Bargain Retail Theft Prevention Systems Aren’t Always Such A Bargain.

November 13, 2018 by Leave a Comment



Sensormatic Systems -5                                                                                             WC Blog 682
Retail Theft Prevention-3


Bargain Retail Theft Prevention Systems Aren’t Always Such A Bargain

     Where do you go to get a great deal on Sensormatic systems? You can search ebay and there appear to be some very attractive prices on electronic article surveillance towers, parts and even tags. What retailer would not want to look for a bargain basement price in order to set up a retail anti-theft protection system in their store? Think about it, you can save money on the equipment AND save money in shortage reduction, a win-win solution right? Good prices do not always equal good value and good service. Maybe you buy the equipment but who installs it for you? Is it set up to meet the manufacturer’s specifications? Will you get the same if any support service if the equipment fails? Sometimes it is best to buy some things new and purchase them from an authorized dealer.

     The reason I am so emphatic about where a business may get their equipment is because I am serious about retail theft prevention and I know how it can make or break a store. A Loss Prevention System can stop shoplifting which ultimately saves that business money. As someone with over 17 years of Loss Prevention experience under his belt, I have seen stock shortage go down when anti-theft equipment such as Sensormatic systems are in use. Additionally that number continues to drop as more merchandise is tagged. What I would NOT do is try to purchase a system from an unreliable source. You want to get your equipment from a reputable business and that business is Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. a Tyco Retail Solutions Authorized Partner. Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. founder Bill Bregar has been a Director of Loss Prevention for major retail businesses. He knows as well as I do the positive impact a retail theft prevention system can have for small and medium stores. Because of this his company recommends the installation of Sensormatic systems as part of a broader theft prevention program.

     The next question for a small retailer is the question of affordability. You KNOW you can afford that internet seller’s price. What you aren’t so sure about is whether you can afford a brand new system. I understand the concern. It is hard enough to keep a retail business profitable and it is important to watch where each nickel and dime is spent. Making payments on a new retail theft prevention system can seem to be out of your reach. Under most circumstances, I would tend to be in agreement with you. Unless you are purchasing stocks, bonds or real estate most things are going to lose value over time. When it comes to loss prevention you need to look at how it is going to benefit you. The reduction in theft is going to save money for your store. That savings can be enough to pay for the new system and over time begin to add money to your profit line. While a refurbished or used system may work for a short period what will you do when it breaks down? You may have a limited warranty but then you are going to deal with the “limitations” that always seem to be the “problem” you encounter. Then find the technician to do the repairs and how long will it take them to get to your store? The expenses continuously add up. With a new system from Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. you get the backing of the manufacturer with a one-year warranty on all standard Sensormatic systems. Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. also provides after the sale support AND free on-line, live shoplifter prevention training! Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. is also going to have your new system installed by a Sensormatic trained technician who will also give you training on your system.  No cut-rate supplier is going to give you all of that.

     In many cases a used or refurbished item may be a worthwhile investment. When it comes to the safety, security and profitability of your business only new Sensormatic systems make sense. Purchasing that system from a reputable company with over 30 years of experience in the field of Retail Loss Prevention is a smart move I would stake MY reputation on.

Retail theft prevention is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
     

Where do you go to get a great deal on Sensormatic systems? You can search ebay and there appear to be some very attractive prices on electronic article surveillance towers, parts and even tags. What retailer would not want to look for a bargain basement price in order to set up a retail anti-theft protection system in their store? Think about it, you can save money on the equipment AND save money in shortage reduction, a win-win solution right? Good prices do not always equal good value and good service. Maybe you buy the equipment but who installs it for you? Is it set up to meet the manufacturer’s specifications? Will you get the same if any support service if the equipment fails? Sometimes it is best to buy some things new and purchase them from an authorized dealer.
     

The reason I am so emphatic about where a business may get their equipment is because I am serious about retail theft prevention and I know how it can make or break a store. A Loss Prevention System can stop shoplifting which ultimately saves that business money. As someone with over 17 years of Loss Prevention experience under his belt, I have seen stock shortage go down when anti-theft equipment such as Sensormatic systems are in use. Additionally that number continues to drop as more merchandise is tagged. What I would NOT do is try to purchase a system from an unreliable source. You want to get your equipment from a reputable business and that business is Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. a Tyco Retail Solutions Authorized Partner. Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. founder Bill Bregar has been a Director of Loss Prevention for major retail businesses. He knows as well as I do the positive impact a retail theft prevention system can have for small and medium stores. Because of this his company recommends the installation of Sensormatic systems as part of a broader theft prevention program.
     

The next question for a small retailer is the question of affordability. You KNOW you can afford that internet seller’s price. What you aren’t so sure about is whether you can afford a brand new system. I understand the concern. It is hard enough to keep a retail business profitable and it is important to watch where each nickel and dime is spent. Making payments on a new retail theft prevention system can seem to be out of your reach. Under most circumstances, I would tend to be in agreement with you. Unless you are purchasing stocks, bonds or real estate most things are going to lose value over time. When it comes to loss prevention you need to look at how it is going to benefit you. The reduction in theft is going to save money for your store. That savings can be enough to pay for the new system and over time begin to add money to your profit line. While a refurbished or used system may work for a short period what will you do when it breaks down? You may have a limited warranty but then you are going to deal with the “limitations” that always seem to be the “problem” you encounter. Then find the technician to do the repairs and how long will it take them to get to your store? The expenses continuously add up. With a new system from Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. you get the backing of the manufacturer with a one-year warranty on all standard Sensormatic systems. Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. also provides after the sale support AND free on-line, live shoplifter prevention training! Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. is also going to have your new system installed by a Sensormatic trained technician who will also give you training on your system.  No cut-rate supplier is going to give you all of that.
     

In many cases a used or refurbished item may be a worthwhile investment. When it comes to the safety, security and profitability of your business only new Sensormatic systems make sense. Purchasing that system from a reputable company with over 30 years of experience in the field of Retail Loss Prevention is a smart move I would stake MY reputation on.

 

Retail theft prevention is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.     

 

Filed Under: antishoplifting Tagged With: ,

Improve Retail Theft Prevention Through Recognition

August 9, 2018 by Leave a Comment

 

Retail Theft Prevention- 5                                                                                                           WC Blog 500
Stop Shoplifting-3
Improve Retail Theft Prevention Through Recognition
     I LOVE celebrations for victories in stores, be it for a successful retail theft prevention program, a great customer service initiative or some other achievement I truly believe in celebrating accomplishments. I am sold on the power of recognizing individual achievements and group achievements and celebrating them with the entire store. In this article I want to talk about how you can make your store successful and a big part of that is recognition of your store team individually and as a group. As a former Loss Prevention Manager with nearly 27 years of retail experience and as a shift supervisor in a college library I can share with you observations I have gleaned over the years through my experiences.
     I will talk at length about celebrations but I do want to stop for a moment and touch on retail theft prevention and what it entails. Retail theft prevention is the ability of a retailer to recognize that theft is going to occur in their store, understand there are steps they can take to stop it and in doing so it will make the business more prosperous. It is the use of anti-shoplifting devices such as Checkpoint security pedestals at the doors and tags on all merchandise. It is also the training of employees on their responsibilities in regard to proper tagging methods, alarm responses, providing exceptional customer service and teamwork that will stop shoplifting and drive sales. The implementation of all of these factors is what is required for a retail owner or manager to stop shoplifting and keep merchandise in the store for customers and that is what helps drive up sales.
     It may seem a bit unusual to be talking about celebrations and retail theft prevention but they do tie together and help to build a strong shortage culture in the store. Additionally recognition is a powerful tool to developing teamwork amongst employees. An example of this can be seen in the store I work in now. For quite some time there has been a program for giving out recognition cards that are used in a monthly drawing. For the most part they were given out by managers to employees for different reasons. Over a period of time there was a slow progression of cards being given out by employees to each other. Recently, employees had the cards removed from a box they were kept in and placed on a door for everyone to see. The participation is pretty amazing to see. Most cards are given out for one employee assisting another on a task or in a work center. If you don’t quite see the power in this consider that for each card someone gives out to a fellow worker it reduces the giver’s chance for winning the monthly drawing. That’s quite a statement about the power of recognition. How does this relate to retail theft prevention? If employee recognition includes recognizing people for going above and beyond expectations in assisting customers it will influence more associates to offer help on the sales floor. That level of service will deter thieves from trying to steal in your store.
     When I was a Loss Prevention Manager I made sure I recognized employees who caught hidden merchandise at the checkout stands or those who reported suspicious patrons to me. I also made sure that employees who reported a tip to me about another employee they suspected was stealing had their information submitted to our store hotline number. In this way a couple of employees were rewarded by the company for cases they initiated and were closed by me based on their information. I couldn’t celebrate the individuals due to confidentiality but I could share the win with the store team in general terms. I found that employees were more willing to report suspicious behaviors to me. This included internal and external theft identification.
     Recognition is more impactful that you may have realized. Congratulating an employee for closing a large sale, signing someone up for a store reward program, making a recovery from an electronic article surveillance alarm receipt check are all a way to recognize performance. When an associate can stop shoplifting through customer service and notification of management of suspicious people the entire store benefits. Heartfelt, genuine recognition will lead to continued performance that helps to drive up sales and reduce shortage. If you don’t do it already look for ways to recognize and praise your team. You will see a payoff in shortage reduction, profit growth and increased morale.
Need information on retail theft prevention? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
     

