Grocery Store Wine Sales Or Shortage: Bottle Locks Make The Difference

February 22, 2016 by Leave a Comment

 

Bottle Locks – 5                                                                                                                       WC blog 49
Bottle Security – 5
Bottle Lock-3
Grocery Store Wine Sales Or Shortage: Bottle Locks Make The Difference
     As I do with nearly every store I go into I am interested to see the types of security measures different businesses use to prevent theft.  Recently I have visited three grocery stores affiliated with different chains. I looked at what they were doing to protect the wines they carry.  I find it interesting to compare bottle security strategies among the retailers.  In this case all three stores are within a 5 mile radius of my home and yet there were no similarities among any of them.  
     The first store I visited uses bottle locks to secure higher priced bottle of wines.  It appeared they set a price point around $25 per bottle before they used a bottle lock on their products.  The locks used covered the entire cap and part of the bottle neck.  There was no ability to see the advertising on the seal of the bottle with this particular device.  It did appear there was no way the cap or seal could be tampered with making this an effective deterrent tool.  
    The second store I visited used a lock up case to secure the higher priced wines.   There was no additional security for any of the other bottles of wine or champagnes on the shelves.  Two things disturbed me about this type of bottle security.  First, had someone been shopping for the higher priced wine, there were no empty places on the shelf or signage indicating a customer should ask for assistance to make a purchase.    Second, I saw no sales associates in the area.  Even if there was signage directing a customer to get help to obtain a wine in lock-up, I saw no one to assist and I did not see an apparent call button in the area.  
     Finally I went to a grocery store that had no bottle security whatsoever.  There were no bottle locks in use and no security cases.  The wine was located near the front of the store, in the vicinity of the registers, but there was no direct line of sight to act as a deterrent to potential theft.  I did look at the price points and there were few, if any, bottles priced over $20.  That being said, in my opinion this is a mistake on the part of the retailer.  The area this store is located has enough crime that the store has gone from being a 24/7 operation to closing at midnight and now closing at 11:00pm.  I know there is enough theft in this store that closed circuit television monitors have been placed on the baby formula aisle.  
     So here is my good, bad and the ugly of my observations and what I think a best strategy would be for a grocery store:
• The Good: The use of bottle locks in the first store.  A Bottle lock provides visual deterrence to theft, they are electronic article surveillance compatible and they allow a customer the ability to handle the merchandise, see the advertising and content information and there is no requirement to wait for someone to unlock a case.
• The Bad:  Limited use of bottle locks on only select price points.  Inconsistent use of the locks.  Where bottles did have locks on the caps, when I looked more closely, I found some were secured and behind those were same brand bottles without locks. I am also listing the use of a locking case as bad.  While it does provide bottle security it requires employee response and if a patron has to wait too long it can lead to a lost sale.
• The ugly:  No bottle security of any type.  This is not acceptable in my opinion.
If you own a grocery business or manage one, I strongly encourage you to invest in a bottle lock for each of your wine bottles.  While it may seem like a lot, the payoff will be in reduced shrinkage.  Shoplifters will steal unprotected merchandise so securing the higher priced merchandise simply moves the thieves to the cheaper bottles.  I do not encourage lock up cases to be used since they can turn off customers and potentially cost your business sales.  You also need to have an employee ready to respond at all times to unlock a case.  Don’t settle on just enough security or none at all, see how bottle locks can protect your investment and drive up sales.
For more information on bottle locks, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
     

As I do with nearly every store I go into I am interested to see the types of security measures different businesses use to prevent theft. Recently I have visited three grocery stores affiliated with different chains. I looked at what they were doing to protect the wines they carry. I find it interesting to compare bottle security strategies among the retailers. In this case all three stores are within a 5 mile radius of my home and yet there were no similarities among any of them.  

 

The first store I visited uses bottle locks to secure higher priced bottle of wines. It appeared they set a price point around $25 per bottle before they used a bottle lock on their products. The locks covered the entire cap and part of the bottle neck. There was no ability to see the advertising on the seal of the bottle with this particular device. It did appear there was no way the cap or seal could be tampered with making this an effective deterrent tool.  

 

The second store I visited used a lock up case to secure the higher priced wines.  There was no additional security for any of the other bottles of wine or champagnes on the shelves. Two things disturbed me about this type of bottle security. First, had someone been shopping for the higher priced wine, there were no empty places on the shelf or signage indicating a customer should ask for assistance to make a purchase.   Second, I saw no sales associates in the area. Even if there was signage directing a customer to get help to obtain a wine in lock-up, I saw no one to assist and I did not see an apparent call button in the area.  

 

Finally I went to a grocery store that had no bottle security whatsoever. There were no bottle locks in use and no security cases. The wine was located near the front of the store, in the vicinity of the registers, but there was no direct line of sight to act as a deterrent to potential theft. I did look at the price points and there were few, if any, bottles priced over $20. The area this store is located has enough crime that the store has gone from being a 24/7 operation to closing at midnight and now closing at 11:00pm. I know there is enough theft in this store that closed circuit television monitors have been placed on the baby formula aisle.  

 

So here is my good, bad and the ugly of my observations and what a good strategy would be for a grocery store:

• The Good: The use of bottle locks in the first store. A Bottle lock provides visual deterrence to theft, they are electronic article surveillance compatible and they allow a customer the ability to handle the merchandise, see the advertising and content information and there is no requirement to wait for someone to unlock a case.

• The Bad: Limited use of bottle locks on only select price points.  Inconsistent use of the locks. Where bottles did have locks on the caps, when I looked more closely, I found some were secured and behind those were same brand bottles without locks. I am also listing the use of a locking case as bad.  While it does provide bottle security it requires employee response and if a patron has to wait too long it can lead to a lost sale.

• The ugly: No bottle security of any type. 

 

If you own a grocery business or manage one, I strongly encourage you to invest in a bottle lock for each of your wine bottles. While it may seem like a lot, the payoff will be in reduced shrinkage. Shoplifters will steal unprotected merchandise so securing the higher priced merchandise simply moves the thieves to the cheaper bottles. I do not encourage lock up cases to be used since they can turn off customers and potentially cost your business sales. You also need to have an employee ready to respond at all times to unlock a case. Don’t settle on just enough security or none at all, see how bottle locks can protect your investment and drive up sales.

