enough to be watching the door or happened to initiate observation of the subject before selection, an honest stop wasn’t feasible.

 My company had eliminated using cable lock boxes and tethering merchandise to racks a few years earlier because they inhibited customers’ ability to try on and examine the merchandise and thus reduced sales. Additionally, they certainly didn’t make for an attractive display of designer handbags. Since eliminating those tools, they hadn’t found a replacement retail anti-theft device to protect purses and smaller leather goods.

 With the augmentation of grab and run incidents, my employer turned to Checkpoint System’s Alpha division to find a solution to prevent shoplifting in our Handbags department and they recommended the Cable Lok, available in either a 2-Alarm or 3-Alarm format. Both solutions sound when tampered with and activate an EAS signal, but the 2-Alarm lacks the feature of self-alarming if removed from the store.

 The retail anti-theft device that my company chose for this type of merchandise was the 3-Alarm Cable Lok, which we could easily secure around the handle of the purse and it wouldn’t get in the way when honest customers wanted to see what it looked like over their shoulder. Not only did they eliminate our grab and run incidents, we received excellent feedback from our customers. Whether the 2-Alarm or 3-Alarm suits your needs, the Alpha Cable Lok will help you reduce loss in your store too!

 Visit the Loss Prevention Store for retail anti theft devices 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 retail anti theft devices and your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system to prevent shoplifting contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 

 

Discount Abuse: Not Just a Policy Violation

When people hear that a coworker was discharged for theft, it’s immediately assumed that that person was stealing money or was caught sneaking unpaid goods out of the store. But employee theft can take on many forms and doesn’t just refer to an associate taking merchandise or slipping themselves cash from the register. In fact, one of the most prevalent ways that a staff member can cause a loss to their employer isn’t even viewed by most associates as a form of internal theft; they assume it’s a policy violation addressed by Human Resources. This often overlooked form of shrinkage is known as discount abuse.

Although most corporations and employers outline their policies for newly hired associates, most of them don’t remember the rules they’re expected to abide by. They may have been advised that sharing their discount with unauthorized family members and friends is considered a form of employee theft, but unless they work in loss prevention, chances are this won’t be a fact that they’ll concern themselves with. On the other hand, they may just assume they can’t get caught for it. While employed as an agent for one retailer, an associate’s brother come up to her while she was talking to my boss and me and he handed her a pair of shoes he picked out and money to buy them with while we were standing right there! Needless to say, I don’t think she forgot our company’s policy after that.

Although discount abuse cases aren’t as exciting to investigate as a merchandise theft situation, this form of internal theft has the potential to cost employers to miss out on profits. I’ve been asked many times by family members and friends to share the benefit of working for a clothing retailer with them. None of them have been pleased to hear that I can’t share the perks because I can’t commit any form of employee theft if I’m expected to catch my coworkers for it!

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

RF labels in plain sight

The most effective means to stop shoplifting is to provide an effective deterrent.  Usually an effective deterrent is a visible one.  When it comes to using RF labels and RF security tags for this purpose I have found that the more noticeable they are the better.

As an example, my store’s hardware department has been instructed to apply large RF labels (the 4”x4” variety) on items that have plastic packaging but are possible theft targets.  This includes thinks like multi-tools and small butane torches.  Nine times out of ten, a potential shoplifter will see the RF security label that is affixed to the packaging and move along without even trying.

But there are always the true professionals who really want that item. 

Or the really stupid ones who think they can get around it.

Just the other day I watched a young man on CCTV wandering about the hardware section for a solid ten minutes until he grabbed a butane torch.  He looked up at the cameras and moved around the store trying to find a place to avoid my all-seeing-eyes.  Eventually he settled on a spot that was covered by one camera, but he was directly beneath it so I had solid view.  He pulled at the tag and tried to tear open the package, but with no luck over the course of three minutes.  Eventually he pried off the RF security tag but it left behind the pieces that he was unable to remove. 

Frustrated, he ditched the product and left empty handed.

Not every case will mimic this one, but you’d be surprised how many shoplifters will give up once given an obstacle.

 Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase Checkpoint labels, Checkpoint security tags, and other RF labels that can help you stop shoplifting in your business.

