How Reliable is Your Electronic Article Surveillance Supplier And The Equipment They Are Selling?

June 13, 2018 by Leave a Comment
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How Reliable is Your Electronic Article Surveillance Supplier And The Equipment They Are Selling?


     Exaggerated claims and broken promises take place in all types of businesses and they also exist among suppliers of electronic article surveillance systems. It can be irritating when a sales representative over-promises on a product or service. I recall a car purchase I made once and I was told everything was in order and handed the keys to the vehicle. I had the car for one day and on the second day received a call at my job from the salesman who had sold the car to me. He claimed that they needed me to come to the dealership because there was an issue with my down payment. The representative said that they needed me to put more money down. I was livid. I expressed my anger, told them I had signed their paperwork and contracts and they had allowed me to drive off the lot. Now they were breaking their own agreement.  I intentionally spoke in a loud voice for all to hear. The representative asked me to wait while he spoke to his manager. The representative returned and said there was no problem after all and thank you for coming down. I started to walk out, noticed there were other customers in the showroom and made a point to ask in a loud voice, “So everything is good? I don’t have to put any more money down? I can leave and you won’t be calling me back from work again, right?” The customers looked at me and the salesman as he looked sheepish and steered me out the door telling me that all was well with the transaction. Some people will do whatever they can to make a sale but when it comes to dishonest electronic article surveillance sellers the impact can have bigger consequences. Knock-off and second-rate retail anti-theft devices and accompanying systems can hurt the profits of a business. They may not hold up to the promise that the seller makes to stop shoplifting in your store from taking place.

     Checkpoint security tags deliver on the promise to stop shoplifting and reduce shortage. They are so reliable that Loss Prevention Systems Inc. CEO, Bill Bregar trusts Checkpoint products for the clients his company services. Small and medium sized retailers need a security consulting firm to identify risks to the business and how to prevent theft. Usually some form of anti-theft prevention needs to be put in place and Checkpoint security tags and electronic article surveillance towers are the recommended hardware solutions. The tags are designed to deter shoplifters and dishonest employees when they see them on merchandise but they also work together to create an electronic barrier to criminals. The tags send out a signal that is received by a tower (usually located near store entry and exit doors) and when products with tags on them are carried close to the doorway the tower sounds an alarm.  At the sound of an alarm store associates respond and conduct receipt checks and get the merchandise back OR the offender decides to pay for the merchandise they “forgot” they had. Either way Checkpoint security tags are dependable. As someone who has over 27 years in retail experience and 17 of those years in Loss Prevention, I have used Checkpoint systems and can attest to the reliability of the equipment.

     So how does a car sale fiasco relate to anti-theft protection equipment? There are dishonest electronic article surveillance dealers on the internet and it is easy to find them. They will promise you speedy delivery, quick installation and devices that will prevent theft. Don’t be duped by double talking devils who may have little or no retail experience and perhaps ZERO Loss Prevention experience. Talk to the folks at Loss Prevention Systems Inc. They have the background to help you identify what you really need to reduce shortage and Checkpoint security tags and towers that are proven to work. Don’t overlook support help either. Once an internet seller does install your anti-theft equipment are they going to be reliable and provide you with the service and support you will need after they have packed up their tools and left? Loss Prevention Systems Inc. ensures the clients they serve have the resources they need for service and by the way, Checkpoint Evolve electronics come with a 5 year warranty! THAT is impressive for any electronics products.

     Don’t take a chance with a fly-by night internet company trying to sell you a bill of goods. Loss Prevention Systems Inc. has been around since 1983 which is a testament to the services they provide. Check out their website and learn about the services and electronic article surveillance equipment they can provide to make your business more profitable.
Checkpoint security tags are important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.



