Theft from within-Atlanta Georgia

It’s unfortunate but internal theft or employee theft affects businesses more and more each year. The loss from internal theft dominates external theft or shoplifting. Business owners must realize that because your employees have full access to almost all your business assets, they have opportunity to steal. Co-workers can feel like family but you must put personal feelings aside and protect yourself and your business.

Employee theft examples include: cash shortages, falsifying paperwork, stealing of personal information from files or belongings, copying of keys, stealing of merchandise or business supplies. The list goes on. As a manager, there was a time when I felt a bit uneasy about a particular employee.

I decided to open an employee theft investigation. This file included notes of her behavior, schedule, register paperwork, credit card entries, refunds, etc; basically anything pertaining to this employee. Once while watching her, I noticed her extreme friendliest with a particular customer. The customer started to fill out a credit card application only something was missing, her identification.

The employee then pulled out a piece of paper from her pocket and she began to write down a social security number for the customer. Of course I could not believe my eyes. But felt a sense of accomplishment for going with my gut and opening up an employee theft investigation.

The employee then proceeded with opening up a line of credit and then charged several high dollar items on the new card. Then came the not so fun part. I had to speak with the employee on what just occurred.

Long story short, she admitted to taking social security numbers out of personnel files at the doctor’s office she worked full-time. The customer was a friend of her’s. Both were charged with identity theft and stolen merchandise.

Remember internal theft or employee theft cause more damage than any other. Go with your gut and open up an employee theft investigation. You never know it could lead to something big.

For more information on internal theft, employee theft, or employee theft investigation contact us or call 1.770.426.0547-Atlanta, Georgia