One of the most difficult items to prevent shoplifting is the liquor bottle.  Bottle shops are typically laid out in a way that is difficult to observe all areas of the sales floor from any one vantage point.  The merchandise goes from fairly low price points to high (shoplifters like to upgrade), and is in bottles that are easily concealable.  There is usually a lot of product displayed, and the customers seem to want to hang around and compare types and brands.

The more exclusive brands, that is the most expensive liquors and wines, seem to be the more popular ones among certain customers.  There are brands that become popular even for just a while, but while they are hot, it seems like that’s what everybody is talking about and getting.

If a customer is going to shoplift a liter bottle of beverage, it is just as easy to get the more expensive one as it is a more common one.  And, if the shoplifter was going to get the more common (cheaper) one, he might buy it anyway.  It is hared to justify spending three or four times the amount just to get a particular brand. 

So the goal of the retailer is to adequately display the product so as not to lose sales because of customer inconvenience, and to prevent shoplifting of a highly desirable and expensive item.

One solution to this kind of a dilemma is the bottle lock that fits around the neck of the bottle and can only be removed with a proprietary tool.  The bottle lock prevents the top from being removed without damaging the bottle and rendering it useless, or even activating an alarm when it is removed from the premises.

Bottle locks provide a visual deterrent to shoplifters, deny the unauthorized use of the product, and allow merchandise to be attractively displayed.

Prevent shoplifting without limiting access to your product with bottle locks.

Interested in bottle locks to prevent shoplifting?  Click here or call 770-426-0547 in Atlanta Georgia or anywhere.  Visit our Online Retail Loss Prevention Store for more ideas.

Although the general public may not realize it, shoplifting continues to be a huge burden on the backs of retailers.  To prevent shoplifting, they must sometimes go to extreme lengths. 

To remain competitive, the retailer must control shoplifting to keep costs down and profitability up.  Excessive inventory loss will cause a retailer to either raise prices or cut costs elsewhere to sustain profitability.  Increasing prices is likely to drive the retailer’s customer to the competition.

To shoplifters, particularly juveniles, a retail store looks as if it has an unlimited supply of merchandise and surely the owner, whoever that is, will never miss it.  What he doesn’t think about is that the business owner has already bought that merchandise and will be paying for it whether it is sold to a customer or if it walks out the door as a loss.

This is what causes storeowners to spend money on anti shoplifting measures designed to protect the money that he has invested in the merchandise and from which he expects to make a profit.

The retailer will typically do what’s necessary to prevent shoplifting and protect his merchandise and his livelihood.

An investment with a quick return is optimal and is what is gained with the addition of a Checkpoint Security System.  The Checkpoint system will prevent tagged and labeled merchandise from leaving the store without being checked at the register by a cashier by sound an alarm as the merchandise passes the system. 

A Checkpoint Security System will help you keep your assets where they belong: in your store until they are sold and taken home by a legitimate customer.

For further information on ways to prevent shoplifting, call 770-426-0547 or click here: Anti shoplifting devices.  Please visit us online for more ideas at Retail Loss Prevention Store.

Every retail business owner has a plan to prevent shoplifting, because of the negative effect that it has on profitability.  Despite business owners’ efforts, retail businesses have actually close or relocated because of inventory loss cause by shoplifters.  Because of these reasons, and an attempt to maximize profitability, any investment that is intended to stop shoplifting is measured by the real return on that investment.

There is no insurance policy that I’m aware of that covers shoplifting losses.  Even if there were, the deductible and premium would make it uneconomical.

One of the problems that arise in the effort to prevent shoplifting is the process of identifying the shoplifter.  Shoplifters don’t wear a sign that identifies them as shoplifters, and they come in all shapes, ages, sexes, and sizes.  The fact is that no one can absolutely identify a shoplifter by the way they look or even by the way they act.   Even if they were identifiable by looks or demeanor, they still have to be caught in the act to be sure.  And personal attention from sales staff will certainly deter the shoplifter, but as a practical matter, sooner or later, every shoplifter will have and opportunity to steal.

The most efficient way to prevent shoplifting is to simply keep your merchandise from sneaking out the door in the first place.

This is exactly what EAS (Electronic Article Surveillance) is designed to do.

