It can be much more challenging to prevent shoplifting than most people realize.

You have to sometimes put your self in the thief’s shoes and for an honest business owner it can be difficult. If you really want to effectively prevent shoplifting you need to be able to think like a shoplifter.

 You know product is walking out your door without being paid for and you just can’t seem to grasp how? Well put yourself in the shoplifters shoes and see if you can figure it out. Sometimes all it takes is a different perspective.

 Here are some tips for what to look for:

 1)     What type of products are going missing? Are they small items that can be slipped into pockets? Is it clothing? Is it possible that several things are going missing at once disguised as other things, perhaps slipped into boxes of larger items?

2)     Where in your store are things going missing from? Is it an area or possibly multiple areas that aren’t frequently passed by sales clerks? Behind high shelves? In corners?

3)     When are you noticing things are gone? Is it the end of the night when you’re sales people are cleaning and find tags on the floor or in shelves? Are you noticing lots of empty clothing hangers around your fitting rooms or empty spaces on shelves? Or does it not show up until inventory time?

 When you start looking for these types of clues it becomes increasingly easier to identify solutions and prevent shoplifting in your business. You may have shoplifters enter your business but by noticing these things you can be better equipped to protect your merchandise from their sticky fingers.

 Visit the Loss Prevention Store for products to help you prevent shoplifting in your business.

 For more information on how you can prevent shoplifting contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta Georgia

It’s happening in your stores, have you thought about ways to prevent shoplifting?  Many retailers are in the same boat as you. Shoplifting is happening in stores, yet most have done nothing to prevent it. Well, one of the easiest and probably the most beneficial ways to prevent shoplifting is by using checkpoint systems.

I walked into a store in downtown and looked at the installation crew and the new checkpoint systems. The store had been without any real protection since the store staff was reduced to a bare operating minimum. Recently, the store had seen a spike in shoplifting activity, and we felt the problem would only get worse without any form of protection. Negotiating with the corporate office to install a checkpoint system was a fairly easy task. We explained what was going on, how the store was dealing the rising issues and what checkpoint system could do to prevent shoplifting.

The project was finished. Almost as soon as the power was turned on, the store noticed a dramatic decrease in the amount of shoplifting incidents. Prior to the installation, the store continuously complained of shoplifters. Today, the store is operating well, loss has been reduced over 3% Year to date, and a great deal of the reduction is directly attributed to the use of Checkpoint systems.

As consultant, travelling from store to store, when I walk into a building the first item I look for are the antenna of the security system at the front of the store. If I see the system in place, I’ll test its usage. Almost any store I see using these types of theft prevention systems are thriving and experience lower levels of theft. If you are in the position to purchase checkpoint systems, don’t wait, do it today.

Visit the Retail Loss Prevention Store.

 For more information on checkpoint systems contact us at prevention shoplifting or call 1.770.426.0547

 

Part of every retailer’s focus is to prevent shoplifting, which is the literal theft of the business by people who should know better.

 What goes through a shoplifter’s mind when he or she makes the decision to steal?

 First, the shoplifter has to rationalize the intent.  Is it inconvenient to have to pay for the merchandise?  Is the merchandise too expensive?  The store has so much, they won’t miss this one.  Whatever the shoplifter’s excuse is has no validity to the retailer, because it’s out and out theft to him.

 Next, the shoplifter’s attitude has to be such that what he is about to do is OK because of a lax attitude of his peers, or lack of moral education (stealing is wrong, but shoplifting is not so bad).

 Finally the threat of being caught has to be considered low or the penalty for being caught is minimal, and the merchandise being stolen (or the act of shoplifting by itself in some cases) has to be perceived as worth the risk.

 Realistically, attempting to prevent shoplifting by the retailer can only concentrate on the final factor.  The retailer must increase the risk of being caught, or increase the penalty for the apprehended shoplifter.  He can do very little to nothing about the shoplifter’s rationalization or his attitude.  Those intangibles have to be learned in the home or through other avenues that instill a sense of right and wrong.