 

For more information on bottle locks, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

     

 

 

Filed Under: Security Tagged With: , ,

It Doesn’t Take A Truck Load

January 25, 2016 by Leave a Comment

 

Bottle Locks-5 , Liquor Bottle Security-2  , Alpha Security-1
It Doesn’t Take  A Truck Load
When we interview an employee suspected of internal theft, we generally use the same approach.  We sit down with them and tell them who we are and what we do.  We explain the different types of theft we investigate, and then we ask them to tell us about how they have caused losses to our company.  If they try to shut down and not tell us the information we have come to gather, we try to minimize their activities.  We tell them we know they didn’t steal a truck load, if the case is about merchandise theft.  That will usually lighten the mood enough to help get the confession started.  The fact is it doesn’t take a truck load if you sell alcohol.  If you are lacking in liquor bottle security, it could take just a few bottles.  Without bottle locks on your inventory, it could be just a matter of time before top shelf spirits start disappearing.  
One guy got away with several bottles from a few different places.  First he went to a specialty wine dealer and under the guise of planning a big wedding event, was able to get his hands on some very old and very sought after bottles.  When the sales person got called away for a moment, the thief made his escape.  The diversion was actually a ploy caused by the driver of his getaway vehicle.  Sadly, the poor sales guy had no clue that the man left with the stolen products until it was way too late.  Had this dealer been utilizing bottle locks, the devices would have alerted the staff as soon as the man got too close to the exit door.  The alarm would have sounded and they could have at least attempted to detain the man or get identifying information on the vehicle.  A man fitting the same description was reported for a theft at a high end liquor store a month later.  He walked in and browsed around the most expensive section of the store.  An employee stayed with him, and discussed the brands and bottles he was interested in.  At some point she got called away from the man, and like the last incident, he made his move.  He concealed a bottle under his shirt this time, but when he turned around, the employee had returned.  She accused him of stealing, but he raised his arms in an effort to show he had nothing.  She still suspected him, but could do nothing because she had not actually seen the theft.  Again, if bottle locks were being employed in this store, as soon as he approached the door the alarm would sound and confirm her suspicions.  At that point she could detain him and call the authorities.  Oh, and although this man has been identified and warrants issued for his arrest, he is still on the loose.
Bottle locks, by Alpha security, are the ultimate answer to theft of wine and spirits.  There have been instances where someone has actually made off with a truck load from a warehouse.  Those instances are rare and major exceptions.  The reality is that most times, when wine and liquor are targeted for theft, it is high end brands and bottles produced in specific years.  It could be anyone, even the next person to walk through your door, that plans to wipe you out.  They come in and feed you a good story, and you give them access to your best line of products.  With no liquor bottle security in place, you are gambling with your valuable inventory.  Protect your profit margin and see what bottle locks can do for your business’ peace of mind.
For more information on what bottle locks can do for you, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

When we interview an employee suspected of internal theft, we generally use the same approach. We sit down with them and tell them who we are and what we do. We explain the different types of theft we investigate, and then we ask them to tell us about how they have caused losses to our company. If they try to shut down and not tell us the information we have come to gather, we try to minimize their activities. We tell them we know they didn’t steal a truck load, if the case is about merchandise theft. That will usually lighten the mood enough to help get the confession started. The fact is it doesn’t take a truck load if you sell alcohol. If you are lacking in liquor bottle security, it could take just a few bottles. Without bottle locks on your inventory, it could be just a matter of time before top shelf spirits start disappearing.  

One guy got away with several bottles from a few different places. First he went to a specialty wine dealer and under the guise of planning a big wedding event, was able to get his hands on some very old and very sought after bottles. When the sales person got called away for a moment, the thief made his escape. The diversion was actually a ploy caused by the driver of his getaway vehicle. Sadly, the poor sales guy had no clue that the man left with the stolen products until it was way too late. Had this dealer been utilizing bottle locks, the devices would have alerted the staff as soon as the man got too close to the exit door. The alarm would have sounded and they could have at least attempted to detain the man or get identifying information on the vehicle. A man fitting the same description was reported for a theft at a high end liquor store a month later. He walked in and browsed around the most expensive section of the store. An employee stayed with him, and discussed the brands and bottles he was interested in. At some point she got called away from the man, and like the last incident, he made his move. He concealed a bottle under his shirt this time, but when he turned around, the employee had returned.  She accused him of stealing, but he raised his arms in an effort to show he had nothing. She still suspected him, but could do nothing because she had not actually seen the theft. Again, if bottle locks were being employed in this store, as soon as he approached the door the alarm would sound and confirm her suspicions. At that point she could detain him and call the authorities. Oh, and although this man has been identified and warrants issued for his arrest, he is still on the loose.

Bottle locks, by Alpha security, are the ultimate answer to theft of wine and spirits. There have been instances where someone has actually made off with a truck load from a warehouse. Those instances are rare and major exceptions. The reality is that most times, when wine and liquor are targeted for theft, it is high end brands and bottles produced in specific years. It could be anyone, even the next person to walk through your door, that plans to wipe you out. They come in and feed you a good story, and you give them access to your best line of products. With no liquor bottle security in place, you are gambling with your valuable inventory.  Protect your profit margin and see what bottle locks can do for your business’ peace of mind.

For more information on what bottle locks can do for you, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

 

 

Filed Under: Security Tagged With: , , , ,

CHEERS TO BOTTLE LOCKS

December 21, 2015 by Leave a Comment

 “I can’t take you anywhere!” Is the normal phrase I get from my girlfriend when we are out shopping and I tell her that I just saw someone steal some merchandise. She can’t understand why I’m so worried about someone else’s store, or why we can never go out without me helping throw someone in jail. It’s just that I feel as though I have a moral obligation when my LP spidey senses start tingling… plus, I’m usually bored to tears shopping with her anyway. (Please don’t tell her I said that). Just last week, I introduced a restaurant manager to bottle locks.

 

We had just spend the majority of the day applying for our passports when that all too familiar feeling hit. It was 2pm. I was hungry. We went to a little place known in our town for their Greek cuisine. We sat near the bar and I began to enjoy my hummus and pita. I was admiring the display of top shelf liquor when I noticed a woman acting a bit strange near the bar. When the bartender would walk to the kitchen, she would hover, just like a shoplifter does. I told my girlfriend what I suspected and she laughed. I tried to convince her of my point, after all there were no bottle security measures in place. It would be quite easy to simple walk away with some booze.