A strategically located Checkpoint security system (Checkpoint Systems are a leader in EAS technology) can provide an invisible barrier to keep your merchandise from being “liberated” by a thief.  The business owner determines what merchandise should be protected and attaches Checkpoint tags or Checkpoint labels to the merchandise.

When the tag that is attached to the merchandise passes through the system at the door with out being removed or deactivated, an alarm sounds, alerting staff (and the shoplifter) that merchandise in need of attention is being removed from the floor.  Just the deterrent factor alone will soon pay for the system.

It’s not insurance, but Checkpoint Security Systems thousands of retailers millions of dollars of inventory loss every day.

See how Checkpoint Security Systems can help you prevent shoplifting.  Call 770-426-0547 or click here – Stop Shoplifting – for more information.  Be sure to visit our Online Retail Loss Prevention Store for even more ideas.

 As I’m sure you’ve discovered by now there is no fool-proof way to prevent shoplifting. Your goal is simply to make your more desirable merchandise difficult to get to or come away with undetected. This will usually have the desired effect of deterring the average shoplifter and sending them elsewhere to do their shady business. However, in certain situations you may come across shoplifters of another kind. The drug addicted and mentally challenged pose a different set of problems for the loss prevention investigator. They normally don’t realize what they’re doing or can’t control their impulsive natures. So, how do you combat this?

 The other day I walked into one of our sites and saw that a co-worker had already apprehended a middle aged woman that I have come to know very well. This was her 9th time being arrested for shoplifting at one of our locations. The woman is obviously mentally challenged and driven by impulses she can’t control. Now unless you’ve got the heart of a Hitler you can’t help but feel sorry for her and the cards she’s apparently been dealt. At the same time you can’t just let her walk out with your merchandise either. In order to prevent shoplifting in a case like this you have to be continually vigilant.

 “She’ll be back.” Those were the words the responding officer left us with when he walked out with the woman in handcuffs, and he’s right. There’s no question that as soon as they let her back out into society she’ll be back in this or another store where she’ll begin the process all over again. Until the justice system catches up to our needs the loss prevention investigator must keep their eyes peeled for individuals like this and continue to “soldier on” if you will. Like I said earlier, there is no fool-proof way to prevent shoplifting but your understanding of the situation and dedication to the job can make the process much easier.

For more information contact us at Prevent Shoplifting or call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta Georgia

To prevent shoplifting in a retail environment requires a game plan.

Almost everyone agrees that shoplifting is a major problem for retailers, annually costing an estimated $24 to $40 Billion in the US.  It is safe to assume shoplifting affects every retailer in the country to some degree.  In the worst cases, the harm inflicted by thieves is enough to close a business down, especially in tough economic times when businesses have to cut expenses to the bone just to survive.

The means and methods used to prevent shoplifting are varied: customer service training, awareness training, CCTV surveillance, and electronic article surveillance are measures many retailers have incorporated into their business plan.  Still others incorporate store planning, merchandise layout, checkout locations, and merchandise exposure into their strategy.

Shoplifting prevention should be a part of every business owner’s strategy to increase profits by reducing losses.

The retailer’s expertise lies in displaying and selling merchandise.  Retail loss prevention has become a specialty within the industry that contributes a significant effort toward profitability by reducing inventory shrinkage, a major profit killer.  Advice from a competent and experienced retail loss prevention agent can make a huge impact on inventory loss from the receiving door to checkout, everywhere retail loss occurs.  A loss prevention agent will make an invaluable partner in developing a game plan to prevent shoplifting and internal theft and in recommending what investments to make in improving the numbers relevant to inventory shrinkage.

For a free consultation with an experienced loss prevention agent to help identify problem areas, call 1-770-426-0547 in Atlanta Georgia and elsewhere, or click here:  Loss Prevention Investigator.

 

 

Prevent Shoplifting – Save More $$ Than You Really Know – Atlanta Georgia

When shoplifting and ways to prevent shoplifting are discussed, the two victims who are generally mentioned are the storeowner and the customers, who ends up paying more for the items they purchase in the store.  These are obvious, but in reality there are more victims.

