Slow Down – Retail Theft Prevention

What if there was a way to immediately react to and possibly slow down the rate of theft (or stop shoplifting altogether) without having retail theft prevention?

I suggest that everyone invests in Checkpoint systems or a similar form of anti- shoplifting deterrents. Checkpoint systems have an undisputable historical success in reducing theft in retail establishments. However, it does take time to get something installed. During that time, you don’t want to continue to experience the same rate of theft that you have been.

Merchandise only to your rate of sale with your high theft items. If you are only selling two boxes of razors in a week, for example, don’t put out five boxes. You don’t have the sales to support that larger quantity of product being on a shelf. It also gives the thieves access to a larger quantity of product to steal.

If you limit the razors to only two boxes, you might still lose two of them, but you won’t lose five boxes. Thieves will take what they can, especially if it is a small and desirable item. If you give them access to that many of an item, they will take it. If you merchandise only what you will sell in a specific time period, then you will have the merchandise available to your customers, and some extra in the back, just in case you do experience a theft.

You can always re-evaluate your shelf levels after the retail theft prevention package is installed.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase Anti-Shoplifting devices and your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system from Checkpoint Systems to stop shoplifting in your store.

For more information on Anti-Shoplifting, Checkpoint Labels, a Checkpoint Security System, Checkpoint Security Tags, Checkpoint Systems, or Checkpoint Tags and how they can work with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system contact us at Retail theft prevention to Stop Shoplifting in your store or call 1.770.426.0547

An Extra Push – Clothing Security Tags

Often, when I do a spot check of clothing security tags on our winter coats I find that they were not snapped down far enough. Sometimes the bulky material of the coat makes it hard for my employees to determine that the tag is accurately secured. By doing minimal additional training with your store employees, you should greatly reduce these discrepancies.

When checked, you will find that the pin is attached to the base of the tag. However, the pin is not completely engaged into the locking mechanism. That means anyone can detach the tags simply by giving the two sides a good pull. They will detach the clothing security tags without damaging the tag or the outerwear.

To fix this, simply give the Checkpoint tags an extra push down. The pins in the tag will click and snap completely shut. This way they are not easily wiggled loose because the pin was not completely engaged.

You should hear two little clicks when you push the pin down. That means it is completely secured in place. If you are having trouble, sometimes you can gently tug on the fabric to get the stuffing to spread out slightly- thus thinning out some of the bulk. Other times, just pushing a little harder on the tag will secure it properly.

Whatever the method, by making sure your employees know to check the tags will make the biggest difference in the effectiveness of your clothing security.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase Checkpoint Tags, a Clothing Alarm, Clothing Security or Clothing Security Tags to put Security Tags on Clothes and an Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system.

For more information on Checkpoint tags, clothing security, clothing alarm, or clothing security tags how they can work with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system contact us at security tags on clothes or call 1.770.426.0547

 

 

All Systems Go – Checkpoint Security Systems

Technology has greatly improved over time. Now Checkpoint security systems are much more durable than what they used to be. I have had many experiences with Checkpoint security systems breakdowns that are a direct result of damage done to the EAS pedestals.

The damages were often a direct result of countless shopping carts banging into the pedestals on their way out the door during a busy weekend. The water from the floor cleaner would sometimes seep into the base and disrupt the electronic components.

Now the bases are more resistant to water or to intentional tampering. The pedestals are also now constructed from impact resistant thermoplastics. All of which helps keep the systems running when they should and eliminating more of the false alarms that were a result from system failures and damages.

One of the theories about using the Checkpoint Security Systems is that they are an identifiable and a visual deterrent to stop shoplifting. Unlike other anti-shoplifting devices, the pedestals are also an audible cue that the store is protected. If the pedestals are an unreliable form of retail theft prevention, the entire system becomes an unreliable way to stop shoplifting. It is imperative that the pedestals stay in working order to maintain the integrity of the store’s retail theft prevention.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase Anti-Shoplifting devices and your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system from Checkpoint Systems to stop shoplifting in your store.

For more information on Anti-Shoplifting, Checkpoint Labels, a Checkpoint Security System, Checkpoint Security Tags, Checkpoint Systems, or Checkpoint Tags and how they can work with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system contact us at Retail theft prevention to Stop Shoplifting in your store or call 1.770.426.0547

It’s The Little Things – Security Tags on Clothes

Just because you are using security tags on clothes for loss prevention does not mean that you can’t continue to make your product and your displays look their very best. As a merchandising manager, I have spent countless hours trying to find the balance between my visual displays and following effective clothing security practices.