 For more information on Checkpoint labels, Checkpoint security tags, RF labels, RF security labels, RF security tags and how to stop shoplifting contact us at RF label or call 1.770.426.0547 

 

Anti-Theft Devices Help Put the Shoe on the Other Foot

While working as a Loss Prevention agent for a clothing retailer, our shoes were literally walking out the door…on the feet of shoplifters. Our daily routine included visits to our office by associates from the shoe department who found a box containing dirty and worn footwear that someone decided to swap out with our merchandise. We tried to watch the cameras for the shoe aisles as often as we could to try to detect if any customers were displaying indicators that revealed their intention to make off with our shoes. Alas, it turned out that there were too many footwear thieves and too little LP employees for detainments to tighten up our retail security in the shoe department.

The loss to the department and store was so devastating that my employer realized the need to invest in anti-shoplifting tags to prevent this problem from getting the best of us. Immediately the efficacy of the anti-theft devices became apparent, when at first the amount of shoe swap outs halted completely. However, within a week certain shoplifters came prepared with cutting tools to defeat the tags. On the other hand, the time it took to try to remove the sensor prolonged the thief’s time in the store and it was a pretty noticeable activity. In addition, when we arrested these equipped individuals the police often charged them with burglary because of the instrument in their possession. Best of all, the utilization of these tags helped us keep retail security in my store under control and the number of shoe swap outs was decreased by more than seventy-five percent. The anti-theft devices helped us stop dishonest customers from effortlessly walking countless miles in our shoes for free.

 Visit RBC Security Solutions for Anti-Shoplifting or Anti-theft Devices that can help you with your Retail Security needs like Cheap Labels and Cheap Tags. Our 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 to help you prevent retail theft in your business with products like Cheap Labels and Cheap Tags contact us

Click here for your Free Sample of these new Cheap Labels and Cheap Tags for your Retail Security and Anti-Shoplifting needs!

Retail Anti-Theft Devices: Technology For A Real Problem

Shoplifting or theft is as old as the marketplace.  For many years retailers worked with limited technology to address the issue, but today is a new day.  The loss prevention industry has long sought for new technology to provide an edge against shoplifting.  Recently, the focus has been on retail anti-theft devices as a means to prevent shoplifting.  Currently, there are many retail anti-theft devices on the markets, some examples are:  2 Alarm, 3 Alarm, Jewel Lok, Nano Gate, Shark Tag, and Spider Wrap.

 Each of these tools has their place in the retail environment.  The 2 Alarm and the 3 Alarm security tags is a flexible article security tag.  It can be used for many different applications such as:  Clothing security, merchandise security and most of all to prevent shoplifting.  The 2 Alarm and 3 Alarm tags use RF or EAS technology to notify the store’s personnel in the event that merchandise is taken from the store.  These tags work best with merchandise that can be pinned.  The Jewel Lok is a small security tag.  The Jewel Lok is designed to work to secure your high priced jewelry.  The Jewel Lok works on the same principal as the 2 Alarm and 3 Alarm, but in a smaller package.  These devices are designed to prevent shoplifting

 The shark tag and Spider Wrap are newer products to hit the marketplace.  The Shark tag is used to prevent loses that can occur from return fraud.  The Shark Tag is a non EAS/RF retail anti theft device.  It is attached to merchandise and easily removed by cutting.  This allows the retailer to see if the merchandise has been worn.  While not designed to prevent shoplifting, the retailer can then deny the return of unsellable merchandise.  Spider Wrap is used for securing merchandise packaged within boxes.  The Spider Wrap retail anti-theft device is a great tool for “tagging” these difficult to control items. 

 All of the above mentioned retail anti-theft devices could be partnered with the Nano Gate.  The Nano Gate is a device that is placed on the exit/entrance of an area that needs to be secure and not have your product in the area.  I’ve worked in the loss prevention industry for a number of years and it’s my belief that it is important to invest in retail anti theft devices for the health of any business.

 Visit the Loss Prevention Store for retail anti theft devices that can help you prevent shoplifting in your business.

 For more information on how you can use retail anti theft devices to prevent shoplifting contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 

 

How To Protect Your Fitting Rooms

One of my all time problematic areas of clothing security has been in the fitting rooms. I can’t even tell you the countless hours I have spent brainstorming new security measures specifically for that area of the store. The mix of protecting the privacy of a customer and the balance of payroll hours spent to monitor a fitting room creates a difficult task at best.

Additionally, the fitting rooms attract a few different types of theft. There is the opportunist. They are the ones who don’t come in to steal, but faced with an unclean fitting room and no watchful eyes to do a piece count, an extra item or two is liable to walk out the door.

Then there are the amateurs who know they want to steal a piece of clothing, but are way to nervous to do it on the sales floor. They will wait for hours in a fitting room until they are the only ones left. They will also take a chance against clothing security tags. Some have the fore thought to bring in a pair of wire cutters in an attempt at hacking off the pin of a clothing security tag.

