Employee Theft

September 6, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Addiction is a big factor is some shoplifters’s lives.  They steal to then sell the stolen merchandise to be able to purchase drugs and alcohol.  Employees with a drug addiction problem are dangerous to a retail store, specially those employees that are given a position of power, or have some type of freedom with merchandise, cash or even the security of the store.

Employees that feel as deserving employees that are not being properly compensated can be a liability to a retail store as well.  Anger, bad attitudes, and eventually theft can be a big problem for the store where they are employed.

Retailers and employers in the United States and around the globe loose billions of dollars to shoplifting and employee theft every year. Periodic inventory of employees, merchandise and security of the store are not only necessary but imperative to the health of the business. 

If as an owner, any part of the proper management of the store is left unattended, the results can be catastrophic.

For more about this and other topics follow the links below.

Your Loyal, Hardworking, and Intelligent Employee Might Be Stealing From Your Business

Most perpetrators are middle-aged, longtime employees who never take vacation, says new study.

Last June, Linda Clark, a 68-year-old bookkeeper, who worked for a credit union in Iowa, plead guilty to embezzling almost $2.5 million from her employer between 1978 until she resigned in 2015.

The SCICAP Credit Union in Chariton, Iowa, had to liquidate due to Clark’s 37-year-long scheme, during which she diverted small sums of money into her bank account as well as those of her children.

Clark fits the profile of the average embezzler, according to a studythat looked at over 400 embezzlement cases in federal court, conducted by insurance provider Hiscox. The study found the average embezzler to be a small-business, middle-aged employee who works in the accounting and finance department. Perps were female in 41 percent of the cases.

Clark’s scheme went on longer than average, but the majority of schemes, 28.7 percent, go on for five years with an average theft amount of $2.2 million. For schemes that last 10 years, the average loss hits $5.4 million.

Employee theft cost US businesses an average of $1.13 million in losses, according to 2017 Hiscox Embezzlement Study™

NEW YORK, NY, Aug. 23, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hiscox, the international specialist insurer, today released the 2017 Hiscox Embezzlement Study™, an examination of employee theft in the US. The findings reveal that US businesses impacted by employee theft lost an average of $1.13 million last year. Small and mid-sized companies (fewer than 500 employees) continue to be disproportionally victimized by employee theft, representing approximately 68 percent of cases.

This is the third annual Hiscox Embezzlement Study, which examines employee theft cases that were active in the US federal court system in 2016.

“There is a necessary level of trust between employees and their employer that is required of successful businesses,” said Doug Karpp, Crime & Fidelity Product Head at Hiscox. “When there is a breach in that trust because an employee or executive steals, it can have a significant impact on the entire organization both financially and emotionally. Business owners and executives need to make the shift from blind trust to intelligent trust to ensure they are able to spot and prevent employee theft.”

 

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Can You Hear Me Now? Active Listening is Important To Great Customer Service

August 28, 2017 by Leave a Comment

How often does it happen? You are in front of your television watching your favorite college football team playing a game and your spouse starts talking to you about their day or what you need from the grocery store. Then suddenly the conversation takes a nasty turn and you are asked for input about the conversation you weren’t really engaged in. The textbook reply, “Yes Dear” or “Sounds good Honey” are the first line of defense but your spouse is suspicious of your response and asks, “What did I say?”  Oops, you’re caught, you weren’t listening and you really have no idea what was said. The same thing can happen in retail but with a much different outcome and one that can cost you money. With your spouse you may be in the doghouse and it can be uncomfortable for a bit but usually things have a way of working out in the end. For a retailer,  it may end up with an  exasperated customer who won’t shop at your store any more.

Actively listening is critical for ALL retail associates. It requires paying attention to what your customer is saying and sometimes keeping an ear out for what is not being said. It is a skill that often has to be taught because we do not always give our full attention to what others say to us as I gave in my example of above. How does one really actively listen? By asking clarifying questions and repeating back what the customer has said to you. Here are some examples:

  • A customer is returning a shirt. A simple situation right? Do the refund and give the customer their money back and everything should be good. Not necessarily. What was the reason for the return? Was the merchandise defective? Did it not fit the way the customer thought it would? Did someone fail to give them proper assistance when they were looking for the shirt in the first place? By asking the right questions you may turn a bad experience into better one. If the merchandise was defective, what was the defect? Is it possible to prevent a bad experience for others by pulling that shirt brand and style from the floor and requesting a credit from the vendor? What appears to be a simple problem may have underlying issues that you would not know if you aren’t listening and asking customers questions about their returns.  Doing so let’s the customer know you do care about them.
  • Perhaps you are selling jewelry to a customer. Showing your shopper merchandise is fine but learning about the customer and what they need the jewelry for can build an invaluable rapport with your clients. Is the jewelry for a special occasion? What style and color of outfit is being worn? How about inquiring if the client is allergic to any metals? You may need to look for hypoallergenic jewelry. It is possible by asking the right questions you might be able to accessorize the sale or better yet sell the entire outfit.

A key part of active listening is the inquiry process and asking the probing questions that lead to a clear picture of what a patron wants.