 

Exaggerated claims and broken promises take place in all types of businesses and they also exist among suppliers of electronic article surveillance systems. It can be irritating when a sales representative over-promises on a product or service. I recall a car purchase I made once and I was told everything was in order and handed the keys to the vehicle. I had the car for one day and on the second day received a call at my job from the salesman who had sold the car to me. He claimed that they needed me to come to the dealership because there was an issue with my down payment. The representative said that they needed me to put more money down. I was livid. I expressed my anger, told them I had signed their paperwork and contracts and they had allowed me to drive off the lot. Now they were breaking their own agreement.  I intentionally spoke in a loud voice for all to hear. The representative asked me to wait while he spoke to his manager. The representative returned and said there was no problem after all and thank you for coming down. I started to walk out, noticed there were other customers in the showroom and made a point to ask in a loud voice, “So everything is good? I don’t have to put any more money down? I can leave and you won’t be calling me back from work again, right?” The customers looked at me and the salesman as he looked sheepish and steered me out the door telling me that all was well with the transaction. Some people will do whatever they can to make a sale but when it comes to dishonest electronic article surveillance sellers the impact can have bigger consequences. Knock-off and second-rate retail anti-theft devices and accompanying systems can hurt the profits of a business. They may not hold up to the promise that the seller makes to stop shoplifting in your store from taking place.
     

Checkpoint security tags deliver on the promise to stop shoplifting and reduce shortage. They are so reliable that Loss Prevention Systems Inc. CEO, Bill Bregar trusts Checkpoint products for the clients his company services. Small and medium sized retailers need a security consulting firm to identify risks to the business and how to prevent theft. Usually some form of anti-theft prevention needs to be put in place and Checkpoint security tags and electronic article surveillance towers are the recommended hardware solutions. The tags are designed to deter shoplifters and dishonest employees when they see them on merchandise but they also work together to create an electronic barrier to criminals. The tags send out a signal that is received by a tower (usually located near store entry and exit doors) and when products with tags on them are carried close to the doorway the tower sounds an alarm.  At the sound of an alarm store associates respond and conduct receipt checks and get the merchandise back OR the offender decides to pay for the merchandise they “forgot” they had. Either way Checkpoint security tags are dependable. As someone who has over 27 years in retail experience and 17 of those years in Loss Prevention, I have used Checkpoint systems and can attest to the reliability of the equipment.
     

So how does a car sale fiasco relate to anti-theft protection equipment? There are dishonest electronic article surveillance dealers on the internet and it is easy to find them. They will promise you speedy delivery, quick installation and devices that will prevent theft. Don’t be duped by double talking devils who may have little or no retail experience and perhaps ZERO Loss Prevention experience. Talk to the folks at Loss Prevention Systems Inc. They have the background to help you identify what you really need to reduce shortage and Checkpoint security tags and towers that are proven to work. Don’t overlook support help either. Once an internet seller does install your anti-theft equipment are they going to be reliable and provide you with the service and support you will need after they have packed up their tools and left? Loss Prevention Systems Inc. ensures the clients they serve have the resources they need for service and by the way, Checkpoint Evolve electronics come with a 5 year warranty! THAT is impressive for any electronics products.
     

Don’t take a chance with a fly-by night internet company trying to sell you a bill of goods. Loss Prevention Systems Inc. has been around since 1983 which is a testament to the services they provide. Check out their website and learn about the services and electronic article surveillance equipment they can provide to make your business more profitable.

 

Checkpoint security tags are important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.

 

 

Filed Under: antishoplifting Tagged With: , ,

CHECKPOINT HARD TAGS ARE THE BEST REPLACEMENT FOR YOUR OUTDATED MERCHANDISE PROTECTION!

May 9, 2018 by Leave a Comment

More than ever, shoplifting is massive threat to all retailers. When times are tough, shoplifting increases tremendously. Sorry times in the economy can easily attract first-time pilferers. As a Loss Prevention Expert, I deter hundreds of dollars each day from walking out of the door.  A majority of retailers do not realize how massive the problem is, until the amount of loss has spiraled out of control! Loss prevention tactics are consistently updated to cover the growing shrink issues in the retail environment. Shrinkage must be reduced by utilizing anti-shoplifting security tags, as associate awareness is just not enough anymore. What are you doing to ensure your merchandise is not stolen daily?! Does it really deter theft?! Checkpoint Hard Tags are my go-to method, to stop shoplifting.         