I LOVE celebrations for victories in stores, be it for a successful retail theft prevention program, a great customer service initiative or some other achievement I truly believe in celebrating accomplishments. I am sold on the power of recognizing individual achievements and group achievements and celebrating them with the entire store. In this article I want to talk about how you can make your store successful and a big part of that is recognition of your store team individually and as a group. As a former Loss Prevention Manager with nearly 27 years of retail experience and as a shift supervisor in a college library I can share with you observations I have gleaned over the years through my experiences.

I will talk at length about celebrations but I do want to stop for a moment and touch on retail theft prevention and what it entails. Retail theft prevention is the ability of a retailer to recognize that theft is going to occur in their store, understand there are steps they can take to stop it and in doing so it will make the business more prosperous. It is the use of anti-shoplifting devices such as electronic article surveillance (EAS) security pedestals at the doors and tags on all merchandise. It is also the training of employees on their responsibilities in regard to proper tagging methods, alarm responses, providing exceptional customer service and teamwork that will stop shoplifting and drive sales. The implementation of all of these factors is what is required for a retail owner or manager to stop shoplifting and keep merchandise in the store for customers and that is what helps drive up sales.

It may seem a bit unusual to be talking about celebrations and retail theft prevention but they do tie together and help to build a strong shortage culture in the store. Additionally recognition is a powerful tool to developing teamwork amongst employees. An example of this can be seen in the store I work in now. For quite some time there has been a program for giving out recognition cards that are used in a monthly drawing. For the most part they were given out by managers to employees for different reasons. Over a period of time there was a slow progression of cards being given out by employees to each other. Recently, employees had the cards removed from a box they were kept in and placed on a door for everyone to see. The participation is pretty amazing to see. Most cards are given out for one employee assisting another on a task or in a work center. If you don’t quite see the power in this consider that for each card someone gives out to a fellow worker it reduces the giver’s chance for winning the monthly drawing. That’s quite a statement about the power of recognition. How does this relate to retail theft prevention? If employee recognition includes recognizing people for going above and beyond expectations in assisting customers it will influence more associates to offer help on the sales floor. That level of service will deter thieves from trying to steal in your store.

When I was a Loss Prevention Manager I made sure I recognized employees who caught hidden merchandise at the checkout stands or those who reported suspicious patrons to me. I also made sure that employees who reported a tip to me about another employee they suspected was stealing had their information submitted to our store hotline number. In this way a couple of employees were rewarded by the company for cases they initiated and were closed by me based on their information. I couldn’t celebrate the individuals due to confidentiality but I could share the win with the store team in general terms. I found that employees were more willing to report suspicious behaviors to me. This included internal and external theft identification.

Recognition is more impactful that you may have realized. Congratulating an employee for closing a large sale, signing someone up for a store reward program, making a recovery from an electronic article surveillance alarm receipt check are all a way to recognize performance. When an associate can stop shoplifting through customer service and notification of management of suspicious people the entire store benefits. Heartfelt, genuine recognition will lead to continued performance that helps to drive up sales and reduce shortage. If you don’t do it already look for ways to recognize and praise your team. You will see a payoff in shortage reduction, profit growth and increased morale.

 

Need information on retail theft prevention? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.

     

 

Filed Under: antishoplifting Tagged With: , ,

Use Checkpoint Tags To Improve Instocks

July 10, 2018 by Leave a Comment
Checkpoint Tags- 5                                                                                                      WC Blog 454
Stop Shoplifting-3


A Decline In Sales May Be More Than A Decline In Customers; Stores May Need To Use Checkpoint Tags To Improve Instocks

     My youngest son is currently a business major in his senior year of college. The other day we were discussing a paper he had recently turned in on the topic of “Needs Assessment”. I asked about what the term meant in the context of the class. He told me the basis of a Needs Assessment as they had talked about it was, in a sense, determining what the real root causes of a problem are and solutions to fix it. I am probably simplifying it a bit but an example he gave was of a make believe company that needed some accountants. Since that was not the focus of the business the company went out and hired recent college graduates who had graduated at the top of their classes but in areas of study other than accounting. The idea of hiring non-accountants was that these students were smart and would be able to learn the accounting job that needed done. In this scenario the business begins to experience financial problems but management begins to look at surface issues such as not enough time was spent training these new accountants. They didn’t dig into the underlying issues and assess what the needs of the business truly were. The problem as analyzed by my son was that it was the hiring of the non-accountants to fill a specific role, one which required a specialized skill set. The workers were bright, but not equipped for this particular job. I would argue that many times we in retail can be like this. We have a slide in our sales and rather than do a true needs assessment, we make assumptions and try to make our pre-conceived notions fit the problem. What if a slip in sales isn’t due to a lack of customers? What if sliding sales are due to a failure to stop shoplifting? More customers may not be the real issue the need for more Checkpoint Tags may be part of the real problem.

     What are Checkpoint Tags you may be asking? They are tools designed to prevent thieves from emptying store shelves of merchandise. The tags utilize electronic article surveillance technology that combines a radio wave signal emitted from a tag to be picked up by a receiving tower usually located near the entry/exit doors of a store. If a piece of merchandise with a tag attached to it is carried within the reception range of the tower, alarms are set off alerting associates that an item is being carried out that has not been paid for yet. Even concealed merchandise can be detected when Checkpoint tags are in place. Today the tags have become so popular among major retailers that most shoplifters are familiar with them and steer away from trying to shoplift items with a tag attached. 

     How then can a tag that will stop shoplifting be the answer to a store that is experiencing a slip in sales? Here are a few things for your consideration:
• If shoplifters are removing merchandise from shelves and fixtures those items are no longer available for purchase. That directly impacts sales.
• Stolen merchandise is not accounted for through a point of sale. For many stores this means a system of checking counts and making adjustments is necessary for replenishment to occur. Does your store have some system in place to ensure replenishment takes place?
• Many large retailers use acronyms to help cashiers remember things to look for that impact shortage. One is B.O.B. or Bottom of Buggy. If cashier miss all of the items in a cart it can certainly lead to shortage. Checkpoint Tags on merchandise will cause an alarm from towers, resulting in a receipt check and recovery of merchandise or the purchase of the item(s).
Stores that use retail theft prevention devices stop shoplifting from taking place and impact operational shortage as well. When the tags are used, merchandise stays in the store where it is available for the paying customers. As one who has shopped in stores with bare shelves I get very frustrated at not finding what I want and have left empty handed on more than one occasion.

