Employee theft by pass-offs are on the rise – Atlanta Georgia

There are many ways that we as retailer can take losses due to internal theft (also called employee theft).  We are vulnerable to the obvious theft of cash.  Also, like shoplifters, employees can steal merchandise as well.  A surprising cause of internal theft is what we call “sweethearting”.  This is where employees steal by giving breaks to others.  These breaks can come in the form of extra discounts and can also be done by pass-offs.  Pass-offs are when the employee bags the merchandise and “passes it off” without scanning it for purchase.  These instances of “sweethearting” can be done to aid co-workers, friends and family members.

The only way to find out if this is going on in your store is to conduct an employee theft investigation.  An employee theft investigation into pass-offs can be hard to do.  Personally, I suggest using a trained Loss Prevention Professional as they are skilled at performing this type of complex investigation.  However, if you choose to look into this on your own, here are some tips I suggest.

First, keep an eye out for cashiers or associates who always have friends and family members hanging around.  Since most theft is a crime of opportunity, these individuals would be a high risk category.  Another thing to look for are customers who are adamant about going through a particular line.  There may be a shorter line available, but they decline to move.  I know that some customers develop a relationship with certain employees, but it is odd that a customer declines a faster checkout experience.  They may be getting hook-ups from the employee whose line they are in and that is why they don’t want to move.  Finally, look at employees who have high amounts of markdowns.  All of these things can help you root out employee theft in your store.

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