 

 When you are able to maximize your merchandise protection needs with Checkpoint Hard Tags, theft will be greatly reduced. I have witnessed several situations proving this method. When I am hired as a Loss Prevention Manager for a new location, I always observe incidents on CCTV that no one realized was happening! When I started racking up high dollar cases each week, my store management team was shocked by the amount of theft that was occurring without them knowing. A lot of retailers base their “known theft” reports off of tags being found. Then when inventory results are calculated at the end of the year, they see several departments they were not aware of had shrink issues. This method is not realistic, and there is so much more to configure to be accurate.  Professional thieves will leave the price tags on the item, knowing that they do not alarm. Sometimes it just takes a specialist in Loss Prevention, to be able to shed light to these type of shrink issues. For retailers, Checkpoint Hard Tags will stop shoplifting by ensuring the highest level of inventory control and protection. I was previously employed at a local retailer, which did not believe in placing Checkpoint Hard Tags on any of their high dollar merchandise. A majority of their products, was at a price point over $59.00, per item. To me, that is too high of a price point to trust without any type of protection. “Hoping” it will not be shoplifted is not enough. This particular store had an increase in shrink, based on their 3 year trend. They were not changing any of their processes and kept doing the same exact routine for merchandise protection. The store never considered updating any of their security devices, until seeing all the investigations that I completed. I pulled the store’s shrink numbers by department and found that their top 5 shrink consisted of a majority of clothing items that had no protection whatsoever. After the team learned that Checkpoint Hard tags are inexpensive, they knew they would have to give it a try. At this point, what did they have to lose?! They already lost 120k with their current program! After placing all the devices on and completing counts daily, I was able to track the theft trends for the store to see if a difference was made. We noticed a huge decline for those areas week by week, and were able to completely turn the store shrink around the following year. Even though I am not employed anymore at that location, I still go there to shop. It is amazing to see they still are utilizing this as a best practice program, and have not missed a beat! 

 

 When retail stores start increasing in shrink, you lose profit and pushing the company to make harsh decisions. This can includ cutting positions and changing budgets. It feels good to know that I changed a retailer around, by such a simple task! Do not lose more money, as a result of ineffective or outdated loss prevention security tags. Do not continue the same path, by not updating your protection. We have to make a change in order to decrease shrinkage in our stores and stop shoplifting. 

 

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

 

Filed Under: antishoplifting Tagged With: ,

Shoplifters Will Sing A Different Tune When You Use Checkpoint Security Tags

February 6, 2018 by Leave a Comment

 

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Shoplifters Will Sing A Different Tune When You Use Checkpoint Security Tags
     Since I have an affinity for music, especially the Oldies and I also have an affinity for Loss Prevention. Since I have caught untold numbers of shoplifters over the years I thought about the incidents and decided that maybe there were songs that could be applied to them
• Runaway – Del Shannon
• Born To Run – Bruce Springsteen
• Fox On The Run – Sweet
• I’ll Come Running Back To You – Sam Cooke (But that NEVER happens with shoplifters)
• Keep On Running – The Spencer Davis Group
• Living Like A Runaway – Lita Ford
• Midnight Run – Example 
• Run For Your Life – The Beatles
• Runaway – Del Shannon
• Runaway Boys – Stray Cats
• Runnin’ With The Devil – Van Halen
• Running On Empty – Jackson Browne
• Take The Money And Run – Steve Miller Band
And while there are many more theme songs I could apply to shoplifters (thanks to songfacts.com for making it easier for me to create this list of songs with “Run” in the title) the one song I often wished shoplifters would take a cue from was “Walk Don’t Run” by the Ventures! There was a time when Loss Prevention Associates could pursue a thief in order to stop shoplifting and I did more than my share of chasing. There can be a lot less “Running” by shoplifters if stores would simply use Checkpoint security tags on merchandise because there would be less shoplifting.
     You are thinking to yourself, “Did I hear him correctly? Did he say Checkpoint security tags could stop shoplifting?” Yes, you heard me (or read me) correctly, security tags can stop shoplifting. Tags come in hard versions that are pinned to merchandise such as clothing, bath and bedding supplies. Soft tags are available that can be applied to items as small as cosmetics and anything larger. The beauty of either type of tag is that they are compatible with electronic article surveillance pedestals. These pedestals are installed at store entrances/exits and locations in stores where customers should not take merchandise, such as restrooms and employee-only offices. The pedestals are designed to pick up a specific radio frequency emitted by tags within a specific detection field. When products protected with Checkpoint security tags are within that detection field the pedestal alarms and flashes lights. Store employees respond and determine the cause of the alarm. Most of the time the person trying to pass through the detection field is so startled by the alarms that they hurry back into the store and drop the merchandise rather than risk being charged with shoplifting. Additionally most dishonest people know what electronic article surveillance pedestals are so when they enter a store and see them they start looking for tags on merchandise. When they see that a store is diligent in tagging everything they leave and look for a store that does not use anti-theft devices.
     When I started out as a Retail Loss Prevention Officer in a department store we used very few electronic article surveillance tags on merchandise.  The items we did tag were the higher end items, expensive jeans, coats, dresses and purses. This led to many instances of shoplifters stuffing bags with merchandise, wearing merchandise out of the store and picking up items and just walking out the door. When they would attempt to walk out with an item that had a Checkpoint security tag on it the pedestal alarm would sound and you could see the panic on the shoplifter’s face. Most of the time the merchandise was dropped and the thief would flee assuming they would be arrested. We would never apprehend on an alarm alone but they did not know it and so the tags did what they were intended to do they would stop shoplifting and we recovered the goods. Since there were so many items that were not tagged I had many, many shoplifters who would get out the door without any alarm but when I would stop them the fight or flight factor came into play. Usually it was the fleeing part they would choose and the race was on, hence my reference to shoplifter theme songs. With the assistance of the police I was able to catch most of the bad guys but there were some that gave me a run for my money!
    