To be used in conjunction with your existing Checkpoint tags are the Alpha Security Fashion2 clothing security tags. These tags are customer friendly, fashion forward, and of course a huge deterrent for shoplifters.

The biggest difference these tags have over the basic Checkpoint tags is that they are much smaller. They are also available in black instead of just a standard white. This makes them less obvious visually in your presentations, but does not conceal them completely from the roving eye of a shoplifter.

Security tags on clothes are designed to respond as a clothing alarm. They should not be a distraction from marketing or sales promotions. By making these particular tags smaller, easier to color coordinate with darker fabrics, and be overall less obvious is a huge win. Your visual presentation will not be compromised in the same way it has been for years when you use big and bulky Security tags on clothes.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase Checkpoint Tags, a Clothing Alarm, Clothing Security or Clothing Security Tags to put Security Tags on Clothes and an Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system.

For more information on Checkpoint tags, clothing security, clothing alarm, or clothing security tags how they can work with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system contact us at security tags on clothes or call 1.770.426.0547

Return to Sender – Checkpoint Systems

Our store uses Checkpoint systems for anti-shoplifting. This helps to alleviate most of the criminal element from coming into the store to start with. Next, these same tools that we use to stop shoplifting help clue us in when someone tries a fraudulent refund. They come to the cashier and try to refund merchandise that still has the Checkpoint systems tags still attached, and no receipt.

Other stores that I know of do not use retail theft prevention devices for anti-shoplifting. Since the theft of the merchandise was so easy, the store was viewed as an easy refund target within the community. They also did not have any sort of policy in place regarding refunds that did not have a receipt. As a result, refunders on almost a daily basis targeted them.

We started a policy of allowing customers three no receipted refunds within a six-month period before we declined the return. That gave the legitimate shopper an opportunity to return items that a receipt was lost, or they received the items as a gift.

The end result was that we were able to make accommodations to satisfy (instead of alienating) our customer base (usually the ones who did not return merchandise with retail theft prevention tags). For those that abused the refunds, we were able to capture data on who was doing the returns (asking for a picture ID) and track their movements and develop shoplifting cases accordingly on those suspects.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase Anti-Shoplifting devices and your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system from Checkpoint Systems to stop shoplifting in your store.

For more information on Anti-Shoplifting, Checkpoint Labels, a Checkpoint Security System, Checkpoint Security Tags, Checkpoint Systems, or Checkpoint Tags and how they can work with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system contact us at Retail theft prevention to Stop Shoplifting in your store or call 1.770.426.0547 

Hiding in Plain Sight – Checkpoint Tags

A well-dressed man came into the store. He greeted and waved hello to all of the employees he came across. Because he was so outgoing and friendly, the employees completely disregarded him and ultimately did not provide customer service.

When the checkpoint tags went off at the door, the employees saw this man walking out the door with his arms piled full of clothes that had not been paid for.

Can you imagine their shock and disbelief at what happened?

Had there not been security tags on clothes the man was stealing, they never would have even noticed. The clothing alarm that made them look up to see what was going on never would have gone off.

This is a rare situation where the perpetrator was going to steal regardless of how many checkpoint tags there were. The only thing that would have stopped him was an employee actually giving excellent customer service.

By being so overtly friendly, this shoplifter was, in essence hiding in plain sight. He was counting on the employees’ dismissal in order to steal as much as he wanted. He knew that the employees were looking for someone lurking in the corners, not someone that was going to be so obvious.

This worked to his advantage since the employees ignored him as they assumed he was a low risk for shoplifting.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase Checkpoint Tags, a Clothing Alarm, Clothing Security or Clothing Security Tags to put Security Tags on Clothes and an Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system.

For more information on Checkpoint tags, clothing security, clothing alarm, or clothing security tags how they can work with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system contact us at security tags on clothes or call 1.770.426.0547

Plausible Deniability – Security Tags On Clothes

More experienced clothing alarm goes off. Since there is not a visual presence of any security tags on clothes, a responding employee must be extremely careful to not wrongfully accuse a customer of stealing.

Compare this scenario to a shoplifter carrying merchandise, or holding a bulging purse. The visual cue is present that there might be stolen product, which makes it much less discrete for a shoplifter leaving the store.

Concealing merchandise is about plausibly deniability. Even if the alarm responds to the concealed security tags on clothes, a shoplifter who is seen empty handed can blame the clothing alarm on something else. They can believably deny their attempt to shoplift.

When the shoplifters include the use of boosters or bolsters to conceal stolen items, they greatly increase their chance for success.

