Retail Anti-Theft Devices are your SECOND line of Defense!

The key to any successful retail operation is protecting the company’s bottom line.   Retail anti theft devices are considered to be the second line of defense to prevent shoplifting.  The first line of defense, however, is great customer service.

 Shoplifters love it when they find your staff busy with another customer.  This gives them an opportunity to conceal merchandise.  Some shoplifters are even bold enough to walk right out the door with your assets if you are not paying attention.  Retail anti theft devices will deter theft and prevent shoplifting so you can protect your profitability.   

 Retail anti theft devices will buy you time and save you money.  A company I once worked for placed anti theft devices on all of our merchandise that was a target for shoplifters during the busy holiday season.  Over night we turned a chronic shoplifting problem into a customer service opportunity. 

 Shoplifters that had been identified showed-up during peak shopping hours hoping our staff would not pay them any attention. The retail anti theft devices gave us time to prevent shoplifting by providing great customer service without neglecting our business needs.

 Visit the Loss Prevention Store for Alpha 2Alarm, Alpha 3Alarm, Alpha Fashion2, Alpha Jewel Lok, Alpha Jewel Lock, Alpha Nano Gate,  Alpha Shark Tag, Alpha Spider Wrap and other retail anti-theft devices from Alpha Security to use in conjunction with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system that can help you prevent shoplifting in your business.

 For more information on how you can use Alpha Security retail anti-theft devices and your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system to prevent shoplifting contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 

 

LP on a Tight Budget

Maybe you have a smaller store, or perhaps just don’t have a huge budget for retail anti theft devices.  If such is the case there is a simple method to scare off a large portion of your potential ‘opportunist’ shoplifters; deception. 

 All it takes it creating the illusion that you have a bigger network of retail anti theft devices than what you actually possess.  As I have said before, the most common way to prevent shoplifting is to use your tools as a deterrent first and foremost and focus your hands-on work for the tried and true criminals. 

 First and foremost, install a Checkpoint System or Alpha Nano Gate in the front of your store in the entry way. Next install retail anti-theft devices on very visible and/or high value merchandise.  Be they Spider Wraps or Jewel Loks just make sure everyone sees that they are there. 

 Finally, you want to remove as many blind spots in your store as possible, and maybe even put up a few false cameras.  While YOU will know that they are not real, the vast majority of potential shoplifters won’t and will avoid trying to pull anything while they suspect they are being watched.

 It may not seem like a great way to spend your loss prevention budget, but as I said before, with just a few Nano Gates and the overall illusion that you are more secure than you actually are, you can trick thieves into leaving you alone before they even attempt anything.

 Visit the Loss Prevention Store for Alpha 2Alarm, Alpha 3Alarm, Alpha Fashion2, Alpha Jewel Lok, Alpha Jewel Lock, Alpha Nano Gate,  Alpha Shark Tag, Alpha Spider Wrap and other retail anti-theft devices from Alpha Security to use in conjunction with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system that can help you prevent shoplifting in your business.

 For more information on how you can use Alpha Security retail anti-theft devices and your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system to prevent shoplifting contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 

 

Are your Keys Safe?

Every type of security device is removed in one of two methods: the legitimate way using a corresponding removal key, and the illegitimate way which usually involves a pair of pliers or bolt-cutters.  Savvy shoplifters know how to identify the legitimate tools and always look for opportunities to get their hands on them. 

 I’ve seen some companies secure the tools right to the cash wrap and others require their employees to carry them on their person or stash them in a register.  For stores using Spider Wraps, 3 Alarm, or 2 Alarm retail anti theft devices only the last two methods are plausible as it would prove impossible to remove a Spider Wrap with a tool that was welded to a counter.  In my experience, the best way to ensure the convenient removal of your Spider Wraps is to make it impossible for your tools to wander.  Obviously there is no sure-fire practice as every store operates differently, but I am basing my suggestion on a fairly ‘textbook’ store setup. 

 In most stores there is usually a space (or cubby-hole if you prefer) somewhere directly beneath or nearby the register.  Installing a small storage space, similar to a hide-a-key on the underside of the space provides you with a discreet area to protect your removal tools from sticky fingers while also keeping them in an area your employees will remember since it will be so unique.