     Don’t let criminals “run” all over you, use Checkpoint security tags on all of the items you sell and watch shortage drop. Put an end to shoplifting and enjoy the boost in profits!
 For more information about Checkpoint security tags contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.

Since I have an affinity for music, especially the Oldies and I also have an affinity for Loss Prevention. Since I have caught untold numbers of shoplifters over the years I thought about the incidents and decided that maybe there were songs that could be applied to them

• Runaway – Del Shannon

• Born To Run – Bruce Springsteen• Fox On The Run – Sweet

• I’ll Come Running Back To You – Sam Cooke (But that NEVER happens with shoplifters)

• Keep On Running – The Spencer Davis Group

• Living Like A Runaway – Lita Ford

• Midnight Run – Example 

• Run For Your Life – The Beatles

• Runaway – Del Shannon

• Runaway Boys – Stray Cats

• Runnin’ With The Devil – Van Halen

• Running On Empty – Jackson Browne

• Take The Money And Run – Steve Miller Band

And while there are many more theme songs I could apply to shoplifters (thanks to songfacts.com for making it easier for me to create this list of songs with “Run” in the title) the one song I often wished shoplifters would take a cue from was “Walk Don’t Run” by the Ventures! There was a time when Loss Prevention Associates could pursue a thief in order to stop shoplifting and I did more than my share of chasing. There can be a lot less “Running” by shoplifters if stores would simply use Checkpoint security tags on merchandise because there would be less shoplifting.

You are thinking to yourself, “Did I hear him correctly? Did he say Checkpoint security tags could stop shoplifting?” Yes, you heard me (or read me) correctly, security tags can stop shoplifting. Tags come in hard versions that are pinned to merchandise such as clothing, bath and bedding supplies. Soft tags are available that can be applied to items as small as cosmetics and anything larger. The beauty of either type of tag is that they are compatible with electronic article surveillance pedestals. These pedestals are installed at store entrances/exits and locations in stores where customers should not take merchandise, such as restrooms and employee-only offices. The pedestals are designed to pick up a specific radio frequency emitted by tags within a specific detection field. When products protected with Checkpoint security tags are within that detection field the pedestal alarms and flashes lights. Store employees respond and determine the cause of the alarm. Most of the time the person trying to pass through the detection field is so startled by the alarms that they hurry back into the store and drop the merchandise rather than risk being charged with shoplifting. Additionally most dishonest people know what electronic article surveillance pedestals are so when they enter a store and see them they start looking for tags on merchandise. When they see that a store is diligent in tagging everything they leave and look for a store that does not use anti-theft devices.

When I started out as a Retail Loss Prevention Officer in a department store we used very few electronic article surveillance tags on merchandise.  The items we did tag were the higher end items, expensive jeans, coats, dresses and purses. This led to many instances of shoplifters stuffing bags with merchandise, wearing merchandise out of the store and picking up items and just walking out the door. When they would attempt to walk out with an item that had a Checkpoint security tag on it the pedestal alarm would sound and you could see the panic on the shoplifter’s face. Most of the time the merchandise was dropped and the thief would flee assuming they would be arrested. We would never apprehend on an alarm alone but they did not know it and so the tags did what they were intended to do. They would stop shoplifting and we recovered the goods. Since there were so many items that were not tagged I had many, many shoplifters who would get out the door without any alarm but when I would stop them the fight or flight factor came into play. Usually it was the fleeing part they would choose and the race was on, hence my reference to shoplifter theme songs. With the assistance of the police I was able to catch most of the bad guys but there were some that gave me a run for my money!         

