Using Policies and Procedures as a Shoplifting Deterrent

September 11, 2015 by Leave a Comment

law-3The policies and procedures about shoplifting and detaining shoplifters should be known  by every person in your store or business to ensure the safety of your employees.  The importance of the policies can help with employee theft in your store.  If a zero tolerance procedure is known by everyone, it can serve as a deterrent for future or possible theft. For more about this and other stories, follow the links below.

Adidas turns to a new data collection system to pinpoint problems and reduce shrinkage.

When he came home to Germany after the First World War, Adolf “Adi” Dassler went into the athletic shoe business, creating a company that was eventually named for its founder: Adidas. (His brother Rudi moved across the river and founded Puma. Shoes run in the family.)Today the Adidas Group, still headquartered in the small Bavarian town of Herzogenaurach, is a global leader in the sporting goods industry, with 2014 sales of just under $16 billion. Its brands include Adidas, Reebok, TaylorMade, Ashworth, CCM and Five Ten. Earlier this year, the company sold its Rockport unit to a new entity formed by Berkshire Partners and New Balance.

“Adidas is not a natural retailer,” says Ken Bohnert, the company’s profit protection manager. “We came into the retail world on the back of our manufacturing arm — 10 percent of our income stream comes from retail, 90 percent from manufacturing.”

Wisconsin College Admin: Police Shouldn’t Prosecute Shoplifters [VIDEO]

An administrator at the University of Wisconsin-Madison suggested at a recent roundtable conversation that, in order to combat “overpolicing” in the community, police should no longer respond to shoplifting claims at large stores such as Wal-Mart, and shouldn’t agree to prosecute people caught stealing.

“I just don’t think that they should be prosecuting cases … for people who steal from Wal-Mart. I just don’t think that, right?” said UW-Madison director of community relations Everett Mitchell. “I don’t think [with] Target or all them other places, them big box stores that have insurance, they should be using justification, the fact that people steal from there as justification to start engaging in aggressive police practices, right?”

 Everett’s remarks were made Tuesday as part of a UW-Madison panel on the topic of “Best Policing Practices.” Everett argued that community police shouldn’t prioritize enforcing the law, but instead should focus on achieving “safety” as it is defined by a local community, even if that definition includes allowing some stores to be robbed with impunity.

Can You Sue an Employee for Stealing?

Dealing with customer theft is one thing, but what happens when it’s your own employees stealing from your store? Of course there are criminal laws against theft, but that may not get you the full value of what was stolen.

So can you file a lawsuit against an employee for theft? And, if so, what kinds of theft are covered?

Paycheck Penalties

If your state allows, and if you’ve decided not to fire the employee, you could consider deducting the amount of the theft from his or her paycheck. Just be careful: some states (like California) prohibit this entirely, and some states have certain restrictions on when employers can deduct wages and how much they may deduct. You don’t want your attempt to deal with theft to end up in a lawsuit against you.

 

Filed Under: Shoplifting Prevention Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Public Shaming and Shoplifting

September 8, 2015 by Leave a Comment

shoplifting5The public shaming of criminals has been around for centuries.  For a good part of the world’s legal history (and some still today) the punishment for crimes happened in public: pillories, pelting offenders in the stockades with rotten food and feces, hanging, ear nailing, branding, sandwich boards which proclaimed the crime, dunking stools, shunning, whipping posts, maiming, etc.

There’s a natural human desire for others to be recognized and brought to justice for their crimes.  The emergence of public shaming via social media is a continuation of that desire and heritage.  Social media is just a new, albeit broader reaching, component of a very old method of controlling crime and providing justice. 

Retail has a centuries old history of public shaming, because up until recently most stores were mom and pop operations.  Owners personally knew which customers weren’t paying their bills and who was stealing, and they had ways of letting others know too.  Not long ago, owners posted bounced checks near the cash register, so everyone saw which neighbors were deadbeats.

