Everybody Likes To Get Something For Nothing

Shoplifters, whether they are professionals or just stealing on a whim, cost retailers millions of dollars every year. Many blogging sites and web pages are dedicated to educating others on how to get away with merchandise and avoid loss prevention personnel. They share information they have gathered: which stores utilize retail anti theft devices, where cameras are located, whether or not there are plain-clothes detectives working in the store, and even when shifts change. (When employees are coming in for the day they are busy and distracted, and those that are leaving generally have zero interest in dealing with a shoplifter.) There are even articles on which stores will prosecute and which will just let you go. Sadly, in the age of camera phones and over the top surveillance, many retailers have steered away from the zero tolerance theft policies of the past. I still believe in having someone arrested and letting the officer handcuff them and parade them through the store all the way to the front door. Then I want them stuffed in a patrol car, taken downtown for fingerprinting, and held in a cell for a few hours. In my mind, that’s how you prevent shoplifting from happening again.  

Of course, the more important issue is to stop it from happening in the first place and not ever worrying with the repeat offender.  That’s where the tools like Alpha Keepers, Alpha Hang Tags, Alpha Thunder Tags, and Alpha Jewel Loks come in. These prevent shoplifting through deterrence, which is paramount to any shrink reduction plan. If a shoplifter comes in the store and approaches the targeted items, they will walk back out the door, shoulders slumped, and empty handed since they know they most likely cannot defeat the tools that are protecting the inventory.

I live in a super small town where nothing really exciting really happens. However, about an hour away is a big city where we just had a very well-known jewel thief hit three different stores. Her plan is the same in every store. She is an older woman, and dresses in designer dresses and carries a very expensive purse. She actually wants the staff to notice her and give her attention. She asks the clerk to show her something with massive diamond first, acts mildly disinterested, and then asks for several other items. She uses bait and switch tactics, and confuses the clerk with all her choices from the cases. At some point she slips on the original ring with the bigger than life diamond, and walks out the door before the staff ever notices. This is a seventy-something year old woman, and she has been stealing jewelry all her life and all over the world. The one thing the three stores had in common was that none of them employ any type of retail anti theft devices, like Alpha Jewel Loks. One of the employees that got duped by this old lady was the manager of the jewelry store. He should have been setting the example and not pulling out another piece until she had given back the first one. Instead, he fell right in her trap and was blinded by her appearance of having an elite status.  

Appearances can certainly be deceiving, but the truth is anyone can be a thief. Most of it happens due to greed and not need. They figure your store has fifty of something and you won’t miss that one.  

For more information on Alpha Hard Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547