 Visit the Loss Prevention Store for Alpha 2Alarm, Alpha 3Alarm, Alpha Fashion2, Alpha Jewel Lok, Alpha Jewel Lock, Alpha Nano Gate,  Alpha Shark Tag, Alpha Spider Wrap and other retail anti-theft devices from Alpha Security to use in conjunction with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system that can help you prevent shoplifting in your business.

 For more information on how you can use Alpha Security retail anti-theft devices and your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system to prevent shoplifting contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 

 

Nano Gates are no good without the right tags!

The other day I was in a store in a different part of the district that had not reported any tagging audits in over four months.  It just so happened that at that same point in history that store’s Loss Prevention department had been dissolved due to budget cuts, leaving all Loss Prevention duties in the hands of the store manager and his assistant managers.  Unfortunately they weren’t all that knowledgeable, or properly trained when it came to enforcing and adhering to LP practices.

 I was there with a team of other LP associates to perform a sweep of the property and find everything that was being done incorrectly so that it could be corrected and to simultaneously instruct store management as to how to perform their required duties.  While there were a few major issues, such as no employee bag checks or failure to review CCTV footage, the biggest issue was found in the realm of what I was assigned to look for.

 There wasn’t a single retail anti-theft device in place, anywhere.  Not a one 2 Alarm or 3 Alarm tag was being used.  Not even a Spider Wrap haphazardly attached to a bulk item.

 We were stunned.

 This was a store that had a fully functional Nano Gate system at all of the entrances, but that was of course useless without any retail anti-theft devices to set it off.  When asked how they expected the Nano Gates to function, the store manager thought that all products arrived in store with security devices hidden inside them.

 Visit the Loss Prevention Store for Alpha 2Alarm, Alpha 3Alarm, Alpha Fashion2, Alpha Jewel Lok, Alpha Jewel Lock, Alpha Nano Gate,  Alpha Shark Tag, Alpha Spider Wrap and other retail anti-theft devices from Alpha Security to use in conjunction with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system that can help you prevent shoplifting in your business.

 For more information on how you can use Alpha Security retail anti-theft devices and your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system to prevent shoplifting contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 

 

Prevent Problems and Profit More

According to a National Retail Security survey conducted for 2010, retail loss cost U.S. businesses over $33.5 Billion. 

 How can you avoid as much loss as possible? By preventive measures, that’s how. There are several effective tools available to prevent shoplifting. Businesses must plan ahead by setting up preventive measures such as retail anti-theft devices like those available from Alpha Security. Make sure all potential employees, including management, have a full and complete understanding of the effects of a loss to a company; as well as an understanding of the company’s policies and procedures during the hiring process when it comes to your anti-shoplifting initiative. After all, your employees are your hands extended to customers and potential shoplifters when you’re not present.

 Employees play a vital role in preventing shoplifting through customer service. More than likely a potential shoplifter’s behavior will change when an employee is extra friendly and paying close attention to them. You want customers to talk about how wonderful your store is but you also want shoplifters to discuss how difficult it is to steal from you too.

 Another tool in preventing shoplifting can be found in your store layout plan. How you place fixtures, shelving, and merchandise should not be shoplifter friendly. Take away all opportunities for shoplifting to occur.

 It’s no secret that profit must outweigh loss in order for a business to stay afloat.

Albert Einstein once said,” Intellectuals solve problems, geniuses prevent them”. 

Which one are you? Go with genius because most likely they’re the one sitting on top of a very successful business. 

Visit the Loss Prevention Store for Alpha 2Alarm, Alpha 3Alarm, Alpha Fashion2, Alpha Jewel Lok, Alpha Jewel Lock, Alpha Nano Gate,  Alpha Shark Tag, Alpha Spider Wrap and other retail anti-theft devices from Alpha Security to use in conjunction with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system that can help you prevent shoplifting in your business.