The best bet to protecting a fitting room from theft is to keep the fitting rooms monitored. While I would love to suggest installing locks, I understand that it can cause a big customer issue. If a customer can’t find an employee to unlock them, you can potentially loose a sale. Next use checkpoint tags whenever possible. Often shoplifters will bypass stealing if faced with the prospect of having to remove one. They won’t run the risk of setting off a clothing alarm with a Checkpoint tag still attached.

With these simple couple of additions to your clothing security, your fitting rooms will stand a better chance of being theft free.

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

Covering all your bases with pre employment screening…

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times already; there is no singular perfect way to catch criminals.  If someone is truly set upon finding a way of stealing or defrauding your company, they will likely find a way and get away with it for some time before you actually catch on and stop them.  That is why you always need to employ multiple systems, some that simply overlap in function and others that provide redundancy for what you may already have in order to catch such criminals before they do too much damage.

Case in point: Employee background checks.  Any sort of pre employment screening is done as a form of preventative measure to make sure you aren’t hiring a known ‘bad seed’.  But sometimes just requiring a basic background check isn’t enough to catch everything.  If you want to be sure you have covered all your bases you need to take the time to enforce a full suite of background checks.  Many years ago I worked for a certain company that dealt with a lot of sensitive information on a regular basis (as in every second of the day).  Their pre employment screening process was intense, including a preliminary drug screening, fingerprinting, standard background check, criminal background check, credit checks, and even a medical history.  It took them two weeks just to get the results from everything before they hired me.  But even with all of those safeguards in place before they even take anyone on as an employee, it didn’t prevent those who got hired from conducting illicit activities.  During my two year tenure, there were no less than seven known instances of employees being fired for committing fraud or embezzling customer assets.  So while background checks are certainly helpful, without maintaining constant vigilance over your workforce they can still harm your business.

 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 

Made in the USA

First of all I should say congratulations to anyone who has decided to use any sort of anti theft devices. Retail security theft is a significant issue to any retailer who is trying to save their profits on all fronts. Better yet, congratulations on deciding to use EAS tags and labels for your anti shoplifting needs.

Now that the decision has been made, it’s time to think about some of the associated costs. You need to have at a minimum, EAS tags or labels and a tower at the entrance to alarm the devices. Just because the cost of prevention is far less than  a loss of merchandise due to theft, doesn’t mean you have to spend your last penny on them.

By going with a reliable company, it is easy to get cheap labels and cheap tags for your needs. You should be aware that many companies do offer cheap tags and cheap labels that are not made in the USA.

While they may have a good price, they may end up costing in the long run. Some do not deactivate properly causing customer complaints. Some aren’t activated, which defeats the purpose of even having them.

Make sure your company uses tried and true made in the USA tags and labels to really get the most for your money.

Visit RBC Security Solutions for Anti-Shoplifting or Anti- theft Devices that can help you with your Retail Security needs like Cheap Labels and Cheap Tags. Our 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 to help you prevent retail theft in your business with products like Cheap Labels and Cheap Tags contact us.

Click here for your Free Sample of these new Cheap Labels and Cheap Tags for your Retail Security and Anti-Shoplifting needs!

How To Protect Your Fitting Rooms

One of my all time problematic areas of clothing security has been in the fitting rooms. I can’t even tell you the countless hours I have spent brainstorming new security measures specifically for that area of the store. The mix of protecting the privacy of a customer and the balance of payroll hours spent to monitor a fitting room creates a difficult task at best.

Additionally, the fitting rooms attract a few different types of theft. There is the opportunist. They are the ones who don’t come in to steal, but faced with an unclean fitting room and no watchful eyes to do a piece count, an extra item or two is liable to walk out the door.

Then there are the amateurs who know they want to steal a piece of clothing, but are way to nervous to do it on the sales floor. They will wait for hours in a fitting room until they are the only ones left. They will also take a chance against clothing security tags. Some have the fore thought to bring in a pair of wire cutters in an attempt at hacking off the pin of a clothing security tag.

The best bet to protecting a fitting room from theft is to keep the fitting rooms monitored. While I would love to suggest installing locks, I understand that it can cause a big customer issue. If a customer can’t find an employee to unlock them, you can potentially loose a sale. Next use checkpoint tags whenever possible. Often shoplifters will bypass stealing if faced with the prospect of having to remove one. They won’t run the risk of setting off a clothing alarm with a Checkpoint tag still attached.

With these simple couple of additions to your clothing security, your fitting rooms will stand a better chance of being theft free.

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