Now store owners and managers are turning to public shaming again for their on-going, ever increasing problem with shoplifters.  They’re frustrated, burnt out and angry, and are increasingly using social media to combat the issue.  They’re posting pictures and video of alleged shoplifters and some caught in the act.

The motivations behind posting this information are varied — it’ll shame the criminal into stopping or at least staying out of the store; someone will identify the thief and they can be charged; it’ll shame law enforcement into “doing something” about the crime; other shoplifters will see the store is serious about crime and stay away; it gives the owner a feeling of control and not like a victim.

But, these new tactics have triggered a very old question, “Does it work?”.  The answer is the same as it has always been, “Yes” and “No”.  Both answers are correct, because it depends on the situation.  The spectrum runs from — the shoplifter was mortified and didn’t do it again to the shoplifter became a celebrity in their social group and increased their stealing.

This strategy has always had mixed results, which is why store owners and managers should be thoughtful and cautious about using social media for public shaming or crime fighting.  In addition, the legalities of it are murky at best and must be considered before posting pictures or video.  Be sure to evaluate each situation on an individual basis before taking any action.

Nicole Abbott is a writer and psycho-therapist with over 20 years of experience in the fields of mental health and addiction.  She’s an educator, consultant, lecturer, trainer and facilitator, who’s conducted over 200 workshops, trainings, presentations, college classes and seminars.

Filed Under: Shoplifting Prevention Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Retail Burglar Alarm System Considerations

September 8, 2015 by Leave a Comment

240x600I thought I would provide you with information to assist you in making decisions regarding the purchase or maintenance of a security system for your property. The information provided will help cut though the “fog” of choices regarding alarm systems.

I have over 35 years of experience in both commercial and military property protection. My Bachelor’s Degree is in Industrial Security and my knowledge includes physical security, design of alarm solutions and installation. I am also a licensed alarm tech.

When selecting a security system for a commercial space, you do not have to spend a great deal of money. However, you need to be cautious of putting in a system that is so inexpensive that you are really only getting a false sense of security. If you purchase smart, you will have a good system that will last for years and provide excellent coverage at a very reasonable price.

Choosing a provider – There are so many choices that it is usually overwhelming. Ranging from large national chains to single man shops. What is the best? Well, there is no answer that fits everyone. But you should consider the following:

How reliable is the company? How long have they been in business?

With large national chains, you tend to be just a number despite their advertising claims.

With some small operations you have to be concerned, if they will be there next year.

Generally regional chains and smaller operations are going to be more attentive to your needs.

Be VERY cautious of alarm sales people. Most of the time they are focused on quota and really do not care, if you are properly protected or not. Most do not have practical knowledge of physical security, they are salesmen. Make sure you get what is best for you not for the sales person who is trying to make quota and/or selling you components that are add-ons you really do not need.

How long is the contract? 5 years is WAY too long of a term. A good contract length is 2-3 years. Remember, if they cannot hold you with good performance and service, they will tend to try to get a longer contract. Length of contract is negotiable even with large companies. Besides where will you be in 5 years? Will your company have outgrown your current space and you have to move? An assurance of “oh if you move we will move with you” may sound great but what if they have done a poor job? Do you want to continue that relationship?

Watch out for companies that have wording in their contract that automatically raise your monitoring charge usually on an annual basis. Many times it is explained away as a “cost of living” type charge. It is just an underhanded way to get more money out of you.

I will discuss equipment later in this document but keep this in mind: A trick that the large companies do, is sell you the alarm control.  But it is proprietary and THEY are the only company that can program it. This keeps you locked into them forever. No one else can monitor or service it. Insist on a NON-Proprietary alarm control.

Are they insured? Get a copy of the insurance and insist on an updated copy every year. Better yet have them list you on their policy. Is their coverage adequate for a loss due to their negligence? Keep in mind that alarm companies are NOT insurers. They will not insure your life or property losses. That is what your insurance is for. But if they make a serious error or commit Errors and Omissions (E&O), you need them to cover their mistake. Have your insurance agent review the coverage document provided to you. Do this up front. Like my Attorney says to me “Let’s get the paperwork right at the beginning because I have never seen anyone wear their wedding dress to the divorce”.