 For more information on how you can use Alpha Security retail anti-theft devices and your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system to prevent shoplifting contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 

 

Find the equipment to fit your needs

The other day I was walking through a certain retail sporting goods store when I came across a display of football jerseys.  I had to stop and consider the display, not because I liked the team, or the colors, or even the price offered, but because of how ridiculous the jerseys looked while being festooned with four retail anti-theft devices A PIECE. 

 You did not read that last sentence wrong.  Each piece of clothing had an Alpha 2 Alarm, an Alpha 3 Alarm, an Alpha Shark Tag, and an Alpha Fashion2 attached at various points of the garment.  Just by looking at them I could tell it would be near impossible for any customer to try on any of the jerseys without being bludgeoned into a coma by the amount of devices.

 I believe that if you have that many retail anti-theft devices on a piece of clothing you might have a few issues in your company.  First of all, you need to look at moving your store out of that neighborhood if the need to prevent shoplifting is THAT severe.  Secondly, your Loss Prevention or merchandising team has no idea how to properly attach devices to product.  Or, finally, you just have too many excess devices and no reasonable idea what to do with them.

 Here’s some advice; research each anti-theft device BEFORE ordering it.  That way you will know what can fit your company needs so your customers can try on the clothing and find out what fits them.

 Visit the Loss Prevention Store for Alpha 2Alarm, Alpha 3Alarm, Alpha Fashion2, Alpha Jewel Lok, Alpha Nano Gate,  Alpha Shark Tag, Alpha Spider Wrap and other retail anti-theft devices from Alpha Security to use in conjunction with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system that can help you prevent shoplifting in your business.

 For more information on how you can use Alpha Security retail anti-theft devices and your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system to prevent shoplifting contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 

 

Don’t Look Back

When you watch shoplifters, you pick up on mannerisms that normal, honest shoppers don’t generally exhibit. Of course, the opposite is true that normal shoppers do things that shoplifters generally don’t.

 One of those traits is that normal shoppers will pay for all of the merchandise they want. Sometimes shoplifters try to deceive you by paying for a portion of the items they have in their possession. There is usually items concealed on their person, or there are items concealed inside of something, the box they are buying, or maybe in their purse.

 In almost all of the incidents of shoplifting that I have encountered in my tenure is that shoplifters will do the “look back” on their way out the door. They are watching to see if someone is following them. They are also testing the waters to see if they missed any retail anti theft devices on their hidden product.

 Using a Nano Gate in the department will sound the alarm before a shoplifter gets close to an exit door. Employees can even use the Nano Gate in back areas of the store to prevent shoplifting. In cases of shoplifters setting off emergency exits, Nano Gates will sound before the 15 second timer on a fire door comes up.

 Next time you see a shoplifter, watch as they look back before exiting. Watch them ditch the merchandise even faster with Nano Gates in the right areas.

 Visit the Loss Prevention Store for retail anti theft devices in conjunction with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system that can help you prevent shoplifting in your business.

 For more information on how you can use retail anti theft devices and your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system to prevent shoplifting contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 

 

Who is watching your back door?

Some bigger stores have the luxury of an employee only entrance. It is great to help mitigate and control internal theft. Usually these retailers have some sort of door guard or watchman. They check bags and refunds as well as signing off on employee purchases. They can also keep an eye out for any live retail anti theft devices that may have accidentally (or otherwise) not been deactivated.

 For the rest of us, it is not always that easy. While there might still be an approved entrance and/ or exit there is always a back door. The back door is generally used for trash and receipt of deliveries. Any security measures taken there are not specifically designed to prevent shoplifting, but rather to prevent employee theft.

 Unless there is someone watching this door, this is a big area for employee theft to happen. Many employees will try to find ways to sneak merchandise out the back.

 This is where a device like the Nano Gate comes in handy. It is compact in design enabling it to hang discreetly on a wall out of the way of damage. The big bulky EAS towers would not be conducive to receiving a truck full of merchandise boxed up. A Nano Gate would be a much better fit.

 By having an extra alarm creates one more step an employee stealing would have to thwart. They would no longer be able to sneak EAS tagged merchandise out the back door and try to deactivate tags in the privacy of their own home. The Nano Gate would, if nothing else cut down on the high dollar items walking out the back.