In addition to the probing questions another essential part of active listening is repeating what the customer has said to you. Sometimes when we are listening to someone we hear one thing but what the customer meant was something totally different. Here is a good example from a social media post I saw the other day:

  • I want to eat Grandma
  • I want to eat, Grandma

Both have the same words but two TOTALLY different meanings. When we repeat back what we have heard in the form of a question we ensure we truly understand what our customer is asking for. We can ask our customer, “So, if I understand you correctly you want to eat your grandmother, would you like that with or without ketchup?” Our customer can then make it clear they do not want to eat grandma at all, that wouldn’t be very nice. The patron can rephrase the question and give more details on what they want. Giving our full attention helps us give our clients exactly what they want and need as we make recommendations based on what they have told us.

Focus on customer service by listening to your customers and make them the center of your attention. They will return the favor by coming back to shop time after time and spreading the word to their friends.    

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Lost And Stolen Keys Can Impede The Effectiveness Of Retail Anti-Theft Devices; Put Strong Key Control Procedures In Place

August 24, 2017 by Leave a Comment

 

Retail Anti-Theft Devices-3                                                                                                                  WC blog 326
Alpha 2 Alarm-4
Prevent shoplifting-3
Lost And Stolen Keys Can Impede The Effectiveness Of Retail Anti-Theft Devices; Put Strong Key Control Procedures In Place
     My daughter works for a small box retail clothing store as a sales associate and cashier. Several times these past few weeks she has told be about finding duffel bags they sell in the store filled with empty packages, Alpha 2 Alarm Hard Tags and other retail anti-theft devices. She said that the tags looked intact as though someone had used a detachment key to remove them. She also told me that merchandise came from all different areas of the store so the culprit was moving around the store as he/she was stealing. I asked if anyone had reported anything suspicious and she told me that the store was busy, they were calling back-ups to the register and she thought the salesfloor coverage was frequently on the POS. She was very angry that people were getting away with the amount of items they were taking. I know the feeling. Having been a Loss Prevention Manager for many years, I am familiar with the frustration that comes with finding empty packages and evidence of theft. Truly angering is when it is apparent that a detachment tool was used to remove tags. Often these devices are stolen from retailers when careless employees fail to take care of them, especially the portable detachment keys. Stores need to treat detachment tools with the same importance they place on store keys. Failing to do so makes it difficult to prevent shoplifting not only in their stores, but in numerous other stores across the country.
     Alpha 2 Alarm tags effectively prevent shoplifting due to their visible deterrence value. Anyone thinking about stealing will readily recognize a device when it is attached to merchandise. Most devices have the words “Alpha and Alarm” printed on them, clear evidence that the product is protected with a retail anti-theft device. Some devices even have a flashing red LED indicator light which draws a customer’s attention to it. When we describe the 2 Alarms part of the devices we are referring to the loud, 95 decibel tone released when a device is tampered with. It also describes the alarm that is activated in the electronic article surveillance (EAS) towers when a tag comes within the detection field of the tower. The tags also require a special detachment tool to remove them from merchandise which is why the loss of keys and theft of them is a big deal.
     Store managers should be placing controls on their portable detachment keys. First each of the keys has a serial number on them. This number should be recorded in a control log and periodically audited to ensure it is up to date. Over time the portable keys do start to break due to wear and tear. When this happens, they should be pulled from use and sent back to the manufacturer with a request for a new key. When pulled from service there should be a column on the control log to indicate when it was removed. When the replacement key arrives, notate that serial number in the log book. A key sign out log should also be used requiring the associate to print and sign for the keys and enter the date and time the keys are being received. They also need to sign them back in when they are done.
     Are portable keys necessary? Can a store get by with only the counter mounted units? Portable keys are necessary so tags can be placed on products and sometimes there is a need to remove tags on the salesfloor or in the stockroom. For instance you may have a separate locked stockroom for electronics and you have your team apply Alpha 2 alarm spider wrap on items while they are still in a secure area of the store. Your salesfloor employees may need to remove clothing from the salesfloor to send back to a vendor. It is much easier for them to remove Alpha hard tags while working with the merchandise on the floor. You will find it can be much easier to accomplish some tasks with a portable removal device than the mounted units. 
     Retail anti-theft devices are an absolute necessity and can save you money and reduce shortage exponentially. Alpha 2 alarm devices prevent shoplifting and employee theft through deterrence and detection. Just remember it is still important to give great customer service to deter thieves and control your Alpha detachment tools in order to optimize their effectiveness.
Retail anti-theft devices are important and we can help you with them. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
     
      

My daughter works for a small box retail clothing store as a sales associate and cashier. Several times these past few weeks she has told be about finding duffel bags they sell in the store filled with empty packages, Alpha 2 Alarm Hard Tags and other retail anti-theft devices. She said that the tags looked intact as though someone had used a detachment key to remove them. She also told me that merchandise came from all different areas of the store so the culprit was moving around the store as he/she was stealing. I asked if anyone had reported anything suspicious and she told me that the store was busy, they were calling back-ups to the register and she thought the salesfloor coverage was frequently on the POS. She was very angry that people were getting away with the amount of items they were taking. I know the feeling. Having been a Loss Prevention Manager for many years, I am familiar with the frustration that comes with finding empty packages and evidence of theft. Truly angering is when it is apparent that a detachment tool was used to remove tags. Often these devices are stolen from retailers when careless employees fail to take care of them, especially the portable detachment keys. Stores need to treat detachment tools with the same importance they place on store keys. Failing to do so makes it difficult to prevent shoplifting not only in their stores, but in numerous other stores across the country.

