Whether donuts, dollars, or diamonds, employee theft causes shrink – Atlanta Georgia

I was involved in investigating an employee theft in which the employee was stealing donuts on her break.  Was it worth the time to investigate?  Yes, when you consider that this small theft might have led to her stealing more merchandise.

Conducting this employee theft investigation right away, at the first sign of loss, was my way of being proactive and stopping a thief before her confidence in her abilities to steal grew.  And usually when you discover a loss that is caused by an employee, there have been more instances of theft prior to the one you discovered.

Internal theft can happen at any business, at any time, for any amount.  Most employees who steal go for a little larger gain than a donut, and this can negatively impact a business’s bottom line.  Employees, whom you hope you can trust, can account for thousands of dollars of loss for your business if you do not react to your suspicions that internal theft may be occurring.

Some business owners mistakenly believe that if they prevent shoplifting in their business then they have prevented shrink from stolen merchandise.  But employee theft can add up more quickly and cost you more than the average shoplifter.

Do you have inventory that cannot be located?  Is there merchandise that was recently received that has disappeared, but was not sold?  Is there merchandise that is considered high theft, such as electronics, that is unaccounted for?  Figure out when these losses are occurring and determine which employees are in your business at that time.  You may quickly realize who is responsible for the loss you are experiencing.

Whether it is donuts or diamonds you are losing from your business, you can stop the theft and recoup some of your loss by being aware of employee theft and its contribution to your shrink.

For more information about employee theft or employee theft investigation or internal theft contact us at employee theft investigation or call 1.770.426.0547 – Metro Atlanta Georgia