 

Some time passes and we get our food. The woman stays at the bar. Sipping on some white wine and eating her salad. The bartender walks into the kitchen again and almost as fast as a bolt of lightning, the woman reaches behind the bar, grabs a bottle of high end tequila and shoves it in her purse. Since there were no bottle security measures in place, it was almost too easy. Of course, I get excited at this point, all while my girlfriend just buries her head under her arms.

 

I wait until the woman purchases her meal before calling over a manager. I discreetly inform him of what I saw and he exclaims, “Again!” As our boozy bandit attempts to leave her spot at the bar, the manager and a police officer take her outside where the tequila was eventually recovered. When the dust settled, the manager came back and thanked me for speaking up. Apparently, this wasn’t the first time someone had stolen liquor from behind his bar recently. I asked him if he had ever heard of bottle locks.

 

Well, the next thing you know, I’ve got my phone pulled out and I’m showing him how bottle locks could ultimately stop people from stealing his liquor. He was amazed. He’d worked in the restaurant business his entire life and had never thought that bottle security was an issue until running this particular place. He told me that he’d lost countless thousands in stolen liquor in the past year. Now, he had something that could help curb his losses.

 

I left that day with a heavily discounted meal and a feeling of pride. Not pride that I helped throw another thief in jail, I was proud that I could help a fellow manager control the losses he was experiencing with a simple tool and a little advice. It’s why I enjoy writing these posts for all of you out there. I know someone, somewhere has this very same issue, and you’re sick and tired of it. Hopefully and it is my goal, that you read this and my little nugget of advice resonates with you and it ultimately makes your business stronger and more profitable. We can all drink to that!

 

For more information about Bottle Locks contact us or call 1.770.426.0547.

 

Filed Under: Security Tagged With: , ,

Spirits and Profits Soar with Bottle Locks

November 23, 2015 by Leave a Comment

 

Bottle Locks –5                                                                                                                          wc blog 08
Bottle Security -5
Spirits and Profits Soar with Bottle Locks 
     When those of us in the retail world think about bottle security the first thing that always comes to mind are alcoholic beverages.  This is a category of product that does carry a hefty price tag and requires protection.  Bottle locks provide that protection and can take the worry out of carrying these products, which allows a store to increase their sales by broadening their product lines.  Broadening product lines increases customer appeal and draws in patrons you may not have catered to previously.
     My personal experience with bottle security is limited to wines and champagnes.  I recall when the company I worked for began carrying alcohol, even in a limited form I was concerned about the theft we were going to see in that area.  We did not have any protection for our product other than closed circuit television, emphasis on customer service and a small Assets Protection Team.  We did not tag the bottles since it would interfere with branding of the product and it was a vendor item so we did receive vendor credit when product did not sell or was removed by the vendor.  To be frank, I was not even aware if there was anything on the market to provide bottle security.  If I had known I would have screamed to my District Team Leader to look into such a thing.
     Bottle locks would have been the perfect solution for our situation. The device can be fitted directly over the cap of a bottle to prevent the bottle from being opened. Additionally, they come in a variety of sizes and designs allowing retailers the flexibility to protect multiple bottle designs.  They work in conjunction with an EAS system so they provide a double layer of protection activating the alarm at the door if someone attempted to walk out without paying.  Should someone attempt to pry the device off, there is a strong possibility they will shatter the bottle. 
     While shoplifting was something I knew we might have to combat, I was also very concerned about the security of the product in our stockroom.  Anyone who has worked in retail security or retail management knows how vulnerable a backroom can be with plenty of areas to hide, and often limited staffing in those areas. It can be a very real challenge with respect to shortage control.  With the addition of wine and champagne in our vendor area, I did have to try to find ways to monitor the product and deter theft.  It required dedicating resources to the area and our Assets Protection team increased trash checks and audits to look for signs of theft.  On the surface it may not seem like much, but there were other areas I would have preferred to focus our attention.  Had we implemented a bottle security program that included bottle locks, we could have spent far less time and energy monitoring the backroom for potential pilferage of alcohol.
     I can think of a few instances where our team did prevent attempted rollouts of bottles of wine, and our shortage results never reflected huge shortage in the wine department, but we did have some theft.  As a big box retailer, we had the advantage of employing a loss prevention team and we had sales floor staff that helped to deter theft, but I have often questioned how difficult it must be for a small business owner to control theft.  What can the owner of a liquor store, or say a wine specialty store do to protect THEIR business?  Smaller staffs, tighter payroll and limited resources make it critical that the product stay in the store.  Small businesses could add to their profits by significantly reducing shortage using bottle locks to deter theft. 
     Increase the price points of the wines and liquors your business carries, knowing that you have a strong bottle security program in place.    Use bottle locks to your advantage, by protecting your product and keeping it out of the hands of thieves and in the hands of customers and watch your profits soar!   
    
For more information about bottle locks contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

When those of us in the retail world think about bottle security the first thing that always comes to mind are alcoholic beverages. This is a category of product that does carry a hefty price tag and requires protection. Bottle locks provide that protection and can take the worry out of carrying these products, which allows a store to increase their sales by broadening their product lines. Broadening product lines increases customer appeal and draws in patrons you may not have catered to previously.

My personal experience with bottle security is limited to wines and champagnes. I recall when the company I worked for began carrying alcohol, even in a limited form I was concerned about the theft we were going to see in that area. We did not have any protection for our product other than closed circuit television, emphasis on customer service and a small Assets Protection Team. We did not tag the bottles since it would interfere with branding of the product and it was a vendor item so we did receive vendor credit when product did not sell or was removed by the vendor. To be frank, I was not even aware if there was anything on the market to provide bottle security. If I had known I would have screamed to my District Team Leader to look into such a thing.

Bottle locks would have been the perfect solution for our situation.The device can be fitted directly over the cap of a bottle to prevent the bottle from being opened. Additionally, they come in a variety of sizes and designs allowing retailers the flexibility to protect multiple bottle designs. They work in conjunction with an EAS system so they provide a double layer of protection activating the alarm at the door if someone attempted to walk out without paying. Should someone attempt to pry the device off, there is a strong possibility they will shatter the bottle. 