 

Don’t let criminals “run” all over you, use Checkpoint security tags on all of the items you sell and watch shortage drop. Put an end to shoplifting and enjoy the boost in profits! 

 

For more information about Checkpoint security tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.

 

 

Filed Under: antishoplifting Tagged With: ,

Food Safety And Food Security; Addressing Two Concerns By Using Checkpoint Labels

January 12, 2018 by Leave a Comment

A friend of mine in my office was talking about wanting to try eating Fugu Sushi…I am not a fan of eating raw fish anyways but I had to ask what Fugu Sushi is. My friend explained it is sushi made from…wait for it…Puffer fish! Yup, he wants to try eating poisonous fish. First of all, on my bucket list of things to do before I die, eating something that may expedite my need to complete my bucket list early is not one of them. Second it seems to me this is a food safety issue (or lack of one). Geez, why not just undercook your pork and try eating that to see if you can kill yourself? I have an idea, cut up raw chicken on your countertop and then prepare other foods.  Why travel all the way to Japan to commit hari kari? My friend is a little odd. When it comes to food safety I have another take on it and one more palatable to grocery retailers. How about the safety in not worrying about meat being stolen from the cooler shelves? Thieves coming in to steal meat cost a store extraordinary amounts of money and pose a safety risk to other customers and employees. Checkpoint Systems has Checkpoint labels that are safe for food AND can stop shoplifting.

     Checkpoint Systems has a wide range of tools to assist stores in reducing shortage caused by theft, fraud and even operational errors. Checkpoint labels are one of the tools offered to protect merchandise. The labels are designed to interact with electronic article surveillance towers touching off a tower alarm when merchandise tagged with a label is carried too close to the detection field of the tower. I have used Checkpoint Systems products as a Loss Prevention Manager and have seen how effective they are in their ability to stop shoplifting. The labels are extremely difficult to pull off of merchandise once put in place. They are also easy to conceal in merchandise when you don’t want the bad guys to know where a tag is placed. As a side note it can be funny watching shoplifters trying to locate hidden tags then finding them and trying to peel them off. Often they get frustrated and just leave the merchandise which is the whole point of merchandise protection.
     Okay, now you’re thinking what does food safety have to do with security and Checkpoint labels? Good question. One of the most expensive items a grocery store sells is meat. I was just looking at roasts in my favorite grocery store and a roast beef was $18, a package of steaks $25 and a very large pork roast was half price at $32! I have watched shoplifters stuff steaks down their pants and hide roasts under their coats. The losses can crush a small grocery retailer especially when it is estimated the profit margins for a grocery store range from 1%-3%. That does not leave much room for loss due to theft.  That is a financial security issue and one which I have discussed in other articles. There is a safety concern as well because frequently shoplifters will conceal merchandise and run out of a store or if approached by a manager or employee about a suspected theft they will push past anyone in their way. I have seen young children almost pushed to the floor as a shoplifter was desperate to run from a store. 
     To solve this food safety and security issue Checkpoint Systems has created two labels that can be used to stop shoplifting. One label can be placed on packaging or under meat soaker pads to hide them. Another label is safe for food packaging.  Both are food safe and microwave safe. Since they are from Checkpoint both have electronic article surveillance protection designed in them so they will set off towers even if a protected steak is concealed in a shoplifter’s pants. 
     Yes, this is a bit of a different way of looking at food safety but using Checkpoint labels will stop shoplifting and the safety concerns associated with shoplifter actions. They also keep profits in the store where they need to be. 
Checkpoint labels are important and we can help you with them. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
     