Alpha 2 Alarm tags effectively prevent shoplifting due to their visible deterrence value. Anyone thinking about stealing will readily recognize a device when it is attached to merchandise. Most devices have the words “Alpha and Alarm” printed on them, clear evidence that the product is protected with a retail anti-theft device. Some devices even have a flashing red LED indicator light which draws a customer’s attention to it. When we describe the 2 Alarms part of the devices we are referring to the loud, 95 decibel tone released when a device is tampered with. It also describes the alarm that is activated in the electronic article surveillance (EAS) towers when a tag comes within the detection field of the tower. The tags also require a special detachment tool to remove them from merchandise which is why the loss of keys and theft of them is a big deal.

Store managers should be placing controls on their portable detachment keys. First each of the keys has a serial number on them. This number should be recorded in a control log and periodically audited to ensure it is up to date. Over time the portable keys do start to break due to wear and tear. When this happens, they should be pulled from use and sent back to the manufacturer with a request for a new key. When pulled from service there should be a column on the control log to indicate when it was removed. When the replacement key arrives, notate that serial number in the log book. A key sign out log should also be used requiring the associate to print and sign for the keys and enter the date and time the keys are being received. They also need to sign them back in when they are done.

Are portable keys necessary? Can a store get by with only the counter mounted units? Portable keys are necessary so tags can be placed on products and sometimes there is a need to remove tags on the salesfloor or in the stockroom. For instance you may have a separate locked stockroom for electronics and you have your team apply Alpha 2 alarm spider wrap on items while they are still in a secure area of the store. Your salesfloor employees may need to remove clothing from the salesfloor to send back to a vendor. It is much easier for them to remove Alpha hard tags while working with the merchandise on the floor. You will find it can be much easier to accomplish some tasks with a portable removal device than the mounted units. 

Retail anti-theft devices are an absolute necessity and can save you money and reduce shortage exponentially. Alpha 2 alarm devices prevent shoplifting and employee theft through deterrence and detection. Just remember it is still important to give great customer service to deter thieves and control your Alpha detachment tools in order to optimize their effectiveness.

 

Retail anti-theft devices are important and we can help you with them. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.

     

      

 

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: , , ,

A Book, A Backpack And A Story Of How Retail Anti-Theft Devices Protect Merchandise And Property

July 18, 2017 by Leave a Comment

 

Alpha Security-5                                                                                                                        WC Blog 324
Prevent Shoplifting-3
Retail Anti-Theft Devices-4
A Book, A Backpack And A Story Of How Retail Anti-Theft Devices Protect Merchandise And Property
     This is a true story of an incident that I dealt with just the other night in my job at a college library. I was talking with my fellow supervisor who was leaving for the night as his shift had just ended. While we were recapping the day’s events the alarm pedestal at one of the entry/exit doors activated. I approached the couple who had been exiting the building and asked if they had any materials they had forgotten to check out. The gentleman had a few things in his hand and I had him re-enter and he did not activate the alarm. The young woman with him had a backpack on and I asked her to step back inside. She did so and the alarm sounded. My Loss Prevention background kicked in (this isn’t much different than when I would prevent shoplifting in a store). I asked her again if she had anything that may have set off our towers. She was insistent she did not and began rummaging through her book bag while telling me she only had her laptop and some personal items. I watched her dig around, all the while looking over her shoulder into the bag but, calling on my LP Manager skills, not handling the bag myself. As in my prior life in L.P. when I would respond to electronic article surveillance (EAS) tower alarms set off by Alpha Security devices, I asked the patron to walk through again without the bag. No alarm sounded. I then asked her to pick up the backpack and try it again. You guessed it, the pedestal alarm came to life, beeping and LED lights flashing. I then pointed out a zipper pouch the student had not looked in during her frustrated digging. Low and behold, she pulled out a book and her friend sheepishly said he thought they had put the book down before leaving. I took the book and thanked them for their time and wished them a good night. In the old days I could have counted this for my recovery stats! Now, I have to handle alarms a little differently. However, what is the same between my current job and my L.P. job is that I find retail anti-theft devices and EAS work!
     Whether it is an EAS or RFID label or an Alpha Security hard tag, retail anti-theft devices can and do prevent shoplifting, theft or accidental losses due to unintentional walk-outs. Having had experience using Alpha Security products while I worked in Loss Prevention, I can attest to their ability to deter theft and detect it when a thief attempts to steal protected merchandise. Alpha’s products are designed to be visible to shoplifters so when criminals see the tags and their flashing red LED light, they choose not to attempt to steal. The devices all have EAS radio frequency technology built in that activates pedestals if merchandise is carried too close to the doors and someone attempts to walk out with protected items. Merchandise is also protected when a shoplifter attempts to tamper with Alpha’s devices. Most have tamper resistant protections that sound a sharp, piercing 95 decibel screech if thieves try to forcibly remove them. This leads to merchandise being abandoned and bad guys scurrying out of the store. 
     Aside from the deterrence value of Alpha’s retail anti-theft devices my LP teams and I made merchandise recoveries due to alarm activations from Alpha Security products, similar to the book recovery I mentioned at the beginning of the article. I can think of multiple situations when we recovered Spider wrapped vacuum cleaners and DVD players (when they were the hot commodity) being rolled out through EAS pedestals. We responded to the alarms and prevented thefts. On the occasion when we were not available, front end supervisors responded to alarms and conducted receipt checks and prevented shoplifting attempts.
     As someone who works in a library I won’t be silent about this, Alpha Security products along with a reliable EAS tower can keep your shelves full and shortage low. Learn more about the ABC’s of EAS and retail anti-theft devices and how you can improve profitability.
Get more information on Alpha Security, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
 

