When you start out as a rookie Loss Prevention agent the world is filled with shoplifters. Every person that walks through the door is a thief. You are so ready to catch your first crook that any and every little flinch is a signal that they are about to steal. Unfortunately, the subtleties of distinction cannot be taught in a manual or computer training lesson. To really evaluate the red flags, you must first know what is normal human shopping behavior.

I always start my new trainees out by countless hours of surveillance. It gives them a chance to hone their skills.  It gives them a chance to really observe how we, as a society, shop for our clothes.

Some cultures try on clothing right in the middle of the selling floor, instead of in a fitting room. Others may use their forearms to measure a pair of jeans instead of trying them on at all.

Often my rookies will mistake that for a customer looking for the security tags on clothes. They are convinced that the clothing security tags will be torn off n a matter of seconds. I usually tell them to keep watching and let me know what happens.

Sometimes they will miss the security tags on clothes deterring a shoplifter because they see a customer put merchandise back down. They missed some of the other warning signs, and potentially would have given up completely on that case.

Training is important to be able to understand what to look for. Practical experience helps refine these observations to make accurate and effective shoplifting cases.

 Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase a clothing alarm or clothing security tags 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

I was alone at my first LP job when I started watching a woman on camera that entered with a crumpled, empty shopping bag. The previous day I finished training and was released to detain shoplifters. I hadn’t made a solo arrest yet; I was incredibly nervous and secretly hoped this was nothing. I wanted my first stop to be with another agent to assist with surveillance and back me up during the apprehension. Although I could feel myself shaking, I went to the sales floor to perform live observation; after all, it was my responsibility to maintain the store’s clothing security.

After locating the customer, I watched her check merchandise for Checkpoint tags and select a handful of tops without clothing alarms. She placed them on a rounder, held the shopping bag under the merchandise, and slipped each item off its hanger so it fell in. With this, I realized I must stop her when she exited. As she headed to the door, my nerves took over and I was hit with a wave of nausea. I was going to be sick and made a beeline for the restroom. I went to find the subject when my queasiness had passed, but of course she was gone. This wasn’t my proudest moment and while my boss was kind about it, I felt I had failed to preserve my store’s clothing security. Although I was trained and had good intentions, I’m still a human who is limited in my capacity to keep all merchandise from theft.

Employees can make mistakes; they call in sick, they take breaks, and no one can afford hiring enough people to watch all merchandise. Retailers that understand this utilize clothing security tags to fill in the gaps that naturally occur if a mission as significant as clothing security is left only to people. Clothing alarms are most effective when used uniformly and on merchandise that would hurt the store the most to lose. That way, if a rookie investigator has anxiety, it won’t break the business.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase a clothing alarm or clothing security tags 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

We’ve all seen them; we’ve all heard their piercing sound, those annoying little devices known as clothing security tags. Security tags on clothes can be especially inconvenient in the fitting room. But if we remove the inconvenient annoyance factor and actually look at the bottom line, make money and prevent loss; these tags will soon become the norm. Clothing security tags or Checkpoint tags were created to prevent loss and help protect a company’s assets.

High dollar items are always the first to be protected. This makes sense considering the dollar amount for this particular inventory. Checkpoint tags are good for items of high dollar. What about items of lesser value? Why not protect all assets of high or low value with checkpoint tags?

What about clothing security tags? Clothing security is not always priority but once considered over a period of time how much loss in clothing adds up; one might see the need for security tags on clothes. Clothing security is important considering consumers will always need clothes. Next to food, clothes are a necessity which means companies will always make money and always lose money from this particular kind of merchandise. The bonus to security tags on clothes is tagging can be very discreet and less annoying if thought through and placed properly on or within the item.

A clothing alarm can be used on items in bulk. Ever tried on a high dollar item and got your arm caught tangled in the cord connected to an alarm?

A clothing alarm helps prevent the consumer or shoplifter from having full access to a particular item(s). The lack of full access a clothing alarm has keeps the employee alert and aware of consumers or shoplifters around these particular items. After all great customer service is the best deterrent to shoplifting.

Keeping clothing security tags and other security tags on and within items keeps an honest man honest and sends a shoplifter somewhere else. If you take away the opportunity and use all preventive measures to protect all assets, profit made will most certainly outweigh loss.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase clothing security tags or a clothing alarm.