While shoplifting was something I knew we might have to combat, I was also very concerned about the security of the product in our stockroom. Anyone who has worked in retail security or retail management knows how vulnerable a backroom can be with plenty of areas to hide, and often limited staffing in those areas. It can be a very real challenge with respect to shortage control. With the addition of wine and champagne in our vendor area, I did have to try to find ways to monitor the product and deter theft. It required dedicating resources to the area and our Assets Protection team increased trash checks and audits to look for signs of theft. On the surface it may not seem like much, but there were other areas I would have preferred to focus our attention. Had we implemented a bottle security program that included bottle locks, we could have spent far less time and energy monitoring the backroom for potential pilferage of alcohol.

I can think of a few instances where our team did prevent attempted rollouts of bottles of wine, and our shortage results never reflected huge shortage in the wine department, but we did have some theft. As a big box retailer, we had the advantage of employing a loss prevention team and we had sales floor staff that helped to deter theft, but I have often questioned how difficult it must be for a small business owner to control theft. What can the owner of a liquor store, or say a wine specialty store do to protect THEIR business? Smaller staffs, tighter payroll and limited resources make it critical that the product stay in the store. Small businesses could add to their profits by significantly reducing shortage using bottle locks to deter theft. 

Increase the price points of the wines and liquors your business carries, knowing that you have a strong bottle security program in place. Use bottle locks to your advantage, by protecting your product and keeping it out of the hands of thieves and in the hands of customers and watch your profits soar!       

For more information about bottle locks, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

 

 

Filed Under: Security Tagged With: , ,

BOTTLE LOCKS FOR THE WIN!

October 20, 2015 by Leave a Comment

 

BOTTLE LOCKS FOR THE WIN!
I was recently asked to lend a helping hand to a family friend, who just so happens to run a small grocery store in town. We’ve known the owners of this store for decades. This is the only grocery store in my small, hometown. The current owner and my dad were talking one night and my dad brought up that I do LP investigations for a national retailer. Well, turns out that the grocer wasn’t doing too well. His profits were down and he was getting hammered in theft, mainly alcohol. He asked for my help and I was gladly willing to assist. The first thing we talked about was physical security measures, and what Alpha Security could do for his business. 
After spending a few days working in the store, I quickly saw that alcohol theft was a huge problem. Looking over his invoices/deliveries and then his sales, I could see that there was a theft issue. First order of business was to secure all alcohol with bottle lock. It didn’t take long for us to see how the thieves would react. 
It wasn’t but maybe a week after installing the bottle locks that I came to the store to check on things. I went to the back office where the owner was at. He was staring at the camera screen. He was watching a thief (try to) steal a bottle of vodka. I had a few minutes, so I watched too. This was going to be good. 
So our thief walks over to the vodka, grabs two bottles off the shelf and places them in his back pockets. As he walks towards the rear of the store, he takes one out and begins to inspect it more closely. He’s noticing the bottle lock. With a confused look on his face, we see him approach a stocker. They have a brief interaction and the thief continues on. We later asked the stocker what the guy said. The thief asked if “Alpha Security” was the name of the vodka… Did I mention, he was also pretty drunk?
We continue watching the thief as he attempts to remove the bottle lock. He pulls, pries and even attempts to chew it off. Nothing. As if a light bulb had gone off in his head, he stops dead in his tracks. He begins walking feverishly to the small hardware section of the store. He takes a hammer and starts beating the top of the bottle. Alpha security tags are a bit stronger than you would think and the lock holds up to the light beatings of a drunken thief. Just as we think he’s going to give up, he hits the actual bottle with the hammer, shattering the glass right at the neck. 
We both go running down the stairs from the office to meet our thief as he’s walking out the front doors. He’s broken both bottles and has shoved them back into his back pockets. We confront him and he starts to run… only he’s already inebriated so he essentially takes a nose dive into the pavement; vodka spills down his back. As the police arrive on scene, he tries to get rid of the evidence, only to severely cut one of his hands on the broken glass as he pulls it from his back pocket. Not the most elegant thief I had ever encountered. 
A few weeks after that I went back to see if the bottle locks were working. There had only been 3 other theft attempts, but each had failed. A recent inventory showed that the store was selling more alcohol than ever, which meant profits were rising. A great day for all. 
For more information about Bottle Lock, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

I was recently asked to lend a helping hand to a family friend, who just so happens to run a small grocery store in town. We’ve known the owners of this store for decades. This is the only grocery store in my small, hometown. The current owner and my dad were talking one night and my dad brought up that I do LP investigations for a national retailer. Well, turns out that the grocer wasn’t doing too well. His profits were down and he was getting hammered in theft, mainly alcohol. He asked for my help and I was gladly willing to assist. The first thing we talked about was physical security measures, and what Alpha Security could do for his business. 

After spending a few days working in the store, I quickly saw that alcohol theft was a huge problem. Looking over his invoices/deliveries and then his sales, I could see that there was a theft issue. First order of business was to secure all alcohol with bottle lock. It didn’t take long for us to see how the thieves would react.

It wasn’t but maybe a week after installing the bottle locks that I came to the store to check on things. I went to the back office where the owner was at. He was staring at the camera screen. He was watching a thief (try to) steal a bottle of vodka. I had a few minutes, so I watched too. This was going to be good. 

So our thief walks over to the vodka, grabs two bottles off the shelf and places them in his back pockets. As he walks towards the rear of the store, he takes one out and begins to inspect it more closely. He’s noticing the bottle lock. With a confused look on his face, we see him approach a stocker. They have a brief interaction and the thief continues on. We later asked the stocker what the guy said. The thief asked if “Alpha Security” was the name of the vodka… Did I mention, he was also pretty drunk?

We continue watching the thief as he attempts to remove the bottle lock. He pulls, pries and even attempts to chew it off. Nothing. As if a light bulb had gone off in his head, he stops dead in his tracks. He begins walking feverishly to the small hardware section of the store. He takes a hammer and starts beating the top of the bottle. Alpha security tags are a bit stronger than you would think and the lock holds up to the light beatings of a drunken thief. Just as we think he’s going to give up, he hits the actual bottle with the hammer, shattering the glass right at the neck. 

We both go running down the stairs from the office to meet our thief as he’s walking out the front doors. He’s broken both bottles and has shoved them back into his back pockets. We confront him and he starts to run… only he’s already inebriated so he essentially takes a nose dive into the pavement; vodka spills down his back. As the police arrive on scene, he tries to get rid of the evidence, only to severely cut one of his hands on the broken glass as he pulls it from his back pocket. Not the most elegant thief I had ever encountered. 