A friend of mine in my office was talking about wanting to try eating Fugu Sushi…I am not a fan of eating raw fish anyways but I had to ask what Fugu Sushi is. My friend explained it is sushi made from…wait for it…Puffer fish! Yup, he wants to try eating poisonous fish. First of all, on my bucket list of things to do before I die, eating something that may expedite my need to complete my bucket list early is not one of them. Second it seems to me this is a food safety issue (or lack of one). Geez, why not just undercook your pork and try eating that to see if you can kill yourself? I have an idea, cut up raw chicken on your countertop and then prepare other foods.  Why travel all the way to Japan to commit hari kari? My friend is a little odd. When it comes to food safety I have another take on it and one more palatable to grocery retailers. How about the safety in not worrying about meat being stolen from the cooler shelves? Thieves coming in to steal meat cost a store extraordinary amounts of money and pose a safety risk to other customers and employees. Checkpoint Systems has Checkpoint labels that are safe for food AND can stop shoplifting.

Checkpoint Systems has a wide range of tools to assist stores in reducing shortage caused by theft, fraud and even operational errors. Checkpoint labels are one of the tools offered to protect merchandise. The labels are designed to interact with electronic article surveillance towers touching off a tower alarm when merchandise tagged with a label is carried too close to the detection field of the tower. I have used Checkpoint Systems products as a Loss Prevention Manager and have seen how effective they are in their ability to stop shoplifting. The labels are extremely difficult to pull off of merchandise once put in place. They are also easy to conceal in merchandise when you don’t want the bad guys to know where a tag is placed. As a side note it can be funny watching shoplifters trying to locate hidden tags then finding them and trying to peel them off. Often they get frustrated and just leave the merchandise which is the whole point of merchandise protection.

Okay, now you’re thinking what does food safety have to do with security and Checkpoint labels? Good question. One of the most expensive items a grocery store sells is meat. I was just looking at roasts in my favorite grocery store and a roast beef was $18, a package of steaks $25 and a very large pork roast was half price at $32! I have watched shoplifters stuff steaks down their pants and hide roasts under their coats. The losses can crush a small grocery retailer especially when it is estimated the profit margins for a grocery store range from 1%-3%. That does not leave much room for loss due to theft.  That is a financial security issue and one which I have discussed in other articles. There is a safety concern as well because frequently shoplifters will conceal merchandise and run out of a store or if approached by a manager or employee about a suspected theft they will push past anyone in their way. I have seen young children almost pushed to the floor as a shoplifter was desperate to run from a store. 

To solve this food safety and security issue Checkpoint Systems has created two labels that can be used to stop shoplifting. One label can be placed on packaging or under meat soaker pads to hide them. Another label is safe for food packaging.  Both are food safe and microwave safe. Since they are from Checkpoint both have electronic article surveillance protection designed in them so they will set off towers even if a protected steak is concealed in a shoplifter’s pants. 

Yes, this is a bit of a different way of looking at food safety but using Checkpoint labels will stop shoplifting and the safety concerns associated with shoplifter actions. They also keep profits in the store where they need to be. 

 

Checkpoint labels are important and we can help you with them. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.

     

 

Filed Under: antishoplifting Tagged With: , ,

Innovative Solutions To Stop Shoplifting In Stores

December 12, 2017 by Leave a Comment

In Retail Loss Prevention we are always trying to find new and innovative methods to stop shoplifting. I have a few personal ideas I have wanted to implement:

  • Armed guards in watch towers at the front entry doors (similar to a prison tower) in order to intimidate potential thieves.
  • Snarling Doberman Pinschers or German Shepherds, trained to smell stolen merchandise chained at the store exits.
  • Tiger pits with a trap door that Loss Prevention Officers can open up when a shoplifter leaves the building, thereby avoiding the inevitable fleeing criminal. And think about it, no more shoplifter speeding out of the parking lot potentially injuring people in order to get away!
  • Drones flying around the store with cameras monitoring all of the customers. When someone starts to conceal merchandise store loudspeakers come on and announce what the suspect is wearing and warning him/her to put the merchandise down.
  • On the extreme end of the spectrum every customer entering the store receives a personal shopper for the duration of the time they are in the store.
  • Require everyone entering the store to pay a $5.00 cover charge. If they purchase something the $5.00 is deducted from the purchase amount.

For some odd reason none of my ideas has been picked up by a retailer. I don’t understand it. Despite this there is a method to stop shoplifting that is a little less extreme than my ideas and that is the use of Checkpoint tags on merchandise.