The storeowner, or the company that owns the store is certainly worth mention because he is the one who actually paid real money for the merchandise that was stolen.  Not only does he lose the profit that he would have gained had he sold the item, he is also out the money that he paid for it which is a greater amount than the profit.

In order to recover the cost of the stolen item, and hopefully the profit, the storeowner has to raise the prices on his remaining goods so that when they are sold, he can recover his loss.

The storeowner decides to take measures to prevent shoplifting, he may employ security and loss prevention, he may purchase CCTV cameras, or use electronic article surveillance (EAS) such as those solutions provided by Checkpoint Systems.  He may buy special display hardware that prevents the merchandise from being removed from the premises.   All these measures cost the retailer money, which he must recover through increased pricing or reduction in some other expenses.

One of the places any employer may go to cut expenses is to the payroll budget or the employee benefits package.  So yet another group that might be harmed is the employees at the store that is losing merchandise to shoplifters.  Jobs may be lost and benefits may be cut.  This is frequently the case when businesses are not profitable for whatever reason.

If all efforts to prevent shoplifting fail but the shoplifter is caught, that should put an end to the losses, right?

What happens when a shoplifter is caught?  A police officer (paid by tax money), transports the shoplifter in a police car (tax money) to a jail (tax money) to await trial in a court (tax money) presided over by a judge (tax money), etc.  You see where this leads.  Everyone who pays taxes also pays to support shoplifter prevention through financing the criminal justice system.

Not to have pity on the shoplifter, but he gets a criminal record, a fine, maybe jail time, restitution, and being labeled a thief by everyone who knows.

The storeowner has every right to prevent shoplifting.  It saves us all in the end.

Want more information on how to stop shoplifting at your business?  Call 770-426-0547 in Atlanta Georgia or click here:  Prevent Shoplifting.  Visit our Online Loss Prevention Store.

Prevent Shoplifting by Juveniles

Juveniles aren’t the only customers that shoplift by any means. But the National Crime Prevention Council estimates that 25% of all shoplifters are between the ages of 13 and 17.  This age group has always presented a problem to retailers, but lately gang activity and the use of juvenile shoplifters by adults has only added to the problem’s magnitude.

Various reasons are given for why kids steal from stores: Peer pressure, rebellion, greed, immaturity, and lack of supervision are often cited.  All of these reasons are valid.  Juveniles also tend to think that they won’t get caught and if they do, nothing will happen to them.

Teen shoplifting is such a problem that special programs have been set up by some law enforcement agencies to specifically deal with it.

I worked with a local county probation office as a facilitator for a program designed to prevent shoplifting among juveniles by teaching teenagers (and their parents) just how costly shoplifting could be.  Juveniles and some of their parents downplay the crime of shoplifting as a minor inconvenience and not really so bad.

Admittedly it is not as bad as some crimes, but some law enforcement officers consider it a “gateway crime”, often leading to greater crimes.

Some things I noticed in conversation with juvenile shoplifters and their parents.

§ Juvenile shoplifters were rarely alone.  They were usually with in pairs or with a group.
§ The juveniles were often not where their parents thought they were, and were not with the people they were supposed to be with.
§ Most of them knew someone who had shoplifted and gotten away with it.
§ Most didn’t need the item they stole.  They tended to steal items that were trendy, or insignificant.
§ Juvenile shoplifters were seldom “good” at the act of shoplifting.  They tended to use the more obvious ways and were only able to get away with it because store staff ignored them.
§ The parents were amazed to find that their son or daughter shoplifted, despite unexplained new clothes and other items that appeared in their child’s closet.

The storeowner is faced with several options when he is being taken advantage of by juvenile shoplifters.

He can keep them out of his store, which is bad for business.  He can instruct staff to stick to them like a flea while they do their shop(lift)ing, which is not always possible when they split up or staff is busy elsewhere.  Install retail theft devices that alert when unpaid for merchandise leaves the store, such as those offered by Checkpoint Security Systems.

If one of these is actually caught in the act, there are two choices (besides letting them go):  Call the authorities or call their parents.  You never let a juvenile go on his own, or you could open yourself up for liability.

It is recommended that the authorities get involved, as there is usually some type of diversion program available for first timers, and if they are not first timers, more appropriate action can be taken.