Are they licensed? Check the Secretary of States web site. Are they properly licensed for low-voltage alarms, are there complaints….?

System Design – Unless you want a lot of bells and whistles you can keep It pretty simple. Here are the key items you should have:

Alarm Control (brains of the system). See above about proprietary vs non-proprietary.

Alarm Keypad near the front door. This is how you arm and disarm the system. In my experience a keypad with an “alpha” display is best. This usually costs a bit more but instead of it displaying a zone number such as “Zone 08” it will for example say “Back Door Left”. This is much easier to deal with when there is a problem.  And there will be a problem usually late at night when you need clear information. If you also access your suite from several doors, then you want a keypad at each door for your convenience.

Door Contacts. Contact every exterior door both personnel and overhead doors whether you use them or not. They are a “hole” in your wall.

Glass Break Detectors should cover EVERY bit of your glass that is accessible. This is the most likely way a burglar will break in. Usually one glass break detector in every office with any windows will take care of it.

Motion Detectors. You should have at least one. This should be in a hallway or other area that would make it very difficult for someone to move very far without tripping it. You do not need to cover every square foot. That is overkill and not generally necessary. The exception would be, if you have very valuable supplies, equipment or other assets you need protecting. Then a motion detector covering that area is warranted.

Fire Protection is a nice thing to add. This may help reduce your insurance premiums. Keep in mind that you may be in a building that has a sprinkler system. What you should ask is that sprinkler system “monitored by a central station” or is it simply going to ring an outside bell if activated. From a fire perspective you want it monitored. However, what happens if there is a water flow in the middle of the night or on the weekend and no one discovers it until business hours? Monitoring will keep your losses in merchandise and structure more limited.

Burglary sirens are nice but do not go crazy. One siren on the inside is enough. Keep in mind that almost every keypad has a built in siren.

Automatic Testing – This is one of the most overlooked issues. If your alarm system is not checking in with the alarm companies central station on a routine basis then how would you ever know if it stops working? This happens a lot! Alarm systems are electronic and mechanical devices that do break. An electrical surge from a phone line connection or 110 Volt power happens very frequently. If your systems communications go down you may never know it. It will not show up on the keypad.

Look for a “Supervised, Weekly Timer/Test”. This is an automated signal that your alarm control is programed to send every week at the exact same time. The central station computer is watching for this signal and if it does receive it then the central station computer notifies an operator and they then notify you. This process is all automated and normally is programed to happen in the middle of the night. The central station will then notify you the next day during business hours. If you are really concerned, then you may wish to select a daily timer/test signal.

Timer/Test signals are very inexpensive to you and many companies provide a weekly one free of charge.

Notification of an Alarm – This is the call list that the central station uses to get a hold of you in the event of an emergency or a problem. They cannot help you, if they cannot reach you. Keep this list up to date. Some of the better alarm companies can send you an automated email several times a year with your current call list. This reminder helps you to keep the list current. The problem with a call list is that it is out of sight, out of mind. Without these reminders you usually do not know until there is a problem. You should also have the alarm company send you an automated e-mail whenever there is an event such as an alarm, timer/test fail, maintenance problem…. Those should also be included in your service at no charge.

Reports – Another often overlooked feature is an open/close report. Your alarm company can program your alarm control to instantly send a signal to the central station each time the system is armed or disarmed. Your system tells the central station which employee armed/disarmed and at what date/time. A summary report is sent to you once a week by e-mail. You should tell them you want an “all activity” report. This should not cost any more. That way you will also see alarms, troubles…. In addition to the opens/closes. This is much easier for you to read. Most of us only need a “log only” report. The log only version is less expensive because there is no intervention by a central station operator.

This report is a very important tool for business owners and managers. It will let you know who is coming in and when which is a good tool to assist you in tracking employee time when you are not there. It will also alert you to someone coming in after hours. Use this report as a proactive tool. If something falls outside the norm then question the employee about it. This lets them know you are aware and will help to prevent issues such as employee theft.

