Maybe I’m too old school but I really wonder what store managers are thinking when they have a perfectly good Sensormatic security system and they put merchandise outside the store to display. I see this done in malls and strip malls and it annoys me greatly. I know it is because of my years as a Loss Prevention Manager but I do recognize that theft can result from these displays. In many cases the merchandise is marked down and the business is trying to unload their old merchandise before bringing in the new product lines. I saw something the other day and it was an ice machine used to store bagged ice for sale. The gas station probably does not have adequate space inside for this container but I observed what I thought was a theft of a bag of ice and it bothered me. A car pulled up to the building and the passenger got out. I did turn briefly but the next thing I knew she was putting a big bag of ice in the car while looking in my direction. I didn’t report it because I could not be sure she hadn’t quickly slipped into the store to pay but her actions said she hadn’t. It reminded me of all of those stores that put on sidewalk sales. If no one is outside monitoring the tables and racks or if the merchandise is spread out over a distance how do stores stop shoplifting from taking place?
The purpose of the Sensormatic security system is to deter theft and prevent criminals from spiriting products out of a store. When stores have tagged merchandise with anti-shoplifting devices such as hard tags and electronic article surveillance labels those items are going to trip the alarm pedestals as the thief nears the doors. Because the Sensormatic line of devices are sturdy and reliable they are nearly impossible to defeat. Shoplifters are not in the habit of spending a lot of time trying to remove security tags. They are concerned with concealing merchandise and getting out with as little interaction with employees as possible. Pedestal alarms draw unwanted attention that bad guys want to avoid. When store managers make the decision to take merchandise outside the protection of towers at the doors they are inviting theft. There is nothing left to impede shoplifters from simply picking up and walking off with anything displayed outside.
This is the simple kind of training a good Sensormatic Dealer should provide. Loss Prevention Systems does train your staff after we install a system.
I am not saying that the bags of ice should have been tagged even if they were in the building. Some items may not be worth the effort to tag when we think about how bags are tossed into an ice cooler. It did serve to demonstrate that people will steal just about anything if an opportunity presents itself. In fact one of the factors we talk about in Loss Prevention in terms of how to stop shoplifting and employee theft is to eliminate opportunity. If stores are putting merchandise on the salesfloor without protection or if they are placing merchandise outside of the protective barrier of an electronic article surveillance tower they are providing opportunities for criminals. Bill Bregar, founder of Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. knows that opportunity is a requirement for shoplifters to get away with their crime. That is why his company recommends a Sensormatic security system to clients in order to remove opportunity and substantially impede a crook’s ability to steal.
If store owners find a need to move seasonal merchandise or older merchandise to make room for new product lines do it within the confines of the building and security protection. Merchandise should already be protected with security tags so the challenge is to get it in view of customers. I have seen larger businesses that seem reluctant to put clearance merchandise front and center in a store. They relegate them to rear endcaps or the back of a store. I believe if you really want to move merchandise, mark it down at least 25%, place it in a prominent location when customers walk in and have ample signage. Don’t play games, if you really want to make space then do it with enthusiasm. Don’t provide the opportunity crooks look for by having a “sidewalk sale”.
Let your electronic article system stop shoplifting as it is intended to do and tag as much merchandise as possible. Sell your clearance merchandise with vigor just do it so it makes sense. Don’t short circuit your Sensormatic security system by circumventing it, trust Sensormatic to help drive sales while removing theft opportunity.
Get more information on Sensormatic security systems, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
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