     If your store is experiencing a decline in sales take the time to conduct a true Needs Assessment. Consider all of the factors that may be impacting your business. Look at everything from new businesses in the area to changes in your policies or even empty shelves that may indicate a need to start using Checkpoint Tags. Dig into what needs done to drive sales.
Get more information on Checkpoint Tags contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.

My youngest son is currently a business major in his senior year of college. The other day we were discussing a paper he had recently turned in on the topic of “Needs Assessment”. I asked about what the term meant in the context of the class. He told me the basis of a Needs Assessment as they had talked about it was, in a sense, determining what the real root causes of a problem are and solutions to fix it. I am probably simplifying it a bit but an example he gave was of a make believe company that needed some accountants. Since that was not the focus of the business the company went out and hired recent college graduates who had graduated at the top of their classes but in areas of study other than accounting. The idea of hiring non-accountants was that these students were smart and would be able to learn the accounting job that needed done. In this scenario the business begins to experience financial problems but management begins to look at surface issues such as not enough time was spent training these new accountants. They didn’t dig into the underlying issues and assess what the needs of the business truly were. The problem as analyzed by my son was that it was the hiring of the non-accountants to fill a specific role, one which required a specialized skill set. The workers were bright, but not equipped for this particular job. I would argue that many times we in retail can be like this. We have a slide in our sales and rather than do a true needs assessment, we make assumptions and try to make our pre-conceived notions fit the problem. What if a slip in sales isn’t due to a lack of customers? What if sliding sales are due to a failure to stop shoplifting? More customers may not be the real issue the need for more hard tags may be part of the real problem.
     

What are hard tags you may be asking? They are tools designed to prevent thieves from emptying store shelves of merchandise. The tags utilize electronic article surveillance technology that combines a radio wave signal emitted from a tag to be picked up by a receiving tower usually located near the entry/exit doors of a store. If a piece of merchandise with a tag attached to it is carried within the reception range of the tower, alarms are set off alerting associates that an item is being carried out that has not been paid for yet. Even concealed merchandise can be detected when hard tags are in place. Today the tags have become so popular among major retailers that most shoplifters are familiar with them and steer away from trying to shoplift items with a tag attached. 
     

How then can a tag that will stop shoplifting be the answer to a store that is experiencing a slip in sales? Here are a few things for your consideration:

     • If shoplifters are removing merchandise from shelves and fixtures those items are no longer available for purchase. That directly impacts sales.

     • Stolen merchandise is not accounted for through a point of sale. For many stores this means a system of checking counts and making adjustments is necessary for replenishment to occur. Does your store have some system in place to ensure replenishment takes place?

     • Many large retailers use acronyms to help cashiers remember things to look for that impact shortage. One is B.O.B. or Bottom of Buggy. If cashier miss all of the items in a cart it can certainly lead to shortage. hard tags on merchandise will cause an alarm from towers, resulting in a receipt check and recovery of merchandise or the purchase of the item(s).

Stores that use retail theft prevention devices stop shoplifting from taking place and impact operational shortage as well. When the tags are used, merchandise stays in the store where it is available for the paying customers. As one who has shopped in stores with bare shelves I get very frustrated at not finding what I want and have left empty handed on more than one occasion.
     

If your store is experiencing a decline in sales take the time to conduct a true Needs Assessment. Consider all of the factors that may be impacting your business. Look at everything from new businesses in the area to changes in your policies or even empty shelves that may indicate a need to start using hard tags. Dig into what needs done to drive sales.

 

Get more information on hard tags contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.

Filed Under: antishoplifting Tagged With: , ,

Shoplifters Can Be A Danger To Your Customers And Employees; Deter Thieves From Coming To Your Store With Checkpoint Tags

November 10, 2017 by Leave a Comment

 

Retail Theft Prevention-4                                                                                              WC Blog 357
Checkpoint tags-4
Shoplifters Can Be A Danger To Your Customers And Employees; Deter Thieves From Coming To Your Store With Checkpoint Tags
     When you think about merchandise protection and the importance of retail theft prevention have you ever considered the other benefits your business gets from using Checkpoint tags? While it isn’t necessarily an intended consequence, stores that employ measures to deter shoplifters also help protect their employees and customers. I have been involved in Retail Loss Prevention and retail in general for over 27 years. I have personally had to apprehend shoplifters who have had marijuana on their person, and were high when busted. I have fought with shoplifters who were high on cocaine, crack and at least one who was high on methamphetamine. I have apprehended shoplifters with brass knuckles and knives concealed in pockets, waistbands and shoes. I had one instance where a shoplifter lifted his shirt when I went to stop him, showing me the handle of a gun in the front of his pants. The implied threat was obvious, stop him and it could be deadly. There are two reasons for using Checkpoint tags, first to deter theft and second to detect it.
     Anti-shoplifting tags have electronic article surveillance (EAS) capability built into them and use radio frequency waves to ensure protected merchandise will be detected by EAS towers. When a thief attempts to walk out with merchandise they are trying to steal, the towers pick up the signal sent out by the tags and an alarm in the tower sounds out a sharp, loud alert. Employees of the store who have been trained on proper alarm response go to the doors and retrieve the product. Often the thief will drop the item or make an excuse that they forgot they had it with them. The first thing the towers and tags do is deter the thieves who are well aware of what towers can do and prefer to avoid stores that use retail theft prevention measures.
     Consider that, shoplifters prefer to avoid stores that are using Checkpoint tags. If there are other locations that are nearby where they can go to get merchandise to steal and reduce the chance they will be detected they will do so. Likewise, they also prefer to go to stores where there is little or no customer service. If no one is going to bother them it is easier to get away with theft. How does this keep your customers and employees safer? Not all but many shoplifters are into theft to support their habits. As I mentioned I have had quite a few that I have apprehended that had drugs on their person or where definitely under the influence of drugs. If they don’t want caught they are going other places so your customers are safer.
     Another danger posed by shoplifters to your employees, customers and even the shoplifter or someone with them is when they attempt to flee the store. I recall one incident in which I was attempting to apprehend a shoplifter (who I later learned had illegal drugs on her) and she had her young daughter with her. This woman not only fought with me and my partner, she also grabbed her little girl by the arm and tried to run into the parking lot with her, cars driving by, the little girl screaming and us attempting to talk her out of running. I’ve had shoplifters run and jump into their car and speed out of the parking lot nearly hitting other cars and pedestrians. More than one shoplifter has sped out of the parking lot backwards to avoid security cameras or me from seeing their license plate number. In each of these situations people are endangered by the careless acts of a criminal trying to avoid prosecution. The stores I worked in used some retail theft prevention devices and Checkpoint tags but there are many more options on the market today. Protecting more merchandise means reduced options for theft and that means shoplifters go elsewhere.
     Shoplifters are a drain on profits and a potential danger to those around them. Keeping thieves out of your stores means your customers feel safer and are more willing to browse and spend time shopping. That all adds up to more money for you. Use retail theft prevention devices on all of your goods and send shoplifters packing.
Need information on Checkpoint tags? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.

When you think about merchandise protection and the importance of retail theft prevention have you ever considered the other benefits your business gets from using Checkpoint tags? While it isn’t necessarily an intended consequence, stores that employ measures to deter shoplifters also help protect their employees and customers. I have been involved in Retail Loss Prevention and retail in general for over 27 years. I have personally had to apprehend shoplifters who have had marijuana on their person, and were high when busted. I have fought with shoplifters who were high on cocaine, crack and at least one who was high on methamphetamine. I have apprehended shoplifters with brass knuckles and knives concealed in pockets, waistbands and shoes. I had one instance where a shoplifter lifted his shirt when I went to stop him, showing me the handle of a gun in the front of his pants. The implied threat was obvious, stop him and it could be deadly. There are two reasons for using Checkpoint tags, first to deter theft and second to detect it.