Alarm System Codes – Every employee should have their own code. Employees should not be allowed to share codes. Tell your employees that they are accountable for what happens with their code. If a theft or incident occurs because they gave their code to someone or someone saw the code, then they will be held accountable. Codes should never be simple such as-1234, 2468, a year, birth month/year combination, phone number…. Anything obvious. You might try using a person’s last four digits of their SSN. People tend to protect that number. Let them know that if their code is compromised for any reason, they must notify you and you will simply change it.

Transmission via cellular or internet – I personally love this feature. Most of the problems with alarm systems involve phone line issues. I think cellular is best. A cellular signal cannot be blocked due to a cut phone line or phone company trouble. Most alarm system cellular units hit at least two towers and many times three. Cellular connections are VERY fast. It is also more reliable than your voice cell service.

You can also send signals via the internet. This is nice because like cellular you eliminate a hard wired phone line and is more economical. But an internet connection is vulnerable to interruption and being cut just like a phone line.

There are a lot of other great services that your alarm company can provide you to fit your individual needs: supervised open/close reports, wireless sensors, video tied to the alarm system, remote connectivity to your alarm system via PC, tablet or smart phone and much more. This allows you to access your alarm or view video anywhere in the world. Many of these are not only convenient but critical in business and asset protection.

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

DO YOU HAVE A ROBBERY POLICY?

September 8, 2015 by Leave a Comment

shoplifting6Like it or not, there exists a chance that your store will fall victim to an armed robbery. Why? It’s very simple. Your store has money inside. There are those that refuse to work for a living and will resort to a robbing innocent people like you and me. What would you do if faced with that situation? Would you, or your employees know what and how to react in order to prevent injury, or loss of life? Do you have a robbery policy in place that all employees are familiar with? If not, well, it’s time to put pen to paper.

Just within the past month, one of my stores were robbed by tow gunman during business hours. Two men walked into the store, approached the cash office with guns drawn and demanded our money; my money. Luckily, my employees did exactly what they were trained to do and the goons left before anyone was injured. Sometimes, retailers aren’t so lucky. There was a recent story on local news where the same situation occurred at another store and the owner fought back. Unfortunately, it ended in tragedy when the robbery turned into a homicide. That’s not something I ever want to go through.

If you’re created a new robbery policy, I’ll give you some points to consider. Most importantly, there is nothing in the store worth losing your life over. Nothing. Nada. Zip. Zilch. Everything inside those four walls can be replaced. You, your employees or a customer cannot be. In your policy, you should explain that. Train your employees to comply with all demands and get the thieves out of the store as quickly as possible. Most importantly, do not call 911. It’s going to be automatic for people to start pulling out cell phones. DON’T! The response time to a robbery in progress call will be hot and heavy. You don’t want the police showing up with gunmen still in the store. There could be a shootout, potentially hurting people in your store, or you could be faced with a hostage situation. Neither are great, so get them out of the store as quickly as possible. This is why you have CCTV cameras!

In your policy, you should also include an after action plan. For example, what on Earth is that manager, or supervisor on duty supposed to do after being robbed? As calmly as possible, close the store, and ask all customers to come to the front. Inform them that the store needs to close due to a police investigation, however if they would like to give a statement to police, they are more than welcome to do so. Next, move all of your other employees to a common area of the store, away from the crime scene. You’ll probably want to start counting money to see what was lost, but don’t. Remember that your store is now a crime scene and you won’t want to tamper with any potential physical evidence. The police will tell you when they are ready for you to calculate your loss.

Long term, you may want to contact your HR department if you have one, as there may be some employees, especially those who were the actual victim, who may need some counseling. Everyone reacts to these types of situations differently and it’s important that you understand that your employee has just gone through an incredibly stressful ordeal and may need time away from the store to process what happened. While a robbery may not be something that ever crosses your mind, it can happen. Having a policy in place and having your employees well trained on that policy can very well save a life one day. Remember, nothing inside those four walls is worth dying for.