For more information on Checkpoint tags, clothing security, clothing alarm, clothing security tags or security tags on clothes contact us or call 1.770.426.4567

While most everyone in the United States has seen an EAS tag, not everyone really knows what they are. Clothing security tags, specifically Checkpoint tags are two hard pieces of plastic. One side has a steel pin attached. The other side has a tiny hole to receive the pin as it pierces through the material of a garment.

Once clamped together, the checkpoint tags are virtually indestructible. They require the use of a detacher to remove them. I have seen shoplifters try to pry them off, cut them off, and even burn the plastic off. Very little have succeeded. The ones that did ended up destroying the clothing they were trying to steal, or they busted the ink inside.

Clothing security tags that are referred to as ink tags are a hard EAS tag that has two ampoules of dye in one of the sides. There is generally a blue dye and a glow in the dark dye that stain whatever the inks come in contact with.

EAS refers to electronic article surveillance. In basic terms, the security tags on clothes have an RF transmitter inside. When it crosses the path of a clothing alarm (the big towers flanking the doors of a retailer) an audible alarm goes off.

Security tags on clothes, or EAS tags are available and used in the majority of large chain stores. It is equally beneficial for small boutiques and other small box stores to utilize the EAS tags in their clothing security.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase a clothing alarm or clothing security tags 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

Every shoplifter that has ever walked into a store with the intention of stealing has probably had a dry run in their mind of how it’s going to go down. They have systematically thought through what they want to take, from what type of clothing to size quantity and possibly even color. They know about where in the store the items are located. They also know how they are going to get out, and whether they are using the merchandise for personal use or if it will be a resale (pawn, e-bay, etc).

Clothing security should have the same amount of thoughtfulness put into it from your end. If a criminal is going to make an attempt at your store, you should make it as difficult as possible for them to succeed. With the right clothing security in place, you may even prevent the thieves from ever stepping foot in your establishment.

The usage of clothing security tags alongside a clothing alarm has statistically been proven as a reliable form of clothing security. Countless retailers from a variety of sales and geographical demographics have proven their reduction of shrink is directly tied to the installation of a clothing alarm and security tags on clothes.

Don’t let the criminal mind get the best of you. Plan and prepare security tags on clothes to give the criminals a run for their money instead of yours.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase a clothing alarm or clothing security tags 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

Once upon a time, I worked for a high-end retailer. It was a very different atmosphere as the entire staff was basically scared to death of their clientele. They were so afraid that they would offend a client and the client would never shop with them again. To a certain extent, I understood. A large majority of the sales associates were commission based and a loss of client could mean a serious cut in their paycheck each month.

What I struggled with was convincing the employees, and sometimes the management, that clothing security was a necessity that if done correctly would not impede their mission of world-class service.

We half-heartedly put security tags on clothes. Fitting room doors were routinely left unlocked because it was easier than having tan associate be available to unlock them. It really was no surprise that we routinely found price tags stuffed into corners of the fitting rooms.

I talked till I was blue in the face about the importance of clothing security. I would walk the store locking doors and putting security tags on clothes.

It wasn’t until one night when a gang of about five guys walked into the store grabbed every designer purse they could carry and ran out the door. They all came crying to me as if I had a magical way to bring all of their product back. I unfortunately had to tell them that they would be without those sales to their customers.

Because they didn’t listen to my initial advice, they had to turn away customers because they were out of merchandise. It was a hard lesson for everyone to learn.

The positive side was that I now had the full attention of the store, and together we created one of the best clothing security programs the store had ever seen.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase a clothing alarm or clothing security tags 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

Did you watch the runway shows in Paris? Yeah, I didn’t either. I know that they were going on, and it’s just a matter of time before they (or a reasonable knock off) start to hit the shelves. The reason why I didn’t watch was I had been tied up with a new shipment of clothes that needed to have Checkpoint tags attached.

I am lucky to be with a company that is so adamant about putting security tags on clothes. They understand that consistency is undeniably important to clothing security. Time after time it has been documented in post apprehension interviews with not only shoplifters, but also in employee theft cases that criminals will actively search out clothing that does not have any form of clothing security like a Checkpoint tag.

Security tags on clothes are above all a visual deterrent. It stops a shoplifter’s plan of attack. They think go in, take stuff, hurry out. If they have to add a step like “take security tags off of clothes”, their plans start to falter. Unsure of themselves and the situation, they will most likely back off rather than run the risk of being caught.