 

Checkpoint tags are an electronic article surveillance retail anti-theft device that deters and prevents theft. It deters theft in several ways. First, shoplifters who enter the store will recognize the Checkpoint towers at the front doors and may decide against trying to steal from the store. Second, if a crook is still considering stealing after seeing the towers he/she will get a dose of reality if they see that the store tags all of their merchandise not just select items. Tagging everything eliminates the possibility a shoplifter will grab even a cheap item just to get the thrill or the stolen item. Checkpoint tags will stop shoplifting because they are nearly impossible to remove from merchandise without the proper detachment key. It also has radio frequency technology built into it which acts in unison with the tower at the front door. Tagged merchandise carried too close to a tower sets off alarms causing store employees to respond and conduct receipt checks, usually resulting in recovered merchandise. Shoplifters simply don’t want to take a chance on being arrested so they tend to go to those stores where there are few protected items OR no electronic article surveillance at all.

 

     This brings me back to my original point of finding innovative ways to stop shoplifting and theft. They have made different styles of electronic article surveillance towers. Some have been made smaller to take up of less space for smaller retail businesses, some now have the ability to have advertising panels placed in them and others have the ability to detect radio frequency jammers. Tags have also changed from larger hard tags to sleek, disc-shaped tags designed to be less detracting to higher end merchandise such as suits, gowns, and expensive jackets. Alarms at the towers can send alerts to managers and there is software that can assist managers with evaluating alarm response times.

 

     While I am still in favor of cages dropping from the ceiling on someone who has set off an alarm tower at the doors, I recognize that my idea of innovation is not suitable to everyone. In case you fall into that group of people who would call my ideas extreme, I am recommending another innovative solution to stop shoplifting, install an EAS system and use Checkpoint tags on ALL of your merchandise. You will see shortage decline and profits rise.

 

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 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: , ,

Checkpoint Security Systems Latest Label Leaves A Lasting Impression For ORC Groups

July 11, 2017 by Leave a Comment

 

Checkpoint Labels-3                                                                                                            WC Blog 314
Checkpoint Security Systems-3
Stop Shoplifting-3
Checkpoint Security Systems Latest Label Leaves A Lasting Impression For ORC Groups
     I enjoy watching movies like “Mission Impossible” or “The Bourne” series or occasionally a James Bond film will strike my fancy. There are always the latest gadgets or spy toys used to catch the criminals. Maybe it’s a vehicle tracker or a pair of “electronic charged gloves” that allows the hero to climb up the side of a building. Sometimes the gear seems a little far- fetched and at other times you know it is real, you just wonder how often such things are used. I like to imagine using some high tech tracking device to follow bad guys and break up an international crime syndicate.  On the other hand, I can tell you about a new device on the market available to retailers to help them curb theft. This one does have potential for helping investigators catch Organized Theft Rings and stop shoplifting. It kind of reminds me of those techy movies, but this involves Checkpoint security systems and new Checkpoint labels.
     I know, you’re sitting there thinking this guy has gone a little off the deep end or he is just really exaggerating the value of this new device. Well, I may be a little off the deep end, but in this case I am not overstating the value of this newest weapon in the arsenal of Checkpoint labels. The item I am talking about is the 2928 S micro “SWAT” Tag, a small 1 inch diameter label that works with Checkpoint Systems electronic article surveillance (EAS) towers. With a clear viewing label, it is easy to apply to all types of merchandise but especially small health and beauty products that are a favorite with Organized Retail Crime (ORC) rings. In the past these items could be hard to protect with tags because the tags were too large or covered vital ingredient information or warning labels. The clear viewing label allows that information to be read by the customer and still provide the necessary protection to stop shoplifting of the merchandise. The thing that stands out most about this Checkpoint label is that it has “leave behind protection” and it is this feature that makes it so dangerous to ORC gangs. 
     Boosters come to the store to steal multiple items at a time and may be willing to risk a theft and setting off an alarm pedestal of a Checkpoint security system if they think something may have a tag. They are only concerned about whether they can remove the tag after they make their escape. While difficult to remove from a package, some thieves are willing to expend theenergy to take off traditional EAS tags in order to resell the goods. Removing labels and markings makes it difficult for store managers to say what merchandise came from their store when a warehouse or illegitimate sales operation is raided for suspected ORC activity. In this way, a business dealing in stolen goods may be selling the merchandise knowing it was stolen and there is nothing to prove where it came from. Even if a Checkpoint 2928 S micro SWAT Tag is removed from a product it leaves behind an indelible marking that can prove where the merchandise came from. Talk about spy gadgetry!
     What kind of marking can identify where a product came from? The SWAT tag has a symbol in the middle of the tag that comes in a standard block lock figure, a custom QR code or a custom design you select, such as your store logo, store number or company name. When the bad guys take the tag off to clean the product what they won’t realize is that they are leaving behind the indelible marking. The symbol remains behind and is evidence that the merchandise came from somewhere else. Using your store logo as the symbol or a QR code can specify to investigators that the items were from your location. These Checkpoint labels are definitely an effective way to stop shoplifting and identify ORC activity, and potentially get your merchandise back from these criminal groups.
     Let Checkpoint security systems help you improve your in-stocks, reduce shortage and ultimately improve profits. Deter organized criminal activity in your store and your neighborhood with the Checkpoint 2928 S micro SWAT tag.
Checkpoint labels are important and we can help you with them. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.