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

PROTECTING YOUR INVESTMENT FROM LOOTERS

September 8, 2015 by Leave a Comment

shoplifting4I watch and read the news every single day. I like to stay abreast of things that are happening in my communication, as well as issues affecting the nation. Recently, I’m a bit fed up with what I see. It’s not what’s being reported that gets me so red hot, but the reactions of called “protesters” to perceived injustices. I will never understand how a protest against something can turn into a riot and spur mass looting.

Look at the recent cases of civil unrest in cities across the country and you’ll see one commonality. “Peaceful” protestors, that almost always evolve into gangs of thugs who choose to loot and destroy businesses. You see the cities on the nightly lights. You watch in horror as lawless bandits bust out shop windows and even see those walking down the street with big screen televisions sets, and even some cases, setting stores ablaze, for no practical reason at all. More disturbing to me is that the majority of these stores affected are small businesses, like yours.
So is there anything you can do to prevent your business from falling victim to this? Yes, Absolutely there is. Take a look at some ways to harden your building and make it difficult for not only looters, but the average burglar, or robber, to damage your store.
First and foremost, if you don’t already have a CCTV system installed, get one. I’m serious. Unfortunately, this is no longer a luxury, or a good idea. This is a necessity. A good system will only run you a few hundred bucks and I will personally guarantee that it will pay for itself over, and over and over again. There is not greater piece of evidence in a court of law than video of a crime being committed. Eyewitnesses get details wrong; a camera doesn’t lie.
Second, take a look at the exterior of your building. Do you have glass windows or doors? If you really want to protect your store, you should invest in a good roll-down type door. Not only are some of these virtually impenetrable to a person, they can be great for when Mother Nature rears her ugly head. At the first sign of trouble, a flip of a switch can all but guarantee the safety of your store. Additionally, lots of stores have concrete bollards in the front to prevent an automobile from driving through the front doors. Whether it be an accident, a “smash and grab robbery,” or during a looting incident, a good bollard can stop a car dead in its tracks.
Now those are some great ideas to the more common ways our businesses are impacted. Lots of store owners often overlook one very simple, but very important piece. Data. Chance are, in your store, you have an office. In that office is a computer with all sorts of proprietary information. Whether it be salary information, employee records, sales and financial data, or your customer’s information, you have an obligation to keep that secure. If I walked into your store right now and stole every computer and every hard-drive in sight, what would happen? If you aren’t backing up your data somewhere off-site, you could be in a world of trouble should this happen to you. I recommend to anyone, to always back up any data to a place that isn’t in your store. There are several hundreds of reputable and safe companies that can handle this for a very small fee. Trust me, it’s worth every penny.
While the very likelihood of your business falling victim to looting is slim, it can happen. You should be prepared for anything that may come your way. In the blink of an eye, your city and your street could be playing host to violence and destruction. You should always be prepared to protect yourself, your employees and the future of your business. Don’t let some gang of bandits bankrupt your business.

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

PROSECUTING EMPLOYEE THEFT

September 8, 2015 by Leave a Comment

theft (2)If you employ people, I can guarantee that one of them, at some point during their employment, will steal from you. It could be some office supplies, or perhaps a few reams of paper; or more commonly, money, or even your merchandise. We trust our employees from the time they are hired and throughout their tenure. Employees know our stores in and out. They know our strengths and more importantly, our weaknesses. This knowledge often leads the employee down the path of dishonesty. I’ve investigated hundreds of employee theft cases and nearly all of these employees say the same thing when they are interviewed. They say they stole because it was easy, or they had no fear of repercussions if they were caught, other than maybe just losing their jobs.

Personally, I don’t care if it’s a $3,000 watch, or a $1.50 bag of potato chips. If I have evidence that an employee willfully and purposefully has stolen from me, I’m going to terminated that employee and refer the matter to local law enforcement for prosecution. It doesn’t matter if that employee is an old man, young woman, or any color of the rainbow; everyone will get the same treatment. In my stores, it is very important that I create a deep understanding with my staff that there is a zero tolerance policy towards theft. You would be wise to do the same.