A few weeks after that I went back to see if the bottle locks were working. There had only been 3 other theft attempts, but each had failed. A recent inventory showed that the store was selling more alcohol than ever, which meant profits were rising. A great day for all. 

For more information about Bottle Lock, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

 

 

Filed Under: Security Tagged With: , ,

Can Bottle Locks Help Curb Thefts of Goods in Transit?

August 14, 2015 by Leave a Comment
RL-172 
bottle locks-5 , bottle security-3 
Can Bottle Locks Help Curb Thefts of Goods in Transit?
If you own or manage a store that sells wine or liquor, you should already know that the best way to ensure bottle security is to use bottle locks.   But sometimes the theft occurs before the liquor even makes it to the store.  Many trailers containing merchandise are now equipped with GPS to locate the stolen trailer, but you may be locating an empty trailer if the thieves work fast enough.  Very recently, I read a news story about a trailer theft of liquor totaling $100,000. That is a huge loss for even for a large company.   Knowing this, wouldn’t it be a good idea to protect the liquor bottles from the point of origin?  That’s right, I’m talking about protecting merchandise against cargo theft, or the theft of goods in transit.  The company buying the merchandise would likely be responsible for the cost of securing the merchandise, but who exactly would be responsible for actually placing the devices onto the products.   
One way to do this is to have the bottle locks placed onto the bottles when they reach the distribution center, and that would help keep your merchandise safe until it reaches its final destination.  But this wouldn’t protect the merchandise before it reached the distribution center.   In a perfect world, the best time to attach bottle locks to the merchandise is before they leave the manufacturer.   This would ensure that the merchandise was immediately secured before being transported anywhere, by any means of transportation.   Regardless of which point the bottle security devices are attached, the likelihood of them being stolen will decrease at that point. 
Think of it kind of like manufacturers that offer source tagging, only with bottle security.   With source tagging, the security tag is already inside or attached to the merchandise packaging when it leaves the manufacturer.   This allows the items to be protected from the manufacturer to the store shelf.   I would like to think that if thieves know that a trailer contains merchandise protected by security devices, and that it will take a huge amount effort to remove all of them, they would think twice about stealing the merchandise from the trailer or shipping container.   One problem with this would be that the thieves probably won’t know what exactly is in the trailer until it is opened, unless the shipping container is branded or contains some kind of advertising on the outside.   
If this is the case, you could always add a notice that the merchandise is protected.   Why not? This would be similar to the way that signs on homes with alarm systems are used to make burglars think twice before attempting to break into your house.   There’s no guarantee that a thief still won’t try to break in, but if given the choice of a home without a security system, and one without one, I’m betting they will choose the one that isn’t secured.  If you think it sounds expensive to have your shipment of liquor secured with bottle locks, imagine how much it will cost you if you lost a whole shipment of your merchandise.   You might not have an order as large as $100,000 coming in, but even if the shipment is worth $1,000, it would likely be a huge blow to a small business.   How much time would it take you to recoup that kind of loss?   I think it’s always a better idea to be prepared, and make sure that your merchandise is protected, instead of wishing you would have done something before it was too late.
For more information about bottle locks, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

If you own or manage a store that sells wine or liquor, you should already know that the best way to ensure bottle security is to use bottle locks. But sometimes the theft occurs before the liquor even makes it to the store. Many trailers containing merchandise are now equipped with GPS to locate the stolen trailer, but you may be locating an empty trailer if the thieves work fast enough. Very recently, I read a news story about a trailer theft of liquor totaling $100,000. That is a huge loss for even for a large company. Knowing this, wouldn’t it be a good idea to protect the liquor bottles from the point of origin? That’s right, I’m talking about protecting merchandise against cargo theft, or the theft of goods in transit. The company buying the merchandise would likely be responsible for the cost of securing the merchandise, but who exactly would be responsible for actually placing the devices onto the products.

One way to do this is to have the bottle locks placed onto the bottles when they reach the distribution center, and that would help keep your merchandise safe until it reaches its final destination. But this wouldn’t protect the merchandise before it reached the distribution center.   In a perfect world, the best time to attach bottle locks to the merchandise is before they leave the manufacturer. This would ensure that the merchandise was immediately secured before being transported anywhere, by any means of transportation. Regardless of which point the bottle security devices are attached, the likelihood of them being stolen will decrease at that point. 

Think of it kind of like manufacturers that offer source tagging, only with bottle security. With source tagging, the security tag is already inside or attached to the merchandise packaging when it leaves the manufacturer.   This allows the items to be protected from the manufacturer to the store shelf. I would like to think that if thieves know that a trailer contains merchandise protected by security devices, and that it will take a huge amount effort to remove all of them, they would think twice about stealing the merchandise from the trailer or shipping container. One problem with this would be that the thieves probably won’t know what exactly is in the trailer until it is opened, unless the shipping container is branded or contains some kind of advertising on the outside.

If this is the case, you could always add a notice that the merchandise is protected. Why not? This would be similar to the way that signs on homes with alarm systems are used to make burglars think twice before attempting to break into your house. There’s no guarantee that a thief still won’t try to break in, but if given the choice of a home without a security system, and one without one, I’m betting they will choose the one that isn’t secured.If you think it sounds expensive to have your shipment of liquor secured with bottle locks, imagine how much it will cost you if you lost a whole shipment of your merchandise. You might not have an order as large as $100,000 coming in, but even if the shipment is worth $1,000, it would likely be a huge blow to a small business. How much time would it take you to recoup that kind of loss? I think it’s always a better idea to be prepared, and make sure that your merchandise is protected, instead of wishing you would have done something before it was too late.