This is a true story of an incident that I dealt with just the other night in my job at a college library. I was talking with my fellow supervisor who was leaving for the night as his shift had just ended. While we were recapping the day’s events the alarm pedestal at one of the entry/exit doors activated. I approached the couple who had been exiting the building and asked if they had any materials they had forgotten to check out. The gentleman had a few things in his hand and I had him re-enter and he did not activate the alarm. The young woman with him had a backpack on and I asked her to step back inside. She did so and the alarm sounded. My Loss Prevention background kicked in (this isn’t much different than when I would prevent shoplifting in a store). I asked her again if she had anything that may have set off our towers. She was insistent she did not and began rummaging through her book bag while telling me she only had her laptop and some personal items. I watched her dig around, all the while looking over her shoulder into the bag but, calling on my LP Manager skills, not handling the bag myself. As in my prior life in L.P. when I would respond to electronic article surveillance (EAS) tower alarms set off by Alpha Security devices, I asked the patron to walk through again without the bag. No alarm sounded. I then asked her to pick up the backpack and try it again. You guessed it, the pedestal alarm came to life, beeping and LED lights flashing. I then pointed out a zipper pouch the student had not looked in during her frustrated digging. Low and behold, she pulled out a book and her friend sheepishly said he thought they had put the book down before leaving. I took the book and thanked them for their time and wished them a good night. In the old days I could have counted this for my recovery stats! Now, I have to handle alarms a little differently. However, what is the same between my current job and my L.P. job is that I find retail anti-theft devices and EAS work!

Whether it is an EAS label or an Alpha Security hard tag, retail anti-theft devices can and do prevent shoplifting, theft or accidental losses due to unintentional walk-outs. Having had experience using Alpha Security products while I worked in Loss Prevention, I can attest to their ability to deter theft and detect it when a thief attempts to steal protected merchandise. Alpha’s products are designed to be visible to shoplifters so when criminals see the tags and their flashing red LED light, they choose not to attempt to steal. The devices all have EAS radio frequency technology built in that activates pedestals if merchandise is carried too close to the doors and someone attempts to walk out with protected items. Merchandise is also protected when a shoplifter attempts to tamper with Alpha’s devices. Most have tamper resistant protections that sound a sharp, piercing 95 decibel screech if thieves try to forcibly remove them. This leads to merchandise being abandoned and bad guys scurrying out of the store. 

Aside from the deterrence value of Alpha’s retail anti-theft devices my LP teams and I made merchandise recoveries due to alarm activations from Alpha Security products, similar to the book recovery I mentioned at the beginning of the article. I can think of multiple situations when we recovered Spider wrapped vacuum cleaners and DVD players (when they were the hot commodity) being rolled out through EAS pedestals. We responded to the alarms and prevented thefts. On the occasion when we were not available, front end supervisors responded to alarms and conducted receipt checks and prevented shoplifting attempts.

As someone who works in a library I won’t be silent about this, Alpha Security products along with a reliable EAS tower can keep your shelves full and shortage low. Learn more about the ABC’s of EAS and retail anti-theft devices and how you can improve profitability.

 

Get more information on Alpha Security, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: ,

Safety And Shoplifting

July 11, 2017 by Leave a Comment

As a retail business, shoplifting, employee theft and lawsuits come hand in hand.  Preventing shoplifting and employee theft are somewhat under control by you or the management of the store, while  lawsuits are-although preventable-not under strict control. 

A shoplifting incident can become something of a life or death situation very quickly. Here, the rules and regulations set by the owner or management of the store and that employees must abide by become too important to ignore. 

As an owner or manager of a store, safety must be your number one priority.  Safety not only for your employees, but for your customers as well. An employee chasing after a shoplifter when they have left the premises is dangerous and should never be encouraged. Lawsuits and deaths lost due to chasing after a shoplifter have been numerous.  The resulting death of a shoplifter have landed people  in jail and in the courthouse. Safety should be your number one priority at all times.