Weather you have a high end boutique with straight from the runway designs, or last season’s middle market versions, make sure to include the hottest accessory around: clothing security tags.

 Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase a clothing alarm or clothing security tags 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

One of my all time problematic areas of clothing security has been in the fitting rooms. I can’t even tell you the countless hours I have spent brainstorming new security measures specifically for that area of the store. The mix of protecting the privacy of a customer and the balance of payroll hours spent to monitor a fitting room creates a difficult task at best.

Additionally, the fitting rooms attract a few different types of theft. There is the opportunist. They are the ones who don’t come in to steal, but faced with an unclean fitting room and no watchful eyes to do a piece count, an extra item or two is liable to walk out the door.

Then there are the amateurs who know they want to steal a piece of clothing, but are way to nervous to do it on the sales floor. They will wait for hours in a fitting room until they are the only ones left. They will also take a chance against clothing security tags. Some have the fore thought to bring in a pair of wire cutters in an attempt at hacking off the pin of a clothing security tag.

The best bet to protecting a fitting room from theft is to keep the fitting rooms monitored. While I would love to suggest installing locks, I understand that it can cause a big customer issue. If a customer can’t find an employee to unlock them, you can potentially loose a sale. Next use checkpoint tags whenever possible. Often shoplifters will bypass stealing if faced with the prospect of having to remove one. They won’t run the risk of setting off a clothing alarm with a Checkpoint tag still attached.

With these simple couple of additions to your clothing security, your fitting rooms will stand a better chance of being theft free.

 Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase a clothing alarm or clothing security tags 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

One of my all time problematic areas of clothing security has been in the fitting rooms. I can’t even tell you the countless hours I have spent brainstorming new security measures specifically for that area of the store. The mix of protecting the privacy of a customer and the balance of payroll hours spent to monitor a fitting room creates a difficult task at best.

Additionally, the fitting rooms attract a few different types of theft. There is the opportunist. They are the ones who don’t come in to steal, but faced with an unclean fitting room and no watchful eyes to do a piece count, an extra item or two is liable to walk out the door.

Then there are the amateurs who know they want to steal a piece of clothing, but are way to nervous to do it on the sales floor. They will wait for hours in a fitting room until they are the only ones left. They will also take a chance against clothing security tags. Some have the fore thought to bring in a pair of wire cutters in an attempt at hacking off the pin of a clothing security tag.

The best bet to protecting a fitting room from theft is to keep the fitting rooms monitored. While I would love to suggest installing locks, I understand that it can cause a big customer issue. If a customer can’t find an employee to unlock them, you can potentially loose a sale. Next use checkpoint tags whenever possible. Often shoplifters will bypass stealing if faced with the prospect of having to remove one. They won’t run the risk of setting off a clothing alarm with a Checkpoint tag still attached.

With these simple couple of additions to your clothing security, your fitting rooms will stand a better chance of being theft free.

 Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase a clothing alarm or clothing security tags 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

 

These are desperate times and with desperate times come desperate measures as a great man once said.  However that phrase doesn’t always apply in a positive manner.  Shoplifters, specifically the ones who are new to ‘the game’ are becoming more desperate in their methods and behaviors.  This of course makes clothing security a more dangerous game for those of us in the Loss Prevention field.

The other day we had a pair of women on camera that gathered a large bundle of clothing and then proceeded to cut off the clothing security tags using tin snips and a fish gutting knife.  They moved in such erratic and nervous patterns that my team knew right away that police intervention would be needed.  When the women had stashed their stolen goods in their bags and dumped the clothing security tags all over the floor they made for the store entrance where they were greeted by one of my teammates and three members of the local police department.

Neither woman went without putting up a fight.

In the end they were cuffed and taken away for shoplifting, resisting arrest, and attempted assault of a police officer with a deadly weapon.  Lucky for them no one suffered any injuries, but still, it could’ve been a much bloodier ordeal.  As things become more and more hopeless I am certain we will hear more stories with much more tragic endings.

But of course when things get bad it’s us, the people in loss prevention that see some of the worst of it.  As I said before, clothing security is becoming a dangerous game.  All we can do is keep our heads and not do anything stupid.

 Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase a clothing alarm or clothing security tags.

For more information on Checkpoint tags, clothing security, clothing alarm, or clothing security tags contact us at security tags on clothes or call 1.770.426.0547