Anti-shoplifting tags have electronic article surveillance (EAS) capability built into them and use radio frequency waves to ensure protected merchandise will be detected by EAS towers. When a thief attempts to walk out with merchandise they are trying to steal, the towers pick up the signal sent out by the tags and an alarm in the tower sounds out a sharp, loud alert. Employees of the store who have been trained on proper alarm response go to the doors and retrieve the product. Often the thief will drop the item or make an excuse that they forgot they had it with them. The first thing the towers and tags do is deter the thieves who are well aware of what towers can do and prefer to avoid stores that use retail theft prevention measures.

Consider that, shoplifters prefer to avoid stores that are using Checkpoint tags. If there are other locations that are nearby where they can go to get merchandise to steal and reduce the chance they will be detected they will do so. Likewise, they also prefer to go to stores where there is little or no customer service. If no one is going to bother them it is easier to get away with theft. How does this keep your customers and employees safer? Not all but many shoplifters are into theft to support their habits. As I mentioned I have had quite a few that I have apprehended that had drugs on their person or where definitely under the influence of drugs. If they don’t want caught they are going other places so your customers are safer.

Another danger posed by shoplifters to your employees, customers and even the shoplifter or someone with them is when they attempt to flee the store. I recall one incident in which I was attempting to apprehend a shoplifter (who I later learned had illegal drugs on her) and she had her young daughter with her. This woman not only fought with me and my partner, she also grabbed her little girl by the arm and tried to run into the parking lot with her, cars driving by, the little girl screaming and us attempting to talk her out of running. I’ve had shoplifters run and jump into their car and speed out of the parking lot nearly hitting other cars and pedestrians. More than one shoplifter has sped out of the parking lot backwards to avoid security cameras or me from seeing their license plate number. In each of these situations people are endangered by the careless acts of a criminal trying to avoid prosecution. The stores I worked in used some retail theft prevention devices and Checkpoint tags but there are many more options on the market today. Protecting more merchandise means reduced options for theft and that means shoplifters go elsewhere.

Shoplifters are a drain on profits and a potential danger to those around them. Keeping thieves out of your stores means your customers feel safer and are more willing to browse and spend time shopping. That all adds up to more money for you. Use retail theft prevention devices on all of your goods and send shoplifters packing.

 

Need information on Checkpoint tags? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.

 

 

Filed Under: antishoplifting Tagged With: , ,

Retail Theft Prevention Strategies Should Include Building Relationships Part 2

October 12, 2017 by Leave a Comment
Retail Theft Prevention – 5                                                                                                          WC Blog 345
Checkpoint Systems-3
Retail Theft Prevention Strategies Should Include Building Relationships Part 2
     When we talk about retail theft prevention the first thing that comes to mind is a strategy that includes closed circuit television equipment and security personnel (uniformed and undercover). Sometimes people will think of securing product by locking it up in showcases or using electronic article surveillance equipment from a company such as Checkpoint Systems. It might also consist of store layouts, how areas may be corralled to limit access and prevent merchandise from leaving that specific area. In Part 1 I began by walking down memory lane and I talked about how I matured and grew in my perspective on partnerships, theft prevention and some of the influences that changed my perspective. I also discussed how building relations with vendors helped me to build important relationships with local police that proved mutually beneficial to the department and my store. It is this building of relationships that I want to focus on as one strategy for a strong retail theft prevention program.
     Retail theft prevention should always be a multifaceted program. Each of the strategies I spoke of in the introduction are important to a well-rounded approach to reduce theft and stock shortage. While protecting merchandise is an important piece of that strategy including careful placement of cameras and mirrors, installing EAS towers from Checkpoint Systems at the front doors and using anti-theft devices to prevent shoplifting, there are other things managers can do to enhance shortage reduction efforts. This includes the creation of employee awareness programs, use of pre-employment screenings and what has become one of my favorite strategies, building external relationships.
     As a Loss Prevention Manager, the company I worked for helped to sponsor an annual event with police departments nationwide.  The events were community gatherings focusing on efforts to build community relations and strengthen crime watch groups to reduce crime. Our store was so successful that we received requests for assistance from communities 15 or 20 miles away from our store that heard about the program and wanted to participate. Our store team sent representatives to three areas to represent our company. While I have no numbers to prove it impacted shortage reduction directly, I do believe our participation grew our company brand recognition and helped drive sales, which is one way to drive down shrink as a percent to sales. 
     Our store also had Christmas events in which local schools would have choirs come and sing and students would help with gift wrapping for seniors. I would take advantage of these events to provide tours of my security office for the kids. The looks on their faces was priceless as they saw most of our camera views and saw a demonstration of how a camera could zoom in and read a license plate on a car in the parking lot. When I let them try the camera controls you would have thought they had a new video game unit, it was fun to watch. You may wonder how this would have enhanced a retail theft prevention program. My feeling is that by educating these children early they will be less likely to steal as they get older, remembering what they learned.
     I earlier mentioned the vendor relations I built with Checkpoint Systems and my CCTV vendor, but one other relationship that was extremely helpful was one I developed with the site supervisor of the company that was in charge of a major store remodel we went through. By working closely with him and his team, I was able to bring to his attention concerns I had with building security issues as the project progressed. There were workers that would try to bypass our security checks of tool boxes and equipment when they left. There were times when I would find unsecured doors or access ways when work in an area was complete for a day. I had the support of the site manager to challenge his supervisors and workers when I found security concerns.  What was the result of this partnership? All I heard before the remodel was how inventory shortage always goes out the roof for the inventory that follows. Our inventory results remained well under 1%, in line with prior year results. 
     The old saying goes, there is no “I” in team. The same is true for retail theft prevention. Build relationships with your store team members, vendors, community and police departments and the pay-off will show in reduced shortage results.
Retail theft prevention is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
     

When we talk about retail theft prevention the first thing that comes to mind is a strategy that includes closed circuit television equipment and security personnel (uniformed and undercover). Sometimes people will think of securing product by locking it up in showcases or using electronic article surveillance equipment from a company such as Checkpoint Systems. It might also consist of store layouts, how areas may be corralled to limit access and prevent merchandise from leaving that specific area. In Part 1 I began by walking down memory lane and I talked about how I matured and grew in my perspective on partnerships, theft prevention and some of the influences that changed my perspective. I also discussed how building relations with vendors helped me to build important relationships with local police that proved mutually beneficial to the department and my store. It is this building of relationships that I want to focus on as one strategy for a strong retail theft prevention program.

 

 Retail theft prevention should always be a multifaceted program. Each of the strategies I spoke of in the introduction are important to a well-rounded approach to reduce theft and stock shortage. While protecting merchandise is an important piece of that strategy including careful placement of cameras and mirrors, installing EAS towers from Checkpoint Systems at the front doors and using anti-theft devices to prevent shoplifting, there are other things managers can do to enhance shortage reduction efforts. This includes the creation of employee awareness programs, use of pre-employment screenings and what has become one of my favorite strategies, building external relationships.

 

 As a Loss Prevention Manager, the company I worked for helped to sponsor an annual event with police departments nationwide.  The events were community gatherings focusing on efforts to build community relations and strengthen crime watch groups to reduce crime. Our store was so successful that we received requests for assistance from communities 15 or 20 miles away from our store that heard about the program and wanted to participate. Our store team sent representatives to three areas to represent our company. While I have no numbers to prove it impacted shortage reduction directly, I do believe our participation grew our company brand recognition and helped drive sales, which is one way to drive down shrink as a percent to sales. 

 

 Our store also had Christmas events in which local schools would have choirs come and sing and students would help with gift wrapping for seniors. I would take advantage of these events to provide tours of my security office for the kids. The looks on their faces was priceless as they saw most of our camera views and saw a demonstration of how a camera could zoom in and read a license plate on a car in the parking lot. When I let them try the camera controls you would have thought they had a new video game unit, it was fun to watch. You may wonder how this would have enhanced a retail theft prevention program. My feeling is that by educating these children early they will be less likely to steal as they get older, remembering what they learned.