 There are ways to increase both the chances of catching the shoplifter and to create the perception that apprehension is likely, or at least more likely at one particular store than another.

 Some stores post signs warning that shoplifters will be prosecuted, and follow through with the promise when the opportunity arises. 

 A better alternative is to prevent shoplifting in the first place.

 There are various means that retailers can use to reduce shoplifting:  increased staffing, merchandise placement, locking displays, reduced exposure of desirable items, closed circuit television, and audible alarms are common measures.

 Ultimately, it’s up to the retailer to decide how far he has to go to prevent shoplifting in his own environment, because attitudes are unlikely to change.

 Visit the Loss Prevention Store for products to help you prevent shoplifting in your business.

 For more information on how you can prevent shoplifting contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta Georgi

 

Those in business are able to prevent shoplifting in order to be profitable. Retailers lose billions every year to theft, by both their customers and their employees. You as the business owner do have options to stop some of that potential profit that is walking out of your door.

 One excellent way to prevent shoplifting is by simply providing excellent customer service, and teaching your employees to do the same thing. Employees learn by example, so if your management team in engaged in great customer service, your employees will follow suit. Explain to your new employees the importance of customer service and its value towards being able to prevent shoplifting.

For example, shoplifters that come into your business do not want attention. They want to be able to come in, take what they want, and leave without drawing attention to themselves. Teach your employees to approach customers in their areas, and ask them if they are finding everything. A simple gesture such as that can go far to stop the losses that your store is experiencing.

Employees should also be taught to notice customers while they are working. If your employees are working with their heads down and never looking up from their work, the customers and shoplifters will be walking by unnoticed. Not only are your honest customers being neglected, the shoplifters now have an environment in which to thrive.

If building your business and building profit is your dream, make it a reality and prevent shoplifting to reduce loss.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store for products to help you prevent shoplifting in your business.

For more information on how you can prevent shoplifting contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta Georgia

 

I sometimes hear from store managers the question about if it is possible to prevent shoplifting. A good question and one that can be answered simply, yes.

Two of the best ways to prevent shoplifting are checkpoint systems and employee awareness. Let’s start with checkpoint systems. These tools were developed to prevent shoplifting and to increase customer and employee awareness. In order for checkpoint systems to work to prevent shoplifting your entire staff must execute the program as it was designed.

A couple of my stores with checkpoint systems recently told me about issues they had a few years before they had access to checkpoint systems. They wanted to prevent shoplifting but only reacted to the shoplifting incidents and had nothing in place to prevent it from happening in the first place. Their stores were overrun with shoplifters and not just by the professionals; these were average customers that saw how easy it was to steal and simply walked out with merchandise. These stores needed help, and they needed it fast. They looked into Checkpoint and decided to go with a great system that would help protect their merchandise and impact shoplifting.

Almost immediately after the stores installed checkpoint antennas, shoplifting was dramatically decreased. The managers told me they saw many customers stop and look at the antennae as if they were some sort of “alienish” device.

So, can shoplifting be prevented? Of course. It takes good planning and the right tools, but it certainly can be prevented.

Visit the Retail Loss Prevention Store.

For more information contact us at prevent shoplifting or call 1.770.426.0547

 

Have you ever wondered if there is a fool proof way to prevent shoplifting within your business?  Would it take magic, or a miracle, to make this happen?  Or just concern about protecting your business and its assets?  Where do you, as a business owner, turn when you need to stop shoplifters to increase your profits and reduce your losses?

Checkpoint systems are an option than can help prevent shoplifting in your business.  It is amazing what shoplifters will steal, and what reasons they may have in doing so.  And as a business owner you must stay a step ahead of the shoplifters in order to remain in business, and make a living at the same time.  Checkpoint systems can help you out with that.

