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

 

I was involved in a case recently regarding a high dollar theft of jeans. Two males had come into the store. They both went behind an unopened cash wrap and picked up some empty shopping bags. They then made a beeline toward our new display of high dollar jeans.  They each took half of the stack and headed to the fitting rooms.

Our fitting rooms are supposed to be locked, but I guess that the associate had forgotten to lock them up after the last customers had used them. So now our thieves had about fifteen pairs of jeans (each), empty store bags, and open – unattended fitting rooms. Well, you can put two and two together to figure out what happened next. The two emerged from the fitting rooms with now full shopping bags.   Off they went to the exit doors to make their grand escape. We were there waiting for them as they exited.

During the interview with the subjects they told us how easy it was to steal because no one was paying attention. And they, for the most part were right. There were several breakdowns to our clothing security. This is the sort of incident I use to train my store associates on the importance of clothing security. It’s not just about having clothing security tags, it’s about being watchful of your surroundings.

While the store may not have been paying attention, we sure were. We watched the pair blatantly go behind the counter and laugh as they scooped up the jeans and headed toward the fitting room. We tell the associates these are the red flags to watch for.  It makes them feel more empowered about what they can and can’t do. I know that next time, the clothing alarm and me won’t be the only ones watching for shoplifters.

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

While employed as an agent for a department store, one issue that we never stopped confronting was fitting room theft. It might be assumed that the amount of shoplifting that occurs in this location would probably be similar, if not equal, to the restroom because both places offer privacy. However, carrying an armful of clothing into a designated area for trying on apparel isn’t devious at all, whereas smuggling merchandise into a lavatory should raise some red flags.

The corporation I worked for expected fitting room attendants to count the merchandise going into the room and coming out and verifying that there were security tags on clothes. In reality, this is not the way the system operated. I found myself going over the procedures with these associates almost weekly. The reason why the salespeople weren’t following these guidelines was not because they didn’t care, but their focus was on their own department, sorting merchandise, and running racks back to the floor.

Shoplifters are normally prepared for a store’s fitting room procedures and have an arsenal of techniques to thwart clothing security efforts. Even if an attendant is diligently counting merchandise in and out, they may have apparel double-hung on one hanger, have items hidden inside other items, or “swap-out” their old clothing for a new article without causing a clothing alarm. So how can retailers reduce their vulnerability to fitting room theft and beef up their store’s clothing security when thieves are continuously improving the way they steal?

The best and most-widely used solution for fitting room pilferage is the application of clothing security tags or security tags on clothes. Depending on a store’s needs, they’re available in an array of sizes, shapes, and styles. In the security industry, Checkpoint tags are unsurpassed for good reason: for over forty years they have worked with retailers to provide innovative and technologically-advanced solutions to address theft. Even if a customer going into the fitting room looks suspicious, retailers can be confident that Checkpoint tags won’t let their merchandise disappear in there.

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

Thinking back to my days a store detective there are many things that bring a smile to my face as well as a few things that really frustrated me. One of those frustrations was the feeling you got when you were the only detective in a store and multiple thefts were happening all around you. I really hated that awful feeling in your stomach when you missed the concealment of merchandise by mere seconds only to turn around and miss another theft in another part of the store. The only clothing security in the store was the floor walking you did as a store detective. Days like that never truly leave a loss prevention employee. The worst part is the disappointment from the sales employees on the floor when they see you have dropped the ball. That is why I will never forget when the company finally gave us a weapon to help us when we are outnumbered, the best clothing alarm out there.

My staff and I were so excited when the first box of clothing security tags showed up at the store. When we found out from training that the entire store staff would be working together to put the security tags on clothes we were ecstatic. The fact that everyone knew how and where to attach the checkpoint tags made it easier on the sales team at the registers to remove the checkpoint tags quickly so as not to slow down sales at the POS (point of sale). Now the entire staff had a vested interest in protecting the product in the store. Everyone had invested time and effort into the clothing security system and did not want to see their hard work fail. I was amazed at how quickly the known shoplifters in the store realized there were security tags on clothes. The confused looks on their faces, the testing of the checkpoint tags and ultimately the defeated looks on their faces turned my frown upside down!