A few years ago, I came across an employee that had taken a couple of consumable items. It wasn’t much, probably under $10, but they knew they were stealing from me and did it anyway. After obtaining a written confession, I terminated that employee for theft. Due to the dollar amount being so low, I did not contact the police. Not long after, at this very same store, another employee was terminated after an investigation showed they had stolen over $10k in cash. This employee happened to be a different race and sex than that previous employee. Not long after that termination, my store received a lawsuit for wrongful termination. That employee claimed I prosecuted him based on his race and sex, and I let another employee, who was of a different race get off without being arrested. It was a long hard fight to prove our case (which we ultimately won), but it was a great lesson for me to learn. From that day, I adopted my “everyone who steals goes to jail policy”. It’s served me well ever since.

In addition to protecting yourself from employment related liabilities (like the one described above), prosecuting employees caught with their hands in the cookie jar serves one other great purpose. It’s a deterrent. It’s a huge deterrent to other employees who be entertaining the same idea. If Susie Q and I are both cash office employees and I see her get escorted from the store in silver bracelets after she stole a few hundred bucks, chances are, I’m never going to do the same. If your employees know that the consequence of stealing is always going to be jail, from day one, they are less likely to steal from you. If and when they do, you’ll be ready to set the example for the rest of your staff.

I know for some of you out there, making the decision to prosecute an employee, maybe even one of your most loyal and trustworthy employees, is a very emotional thing to go through. You may feel like you want to cut them a break and simply have them pay you back. I’m telling you from experience, that is not enough. They will eventually steal again. Moreover, your other employees will see how easy it is to get away with theft and may do the same thing. The way in which you react to catching an employee stealing should be exactly like how you get out of a bad relationship. Sever all ties, put your emotions aside and do what’s best for your financial future.

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

How To Combat Employee Theft In Your Business

August 21, 2015 by Leave a Comment

theft (2)

A store no matter the size cannot avoid theft.  Employee theft and shoplifting are major issues for the retail industry around the globe.  Billions of dollars are lost due to this crime, and everybody is somehow affected.

The small business cannot weather the storm as well as the big retailers and could close their doors due to this issue, the honest buyer pays more their merchandise, everyone pays regardless of who commits the crime.  So, what can you do to protect your business from shoplifting and employee theft.

Owners should set good example to help combat employee theft

Q. How can a small business avoid employee theft?

A. That’s a timely question because employee theft is more likely during a recession.

The risk is illustrated by a recent news story of a chief financial officer who embezzled $9.9 million over six years. Most employees are honest and loyal but a single dishonest employee can cause large losses.

The average loss when major employee financial theft occurs is about $190,000, enough to bankrupt a small business. Small businesses are more susceptible to employee theft. Owners tend to be too trusting and either are not skilled in financial management to catch theft or don’t have time to monitor financial transactions to avoid theft. Employee staffs are small and that makes it difficult to separate financial functions among employees to avoid theft and have financial controls. Owners need to strike the right balance between employee trust, which is essential for employee loyalty, and maintaining controls to avoid theft.

Walmart’s Shrinkage Problem Is Causing Earnings Headaches And A Lot Of Excuses

Thieves are creating a massive headache for Walmart’s bottom line and the company is now regularly blaming shrinkage for much of its earnings issues.

During the retail giant’s quarterly results call on Tuesday morning, the company spoke about shrinkage throughout the conversation. Shrinkage was mentioned 13 times on the call, as the company’s team quickly blamed theft for much of its lower than expected earnings.

The company says much of its writedowns occurred for inventory that just disappeared. Walmart employees claim that customers steal everything from meat to electronics.