For more information about bottle locks contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

Filed Under: Security Tagged With: , ,

Send Them Somewhere Else – Liquor Bottle Security

July 17, 2015 by Leave a Comment
In retail, the goal is usually to keep people in your store, and stop them from going somewhere else.  This logic is reversed when you are trying to stop shoplifting.  If you want to minimize the occurrence of theft in your liquor store, you’ll have to invest in a good liquor bottle security program.  The goal is to make it as much of a challenge as possible for the thieves, so they don’t have any choice but to risk getting caught at your store, or go to another store where they don’t invest in protecting their merchandise from shoplifters.  For liquor store, the must-have devices for protecting your merchandise are bottle locks, so even if the thieves were to get the liquor out of the store, they wouldn’t be able to enjoy it, because the bottles would have been damaged as he tried to remove the locks.  
Shoplifters don’t always give up easily at the first sight of a problem.  Some of them just keep trying and trying, until they get the merchandise, or they get caught.  A good example of this is a video we’ve all probably seen showing a burglar falling through the ceiling of a liquor store.  If you haven’t seen this yet, I highly suggest you have a look.  The video starts by showing the burglar attempting to climb the outside of the building, and falling.  He is then successful at getting on top of the building, but the next frame shows him falling through the ceiling inside the store.  Once he recovers from the fall, he thinks he is in the clear, so he actually gets a shopping cart and starts “shopping”.  
Once he gets what he wants, he tries the front door and an alarm goes off.  That doesn’t work, so he finds a ladder and tries to go out the way he came in, which is also unsuccessful.  This time he takes another nasty fall through the ceiling, landing on liquor bottles on the shelf.  The guy is obviously visibly angry after this, and tries to throw a bottle at the security camera.  After that, he finally gives up.  The next thing you see is the thief sitting down smoking a cigarette and waiting for the police to arrive.  As soon as he sees them outside, he lays down on the ground ready to be taken into custody.
The reason I used this as an example is that is displayed a thief taking drastic measures and trying everything he could to get away with the liquor.  Liquor bottle security is extremely important for liquor stores, and if the store owner didn’t have a good burglar alarm system in place to keep their merchandise (and would-be thief) in the store, this could have ended much differently.  Although there was damage done to some of the merchandise and the store, the subject was able to be caught, so there is potential to recover some of the loss.  Liquor stores are often the target of shoplifting, burglaries, and robberies, so you have to take all possible measures to ensure your loss is minimal.  A security alarm system, cameras, and merchandise protection devices such as bottle locks should all be included in your bottle security plan in a these types of stores.  
For more information contact us: (liquor bottle security) or call 1.770.426.0547

In retail, the goal is usually to keep people in your store, and stop them from going somewhere else.  This logic is reversed when you are trying to stop shoplifting.  If you want to minimize the occurrence of theft in your liquor store, you’ll have to invest in a good liquor bottle security program.  The goal is to make it as much of a challenge as possible for the thieves, so they don’t have any choice but to risk getting caught at your store, or go to another store where they don’t invest in protecting their merchandise from shoplifters.  For liquor stores, the must-have devices for protecting your merchandise are Bottle Locks, so even if the thieves were to get the liquor out of the store, they wouldn’t be able to enjoy it, because the bottles would have been damaged as he tried to remove the locks.  

Shoplifters don’t always give up easily at the first sight of a problem.  Some of them just keep trying and trying, until they get the merchandise, or they get caught.  A good example of this is a video we’ve all probably seen showing a burglar falling through the ceiling of a liquor store.  If you haven’t seen this yet, I highly suggest you have a look.  The video starts by showing the burglar attempting to climb the outside of the building, and falling.  He is then successful at getting on top of the building, but the next frame shows him falling through the ceiling inside the store.  Once he recovers from the fall, he thinks he is in the clear, so he actually gets a shopping cart and starts “shopping”.  

Once he gets what he wants, he tries the front door and an alarm goes off.  That doesn’t work, so he finds a ladder and tries to go out the way he came in, which is also unsuccessful.  This time he takes another nasty fall through the ceiling, landing on liquor bottles on the shelf.  The guy is obviously visibly angry after this, and tries to throw a bottle at the security camera.  After that, he finally gives up.  The next thing you see is the thief sitting down smoking a cigarette and waiting for the police to arrive.  As soon as he sees them outside, he lays down on the ground ready to be taken into custody.

The reason I used this as an example is that it displayed a thief taking drastic measures and trying everything he could to get away with the liquor.  Liquor bottle security is extremely important for liquor stores, and if the store owner didn’t have a good burglar alarm system in place to keep their merchandise (and would-be thief) in the store, this could have ended much differently.  Although there was damage done to some of the merchandise and the store, the subject was able to be caught, so there is potential to recover some of the loss.  Liquor stores are often the target of shoplifting, burglaries, and robberies, so you have to take all possible measures to ensure your loss is minimal.  A security alarm system, cameras, and merchandise protection devices such as bottle locks should all be included in your bottle security plan in a these types of stores.  

For more information contact us at bottlelock.net or call 1.770.426.0547

 

Filed Under: Security Tagged With: , , ,

Convenience Of Bottle Locks In The Convenience Store

June 17, 2015 by Leave a Comment
I have spoken to many current and former convenience store employees and the consensus seems that one of the biggest theft drivers is people running out with beer and wine.  There is definitely an opportunity for improvement in this category.  Traditionally you would expect to see Bottle Locks on all the high retail wines and premium liquors in package stores, but they could also make a big impact on the frequently targeted malt beverages in the coolers of convenience stores.  
Generally you do not see a lot of product protection tools being utilized in this market.  The novelty items are kept on or near the checkout counter.  Sometimes the counters are so cluttered with specialty lighters, phone cases, chargers, and other gadgets it can be difficult to see exactly where to go to make your purchases.  Keeping these items close keeps the clerks attention on them, and visible even when there are multiple customers in the store.  But the beer and low retail malts are usually near the back of the store, and when they are just sitting there with no deterrents, like Bottle Locks, they are simply a challenge to the creative and determined thief.  If you have a suspicious person in the store when there are a lot of other shoppers, it is hard to monitor their activity.  If the products are kept in a reach-in cooler, the person can just walk around a bit, and then conceal the bottle in their clothing or a large purse as soon as the clerk gets distracted.  It is even harder in the case of the walk-in beer cave.   Most times the clerk is on duty solo, so they cannot just leave the counter and escort every customer into the walk-in.  It is a neat idea; let the customer walk in and choose a cold beverage.  Unfortunately it is also the perfect opportunity for the unscrupulous customer.
My husband used to work the night shift at a local convenience store, and he hated dealing with the guys that walked around the neighborhood or hung around the parking lot all hours of the night.  Many were just waiting for the chance to dart in and run out with a single stolen bottle.  The big 40 ounce bottles of beer and the cheap wines were constantly being stolen.  
That was the 90’s.  In today’s world, this is still happening, but there are solutions on the market.  Checkpoint has introduced the new N-10 model, which is a slim profile theft detection system that is perfect for the limited space available in a convenience store.  Add Bottle Locks to the most targeted beverages, and you have a winning combination.  These tough tools fit tightly over the lids of almost any size bottle.  They are quickly and easily removed by the clerk at the time of purchase.  They are tough and totally reusable.  They can also self alarm if there is an attempt to tamper with or remove them without the proper tool.  Statistically speaking, the glass will break before the Bottle Lock will come off if there is a successful theft.  
If you are the owner or manager of a convenience store and you are fed up with external theft, it is time to take a look at what these tools can do for you.
For more information contact us: 1.770.426.0547 or Bottle-Services.net