Clothing security had a new face in our store and it covered all the products. Was the system infallible, of course not, but it helped bring down the shrink in our store significantly. The first inventory count amazed everyone and grabbed the attention of the higher executives. Apparently as a store we worked together very well to implement the system and though we were in a busy urban market were able to post very impressive shrink percentages. I never felt alone again in that store, the checkpoint system silently had my back.

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

Although we wish our LP careers were perfect we all have moments when we just get beat. Today was one of those days for me.

I was alone in my office and dealing with half a dozen other problems when it happened.  While listening to the droning monotone of a liability investigator on the other end of the office phone I kept myself busy by scanning through cameras on the call-up monitor closest to me.  At the fifteen minute mark of my conversation I noticed a man who looked completely out of place in the store’s children’s clothing department.  Given his appearance and his unnaturally stuffed shopping bag through which I could see security tags on clothes, my attention shifted from dealing with the accident aftermath to observing the man much more closely.

Less than sixty seconds later I hung up on the liability investigator. The man had selected three pairs of children’s jeans and a child’s printed sweatshirt and rapidly moved away from the department towards the nearby housewares area.  As soon as I paged for a store manager to dial my office extension the man took off down to the first floor in a jog.  I radioed mall security with his description and called local law enforcement as I ran out my office and could hear the Checkpoint tags set off the clothing alarm as the man crossed the threshold into the mall and went into a full sprint.  Other LP units in the mall had eyes on him even as he started ripping clothing security tags off the stolen merchandise as he ran, but somehow he not only made it to his vehicle, he also managed to elude police and avoid being identified. Even with obvious clothing security in place, it only took a two minute grab and dash job to undo it all.

We can’t always be perfect.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase a clothing alarm, Checkpoint tags, security tags on clothes or clothing security tags for your clothing security system.

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

Today my store was the victim of the perfidious workings of an organized retail crime group.  They bypassed everything from the clothing alarm to the Checkpoint tags as though they weren’t even in place.  In spite of their ability to surpass our clothing security measures, they failed in the end due a foolish oversight on their part (and perhaps a small amount of carelessness/arrogance).

Less than ten minutes after the first group of women had escaped to their vehicle and fled the mall’s property (without anyone able to spot a license plate unfortunately) our office received a phone call about a man attempting to return almost three hundred dollars of clothing product on the second floor, without a receipt.

Some of the pieces still had clothing security tags on them.  Under our advisement, and a second from management, the return was denied and the man left in a hurry through the third floor where I was waiting to follow on foot.  Sure enough, after tailing him along the outside of the mall for almost three minutes, I found him getting into a car that contained the three women who had stolen the clothing only moments prior.  I managed a walk-by that allowed me to call in the license plate number and a full description of the car to the local police.

Clothing security isn’t always such a task, with the foot pursuits and police intervention, but it seems to be becoming more and more common an occurrence these days. Despite the fact that the Checkpoint tags and clothing alarms were defeated so effortlessly by them, the tools did provide us with the time and means to identify a rather experienced organized crime group.

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

In order to stay competitive in the retail market, many companies are starting to focus more on their Internet sales. By eliminating the need for the brick and mortar overhead, Internet sales are increasing the overall profit of a company by huge increases in overall margin. What is yet to be determined is the long-term scope of clothing theft in the warehouses or by fraudulent activity at the store level.

When you look at on line orders there are two major players at work. The first being there is no customer physically present at the time of purchase. That makes things difficult because it eliminates the check and balance system of having another eye watching a particular transaction.

The second part is that on line orders are generally shipped out. Having a clothing alarm will not necessarily help deter this sort of theft. What I have seen in the past is either additional product put into the box for shipment, or a duplicate receipt on a shipment to give the illusion that the product is for a legitimate customer.

To eliminate the scope of fraudulent shipments, try to have a few policies in place. Validate the receipts to the product in the box prior to sealing it. Validate the receipts attached and log the names and addresses. Look for any changes in the address a package is shipped to that occur after it has left the store.

Hopefully you already have clothing security tags in use. If someone other than the person in charge of your on line orders is responsible for detaching the Checkpoint tags, you add another set of eyes to the process. They can look for duplicate items or items not on a receipt.

Checkpoint tags will still prove to be a helpful deterrent against clothing theft. Even without a customer in your store, the tags provided a way to protect your profits.