For ideas on how to prevent shoplifting at your retail business call 770-426-0547 or click Stop Shoplifting.  Visit our online store at Online Loss Prevention Store.

 

When most consumers think of ways to prevent shoplifting, they think of merchandise that is highly desirable and expensive.  This is not always the case, even with those classified as “professional’ shoplifters, those who steal not for their own use but to resell and convert their gains to cold hard cash.

I recently read an article [read it here…] about a couple in Portland, Washington, who are accused of shoplifting more that $5 Million dollars in merchandise over the past four or five years.

A couple of things grabbed my attention.  First of all, how could a major grocery chain with its own CCTV system and loss prevention department allow these thieves to get away with stealing form them all this time.  They were either phenomenally lucky or good at what they do. Or they were very selective about the merchandise they stole.

The second thing was the items that the couple were taking were all fairly common items: razors, shampoo, Rogaine, teeth whitener, conditioner, batteries, CD’s, and DVD’s.  No fur coats or flat screen TV’s.

These items have several things in common.  They are small and easy to conceal and they are items that are used every day. Most of them have a limited useful life before they must be replaced. 

The article stated that the police were looking for a third suspect who gave the couple a “shopping list”. 

To prevent shoplifting of these types of items, retailers have turned to Checkpoint Security Systems, along with Alpha Security products to keep merchandise safe from shoplifters from those who steal on impulse to professionals like those described in the article.

Call 770-426-0547 for more information to help prevent shoplifting or click here.  Visit our Online Retail Loss Prevention Store for more ideas!

As a retail loss prevention professional, one of my goals is to prevent shoplifting .

Working in stores as a loss prevention agent has really opened my eyes the needs and benefits of each individual location. What I can safely say, is that no two locations are similar. While one store location may suffer from intense shoplifting, another just a few miles away may see very minimal amounts.
Creating an action plan to prevent shoplifting will and does require some sit down and thinking time. What and how do you wanna go about it? Well, look at the business that you have. Do you want or need an obvious deterrent, similar to a security guard, uniformed, and standing at the front of your store? Or do you need or want a more discreet measure?

I had a store location in an upscale part of town, selling general merchandise. The area simply would not allow a uniformed security guard at the front of the store. What I mean by wouldn’t allow, is that the neighborhood would not shop a store with a guard standing inside. This would automatically be looked at as a negative. However, going to another store I had not 1.5 miles away, the public and employees requested uniformed guard presence to help prevent shoplifting. However, understanding that this store needed more of a discreet program.

I encourage senior management to go with the undercover agent program to catch shoplifters and prevent shoplifting. To this day, the program is effective and although there is no fool-proof way to prevent shoplifting, the store certainly has seen a dramatic decrease in the number of incidents.

Don’t forget to consider your neighborhood/clientele and the needs of the business when developing your action plans to boost profits through a proactive loss prevention environment.

For more information, visit us at prevent shoplifting or call us at 1.770.426.0547

You find another empty package out on your sales floor, and are irritated once again that you cannot do more to prevent shoplifting in your business.  But there are things that a business owner can do in order to prevent shoplifting – simple techniques that can show results by reducing your losses.

Schedule an appropriate amount of employees at one time in your business.  Having too few employees allows for more opportunity for the shoplifter to find a secluded area to steal from you.  Also, your employees are better able to provide good customer service and attention to a possible shoplifter, which can further prevent shoplifting.  Shoplifters do not want attention, so you can be sure to provide them the attention they despise by having good coverage on your sales floor.

Having registers or an employee working near the entrance of your store can also prevent shoplifting, once again by providing attention to the shoplifter.  By greeting a customer that comes into your store and asking them if you can help them today, the shoplifter has been noticed.  The shoplifter now knows that employees are aware of his or her presence within your business.

Employees should also help prevent shoplifting by being available to customers.  While your employees are working on the sales floor, they should keep their eyes up, looking around.  By doing this while they work, they will notice suspicious customers or any customer that may need help finding an item.  Your employees can provide better customer service as well as prevent shoplifting by being more aware.

Your employees can be an important tool to prevent shoplifting, and they may not even know it.  Once you make them aware of the difference they can make, you can reap the benefits of reduced loss.

For more information contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta Marietta Kennesaw Cobb Georgia