Family of slain Chicago area Uber driver sues Walmart

CHICAGO — Relatives of a suburban Chicago Uber driver who was fatally attacked while on the job has sued Walmart, where authorities say the driver’s teenage attacker stole weapons just before the killing.

The family of Grant Nelson filed a wrongful death lawsuit Monday in Cook County against the retailer and two other companies overseeing its security.

Authorities have charged 16-year-old Eliza Wasni in Nelson’s death, saying she stole a machete and knife from Walmart early on May 30 and then got into Nelson’s car and brutally attacked him.

The lawsuit claims two Walmart employees or contractors stood near the door as Wasni exited. The lawsuit alleges they were negligent because they failed to stop the teen and ask her any questions.

Guard at CVS Pharmacy chases down, kills shoplifter in Dallas, police say

A loss-prevention staffer at a CVS Pharmacy store shot and killed a suspected shoplifter after chasing down his getaway car Sunday afternoon in southeast Dallas, police say. 

Police arrested 36-year-old Julio Ruvalcaba Monday on a murder charge.

Officers were dispatched to the shooting about 3 p.m. Sunday and found 31-year-old Christopher Geddes lying on the curb on the eastbound C.F. Hawn Freeway service road and Elam Road, police said.

He was taken to a hospital, where he died from his injuries.

Surveillance video showed Geddes shoplifting from the CVS on South Buckner Boulevard and running to a Toyota Camry in the parking lot, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

Footage from several minutes later shows another person leaving the store and getting into a Chevy Camaro parked outside. CVS employees identified that person as Ruvalcaba, a loss-prevention staffer tasked with reducing shoplifting.

 

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Don’t Get Wrapped Up In Trying To Tie Everything Down; Allow Alpha Spider Wrap To Work For You And Your Customers Too

June 20, 2017 by Leave a Comment

 

Alpha Spider Wrap-4                                                                                                                 WC Blog 293
Retail Anti-Theft Devices-3
Prevent Shoplifting-4
Alpha Security-3
Don’t Get Wrapped Up In Trying To Tie Everything Down; Allow Alpha Spider Wrap To Work For You And Your Customers Too 
     I was strolling through a store today doing some shopping with my wife. We went through clothing, electronics and the food departments. We continued in the main aisle of this store walking past the household appliances and an endcap with two popular, single cup coffee maker boxes on it. No, it wasn’t the coffee makers that caught my eye; rather it was the retail anti-theft devices being used to prevent shoplifting. Each of the boxes was protected with an Alpha Spider Wrap securely tightened around the merchandise ensuring a would-be thief would be hard pressed to steal the items. Then something else about the display caught my attention, a cable locking the spider wraps together and the other end attached to the base deck of the endcap. I stopped my wife and asked her what was wrong with the display. After an audible sigh (she doesn’t always share my enthusiasm about security) she looked at the endcap and confessed she didn’t know. I explained to her the silliness of what had been done with the devices and how they were defeating the purpose of Alpha Spider Wrap.
     Alpha Spider Wrap is an anti-theft device designed of aircraft grade steel cable in a sturdy housing unit. The housing unit contains the cable and loosens and tightens the cable so it can be cinched tightly around merchandise and loosened and removed at the point of sale. The housing also holds an electronic article surveillance (EAS) coil. For stores that have EAS antennas located at doors and entryways, the wraps will activate antenna alarms when carried with the detection range of the antennas. The audible and visual alerts of the antennas can prevent shoplifting by warning employees that a theft attempt may be taking place. Wraps also have tamper alarms that sound when a thief attempts to cut a length of the cable in order to remove it from merchandise.  The use of these retail anti-theft devices acts as both a visual deterrent and a physical deterrent to theft through alarm activations. 
     Alpha Security retail anti-theft devices are created with the purpose of securing merchandise to prevent shoplifting while at the same time keeping goods accessible to customers. Tools such as Alpha Spider Wrap have given retailers the ability to take products from behind locking display cases or minimizing the amount of merchandise on shelves. Customers can pick up merchandise, view it, read label information, carry product around the store as they continue to shop and check out at their leisure. Some stores keep only one item on a shelf to prevent theft. When the one item sells shoppers have to wait for an employee to “check the back” for more product. Using Spider Wrap means more units can be maintained on a shelf for more customers.  Alpha Security products drive up sales because customers were leaving stores rather than wait for service. They also improve a store’s productivity because an employee is not tied to an area waiting to open a showcase for a customer to simply browse merchandise.
     This brings me back to my endcap escapade. The idea of securing the Spider Wrapped merchandise to the endcap was absurd. I am sure someone was well intentioned however they missed the point of using the wrap in the first place. IF I had wanted the coffee maker someone would have had to come by with a portable detachment tool (there was no call button), unlocked the unit and carried it to the checkout lane for me. Worse, in this situation I would have had to look for an employee since no one was in the area. That is a recipe for a disgruntled customer and can have a negative effect on future sales, even the potential loss of a patron. 
     Use Alpha Security products as they were designed and let them work in your favor. You will improve your staffing model, payroll and drive sales all at the same time. You will also prevent shoplifting and improve stock shortage, adding profit to your bottom line, and who doesn’t want to run a profitable business?
Get more information on Alpha Spider Wrap, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.