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

After spending years trying to prevent losses and instill superior clothing security in my stores, I recently had the chance to be on the flip side. I had a partnership with one of the other managers at a neighboring retailer. We called each other frequently to discuss trends and share ORT information. One day he asked me to help him do some shoplifter awareness training for his store. I would come in as a customer and start stealing. It would be a test to see how many associates were aware of what was going on in their departments.

So on the scheduled time and date I entered. One of the first things I did was to go to their accessories department and pick out a large bag. I was able to find one without any Checkpoint tags on it. As I rode up an escalator to the clothing upstairs, I pulled the tag off.  Now it looked to everyone on the second level that the bag was mine.

I then spent the next thirty minutes stuffing the bag with as much merchandise as what I could fit. I tried to use as many shoplifter-warning signs that I could think of. Selecting multiple items without regard to size or color. I looked through items to find which one did not have any sort of clothing security tag.  I wanted to get out the doors without sounding the clothing alarm.

By the time I was done, I had been to the top five shrink areas and made it out the door with approximately $4000.00. In a recap later, my colleague told me about some of the phone calls from associates when they saw me stealing. I don’t feel too bad about being a poor shoplifter. The associates learned a lot that day. Not just about how a shoplifter operates, but also how important clothing security and Checkpoint tags are.

Please note: This training exercise was conducted in an extremely controlled environment. We had approval from both corporate headquarters and both parties signed a written agreement. The associates were aware that the test would be conducted on that day, and the entire test was filmed. All merchandise was returned in new condition as soon as I exited the store.

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

Even though it’s still cold outside, many clothing retailers are marking down the cold weather product and making way for the new spring collections.  For most it is also the beginning of the new fiscal year so the time to add clothing security, such as clothing security tags and a clothing alarm, is now.  Here are the reasons why.

First, putting security tags on clothes is not really an option if you want to keep profits high.  Shoplifting is at an all-time high and not store is immune.  To add to the already theft laden market, warm weather clothes are the easiest to steal.  It is pretty conspicuous when someone puts on a second jacket and tries to walk out.  It is also obvious when large sweaters are stuffed under someone’s shirt.  What is not obvious is when that women puts on a high dollar bikini and walks out.  The customer who pockets the new sunglasses or steals a pair of shorts is not obvious.  The smaller / skimpier products are just plain easier to steal and must be protected.

Since we have to put security tags on clothes I suggest using Checkpoint tags.  Checkpoint tags are cost effective.  Checkpoint tags are also reliable and known to shoplifters so they are a great theft deterrent.  You will also need a clothing alarm from Checkpoint as well so that when the customer tries to walk out with concealed product you will be alerted and can respond to the potential theft.

 The second reason to get your clothing security now is that it is the beginning of the year.  The price of this investment isn’t going to change so by making this acquisition at the beginning of the year you get to reap the benefits of your investment for the full year instead of only part of the year.  It just makes sense to get your full money’s worth by buying sooner rather than later.

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

A very large portion of my job that doesn’t involve conducting investigations is performing audits. I am a whiz at audits. I can audit anything and everything, quantify the data and then present a very accurate look at the pulse of a store.

One of the biggest areas that I audit is security tags on clothes. When it comes to clothing security, having something like Checkpoint tags is really an industry standard. Having proper execution of those tags? Sometimes it seems like it is an optional program.

The first part of the audit is to know what the standards are for that type of clothing. Is it above $50? Only certain brands? The next step is to take a random sampling of that product group (say 25 or 50 items) and start counting how many Checkpoint tags are attached. Take note that the clothing security tags are in the right place on the garment.

You should now be able to convert your findings into a percentage. Is this an acceptable number? Some retailers expect at least 95% compliance. Others may only require 80 -85%.

I would compare these percentages against current losses, recovered tags, and apprehensions and see if there is a correlation to poor clothing security standards and current shrink trends. Generally there is a big solid line connecting the two.

I also look at associate engagement in those areas with high or increasing shrink, and poor clothing security. Again, there is usually a common denominator present.

The last thing is to take those findings to the management staff. Having concrete numbers to back up what I am trying to enforce goes a long way. It also helps my managers have something concrete if any sort of performance action is needed with the department’s associates.

 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