 

 I earlier mentioned the vendor relations I built with Checkpoint Systems and my CCTV vendor, but one other relationship that was extremely helpful was one I developed with the site supervisor of the company that was in charge of a major store remodel we went through. By working closely with him and his team, I was able to bring to his attention concerns I had with building security issues as the project progressed. There were workers that would try to bypass our security checks of tool boxes and equipment when they left. There were times when I would find unsecured doors or access ways when work in an area was complete for a day. I had the support of the site manager to challenge his supervisors and workers when I found security concerns.  What was the result of this partnership? All I heard before the remodel was how inventory shortage always goes out the roof for the inventory that follows. Our inventory results remained well under 1%, in line with prior year results. 

 

 The old saying goes, there is no “I” in team. The same is true for retail theft prevention. Build relationships with your store team members, vendors, community and police departments and the pay-off will show in reduced shortage results.

 

Retail theft prevention is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.

     

 

Filed Under: antishoplifting Tagged With: ,

Retail Theft Prevention Strategies Should Include Building Relationships Part 1

September 10, 2017 by Leave a Comment
Checkpoint Systems-3                                                                                                                         WC Blog 344
Retail Theft Prevention-3
Retail Theft Prevention Strategies Should Include Building Relationships Part 1
     Retail theft prevention is something I have enjoyed since the day I started working in it. If I were to be asked what my favorite part about doing Loss Prevention work is, I would have a hard time saying one thing. That’s because at different times in my career there were various parts of the job that really made my job rewarding. It was fun to stop shoplifting when I started out my career, watching a theft transpire and the adrenaline kicked in as I readied myself for the concealment and the stop I would be making.  As I advanced and became a Loss Prevention Manager I continued to catch shoplifters every so often but I started having to train employees about shortage reduction and the expectations upon them in preventing theft and fraud. These sessions usually took place during new employee orientations. I found that training others was a piece of shortage reduction I found to be rewarding (I also found I could start picking out potential future dishonest employees by their questions and their attention in class).  As the L.P. Manager I also had interactions with various vendors, such as the property management officials, closed circuit television technicians and Checkpoint Systems technicians who worked on our electronic article surveillance equipment. As I progressed in my career I took these early lessons in building partnerships to create closer ties that became part of our shortage reduction culture.
     I found that as I built strong partnership with vendors I was able to get improved service for the store. One example was an upgrade we did with our CCTV system. The contract was with a new company and the workers came out, completed the upgrades, took time to explain the changes and trained me on what I would need to know. I completed a positive survey of their work for my company. A few years later we underwent another upgrade and because of my survey this company received the contract. The technicians went out of their way to show me how they crimped BNC connectors rather than using twist-ons like I was used to and they left me extras and a crimping tool. My relations with the Checkpoint Systems vendors were great as well. I didn’t place “urgent” requests in unnecessarily. If I had a repair need and the technician called we would talk about the issue. If it was something that could wait until he could get to my store a few days later due to other calls, I would do my best to work with him. It might have been a checklane that had a faulty deactivation unit. If I didn’t have a spare unit I would shut down that register for a few days. If my request was going to have a significant impact on retail theft prevention and shortage such as a pedestal not working then I would get the faster service. I can tell you that this mutual respect paid off when I would request a system check just before the holidays to ensure our system was running at peak performance. I always seemed to be at the top of his list of priorities.
     I already had friendships I had built with local law enforcement from my job as a Loss Prevention Officer, but using the skills I was developing with vendor relations I found I was able to create a new level of partnership with my police department. Nothing enhances store security more than having police cars parked at the curb of the store or a couple of police bikes located inside the doors to the building. Police stopped at our store for no other reason than to come and visit with our L.P. team in our office. When the police department wanted to conduct a children’s I.D. session for families, our store allowed them to set up a table up front. When they started a Santa’s Helper’s program the store manager made sure we were the retailer to volunteer to help out by adding extra staff and feeding the kids and officers lunch. Since the officers were spending time at our store, I took the time to attend a citizen’s class they offered (about an 8 week program) to let them know I valued what they offered. Like my partnership with Checkpoint Systems, when I was in need of help from the police, I can attest that I rarely had to wait long on a response.
     In Part 2 I will provide some other strategies I learned along the way that made Loss Prevention rewarding AND helped me in creating a strong retail theft prevention program. Loss Prevention programs are important to shortage reduction and partnerships with others enhances those programs.
Get more information on Retail Theft Prevention, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.

Retail theft prevention is something I have enjoyed since the day I started working in it. If I were to be asked what my favorite part about doing Loss Prevention work is, I would have a hard time saying one thing. That’s because at different times in my career there were various parts of the job that really made my job rewarding. It was fun to stop shoplifting when I started out my career, watching a theft transpire and the adrenaline kicked in as I readied myself for the concealment and the stop I would be making.  As I advanced and became a Loss Prevention Manager I continued to catch shoplifters every so often but I started having to train employees about shortage reduction and the expectations upon them in preventing theft and fraud. These sessions usually took place during new employee orientations. I found that training others was a piece of shortage reduction I found to be rewarding (I also found I could start picking out potential future dishonest employees by their questions and their attention in class).  As the L.P. Manager I also had interactions with various vendors, such as the property management officials, closed circuit television technicians and Checkpoint Systems technicians who worked on our electronic article surveillance equipment. As I progressed in my career I took these early lessons in building partnerships to create closer ties that became part of our shortage reduction culture.
     

I found that as I built strong partnership with vendors I was able to get improved service for the store. One example was an upgrade we did with our CCTV system. The contract was with a new company and the workers came out, completed the upgrades, took time to explain the changes and trained me on what I would need to know. I completed a positive survey of their work for my company. A few years later we underwent another upgrade and because of my survey this company received the contract. The technicians went out of their way to show me how they crimped BNC connectors rather than using twist-ons like I was used to and they left me extras and a crimping tool. My relations with the Checkpoint Systems vendors were great as well. I didn’t place “urgent” requests in unnecessarily. If I had a repair need and the technician called we would talk about the issue. If it was something that could wait until he could get to my store a few days later due to other calls, I would do my best to work with him. It might have been a checklane that had a faulty deactivation unit. If I didn’t have a spare unit I would shut down that register for a few days. If my request was going to have a significant impact on retail theft prevention and shortage such as a pedestal not working then I would get the faster service. I can tell you that this mutual respect paid off when I would request a system check just before the holidays to ensure our system was running at peak performance. I always seemed to be at the top of his list of priorities.
     

I already had friendships I had built with local law enforcement from my job as a Loss Prevention Officer, but using the skills I was developing with vendor relations I found I was able to create a new level of partnership with my police department. Nothing enhances store security more than having police cars parked at the curb of the store or a couple of police bikes located inside the doors to the building. Police stopped at our store for no other reason than to come and visit with our L.P. team in our office. When the police department wanted to conduct a children’s I.D. session for families, our store allowed them to set up a table up front. When they started a Santa’s Helper’s program the store manager made sure we were the retailer to volunteer to help out by adding extra staff and feeding the kids and officers lunch. Since the officers were spending time at our store, I took the time to attend a citizen’s class they offered (about an 8 week program) to let them know I valued what they offered. Like my partnership with Checkpoint Systems, when I was in need of help from the police, I can attest that I rarely had to wait long on a response.
     

In Part 2 I will provide some other strategies I learned along the way that made Loss Prevention rewarding AND helped me in creating a strong retail theft prevention program. Loss Prevention programs are important to shortage reduction and partnerships with others enhances those programs.

 

Get more information on Retail Theft Prevention, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.

