DETERRANCE IS THE BEST POLICY!

Over the years I have worked for a long list of retailers as a loss prevention investigator.  We spent hours conducting investigations to apprehend shoplifters and dishonest employees for a wide variety of theft related crimes.  The number one lesson I learned during this period was that anti shoplifting initiatives only work if you focus on retail theft prevention.  The keyword here is PREVENTION!

Shoplifting is going to happen… it is an unfortunate part of being in the retail business.  We spent thousands of dollars to hire and train people to watch the cameras and physically detain shoplifters.  In the end I’m absolutely certain that the key to retail theft prevention is deterrence through the use of anti shoplifting devices.

I worked for a small company that did not have a checkpoint security system in place and it was overrun with shoplifters daily.  I affectionately referred to this store as “Little Bagdad” because it felt like we were constantly at war trying to keep merchandise in the store.

When the year end shortage numbers rolled out we were appalled by the losses that we incurred despite our efforts.  It was decided that we need to implement a checkpoint security system to help mitigate our losses.

This sent a clear message that retail theft prevention was taken seriously.

 Checkpoint security tags were placed on all of our merchandise and checkpoint systems were installed on the doors.  Once the checkpoint security tags were in place we started to see an increase in the number of items left in our fitting rooms because the shoplifters couldn’t remove the anti shoplifting devices.

We converted our staff from investigators to visual door guards that respond when the checkpoint security system alerted our staff that a security tag was on the merchandise. Instead of using force to apprehend shoplifters and scare customers out of the store we used great customer service to enhance our sales through deterrence.

Checkpoint systems were a great investment!

 Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase retail anti theft devices from Checkpoint Systems.

For more information on Anti Shoplifting , Checkpoint Security System or Checkpoint Security Tags contact us at Retail theft prevention or call 1.770.426.0547