I have spoken to many current and former convenience store employees and the consensus seems that one of the biggest theft drivers is people running out with beer and wine.  There is definitely an opportunity for improvement in this category.  Traditionally you would expect to see Alpha Bottle Locks on all the high retail wines and premium liquors in package stores, but they could also make a big impact on the frequently targeted malt beverages in the coolers of convenience stores.  

Generally you do not see a lot of product protection tools being utilized in this market.  The novelty items are kept on or near the checkout counter.  Sometimes the counters are so cluttered with specialty lighters, phone cases, chargers, and other gadgets it can be difficult to see exactly where to go to make your purchases.  Keeping these items close keeps the clerks attention on them, and visible even when there are multiple customers in the store.  But the beer and low retail malts are usually near the back of the store, and when they are just sitting there with no deterrents, like Alpha Bottle Locks, they are simply a challenge to the creative and determined thief.  If you have a suspicious person in the store when there are a lot of other shoppers, it is hard to monitor their activity.  If the products are kept in a reach-in cooler, the person can just walk around a bit, and then conceal the bottle in their clothing or a large purse as soon as the clerk gets distracted.  It is even harder in the case of the walk-in beer cave.   Most times the clerk is on duty solo, so they cannot just leave the counter and escort every customer into the walk-in.  It is a neat idea; let the customer walk in and choose a cold beverage.  Unfortunately it is also the perfect opportunity for the unscrupulous customer.

My husband used to work the night shift at a local convenience store, and he hated dealing with the guys that walked around the neighborhood or hung around the parking lot all hours of the night.  Many were just waiting for the chance to dart in and run out with a single stolen bottle.  The big 40 ounce bottles of beer and the cheap wines were constantly being stolen.  

That was the 90’s.  In today’s world, this is still happening, but there are solutions on the market.  Checkpoint has introduced the new N-10 model, which is a slim profile theft detection system that is perfect for the limited space available in a convenience store.  Add Bottle Locks to the most targeted beverages, and you have a winning combination.  These tough tools fit tightly over the lids of almost any size bottle.  They are quickly and easily removed by the clerk at the time of purchase.  They are tough and totally reusable.  They can also self alarm if there is an attempt to tamper with or remove them without the proper tool.  Statistically speaking, the glass will break before the Bottle Lock will come off if there is a successful theft.  

If you are the owner or manager of a convenience store and you are fed up with external theft, it is time to take a look at what these tools can do for you.

For more information contact us: 1.770.426.0547 or Bottle-Services.net

 

Filed Under: Security Tagged With: ,

Bottle Locks: Small Solution For A Growing Issue

June 10, 2015 by Leave a Comment
On a big name website that prides itself for having the answers to everyday problems, there is one short article that could provide a manager or owner of a small store selling liquor and wine the best solution to stop thefts. The question posed is how to remove a Bottle Lock from a liquor bottle.  The site’s answer is a simple one.  You must have the key.  It gives the instructions for removal with this key, and follows up with a warning to not attempt to remove a Bottle Lock with any other tool because the glass will likely break or shatter and there is great risk of injury.  
Since many states have privatized sales of these products, retailers should look at what measures they need to take in order to protect their valuable inventory.  Before I tell you the benefits of Bottle Locks, let’s take a look at some other choices used in various stores.  1. There is the option to just put everything out on the shelves.  This allows for a larger selection for the consumer and gives them completely open access to look at all the bottles and make their choices freely.  This also opens up a big opportunity for organized theft rings to come and wipe out your shelves, or even worse, it provides much too easy access to minors.  2. Stores may choose to secure only certain brands and price points behind counters or cases.  This may discourage the theft rings from targeting your store, but it does nothing to deter theft by those that are underage, or impulse petty thefts.  Many times these people will just take whatever they can get anyway.  3. Other stores may decide to lock it all up.  They have glass cases constructed down the aisle, and the shopper asks the clerk for what they want.  This eliminates theft, but it also has a lot of negative effects like higher costs passed on to the consumer and less selection.  This could be a viable option for a big box store, with all of it’s employees and almost limitless cash flow, but in the small business world, this probably could not work.
For the managers and owners of small independent stores that have decided to venture into the world of selling liquor and wine, one of the best theft deterrents is Bottle Locks.  There is no need for additional clerks or the use of valuable labor hours running back and forth to open locked cases.  These tools fit right over the tops of almost any size bottle, securing them shut, and like mentioned above, they can only be removed with the proper key.  Otherwise, the crook is only going to have a big mess, and possibly a few nasty cuts.  Bottle Locks are completely reusable, and they require little storage space.  They are designed to be easily and quickly removed at the time of checkout, so there are no long waits for the customer.  
In the retail world and all the stiff competition, help your store stand out by offering what the customers want without any added hassle.  Make the right investment for product protection in your store, and see what Bottle Locks can do for you.
For more information contact us at 1.770.426.0547 or Bottlelock.net

On a big name website that prides itself for having the answers to everyday problems, there is one short article that could provide a manager or owner of a small store selling liquor and wine the best solution to stop thefts. The question posed is how to remove a Bottle Lock from a liquor bottle.  The site’s answer is a simple one.  You must have the key.  It gives the instructions for removal with this key, and follows up with a warning to not attempt to remove a Bottle Lok with any other tool because the glass will likely break or shatter and there is great risk of injury.  

