When you start out as a rookie Loss Prevention agent the world is filled with shoplifters. Every person that walks through the door is a thief. You are so ready to catch your first crook that any and every little flinch is a signal that they are about to steal. Unfortunately, the subtleties of distinction cannot be taught in a manual or computer training lesson. To really evaluate the red flags, you must first know what is normal human shopping behavior.
I always start my new trainees out by countless hours of surveillance. It gives them a chance to hone their skills. It gives them a chance to really observe how we, as a society, shop for our clothes.
Some cultures try on clothing right in the middle of the selling floor, instead of in a fitting room. Others may use their forearms to measure a pair of jeans instead of trying them on at all.
Often my rookies will mistake that for a customer looking for the security tags on clothes. They are convinced that the clothing security tags will be torn off n a matter of seconds. I usually tell them to keep watching and let me know what happens.
Sometimes they will miss the security tags on clothes deterring a shoplifter because they see a customer put merchandise back down. They missed some of the other warning signs, and potentially would have given up completely on that case.
Training is important to be able to understand what to look for. Practical experience helps refine these observations to make accurate and effective shoplifting cases.
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