 Visit the Loss Prevention Store for retail anti theft devices in conjunction with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system that can help you prevent shoplifting in your business.

 For more information on how you can use retail anti theft devices and your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system to prevent shoplifting contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

 

The low impact way to prevent shoplifting

Maybe you have a smaller store, or perhaps just don’t have a huge budget for retail anti theft devices.  If such is the case there is a simple method to scare off a large portion of your potential ‘opportunist’ shoplifters; deception. 

All it takes it creating the illusion you have a bigger network of retail anti theft devices than what you actually possess.  As I have said before, the most common way to prevent shoplifting is to use your tools as a deterrent first and foremost and focus your hands-on work for the tried and true criminals. 

Starting with the basics you should at the very least install Nano Gates at your entry points.  That right there generates the idea in the heads of those entering your store that you possess the items that work in concert with the Nano Gates.  Then, at your discretion (and within your plans/budget), you install retail anti theft devices on very visible and/or high value merchandise.  Be they Spider Wraps or Jewel Loks just make sure everyone sees that they are there. 

Finally, you want to remove as many blind spots in your store as possible, and maybe even put up a few false cameras.  While YOU will know that they are not real, the vast majority of potential shoplifters won’t and will avoid trying to pull anything while they suspect they are being watched.

It may not seem like a great way to spend your loss prevention budget, but as I said before, with just a few Nano Gates and the overall illusion that you are more secure than you actually are, you can trick thieves into leaving you alone before they even attempt anything.

 Visit the Loss Prevention Store for retail anti theft devices that can help you prevent shoplifting in your business.

 For more information on how you can use retail anti theft devices to prevent shoplifting http://www.losspreventionsystems.com/site.cfm/Contact-Us.cfm or call 1.770.426.0547

 

Retail Anti-Theft Devices: Technology For A Real Problem

Shoplifting or theft is as old as the marketplace.  For many years retailers worked with limited technology to address the issue, but today is a new day.  The loss prevention industry has long sought for new technology to provide an edge against shoplifting.  Recently, the focus has been on retail anti-theft devices as a means to prevent shoplifting.  Currently, there are many retail anti-theft devices on the markets, some examples are:  2 Alarm, 3 Alarm, Jewel Lok, Nano Gate, Shark Tag, and Spider Wrap.

 Each of these tools has their place in the retail environment.  The 2 Alarm and the 3 Alarm security tags is a flexible article security tag.  It can be used for many different applications such as:  Clothing security, merchandise security and most of all to prevent shoplifting.  The 2 Alarm and 3 Alarm tags use RF or EAS technology to notify the store’s personnel in the event that merchandise is taken from the store.  These tags work best with merchandise that can be pinned.  The Jewel Lok is a small security tag.  The Jewel Lok is designed to work to secure your high priced jewelry.  The Jewel Lok works on the same principal as the 2 Alarm and 3 Alarm, but in a smaller package.  These devices are designed to prevent shoplifting

 The shark tag and Spider Wrap are newer products to hit the marketplace.  The Shark tag is used to prevent loses that can occur from return fraud.  The Shark Tag is a non EAS/RF retail anti theft device.  It is attached to merchandise and easily removed by cutting.  This allows the retailer to see if the merchandise has been worn.  While not designed to prevent shoplifting, the retailer can then deny the return of unsellable merchandise.  Spider Wrap is used for securing merchandise packaged within boxes.  The Spider Wrap retail anti-theft device is a great tool for “tagging” these difficult to control items. 

 All of the above mentioned retail anti-theft devices could be partnered with the Nano Gate.  The Nano Gate is a device that is placed on the exit/entrance of an area that needs to be secure and not have your product in the area.  I’ve worked in the loss prevention industry for a number of years and it’s my belief that it is important to invest in retail anti theft devices for the health of any business.

 Visit the Loss Prevention Store for retail anti theft devices that can help you prevent shoplifting in your business.

 For more information on how you can use retail anti theft devices to prevent shoplifting contact us or call 1.770.426.0547