 

Filed Under: antishoplifting Tagged With: , ,

USING STORE DESIGN AS AN EFFECTIVE RETAIL THEFT PREVENTION METHOD

June 15, 2017 by Leave a Comment
USING STORE DESIGN AS AN EFFECTIVE RETAIL THEFT PREVENTION METHOD
There are literaly tons of ways that you can attack shoplifting in your store. From EAS devices, to security cameras to employing LP agents; if you have the budget. What if you’re planning on opening your very first store? What if you don’t have the initial capital for all those fancy gadgets? What if you need to stop shoplifting by relying on the lowest tech methods available to you? Retail theft prevention starts with proper store design. 
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, Tell me who is the Greatest Shoplifter of Them all. 
I’m sure you’ve been into a Walgreens store once or twice. Ever notice that they have mirrors that literally wrap around the entire store? I love it. I wish my company would do this. It makes catching a thief so doggone easy. I can stand 4 aisles away pretending to browse shampoo and watch a booster stuff razors without him ever knowing I’m watching. Perhaps you don’t want to mirror your entire store, but a few well-placed mirrors in those blind corners can have a major impact on theft. 
Get Low
Yes, you want to maximize the space you have to display as much merchandise as possible in the limited amount of space you have. To really keep an eye on your products, keep your aisles and shelves low, no more than 5-6 feet high. This allows for plenty of retail space while allowing you to see from one end of your store to the other. Don’t let a thief use your own aisle against you. 
 
Stop Shoplifting by Eliminating Dark Corners
Ever find yourself in a dimly lit corner of your store? Often, lighting is overlooking as a retail theft prevention method. Thieves like to operate without being seen or acknowledged. If you’ve got some terrible lighting in one spot of your store, you can bet that thieves will take full advantage of this area. Make sure that your lighting is consistent across your store. 
Seriously, Lock the Fitting Room
I’m not kidding. I have apparel managers that moan and complain about their shortages, but refuse to lock their fitting rooms. If you want to stop shoplifting, and you have a fitting/dressing room, you have to LOCK IT. An open and unattended dressing room is the equivalent to find the holy grail if you’re a shoplifter. If you’re going to install a dressing room (which is essential if you sell clothes) make sure to install those locks. 
Open Sell Concept is Great for Sales and Greater for Thieves
Retail theft prevention practices evolve every month it seems. Retail trends are also ever evolving and as a retailer, you have to keep up if you plan on staying in business. Customers want access to products that they are shopping for. They want to touch it, test it and feel it before they buy it. That poses a problem if that item is a few hundred bucks. Thankfully, there are copious amounts of security fixtures that allow you to display a host of different items all while keeping them secure. From cables and locks to wireless RFID style display areas, there’s bound to be a solution out there for you. 
When thinking of ways to stop shoplifting in your store, don’t forget to consider the actual design of your store. With just a few simple tweaks and a bit of good planning, you can drastically reduce the appeal your store has to shoplifters. So the next time you find yourself complaining about shortages, take a look at your store and see if it’s enabling your criminals. 
For more information about Retail Theft Prevention, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547.

There are literally tons of ways that you can attack shoplifting in your store. From EAS devices, to security cameras to employing LP agents; if you have the budget. What if you’re planning on opening your very first store? What if you don’t have the initial capital for all those fancy gadgets? What if you need to stop shoplifting by relying on the lowest tech methods available to you? Retail theft prevention starts with proper store design. 

 

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, Tell me who is the Greatest Shoplifter of Them all

 I’m sure you’ve been into a Walgreens store once or twice. Ever notice that they have mirrors that literally wrap around the entire store? I love it. I wish my company would do this. It makes catching a thief so doggone easy. I can stand 4 aisles away pretending to browse shampoo and watch a booster stuff razors without him ever knowing I’m watching. Perhaps you don’t want to mirror your entire store, but a few well-placed mirrors in those blind corners can have a major impact on theft. 

 

Get Low

 Yes, you want to maximize the space you have to display as much merchandise as possible in the limited amount of space you have. To really keep an eye on your products, keep your aisles and shelves low, no more than 5-6 feet high. This allows for plenty of retail space while allowing you to see from one end of your store to the other. Don’t let a thief use your own aisle against you.   

 

Stop Shoplifting by Eliminating Dark Corners

 Ever find yourself in a dimly lit corner of your store? Often, lighting is overlooking as a retail theft prevention method. Thieves like to operate without being seen or acknowledged. If you’ve got some terrible lighting in one spot of your store, you can bet that thieves will take full advantage of this area. Make sure that your lighting is consistent across your store. 

 

Seriously, Lock the Fitting Room

 I’m not kidding. I have apparel managers that moan and complain about their shortages, but refuse to lock their fitting rooms. If you want to stop shoplifting, and you have a fitting/dressing room, you have to LOCK IT. An open and unattended dressing room is the equivalent to find the holy grail if you’re a shoplifter. If you’re going to install a dressing room (which is essential if you sell clothes) make sure to install those locks. 

 

Open Sell Concept is Great for Sales and Greater for Thieves

 Retail theft prevention practices evolve every month it seems. Retail trends are also ever evolving and as a retailer, you have to keep up if you plan on staying in business. Customers want access to products that they are shopping for. They want to touch it, test it and feel it before they buy it. That poses a problem if that item is a few hundred bucks. Thankfully, there are copious amounts of security fixtures that allow you to display a host of different items all while keeping them secure. From cables locks, to labels, there’s bound to be a solution out there for you. 

When thinking of ways to stop shoplifting in your store, don’t forget to consider the actual design of your store. With just a few simple tweaks and a bit of good planning, you can drastically reduce the appeal your store has to shoplifters. So the next time you find yourself complaining about shortages, take a look at your store and see if it’s enabling your criminals. 

For more information about Retail Theft Prevention, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547.

 

Filed Under: antishoplifting Tagged With: ,

Clearing Up Misperceptions about Retail Theft Prevention Professionals

May 18, 2017 by Leave a Comment

 

Checkpoint systems-4                                                                                                                      WC Blog 308
Checkpoint Tags-3
Retail Theft Prevention-3
Clearing Up Misperceptions about Retail Theft Prevention Professionals
     Sometimes there is a misperception of Loss Prevention Associates as being insensitive or eager to put people in jail. I have heard us referred to as “wanna-be-cops”. In this article I want to address some of those misperceptions. Many retail theft prevention professionals have law enforcement backgrounds. I personally had 4 years of experience as a United States Air Force Law Enforcement Specialist. During my career in Loss Prevention I worked with two retired State Troopers, at least two prior military police that I am aware of and I hired two men and a woman with law enforcement experience while I was a Loss Prevention Manager. So, the suggestion that we are or were “wanna-be’s” can be put to rest, I would call many of us, “been there-done that’s”. Working to stop shoplifting and using retail theft prevention tools like a Checkpoint Security System is a different experience for us. While we can use some of our skill sets in the job, like interviewing suspects or safely apprehending thieves, we also get to train employees on shortage prevention and making a business profitable.
     Law Enforcement and Retail Loss Prevention have their own sets of tools to get their respective jobs accomplished. Law Enforcement has dispatchers, jailers, patrol cars, weapons, investigation divisions, traffic divisions, etc. In Loss Prevention we work with digital camera systems, store exception reports, sales reports, and Checkpoint Systems and all of those components that make them up. Checkpoint tags, alarm pedestals and deactivation pads are used to deter theft from taking place and identifying theft when someone does attempt to steal merchandise. We make sure tags are properly placed on items so the bad guys see them and choose NOT to try to bother with the items in the first place. Proper placement also ensures they will be difficult to defeat or tamper with, again deterring theft from happening. We test the Checkpoint equipment to be sure that tags are properly deactivating and alarm pedestals are receiving tag signals as designed. Hardware issues are reported to Checkpoint Systems so a remote check can be made or a technician can be dispatched depending on the problem. IF we are doing our jobs well, we are deterring theft first and when necessary we catch crooks and stop shoplifting second.
     I mentioned there is a train of thought that we are “insensitive” and we are just out to put people in jail who are stealing because they “needed” something or “couldn’t help it”. No, we are not insensitive. In the course of my career I had to call many mothers and fathers to pick up their youngster for shoplifting. I could have turned them over to the police to be handled in the juvenile courts but I also was aware of the problems a juvenile record could cause for a youth. Try placing the call to the single mother who is at work, trying to make ends meet and you have to ask her to leave work and come to the store to pick up her child who was supposed to be home right after school. I can’t recall the number of times I had a parent I caught shoplifting while they had their child with them. I would try to get them to call for someone to pick up the child before the police came so the child wouldn’t have to see the parent handcuffed or the child taken into protective care by the police. Insensitive were the parents who wouldn’t make that call or allow me to do it for them. It is quite an experience to respond to Checkpoint systems alarms and a mom has a baby stroller loaded with an infant and hidden merchandise with Checkpoint tags on them, all tucked under a blanket inside. 
     I also don’t recall many shoplifters I caught who needed the jewelry they had stolen and placed in a pocket. I recall the mother and son tearing Checkpoint tags from clothing and filling shopping bags so they could resell the merchandise. I don’t think they really needed them. I can’t forget the intoxicated golfer who stole underwear and when I got him to the office he had $300.00 cash in his pocket. No, the idea that most shoplifters steal because they “need” the stuff is false. 
     Hopefully this article has helped shed some light on the true professionalism of Loss Prevention associates. Our goal is retail theft prevention and helping stores to be profitable through the use of Checkpoint systems, deterrence, the apprehension of shoplifters and ongoing store employee training.  
     Retail Theft Prevention is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
      