I was strolling through a store today doing some shopping with my wife. We went through clothing, electronics and the food departments. We continued in the main aisle of this store walking past the household appliances and an endcap with two popular, single cup coffee maker boxes on it. No, it wasn’t the coffee makers that caught my eye; rather it was the retail anti-theft devices being used to prevent shoplifting. Each of the boxes was protected with an Alpha Spider Wrap securely tightened around the merchandise ensuring a would-be thief would be hard pressed to steal the items. Then something else about the display caught my attention, a cable locking the spider wraps together and the other end attached to the base deck of the endcap. I stopped my wife and asked her what was wrong with the display. After an audible sigh (she doesn’t always share my enthusiasm about security) she looked at the endcap and confessed she didn’t know. I explained to her the silliness of what had been done with the devices and how they were defeating the purpose of Alpha Spider Wrap.

Alpha Spider Wrap is an anti-theft device designed of aircraft grade steel cable in a sturdy housing unit. The housing unit contains the cable and loosens and tightens the cable so it can be cinched tightly around merchandise and loosened and removed at the point of sale. The housing also holds an electronic article surveillance (EAS) coil. For stores that have EAS antennas located at doors and entryways, the wraps will activate antenna alarms when carried with the detection range of the antennas. The audible and visual alerts of the antennas can prevent shoplifting by warning employees that a theft attempt may be taking place. Wraps also have tamper alarms that sound when a thief attempts to cut a length of the cable in order to remove it from merchandise. The use of these retail anti-theft devices acts as both a visual deterrent and a physical deterrent to theft through alarm activations. 

 

Alpha Security retail anti-theft devices are created with the purpose of securing merchandise to prevent shoplifting while at the same time keeping goods accessible to customers. Tools such as the Alpha Spider Wrap have given retailers the ability to take products from behind locking display cases or minimizing the amount of merchandise on shelves. Customers can pick up merchandise, view it, read label information, carry product around the store as they continue to shop and check out at their leisure. Some stores keep only one item on a shelf to prevent theft. When the one item sells, shoppers have to wait for an employee to “check the back” for more product. Using Spider Wrap means more units can be maintained on a shelf for more customers.  Alpha Security products drive up sales because customers were leaving stores rather than wait for service. They also improve a store’s productivity because an employee is not tied to an area waiting to open a showcase for a customer to simply browse merchandise.

This brings me back to my endcap escapade. The idea of securing the Spider Wrapped merchandise to the endcap was absurd. I am sure someone was well intentioned however they missed the point of using the wrap in the first place. IF I had wanted the coffee maker someone would have had to come by with a portable detachment tool (there was no call button), unlocked the unit and carried it to the checkout lane for me. Worse, in this situation I would have had to look for an employee since no one was in the area. That is a recipe for a disgruntled customer and can have a negative effect on future sales, even the potential loss of a patron. 

Use Alpha Security products as they were designed and let them work in your favor. You will improve your staffing model, payroll and drive sales all at the same time. You will also prevent shoplifting and improve stock shortage, adding profit to your bottom line, and who doesn’t want to run a profitable business?

 

Get more information on Alpha Spider Wrap, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.

 

 

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Customer Safety: Those Who Steal From Your Store Pose A Security And Safety Risk To Your Customers

June 2, 2017 by Leave a Comment

I don’t know how many times I have heard it, but I have heard it said that shoplifting is not a crime that is premeditated. I have heard and read the arguments that dismiss the seriousness of the crime and portray the criminals as opportunists acting on the spur of the moment. Implicit in the argument is the minimizing of the extent of Organized Retail Crime rings as well as the willingness of shoplifters to steal from your customers. I have even had people who think along these lines voice their disapproval when I had shoplifters I had apprehended and was walking to my security office. I recall one occasion when I apprehended three young men, about 14 years of age and was by myself. I had them stand with their faces against the wall as I had to get my keys out to unlock the door to my office. Two men were sitting outside my office and one muttered under his breath that I was being a butt, only he used a more colorful adjective. I looked at him and told him to mind his own business. The point is that there are people more sympathetic to the criminals than retailers and see shoplifting as a minor infraction at worst and mischievous behavior at best. The attitude among those that hold to those beliefs might change if they realized that these shoplifters aren’t necessarily choosy about who they steal from. They also don’t consider the safety risks posed by the careless acts of these criminals.

     Whatever your perception may be of shoplifters and no matter how you may try to excuse or rationalize the behavior, theft is a crime. Many of those engaging in shoplifting are engaging in other crimes as well. Frequently those crimes are against other customers in the store. How can I be so sure? I have caught some of those shoplifters who also took advantage of others. I recall a shoplifting incident in which I was following the suspect through the store and watched her concealing merchandise in her purse. I followed her through the store observing her pick up small items and hide them while pushing a shopping cart. I then saw her stop her cart next to another customer’s buggy. The second customer had a purse in her own buggy and a wallet was exposed, she was facing the merchandise and had her back to her belongings. The shoplifter stopped and while the victim wasn’t paying attention the shoplifter deftly removed the wallet and kept going, eventually placing it in her own purse. This was one of those rare situations when I made my apprehension while the perpetrator was still in the building. A victimless crime? A sudden, unplanned prank? I don’t think the woman who had her wallet stolen thought so.