I enjoy watching movies like “Mission Impossible” or “The Bourne” series or occasionally a James Bond film will strike my fancy. There are always the latest gadgets or spy toys used to catch the criminals. Maybe it’s a vehicle tracker or a pair of “electronic charged gloves” that allows the hero to climb up the side of a building. Sometimes the gear seems a little far- fetched and at other times you know it is real, you just wonder how often such things are used. I like to imagine using some high tech tracking device to follow bad guys and break up an international crime syndicate. On the other hand, I can tell you about a new device on the market available to retailers to help them curb theft. This one does have potential for helping investigators catch Organized Theft Rings and stop shoplifting. It kind of reminds me of those techy movies, but this involves Checkpoint security systems and new Checkpoint labels.

I know, you’re sitting there thinking this guy has gone a little off the deep end or he is just really exaggerating the value of this new device. Well, I may be a little off the deep end, but in this case I am not overstating the value of this newest weapon in the arsenal of Checkpoint labels. The item I am talking about is the 2928 S micro “SWAT” Tag, a small 1 inch diameter label that works with Checkpoint Systems electronic article surveillance (EAS) towers. With a clear viewing label, it is easy to apply to all types of merchandise but especially small health and beauty products that are a favorite with Organized Retail Crime (ORC) rings. In the past these items could be hard to protect with tags because the tags were too large or covered vital ingredient information or warning labels. The clear viewing label allows that information to be read by the customer and still provide the necessary protection to stop shoplifting of the merchandise. The thing that stands out most about this Checkpoint label is that it has “leave behind protection” and it is this feature that makes it so dangerous to ORC gangs. 

Boosters come to the store to steal multiple items at a time and may be willing to risk a theft and setting off an alarm pedestal of a Checkpoint security system if they think something may have a tag. They are only concerned about whether they can remove the tag after they make their escape. While difficult to remove from a package, some thieves are willing to expend the energy to take off traditional EAS tags in order to resell the goods. Removing labels and markings makes it difficult for store managers to say what merchandise came from their store when a warehouse or illegitimate sales operation is raided for suspected ORC activity. In this way, a business dealing in stolen goods may be selling the merchandise knowing it was stolen and there is nothing to prove where it came from. Even if a Checkpoint 2928 S micro SWAT Tag is removed from a product it leaves behind an indelible marking that can prove where the merchandise came from. Talk about spy gadgetry!

What kind of marking can identify where a product came from? The SWAT tag has a symbol in the middle of the tag that comes in a standard block lock figure, a custom QR code or a custom design you select, such as your store logo, store number or company name. When the bad guys take the tag off to clean the product what they won’t realize is that they are leaving behind the indelible marking. The symbol remains behind and is evidence that the merchandise came from somewhere else. Using your store logo as the symbol or a QR code can specify to investigators that the items were from your location. These Checkpoint labels are definitely an effective way to stop shoplifting and identify ORC activity, and potentially get your merchandise back from these criminal groups.

Let Checkpoint security systems help you improve your in-stocks, reduce shortage and ultimately improve profits. Deter organized criminal activity in your store and your neighborhood with the Checkpoint 2928 S micro SWAT tag.

 

Checkpoint labels are important and we can help you with them. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.

 

 

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: , , , ,

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.
 

 

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