According to Walmart’s chief financial officer, Charles Holley, the problem isn’t about to go away anytime soon. Walmart is restarting a program to teach employees how to spot thieves and the company is auditing its entire supply chain to “close gaps” while it adds staff to parts of store’s in which items tend to vanish. In many locations, new “receipt” checkers will even make sure items are not being snuck out after someone leaves the register.

Newport Grand employee arrested, fired for alleged theft at slots parlor

​A Newport Grand employee has been arrested and fired from her cashier’s job for allegedly trying to steal $1,300 from the slots parlor.

Kimberley Albro, of 6 Union St., Warren, was arrested in April by Rhode Island State Police after Newport Grand alerted them to the theft. Albro subsequently was fired from her slots parlor cashier’s job and the R.I. Department of Business Regulation later revoked the state-required “operations employee license” needed to handle money at Rhode Island gambling venues, according to records of the two state agencies.

Albro apparently tried to get away with pilfering the money from her cashier’s drawer, but other employees noticed that her transactions were off, according to State Police Capt. Matthew C. Moynihan. A review of video recordings by Newport Grand security showed Albro taking the money.

“Security there is very tight,” Moynihan said.

Newport Grand alerted state police, who arrested Albro, Moynihan said. She was arraigned April 3 in Newport District Court on a felony charge of embezzlement of more than $100. The case remains open.

Filed Under: Shoplifting Prevention Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Managerial Isolation = Fraud Opportunities

August 14, 2015 by Leave a Comment

theft (13)There’s been a lot of research conducted, Dilbert cartoons drawn and articles written about the isolating effects of the cubicle culture in business.  This conversation has expanded lately to include increasing awareness of and concerns about the growing trend toward group management — managing people as a group rather than as individuals.

Proponents of this style suggest that supervising people as a group is a more contemporary, efficient way to allocate time and money.  Communication is primarily done via emails, memos, texts, social media, conference calls and meetings.  The thinking behind this concept is that people will become more independent with less oversight.

The premise that employees will step up and become more responsible through limited leadership or leaderless teams is actually an old one, which has been tried with limited or no success.  The idea that people are just waiting for and will happily seize the opportunity to be honestly self-determining is flawed, because it ignores basic human nature.

Isolating managers from employees doesn’t take into account that, depending on the study, 75% — 85% of people say that given the right circumstance they have or would commit occupational fraud.  That they have in the past and/or would in the future steal time, money and property from their employer, even one they like working for.

Occupational fraud is something most businesses have had, are having or will have.  Involved, aware and reasonable management is the first and best line of defense in making sure the right circumstances (motive, means and opportunity) don’t occur.  Good management requires knowing your people, a well thought-out and monitored security plan, and consistent checks and balances.

It’s common for employees to talk about how they “would do things better” if they had more power, don’t be fooled by it.  Only 34% (CareerBuilder, 2014) want to be bosses, and many of them aren’t doing anything to make it happen.  The reality is that most people want to do their jobs without increased responsibility for themselves, just for others. 

Nicole Abbott is a writer and psycho-therapist with over 20 years of experience in the fields of mental health and addiction.  She’s an educator, consultant, lecturer, trainer and facilitator, who’s conducted over 200 workshops, trainings, presentations, college classes and seminars. 

Filed Under: Shoplifting Prevention Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Shoplifting Prevention and Your Store Policies

August 13, 2015 by Leave a Comment

shoplifting4

Video surveillance has been considered for many stores a way to stay abreast criminal acts against their businesses.  Shoplifting is crime that is constantly jeopardizing profits for many stores across the world, video cameras and other means to prevent shoplifting have helped stores fight this crime, but is always a battle that is changing with new technology coming into play.  Posting and knowing the policies and procedures that govern your retail stores concerning shoplifting, can help keep your employees safe and your store from becoming a hang out place for shoplifters.

Read more about this and other topics by following the links below.

Macy’s employee stabbed trying to stop shoplifting at D.C. store, police say

A Macy’s employee was stabbed in the shoulder Tuesday afternoon as he tried to prevent a suspected shoplifter from leaving the store’s downtown location near Metro Center, according to D.C. police.

