Tell-Tale Behaviors – Stopping Employee Theft

Most of the shrink in the average retail store is a result of employee theft – simply because employees have more access to company assets. Associates exhibit the same telling behaviors as shoplifters do when engaged in illegal activities. Close observation of both shoppers and employees is imperative in the ongoing battle to thwart “sticky fingers”.

Any sudden changes in an associate’s behavior should definitely warrant suspicion that internal theft is a distinct possibility. Other suspicious behaviors that should wave a red flag include an employee who seems overly friendly, complains about their financial situation or that they are underpaid, as well as an associate who has frequent visits from friends and family at the store.

I once encountered an associate while I was working as an LP professional who frequently complained to fellow coworkers and everyone who would listen that he was unhappy at home and couldn’t make ends meet. One day this same associate came into work with a high-end set of $200 headphones and a new MP3 player.  He continued to complain about his financial situation. Within the same week, he was gloating about a designer belt and showing everyone the receipt for $400 cash.

I decided to conduct the employee theft investigation when this information triggered awareness of the contradiction of words and actions. We posted a covert CCTV (Closed Circuit Television) camera above the register in the department in which he usually worked.

We caught the associate red-handed stealing cash from the register after a few weeks of surveillance.  He admitted making duplicate receipts for customers who were paying with large amounts of cash when questioned about the theft. He used those receipts to void the transactions later at his register and pocketed the money at the end of his shift.

Being observant of associate behaviors may lead to an employee theft discovery. Having a reliable CCTV system in your store can play an integral role in initiating, conducting, and facilitating the successful employee theft investigation to rid your business of undesirable associates as well as serve a warning to others.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase CCTV Systems that can help you halt employee theft and internal theft challenges and facilitate an employee theft investigation.

For more information on employee theft, employee theft investigation and internal theft, please contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta, Georgia.