     What other safety issues or concerns do shoplifters pose to your customers? Let’s discuss their actions once they have stolen. I have seen shoplifters grab and run with merchandise. There was nothing that caused them to run, they weren’t approached by Loss Prevention personnel and they didn’t see L.P. following behind, they simply snatched merchandise and ran out the door. I recall working for a department store and I was in the camera room conducting CCTV surveillance and a shoplifter entered the store. He immediately went to a table of men’s Polo shirts, grabbed an armful and ran back out. He jumped into a car parked by the curb and the driver sped off. There was no concern for the safety of the patrons entering the building, he made no attempt to look for small children or elderly people, he just shoved a door open and ran. The driver of the car was reckless in speeding away, endangering pedestrians and other drivers.

     There is nothing cute or funny about shoplifters. They hurt the profit line of the stores they steal from. They often victimize other shoppers, frequently stealing personal belongs or identification. They may also be in your parking lot breaking into cars.  Don’t underestimate the risks posed by thieves. Keep them out of your store in the first place by using retail anti-theft devices on all of your merchandise and offering significant amounts of customer service.

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Tips To Counter Website Advice For Potential Shoplifters

June 2, 2017 by Leave a Comment

There seems to be an advice website or YouTube video for nearly everything these days. Want to know who to call for home repairs? Need information about a car before you buy it? Looking for someone to date? Yes, it’s all on the internet, I’ve even completed some plumbing repairs and small vehicle repairs with the aid of online videos. Unfortunately, while there is a lot of help and good information on the world wide web, there are also sites that purport to be “informational” only but the information they provide supposedly tells people how to shoplift. What I find even more irritating is that some of these theft websites allegedly are written by former Loss Prevention personnel. The information they give is sometimes too accurate and could cause problems for a retailer who isn’t informed themselves on how to prevent thieves from stealing from them.

     Here is some ‘information’ that is published on the web and our advice can help you fight back against these shoplifter websites.

  • Website: Carry money with you, no money makes it hard to say it was spontaneous.
    Loss Prevention Systems Inc. (LPSI) Advice: It makes no difference if the shoplifter has or does not have money. Treat all shoplifters the same and be consistent in prosecuting within whatever your policies say.
  • Website: Carry a bag but don’t place anything in it. It may get you off the hook if they can’t find anything in it.
    LPSI Advice: Store Loss Prevention or Managers should never be stopping a suspect if they don’t know where the concealment took place and what was concealed. If you don’t know and didn’t see it, smother them with extensive customer service.
  • Website: Security does not go looking for poorly dressed people. They may pick on you out of boredom but they anticipate professional shoplifters will dress up a bit. Wear whatever you want.
    LPSI Advice: Loss Prevention professionals who do the job right look for signals that may indicate someone is going to shoplift and the types of clothes worn. Are the clothes unseasonable? Is the person wearing a bulky coat when it’s warm outside? Is the person in a known high theft area? Does the person avoid customer service from employees?
  • Website: If you get caught don’t act tough or be a smart “arse” (sic), cry, bawl, beg them not to call the cops, that your kids will be taken by CSV (child services).
    LPSI Advice: Always be consistent. Don’t play favorites and don’t do “favors”. Not applying the rules equally to everyone can actually get you into legal hot water. If there are children with the shoplifter there is nothing wrong with allowing them to call a family member or close, trusted friend to pick up the children. Often shoplifters who have no record of shoplifting have been caught before they were just released and not prosecuted. See how that works?
  • Website: Look for younger, or less ‘affluent’ associates who may turn a blind eye if they see you shoplifting.
    LPSI Advice: Train ALL of your associates on the importance of customer service and the necessity to report all suspicious activity. Perhaps initiate a reward program for employees who can demonstrate they have prevented a theft. This may be done if they can show clothes with torn off tags or an anti-theft device that was being tampered with and the associate walked up and disrupted the thief. Maybe it’s a fitting room attendant who finds merchandise hidden that a shoplifter was going to try to take into the fitting room. Age of an employee should never be a factor.
  • Website: Most employees at places with EAS (electronic article surveillance) door alarms (towers) view them as an annoyance instead of as an asset. If someone does respond to an alarm they are usually only allowed to ask you if you “forgot to pay for something”. They cannot threaten to call the police. There was no evidence.
    LPSI Advice: Ensure all associates are trained on appropriate EAS alarm response. Waving goodbye or saying, “It’s okay” is not appropriate. Employees should be asking politely for receipts and then looking for dates, time stamps, and verifying the items on the receipt are the items being carried out. If a discrepancy is found a manager should be called over. If nothing is found in bags or in the shopping cart, there are additional steps to take in order to determine the cause of an alarm.