Boosters can include false casts on arms and legs. There are ways to add extra hidden pockets to an already puffy coat. Sometimes it is as simple as a booster under a woman’s dress that looks like a pregnancy belly, but is really a hollow shell designed to have stolen clothing stuffed inside of it.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase Checkpoint Tags, a Clothing Alarm, Clothing Security or Clothing Security Tags to put Security Tags on Clothes and an Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system.

For more information on Checkpoint tags, clothing security, clothing alarm, or clothing security tags how they can work with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system contact us at security tags on clothes or call 1.770.426.0547

Overcomplicated and Ineffective – Retail Theft Prevention

Loss prevention is often thought of as a very difficult and complex set of processes or policies that detract from an employee’s time to get their “real” work done. I see too many employees or managers who are over thinking their retail theft prevention strategies and the end result is that their plans often are not followed through or successful.

By simplifying an action plan, you can give that plan a better shot of being successfully implemented and used. I wonder how many of them would have been more successful had we simplified them down to three simple steps.

Think about a store trying to add Checkpoint systems into a store. If you can add these anti-shoplifting tags onto merchandise using three steps, don’t you think it would be more impactful to the employees to remember three steps instead of a complex twenty-step process?

  • Step one decides which merchandise needs help to stop shoplifting.
  • Step two puts the retail theft prevention products on that merchandise.
  • Step three moves the now-tagged merchandise back onto the sales floor to be sold.

By reducing the number of steps, you have a better chance of them working and ultimately to stop shoplifting from happening inside your store.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase Anti-Shoplifting devices and your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system from Checkpoint Systems to stop shoplifting in your store.

For more information on Anti-Shoplifting, Checkpoint Labels, a Checkpoint Security System, Checkpoint Security Tags, Checkpoint Systems, or Checkpoint Tags and how they can work with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system contact us at Retail theft prevention to Stop Shoplifting in your store or call 1.770.426.0547

Basic Trouble Shooting – Clothing Alarm

Security training is not just about proper placement of clothing security tags. It is about how the clothing security system works as a whole and the role your employees play.

You have to teach your employees how to use the system. The more they know about how the clothing alarm responds to Checkpoint tags the better they will be at merchandising and customer service. Show them what happens when clothing security tags come close to the exit doors.

How close can you get with Checkpoint tags before the clothing alarm goes off? It is important to know that customers can be shopping close by with no intention of exiting the store and still set an alarm off.  Your employees need to know the difference so they can reassure the customers that they simply walked to close to the doors, and no one thinks they are shoplifting.

They also need to know how close to the doors they can merchandise product with clothing security tags or they will set off false alarms all day long. It never fails to amaze me how often employees are convinced that the clothing alarm is broken when it goes off. The reality is that someone changed the merchandising and put a rack of with security tags on clothes too close to the doors. It doesn’t require an expensive service call to fix it, but moving the rack a few more inches away.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase Checkpoint Tags, a Clothing Alarm, Clothing Security or Clothing Security Tags to put Security Tags on Clothes and an Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system.

For more information on Checkpoint tags, clothing security, clothing alarm, or clothing security tags how they can work with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system contact us at security tags on clothes or call 1.770.426.0547

The Gift in the Lift – Retail Theft Prevention

A study done by one of the major credit card companies showed that shoplifting is secondary only to going out to eat as a form of personal reward. Yikes! It makes me wonder just how many people out there are shoplifting. It also makes more sense why it is important to utilize as many forms or retail theft prevention as possible.

Regarding shoplifting, getting a “lift” can actually mean two separate things. It is the literal shop-lift or the act of the theft that amateur or opportunist shoplifters are looking for. They can get also get the emotional or adrenaline lift from stealing and getting away with something. Just as there are shoppers who can get a similar lift from a great sale (think day after thanksgiving sale madness) these are people who get the psychological lift from getting something for free.

At some point, the need for the lift has to be significantly reduced through the probability (not just a possibility) of getting caught. If you cannot provide enough incentive to NOT steal, the internal need to steal will overcome a potentially honest shopper. Having retail theft prevention that is visible and eminent will help persuade them to stop shoplifting in your store.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase Anti-Shoplifting devices and your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system from Checkpoint Systems to stop shoplifting in your store.

For more information on Anti-Shoplifting, Checkpoint Labels, a Checkpoint Security System, Checkpoint Security Tags, Checkpoint Systems, or Checkpoint Tags and how they can work with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system contact us at Retail theft prevention to Stop Shoplifting in your store or call 1.770.426.0547