Sometimes there is a misperception of Loss Prevention Associates as being insensitive or eager to put people in jail. I have heard us referred to as “wanna-be-cops”. In this article I want to address some of those misperceptions. Many retail theft prevention professionals have law enforcement backgrounds. I personally had 4 years of experience as a United States Air Force Law Enforcement Specialist. During my career in Loss Prevention I worked with two retired State Troopers, at least two prior military police that I am aware of and I hired two men and a woman with law enforcement experience while I was a Loss Prevention Manager. So, the suggestion that we are or were “wanna-be’s” can be put to rest, I would call many of us, “been there-done that’s”. Working to stop shoplifting and using retail theft prevention tools like a Checkpoint Security System is a different experience for us. While we can use some of our skill sets in the job, like interviewing suspects or safely apprehending thieves, we also get to train employees on shortage prevention and making a business profitable.

 

Law Enforcement and Retail Loss Prevention have their own sets of tools to get their respective jobs accomplished. Law Enforcement has dispatchers, jailers, patrol cars, weapons, investigation divisions, traffic divisions, etc. In Loss Prevention we work with digital camera systems, store exception reports, sales reports, and Checkpoint Systems and all of those components that make them up. Checkpoint tags, alarm pedestals and deactivation pads are used to deter theft from taking place and identifying theft when someone does attempt to steal merchandise. We make sure tags are properly placed on items so the bad guys see them and choose NOT to try to bother with the items in the first place. Proper placement also ensures they will be difficult to defeat or tamper with, again deterring theft from happening. We test the Checkpoint equipment to be sure that tags are properly deactivating and alarm pedestals are receiving tag signals as designed. Hardware issues are reported to Checkpoint Systems so a remote check can be made or a technician can be dispatched depending on the problem. IF we are doing our jobs well, we are deterring theft first and when necessary we catch crooks and stop shoplifting second.

 

I mentioned there is a train of thought that we are “insensitive” and we are just out to put people in jail who are stealing because they “needed” something or “couldn’t help it”. No, we are not insensitive. In the course of my career I had to call many mothers and fathers to pick up their youngster for shoplifting. I could have turned them over to the police to be handled in the juvenile courts but I also was aware of the problems a juvenile record could cause for a youth. Try placing the call to the single mother who is at work, trying to make ends meet and you have to ask her to leave work and come to the store to pick up her child who was supposed to be home right after school. I can’t recall the number of times I had a parent I caught shoplifting while they had their child with them. I would try to get them to call for someone to pick up the child before the police came so the child wouldn’t have to see the parent handcuffed or the child taken into protective care by the police. Insensitive were the parents who wouldn’t make that call or allow me to do it for them. It is quite an experience to respond to Checkpoint systems alarms and a mom has a baby stroller loaded with an infant and hidden merchandise with Checkpoint tags on them, all tucked under a blanket inside. 

 

I also don’t recall many shoplifters I caught who needed the jewelry they had stolen and placed in a pocket. I recall the mother and son tearing Checkpoint tags from clothing and filling shopping bags so they could resell the merchandise. I don’t think they really needed them. I can’t forget the intoxicated golfer who stole underwear and when I got him to the office he had $300.00 cash in his pocket. No, the idea that most shoplifters steal because they “need” the stuff is false. 

 

Hopefully this article has helped shed some light on the true professionalism of Loss Prevention associates. Our goal is retail theft prevention and helping stores to be profitable through the use of Checkpoint systems, deterrence, the apprehension of shoplifters and ongoing store employee training.  

 

Retail Theft Prevention is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.      

 

 

Filed Under: antishoplifting Tagged With: , , , ,

Wondering Where Stock Shortage Came From And How To Prevent It? A Discussion On Shrinkage And How A Checkpoint Security System Can Improve It

April 20, 2017 by Leave a Comment
Checkpoint Security System-5                                                                                                   WC Blog 306
Retail Theft Prevention-4
Checkpoint Tags-5
Wondering Where Stock Shortage Came From And How To Prevent It? A Discussion On Shrinkage And How A Checkpoint Security System Can Improve It.
     Do you ever wonder how it happens? You conduct inventory in your store, you get the results and you find out you have SHORTAGE! How did that happen? Where did all that merchandise go? In Loss Prevention we generally recognize five areas that are the cause of retail shrinkage, shoplifting, employee theft, vendor or supplier fraud and administrative losses.
While the cause of shortage may vary depending on the type of retail store you own. The Global Retail Theft Barometer Report for 2014/2015 provides an overall picture for North American Retailers. Shoplifting was reported to account for approximately 36% of shortage, Dishonest Employees caused 45%, Administrative and non-crime losses 13% and vendor fraud 6% (page 53). For store owners this means that in some manner, a Checkpoint Security System can make an impact on all four areas that cause shortage for a store. I am not saying 100% of losses can be prevented by retail theft prevention, but a significant amount of it can be stopped.
     When I am talking about a Checkpoint Security System, I am referring to the electronic article surveillance (EAS) pedestals, Checkpoint tags, deactivation units and detachment keys. Pedestals are the towers you frequently see at the doors of many stores. Tags may be soft, adhesive style labels that stick to merchandise or hard, two-piece designs that are pinned to products. Often hard tags are used to protect softlines goods, clothes, bedding, towels, etc. and can be reused many times over. Each tag design is compatible with EAS pedestals so that protected merchandise carried too close to a tower will prompt the alarms in the tower to activate. When employees hear the alarm they react and conduct receipt checks, verifying which items are paid for and which are not. The customer is provided an opportunity to pay for merchandise or return it. In some situations shoplifters toss the item they were planning to steal when the alarm sounds and they run off.
     It is clear then how a Retail Theft Prevention System can deter and prevent shoplifting, most thieves don’t want to take a chance of being caught when an alarm sounds. This means you can automatically impact 36% of our losses. But what about Administrative and non-crime losses? How can the use of Checkpoint tags make a difference in this area? Non-crime losses may include merchandise that is left in a shopping cart and missed during the checkout process. A customer loads their goods into the car and picks up the bag of dog food on the bottom rack of the cart. If the cashier wasn’t paying attention the merchandise was missed but the customer doesn’t always know it. While the missed bag of pet food was an accident, it is still a loss and creates stock shortage. By placing a soft Checkpoint tag on the bag the store would have caused a situation that activated the pedestal alarm and an employee would have caught the error during a receipt check.
     Vendor fraud only accounts for about 6% of merchandise losses however even this can be improved upon when a Checkpoint Security System is in place. The majority of vendors are honest but there are some who will conduct a store visit to service their merchandise and in the process steal some of their product line. Stores I have worked in have had cosmetic, sunglasses, ball card and jewelry vendors in addition to food and greeting card vendors who regularly made visits. Though they were supposed to sign in and out and speak to a manager before leaving the store it did not always happen. Making sure all of your products are protected with Checkpoint tags ensures that a dishonest vendor who may be stealing will cause an EAS tower alarm and merchandise will be recovered. You can then partner with the vendor’s company to request a different representative service your store in the future. 
     Employee theft accounts for the final 45% of shortage and can be one of the more difficult areas to stop because of the various methods of theft available to employees. Dishonest team members can underring and pass merchandise, create fraudulent returns, steal cash, hide merchandise, etc., making it more challenging to identify their activity. A Checkpoint Security System can detect those staff members who do try to conceal product and walk out without paying. Remember that any reduction in shortage still adds to the profit line of the store and there are methods to deter, prevent and detect those types of employee theft that a security system cannot detect.
     Retail Theft Prevention programs that include Checkpoint tags and hardware can impact all areas that cause shortage. Don’t wring your hands wondering where your merchandise went, invest in a Checkpoint Security System and make a difference starting today!
Get more information on Checkpoint Security Systems, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.     