Shoplifters want to be able to make a quick getaway with your merchandise without drawing attention to themselves.  Checkpoint systems, however, bring attention to the fact that you are interested in being able to reduce theft within your business by investing in the merchandise protection necessary to remain in business.

Being able to prevent shoplifting is not unheard of, and is not impossible.  A business needs to have merchandise available to sell to honest customers instead of empty shelves wiped clean by shoplifters.  By protecting your investment in your business, you can enjoy profits and peace of mind.

Checkpoint systems are not a miracle, or magic.  But they can prevent shoplifting in your business and help convince the thieves that yours is not a business from which they want to steal.

Visit the Retail Loss Prevention Store

 For more information about prevent shoplifting contact us at checkpoint systems or call 1.770.426.0547.

Efforts to prevent shoplifting in Griffin, a city near Atlanta Georgia recently resulted in the arrests of five professional shoplifters by the local police department. (Read the whole story here: http://wsbtv.com/print/28055378/detail.html)

 The shoplifters stole merchandise valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars from retailers all across the south metro area of Atlanta for a period of around 5 years.  One of the shoplifters said that stealing was the only job he’d ever had.  Their plan was to go to work and steal.  The shoplifters had rented a storage locker to hold their excess goods.

 What adds interest to this case is that the police are prosecuting using racketeering or RICO laws.

 In addition to the shoplifters, police have arrested 4 business owners for buying and fencing the stolen merchandise.

 As provided under the RICO statutes, the state is allowed to seize property that may have been paid for in part by money gained from the illegal activity.  In this case, so far, a gas station, a tire service, two homes and several vehicles have been seized.  One of the vehicles seized was a small bus, which was in the process of being converted into a rolling strip club, complete with a pole. One of the arrestees had planned to use the bus to drive around and sell tickets to patrons who would then watch the entertainment.  The bus was being remodeled using material that was stolen from a home improvement store.

 More charges are coming in this case, according to police.

 Hopefully, you have never had any shoplifters in your store that could be prosecuted under RICO, but that doesn’t meant that shoplifting isn’t a problem.

 Does your program to prevent shoplifting go far enough?  If shortage figures indicate trouble, you may need help to prevent shoplifting from becoming a major issue for your business.

 Visit the Loss Prevention Store

 To discuss your prevent shoplifting program with an expert, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta Georgia

I picked up my briefcase and headed for the front door of the store. It was my day to prevent shoplifting. As a young loss prevention agent, I was excited to work for my store. Each day, I looked to “catch” the dirty customer who decided to steal.

Starting my day, I’d walk each aisle looking for signs of theft, empty packages, shoplifting tools, etc. I’d then walk down the protected aisles. That is, merchandise that already had protection standards available, like checkpoint systems. For those that don’t know, checkpoint systems work to prevent shoplifting by being a visible and conspicuous presence both at the front of the store on the salesfloor. Most average shoplifters are immediately deterred at the mere sight of checkpoint systems. However, today, I was looking for the shoplifter who believed they’re smarter than checkpoint systems.

I rounded through the liquor aisle on my way back to the office. Dressed as a customer, and looking like I fit right into the crowd, I noticed a guy standing at the end of the aisle paying more attention to where the employees were instead of the merchandise in front of his face. I acted as if I were looking at a bottle, picked one up and left the aisle to where I could covertly observe the customers’ actions. The stores liquor aisle had merchandise protection designed to prevent shoplifting. The customer removed a bag from his waistband and selected several bottles from the shelf. Taking no time to attempt to defeat the security device, he headed for the front of the store. Hesitating as he got to the front, he looked back and forth, side to side, peeking for employees or persons following. The checkpoint systems activate, making an audible alarm as the liquor items approach. The shoplifter panicked, dropped the merchandise and ran from the store.

There are many ways to prevent shoplifting.

Visit the Retail Loss Prevention Store.

 

For more information contact us at prevent shoplifting or call 1.770.426.0547