     Loss Prevention Systems provides training for managers and staff on preventing shoplifting. You can contact LPSI for information on how to approach an EAS/Checkpoint system alarm. These are simply a few tips on how to overcome the tips from these “informational” websites. Don’t be a victim to shoplifters. You can prevent theft, reduce your shortage and increase profits. Proper training for you and your managers can pay big dividends regardless of what criminals may read on the world wide web.

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What Are You Doing To Prevent Shoplifting In Your Store?

June 1, 2017 by Leave a Comment

In some regions, police departments warn retail stores and home owners of an increase in shoplifting and burglaries during the summer months.  Many of the burglaries and shoplifting accidents committed during these months are from young adults that are out of school with nothing better to do.

The problem-although serious- is nothing compared to the thousands of dollars that are stolen by organized retail crime rings in some cities.  

People in an organized retail crime ring can enter a store and leave it within minutes with thousands of dollars in stolen merchandise. They are professionals and their goals is simple: Steal as much as you can in the least amount of time. 

Training to prevent this kind of shoplifting is paramount to the well being of your store.

For more about this and other topics, follow the links below.

Shoplifting plagues Portland retailers

SHOPLIFTING IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM FOR PORTLAND RETAILERS, BUT POLICE DON’T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO CRACK DOWN ON MANY OF THE THEFTS.

Rise in organized retail theft is costing you

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – They’re fast, they’re sneaky – and their crimes are impacting your wallet.

Organized retail thieves are costing retailers billions of dollars each year, which inevitably ends up costing you.

But it’s more than just shoplifting. Organized retail theft includes:

  • Receiving goods that are believed to be stolen, even if they’re not
  • Shoplifting goods ($200+ value) through an emergency exit door
  • Theft of infant formula more than $100
  • Credit card/gift card fraud

International Super-Heist Cost Retailers Billions Last Year

One woman in El Segundo stole $10,000 of clothes from a shop in about 20 minutes during the course of three visits.

Retailers ready to launch their new fashion lines can bet some of that apparel will be stolen the minute it hits their shelves, according to private investigators.

The products are being shoplifted, in some cases, thousands of dollars at a time, by thieves committing organized retail crime.

A private investigator, speaking to NBC4 on the condition of anonymity, helped detectives with the El Segundo police department, tie two Colombian nationals to an international theft ring.

The two were arrested after police discovered $67,000 worth of stolen merchandise in their Hawthorne apartment.

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Who Is Your Typical Shoplifter?

May 23, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Shoplifting is a crime.  Stealing merchandise and walking out the door is a crime millions of people are doing every year.

It  costs the retail industry billions of dollars yearly, as well as the communities where these incidents occur.  Tax income that is not collected from the stolen merchandise leaves communities and many social programs unfunded and in some instances cut out altogether.

The National Association for Shoplifting Prevention (NASP) states that there is no profile of a typical shoplifter. Women and men shoplift as equally and often.

The following news stories will give you  a glance at the shoplifters for this month.  Shoplifters come from all walks of life. Profiling a person because of preconceived notions of what a shoplifter is supposed to be, is not only illegal but wrong.

Click on the links below to read more about shoplifting.

Husky Caught on Surveillance Shoplifting a Loaf of Bread, Then Returning With an Accomplice

Get your paws off the merchandise!

A Siberian husky was caught on security footage shoplifting a loaf of bread from a Dollar General store in California.

Although a store worker tried to stop the furry bandit before she escaped out the automated doors, “the suspect was able to avoid apprehension and escaped on all fours,” according to the Shafter Police Department, which released surveillance on their Facebook page following the event last week.

Police officer resigns after allegedly shoplifting by stuffing meat in his pants

DES PERES, Mo. (KMOV.com) –

A St. John police sergeant is off of the force after police arrested him for shoplifting hamburger meat at a Des Peres grocery store.

On April 21, Des Peres police say Sgt. Matthew Barthelmass walked up to the meat counter at the Dierbergs on Manchester Road. The security guard followed him, and saw him walk to the cooking supply aisle and “conceal the product inside of his waistband. He had a larger Cardinals pullover on and could not see a bulge,” read the report.

The report goes on to say Barthelmass paid for items inside of his cart, but not the meat in his pants.

He was confronted by the security guard when he was leaving.

“I asked the subject to remove the meat from his pants. He explained to me that he was a police officer for St. John Police Department,” said the report.

St. John Police Chief J.R. Morris says Barthelmass has been with the department for 10 years.

LOCAL DOCTOR ARRESTED FOR SHOPLIFTING

CULLMAN – A local doctor was arrested for shoplifting recently, according to reports from the Cullman Police Department. Mir Kwon Wu Varquez, 59, was arrested on May 10 and charged with fourth-degree theft of property/shoplifting, a Class A misdemeanor.

Police Chief Kenny Culpepper says the incident occurred at the Wal-Mart store on Highway 157.

Varquez is a cardiologist at Cullman Heart & Urgent Care, P.C.

According to Alabama Code, Section 13A-8-5, theft of property in the fourth degree is applicable when the theft does not exceed $500.

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