If you do not stop shoplifting it will chip away a little at a time. But usually adds up to big losses. Even with a Sensormatic system you are still vulnerable. If you are taking regular inventories which every Retailer regardless of size should be doing, then it will not sneak up on you as fast. Even doing a cycle count on selected suspect merchandise items will provide some insight into your losses. However, many times you see your losses in empty packages found on the sales floor or restrooms. But your losses are most likely much higher than what you think they are or hope they are. To stop shoplifting you cannot ignore the problem, it WILL get worse. In my 35+ years of dealing with shoplifters, I have never seen the issue go away on its own.
The good news is that shoplifting is a very solvable problem. Like any other business problem you simply need to understand the real solutions. Signs, camera systems and the like do not stop shoplifting. It is difficult to get legitimate shoppers to look at signs let alone shoplifters. A camera system does not even concern a shoplifter. They know that you are not watching live and once they are gone it does not matter. If they think you may be watching, they simply take the merchandise to an area that you do not have covered with a camera. Some will test your camera system by taking an item and moving it somewhere that would make you think that they have stolen it. They then walk out without the item and see if they are stopped.
Another problem in dealing with shoplifters is that you and your staff may be uncomfortable with approaching or even stopping them. It is very common to have doubts or even fears. What can I do? What does the law allow? Will I get in trouble under criminal or civil law? What happens if I am wrong? How do I approach a suspected shoplifter? What do I do if they run off? All of these are great questions. Many times I see Retailers get so concerned about these unknowns that they simply shy away from the problem. There is no need to do that. And again the shoplifting problem will not get better only worse.
Solutions:
There are only two reasonable, cost effective solutions to stop shoplifting. The first is an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) system such as Sensormatic. And just as importantly, training. I have been in the field of loss prevention since I left being a Police Officer. I have apprehended many shoplifters when I was a Store Investigator. And I have designed the shoplifting program for several major Retailers as their Director of Loss Prevention. Of course, there was all the other experience I gained along that journey. With that said I am here to tell you that these two solutions are the only solutions to shoplifting and they must be done together. Training you and your staff how to deter or approach a shoplifter is worthless and not cost effective without a Sensormatic system. The same goes for the Sensormatic system. It is worthless unless you have the deterrence and approach skills.
The great news is that my company, Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. (LPSI) can help you with both solutions. We train you up and follow your progress, answer your questions. You are getting your own professional LP Director when you purchase your Sensormatic system from Loss Prevention Systems. We teach live via webinars how to deter and approach shoplifters. The technique will delight your good customers but shoplifters will hate it and go elsewhere. The Sensormatic system will back your staff up when they are too busy with other customers. Shoplifters look for those opportunities to hit you!
Do you want to stop shoplifting? Contact us or call 1-770-426-0547 today and fix your shoplifting problem once and for all!!!
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