Do you ever wonder how it happens? You conduct inventory in your store, you get the results and you find out you have SHORTAGE! How did that happen? Where did all that merchandise go? In Loss Prevention we generally recognize five areas that are the cause of retail shrinkage, shoplifting, employee theft, vendor or supplier fraud and administrative losses.While the cause of shortage may vary depending on the type of retail store you own. The Global Retail Theft Barometer Report for 2014/2015 provides an overall picture for North American Retailers. Shoplifting was reported to account for approximately 36% of shortage, Dishonest Employees caused 45%, Administrative and non-crime losses 13% and vendor fraud 6% (page 53). For store owners this means that in some manner, a Checkpoint Security System can make an impact on all four areas that cause shortage for a store. I am not saying 100% of losses can be prevented by retail theft prevention, but a significant amount of it can be stopped.
     

When I am talking about a Checkpoint Security System, I am referring to the electronic article surveillance (EAS) pedestals, Checkpoint tags, deactivation units and detachment keys. Pedestals are the towers you frequently see at the doors of many stores. Tags may be soft, adhesive style labels that stick to merchandise or hard, two-piece designs that are pinned to products. Often hard tags are used to protect softlines goods, clothes, bedding, towels, etc. and can be reused many times over. Each tag design is compatible with EAS pedestals so that protected merchandise carried too close to a tower will prompt the alarms in the tower to activate. When employees hear the alarm they react and conduct receipt checks, verifying which items are paid for and which are not. The customer is provided an opportunity to pay for merchandise or return it. In some situations shoplifters toss the item they were planning to steal when the alarm sounds and they run off.
     

It is clear then how a Retail Theft Prevention System can deter and prevent shoplifting, most thieves don’t want to take a chance of being caught when an alarm sounds. This means you can automatically impact 36% of our losses. But what about Administrative and non-crime losses? How can the use of Checkpoint tags make a difference in this area? Non-crime losses may include merchandise that is left in a shopping cart and missed during the checkout process. A customer loads their goods into the car and picks up the bag of dog food on the bottom rack of the cart. If the cashier wasn’t paying attention the merchandise was missed but the customer doesn’t always know it. While the missed bag of pet food was an accident, it is still a loss and creates stock shortage. By placing a soft Checkpoint tag on the bag the store would have caused a situation that activated the pedestal alarm and an employee would have caught the error during a receipt check.
     

Vendor fraud only accounts for about 6% of merchandise losses however even this can be improved upon when a Checkpoint Security System is in place. The majority of vendors are honest but there are some who will conduct a store visit to service their merchandise and in the process steal some of their product line. Stores I have worked in have had cosmetic, sunglasses, ball card and jewelry vendors in addition to food and greeting card vendors who regularly made visits. Though they were supposed to sign in and out and speak to a manager before leaving the store it did not always happen. Making sure all of your products are protected with Checkpoint tags ensures that a dishonest vendor who may be stealing will cause an EAS tower alarm and merchandise will be recovered. You can then partner with the vendor’s company to request a different representative service your store in the future. 
     

Employee theft accounts for the final 45% of shortage and can be one of the more difficult areas to stop because of the various methods of theft available to employees. Dishonest team members can underring and pass merchandise, create fraudulent returns, steal cash, hide merchandise, etc., making it more challenging to identify their activity. A Checkpoint Security System can detect those staff members who do try to conceal product and walk out without paying. Remember that any reduction in shortage still adds to the profit line of the store and there are methods to deter, prevent and detect those types of employee theft that a security system cannot detect.

 

Retail Theft Prevention programs that include Checkpoint tags and hardware can impact all areas that cause shortage. Don’t wring your hands wondering where your merchandise went, invest in a Checkpoint Security System and make a difference starting today!

 

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

 

Filed Under: antishoplifting Tagged With: , ,

A Checkpoint Security System Can Have Visual Appeal And Still Stop Shoplifting

March 15, 2017 by Leave a Comment

I am all about using things for multiple purposes. If someone can advertise their business on their vehicle with magnetic signs, decals, window screens, I say do it. Why buy an outfit for one event?If I invest in a suit for a special occasion you had better believe I’m going to find other reasons or places to wear it.  The same can be true for retailers. You may have considered investing in a Checkpoint Security System but you don’t want those antennas at the front of your store. You like the idea of electronic article surveillance (EAS) Checkpoint tags on your merchandise, but you think they will cover up barcodes on cosmetic items. Instead of making the purchase, you keep things as they are and do nothing to stop shoplifting. Stock shortage grows but some of these aesthetic issues bother you. I would like to assure you that a Checkpoint Security System does not have to detract from your business and in fact if you invest in the Evolve P30 EAS antenna, you can enhance your store.

 

I know it may sound odd to those who remember the days when EAS antennas were big, clunky and to be honest, just kind of bulky and taking up room. This is no longer the case. The Evolve P30 antenna has a slim design that is not unattractive to shoppers. To make it a better value the antenna can also be used as an advertising panel, allowing you to increase visual advertising as a customer enters and exits the store. It has enhanced detection capabilities giving it an improved ability to pick up signals from Checkpoint tags, making it more difficult for criminals to hide tagged merchandise and sneak it out of a store. What about the tags themselves? Checkpoint tags have gotten smaller over the years and yet they still provide maximum product protection. For small items like cosmetics there are the 3210 EP Clear Label. These are small and yet have windows that can be placed over barcodes that permit scanning without interrupting the speed of checkout. Because the tags are small they don’t cover up the information or packaging graphics that help to drive the sales of a product.  

 

If you have refused to this point to invest in a Checkpoint Security System due to the concerns I mentioned about aesthetics, I would challenge you to also look at the modern design of the hard tags. The tags are sleek and can be attached to suits, sports coats, designer dresses and accessories. The tags have the same ability to stop shoplifting as other tags, but these don’t detract from the clothes designs. Checkpoint tags also will not harm or damage the items they are placed on. Placed in a seam of an expensive garment, the tags provide protection to stop shoplifting but still look like they belong on this merchandise.

 

Finally, you may be concerned that a Checkpoint Security System deactivation pad at the Checkout lanes may detract from the appearance of your cash stands. Checkpoint has deactivation pads that may be incorporated into scan beds and there are also pads that are stand alone on the counter. The pads that are tied into a point of sale scan bed are out of sight and have no visual footprint. Stand-alone pads have small profiles, requiring little space and have no impact on the appearance of the cashier point of sale. In either case, Checkpoint Systems offer protection without negatively impacting a store’s appearance.

Retail theft prevention has to be a priority for a retailer otherwise shortage from theft can put a store out of business. Concern over the appearance of equipment used to stop shoplifting does not need to be a consideration. Find out all the benefits a Checkpoint Security System has to offer, including adding profit to your bottom line.

 

Get more information on a Checkpoint Security System. Contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
 

 

Filed Under: antishoplifting Tagged With: , , , ,
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