Shoplifters Will Sing A Different Tune When You Use Checkpoint Security Tags

Since I have an affinity for music, especially the Oldies and I also have an affinity for Loss Prevention. Since I have caught untold numbers of shoplifters over the years I thought about the incidents and decided that maybe there were songs that could be applied to them

• Runaway – Del Shannon

• Born To Run – Bruce Springsteen• Fox On The Run – Sweet

• I’ll Come Running Back To You – Sam Cooke (But that NEVER happens with shoplifters)

• Keep On Running – The Spencer Davis Group

• Living Like A Runaway – Lita Ford

• Midnight Run – Example 

• Run For Your Life – The Beatles

• Runaway – Del Shannon

• Runaway Boys – Stray Cats

• Runnin’ With The Devil – Van Halen

• Running On Empty – Jackson Browne

• Take The Money And Run – Steve Miller Band

And while there are many more theme songs I could apply to shoplifters (thanks to songfacts.com for making it easier for me to create this list of songs with “Run” in the title) the one song I often wished shoplifters would take a cue from was “Walk Don’t Run” by the Ventures! There was a time when Loss Prevention Associates could pursue a thief in order to stop shoplifting and I did more than my share of chasing. There can be a lot less “Running” by shoplifters if stores would simply use Checkpoint security tags on merchandise because there would be less shoplifting.

You are thinking to yourself, “Did I hear him correctly? Did he say Checkpoint security tags could stop shoplifting?” Yes, you heard me (or read me) correctly, security tags can stop shoplifting. Tags come in hard versions that are pinned to merchandise such as clothing, bath and bedding supplies. Soft tags are available that can be applied to items as small as cosmetics and anything larger. The beauty of either type of tag is that they are compatible with electronic article surveillance pedestals. These pedestals are installed at store entrances/exits and locations in stores where customers should not take merchandise, such as restrooms and employee-only offices. The pedestals are designed to pick up a specific radio frequency emitted by tags within a specific detection field. When products protected with Checkpoint security tags are within that detection field the pedestal alarms and flashes lights. Store employees respond and determine the cause of the alarm. Most of the time the person trying to pass through the detection field is so startled by the alarms that they hurry back into the store and drop the merchandise rather than risk being charged with shoplifting. Additionally most dishonest people know what electronic article surveillance pedestals are so when they enter a store and see them they start looking for tags on merchandise. When they see that a store is diligent in tagging everything they leave and look for a store that does not use anti-theft devices.

When I started out as a Retail Loss Prevention Officer in a department store we used very few electronic article surveillance tags on merchandise.  The items we did tag were the higher end items, expensive jeans, coats, dresses and purses. This led to many instances of shoplifters stuffing bags with merchandise, wearing merchandise out of the store and picking up items and just walking out the door. When they would attempt to walk out with an item that had a Checkpoint security tag on it the pedestal alarm would sound and you could see the panic on the shoplifter’s face. Most of the time the merchandise was dropped and the thief would flee assuming they would be arrested. We would never apprehend on an alarm alone but they did not know it and so the tags did what they were intended to do. They would stop shoplifting and we recovered the goods. Since there were so many items that were not tagged I had many, many shoplifters who would get out the door without any alarm but when I would stop them the fight or flight factor came into play. Usually it was the fleeing part they would choose and the race was on, hence my reference to shoplifter theme songs. With the assistance of the police I was able to catch most of the bad guys but there were some that gave me a run for my money!         

Don’t let criminals “run” all over you, use Checkpoint security tags on all of the items you sell and watch shortage drop. Put an end to shoplifting and enjoy the boost in profits! 

For more information about Checkpoint security tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.