Since many states have privatized sales of these products, retailers should look at what measures they need to take in order to protect their valuable inventory.  Before I tell you the benefits of Alpha Bottle Loks, let’s take a look at some other choices used in various stores.  1. There is the option to just put everything out on the shelves.  This allows for a larger selection for the consumer and gives them completely open access to look at all the bottles and make their choices freely.  This also opens up a big opportunity for organized theft rings to come and wipe out your shelves, or even worse, it provides much too easy access to minors.  2. Stores may choose to secure only certain brands and price points behind counters or cases.  This may discourage the theft rings from targeting your store, but it does nothing to deter theft by those that are underage, or impulse petty thefts.  Many times these people will just take whatever they can get anyway.  3. Other stores may decide to lock it all up.  They have glass cases constructed down the aisle, and the shopper asks the clerk for what they want.  This eliminates theft, but it also has a lot of negative effects like higher costs passed on to the consumer and less selection.  This could be a viable option for a big box store, with all of it’s employees and almost limitless cash flow, but in the small business world, this probably could not work.

For the managers and owners of small independent stores that have decided to venture into the world of selling liquor and wine, one of the best theft deterrents is Alpha Bottle Loks.  There is no need for additional clerks or the use of valuable labor hours running back and forth to open locked cases.  These tools fit right over the tops of almost any size bottle, securing them shut, and like mentioned above, they can only be removed with the proper key.  Otherwise, the crook is only going to have a big mess, and possibly a few nasty cuts.  Bottle Loks are completely reusable, and they require little storage space.  They are designed to be easily and quickly removed at the time of checkout, so there are no long waits for the customer.  

In the retail world and all the stiff competition, help your store stand out by offering what the customers want without any added hassle.  Make the right investment for product protection in your store, and see what Alpha Bottle Loks can do for you.

For more information contact us at 1.770.426.0547 or Bottlelock.net

 

Filed Under: Security Tagged With: ,

WAKE UP! It’s Time to Get Bottle Locks

May 16, 2015 by Leave a Comment
When you think of bottle locks, you probably think of keeping your wine or liquor safe and secure from those sneaky shoplifters that try to get away with your product.  Most of the time, that’s exactly the case, but other times, you may be surprised to find that you have an employee theft issue, and it’s actually your own team that has been responsible for theft in your store.  No one wants to believe that their own employees are stealing from them, but when you see the signs, it’s time to wake up and take steps to reduce and eliminate the thefts.
Retail anti-theft devices like bottle locks are great for keeping your customers and employees honest by keeping the product secure, yet accessible for those wanting to read and hold the merchandise.  The benefit denial built into these devices stops thieves from gaining access to the actual liquor inside the bottle, so even if they think they can break into it, it will be literally be all over them if they try.  They also have alarms so that if someone exits the store without having them removed during purchase, the EAS (Electronic Article Surveillance) you have installed will sound at the exit door.
I can think of at least one example where a store I previously worked for could have saved a good amount of money if they invested in bottle locks to protect their alcoholic beverages.  It’s not every day that you are walking in the stockroom with a co-worker and happen upon a truly unusual find.  What we were looking for was any signs of employee dishonesty, like an empty package, candy wrapper or something similar. We really hit the jackpot on this day when we came to the end of the stockroom and started looking on the shelves.  
At first we didn’t even notice, but we then looked at the bottom shelf and there he was, sleeping on the bottom shelf with evidence of loafing and theft literally all over him.  Not only was he sleeping, but he was still holding a partially consumed, open bottle of wine.   It didn’t end there, because there was also an empty snack cake package next to him on the floor.  
After we made sure that he was still alive and breathing by calling out to him, he finally started to slowly wake up.  As he attempted to get up, several pieces of merchandise fell on the floor because he had it stacked all around him in an attempt to hide his secret space.  After that, he actually said, “Am I in trouble?” You can imagine the conversation that took place after that event.  It wasn’t over at that point though, because we still had to finish up the employee theft investigation.  We returned to the scene of the crime and found additional empty bottles of wine and other merchandise hidden under the shelf.  After looking further into the situation, we found that this was not the first time that the employee did this same thing, and no one had noticed.  The small investment needed to use retail anti-theft devices on your wine and liquor is a small price to pay for the money that you will be saving in the long run.
For more information contact us: (bottle locks) or call 1.770.426.0547

When you think of bottle locks, you probably think of keeping your wine or liquor safe and secure from those sneaky shoplifters that try to get away with your product.  Most of the time, that’s exactly the case, but other times, you may be surprised to find that you have an employee theft issue, and it’s actually your own team that has been responsible for theft in your store.  No one wants to believe that their own employees are stealing from them, but when you see the signs, it’s time to wake up and take steps to reduce and eliminate the thefts.

Retail anti-theft devices like bottle locks are great for keeping your customers and employees honest by keeping the product secure, yet accessible for those wanting to read and hold the merchandise.  The benefit denial built into these devices stops thieves from gaining access to the actual liquor inside the bottle, so even if they think they can break into it, it will be literally be all over them if they try.  They also have alarms so that if someone exits the store without having them removed during purchase, the EAS (Electronic Article Surveillance) you have installed will sound at the exit door.

I can think of at least one example where a store I previously worked for could have saved a good amount of money if they invested in bottle locks to protect their alcoholic beverages.  It’s not every day that you are walking in the stockroom with a co-worker and happen upon a truly unusual find.  What we were looking for was any signs of employee dishonesty, like an empty package, candy wrapper or something similar. We really hit the jackpot on this day when we came to the end of the stockroom and started looking on the shelves.  

At first we didn’t even notice, but we then looked at the bottom shelf and there he was, sleeping on the bottom shelf with evidence of loafing and theft literally all over him.  Not only was he sleeping, but he was still holding a partially consumed, open bottle of wine.   It didn’t end there, because there was also an empty snack cake package next to him on the floor.  

After we made sure that he was still alive and breathing by calling out to him, he finally started to slowly wake up.  As he attempted to get up, several pieces of merchandise fell on the floor because he had it stacked all around him in an attempt to hide his secret space.  After that, he actually said, “Am I in trouble?” You can imagine the conversation that took place after that event.  It wasn’t over at that point though, because we still had to finish up the employee theft investigation.  We returned to the scene of the crime and found additional empty bottles of wine and other merchandise hidden under the shelf.  After looking further into the situation, we found that this was not the first time that the employee did this same thing, and no one had noticed.  The small investment needed to use retail anti-theft devices on your wine and liquor is a small price to pay for the money that you will be saving in the long run.

For more information contact us: bottlelock.net or call 1.770.426.0547

 

Filed Under: Security Tagged With: ,
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