The worker was not seriously injured and the suspected stabber was arrested, police said. The incident occurred about 3:30 p.m. near the store’s entrance in the 1200 block of G Street NW, along a street lined with stores four blocks from the White House.

Lt. Sean Conboy said police could not immediately provide any information about the person who was arrested.

Taking steps to prevent shoplifting

In early July, $3,000 in designer dresses, slacks and jackets were stolen from ADORE Designer Retail Boutique in Cary, one of Nancy Alinovi’s two consignment shops in the Triangle. She still feels sick about it.

“It’s just this feeling in your chest,” she said. “It’s not a victimless crime.”

Alinovi said it will be two months before everything returns to normal at the family-owned boutiques, which cut prices in order to stay afloat after the theft. Her experience shows the toll shoplifting takes on small businesses, where margins are small and business is personal.

There were 582 calls to the Raleigh Police Department regarding shoplifting in the past year, said Jim Sughrue, department spokesman. They run the gamut from family-run gas stations to department stores, he said.

According to a National Retail Federation’s security survey, shoplifting accounted for 38 percent of the $44 billion in retail inventory loss due to crime in 2014.

Focus on shoplifting

Police nab thief with aid of video

Video surveillance was a key factor in the arrest of a Grand Falls-Windsor man Aug. 9 after he was caught on film on three separate occasions stealing from local businesses.

Grand Falls–Windsor RCMP arrested and charged the 27-year-old with theft under $5000. He was released from custody, placed on conditions and scheduled to appear in court at a later date.

Grand Falls-RCMP also dealt with a number of assault and disturbance cases among the 68 calls for service fielded at the detachment between Aug. 3 and Aug. 9.

On Aug. 4, the Grand Falls–Windsor RCMP arrested and charged a 30-year-old Grand Falls–Windsor resident for uttering threats. The male had written a letter threatening to kill a local female.  The male is scheduled to appear in court at a later date.

Filed Under: Shoplifting Prevention Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Real Time Anti-Shoplifting App For Your Mobile Devices

August 8, 2015 by Leave a Comment

LPSI EVOLVE-Store Mobile AppWhen I look at the Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) marketplace there are two very distinct offerings: Checkpoint Systems and the “other guys”. I realize that this is a bold and maybe arrogant statement. Despite the fact that we are the largest nationwide Checkpoint Dealer for the small to medium size retailer in The United States and yes, I do favor Checkpoint Systems, it really is a true statement.

I wish I could take you on an inside tour of Checkpoint’s facilities from R&D to Manufacturing to Support to Service and everything in between. What you would learn is that there really is only Checkpoint Systems and the “ring the bell, light the light” crowd. Checkpoint Systems is so far advanced beyond the other guys, it is mind boggling.

So now Checkpoint has moved the EAS industry further again. EVOLVE-Store puts your Checkpoint Systems in your mobile device. An app delivers real-time information through a smartphone or tablet, providing real-time visibility and engagement with your EAS & ORC theft prevention systems.

The EVOLVE-Store app will also help to improve your consumer conversion rates through real-time visibility of the number of shoppers in your store and measures your policy compliance by managing response times to alarm events.LPSI EVOLVE-Store Mobile App 2

Combine this with Checkpoint Systems VisiPlus which is retail people counting at its best and you have a substantial retail theft management system available to you regardless of where you are. Seeing theft-related events that are affecting your store in real time gives you an edge.

I have been a retailer in the loss prevention world for over 30 years. I have personally apprehended hundreds of shoplifters, investigated over 2300 retail employees for theft, built and directed the Loss Prevention program for several major retailers. But I have never seen such significant advances in such a short period of time in the loss prevention field. But what make Checkpoint Systems so different is that all of this is not just designed for the major retailer. EVOLVE-Store is an affordable program for the small single store and medium sized retailer.

If you are interested in learning more about Evolve-Store and Checkpoint Systems EAS, please contact me, Bill Bregar at 1-770-426-0547.

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »