Quit Stalling About Employee Theft

May 3, 2019 by Leave a Comment

Every day I see news articles about employee theft. That does not even cover a fraction of the employee theft occurring both know or unknown. The fact is that approximately 45% of a Retailer’s losses are due to employees stealing. We focus so heavily on shoplifting that many times a Retailer misses the boat completely. Do not misinterpret what I am saying, shoplifting is responsible for about 35 percent of a Retailer’s losses. Which is also huge.

However, employees have access to your cash, supplies, and merchandise. Employees are generally trusted until they show us that they are not. Which may be too late! Many Retailers I have discussed this with over the years tell me that they trust their employees and treat them well. Therefore they would not steal from them. Those are the folks that have the worst losses and the biggest shock when it does happen. As human beings, we do not want to believe that someone would steal from us. We also are quick to turn a blind eye to the evidence even when it hits us in the head. We simply do not want to believe it.  

Another factor is that many Retailers do not know, understand and are afraid to do something. Will we make a mistake? Would we accuse someone of something they did not do? What civil and criminal consequences do we face? And the list goes on. This is yet another stalling factor for not doing anything. 

Quit stalling about employee theft. You face every other retail problem head on why not this. Educate yourself. We can help you with this. Make sure you know the signals of employee theft. Yes, employees who steal, act differently than other employees. You simply need to know what to listen and watch for. Do you “audit” your operation? For example, an audit can be as simple as making sure the Point-Of-Sale balances every day and if it does not, find out why. I have seen many Owners and Managers that say if the drawer is short $5 or less, they do not look into it because “it is not worth my time”, REALLY??? THAT IS SO WRONG and dangerous!!!! First by having a policy like this you are telling everyone that stealing $4.99 and below is okay. $4.99 times 365 days a year is a loss of $1,821.35. Oh, and that kind of theft WILL lead to larger and more frequent employee theft. 

Over my career, I have investigated, interrogated and put in jail somewhere north of 2300 employees for theft. The vast majority of those employees that were stealing did it for the same reasons. Many still stole even those the boss was “good to them”. I have seen employees that had been loaned large amounts of money by their employer, employees that were being put through school by their employer steal with no regret except for being caught. 

We can train you to spot employee theft and what to do about it when you suspect and find it. It is not hard to do. We can show you how to “test” employees to see if they are stealing. We can help you build the confidence to be on the offense, not the defense.  Your good employees will not care or suffer. In fact, they will help you. You just need to know how to proceed. 

Would you knowingly buy a car that had major engine and transmission problems? Probably not. So why would you hire someone with a criminal record? Why would you not find out that they have problems with violence, theft, drugs and worse when it is so simple, fast and cost-effective to do so? We can help you with that also. We conduct pre-employment screening, drug testing and more, nationwide. Look at it this way, you interview, select, employ, train, invest in an employee just to find out the hard way that they are very familiar with employee theft? When a pre-employment screening costs $20 how can you afford not to. Drug testing is also very inexpensive. You can quickly, cheaply and easily have a pre-employment drug testing done on all of your employment candidates when you offer them the position. Again, we conduct pre-employment screening and drug testing nationwide. 

You control every other aspect of your business, why would you not take more control of employee theft? Contact us today or call toll free 1-770-426-0547. 

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Importance Of Inventory Control-How Out Of control Are Profits Without Inventory Control?

May 3, 2019 by Leave a Comment

 Out of control spending may be okay for the federal government (Let’s be frank 20+ trillion of debt seems pretty out of control to most of us) but as a store owner or manager out of control expenses will bury your company. I am sure that you are looking carefully at where you spend your cash, reviewing controllable reports and monthly expenses. What you may not be considering is how operating a store without inventory controls in place can be negatively impacting the profits of your store. 

     When I talk about inventory controls I am not simply referring to activities on inventory night, I am talking about everything the store does all year to control merchandise. For example, the store I work for receives their pallets of freight several times a week. Included in these pallets are sealed plastic shipping boxes that hold individual pieces of merchandise. Some of these boxes have different colored seals and colored seals are indicators that the merchandise inside is high value/high theft goods requiring strict controls. The merchandise in these boxes requires security devices or immediate lock-up. When I was a Loss Prevention Manager for another company we had a lock-up cage we staged at the trailer receiving door. As specific high-risk merchandise came off of the trailer that product immediately went into the cage. That merchandise had to get to its department following a very specific path and if I observed any deviation from that path I was investigating the issue. The store where my daughter works requires all jewelry shipments be taken immediately to the jewelry counter, counted against the invoice and stocked. Jewelry is not allowed to sit out until it is convenient to secure it. Having a detailed plan for identifying high-risk products, verifying counts against invoices right away and immediately securing it are smart steps in preventing inventory shortage from getting out of control. 

     Electronic article surveillance (EAS) systems are another key piece of a sound inventory control strategy. When I mentioned securing products above it does not necessarily mean that merchandise has to go into a lock-up case. Most merchandise can be protected against theft with EAS labels, hard tags, wraps and other protective devices (for example Sensormatic has a product called Flexible Safers that can hold items and still give EAS protection). There are some things that a display case is appropriate to display merchandise in such as high-end jewelry. By the same token, there are EAS products suitable for costume and less valuable jewelry. Inventory control of such pieces of merchandise means tagging these items by a team of trusted employees before they are on the sales floor and accessible by other employees or shoppers. An EAS system also includes the installation of towers at all points of entrance and exit. A common error on the part of many retailers is the failure to place towers near vendor doors and employee-only entry doors. Failing to protect these doorways is a misstep in recognizing the reality of employee theft and the impact it has on store profitability. 

     Inventory control also takes place in in-store training programs. Teaching employees how the customer service they provide helps prevent shoplifting plays a part in inventory control. Training front end supervisors and cashiers how to properly handle EAS alarm activations determines how much merchandise you may or may not recover from potential thieves. Even the proper training of specialists who show merchandise from lock-up showcases impacts the potential for a crook to steal. How many pieces of jewelry should be out of a case to show a customer at any time? One, two, or three items? You have to teach your team what you expect and how someone may try to trick them while they are showing merchandise. 

     Inventory control is a year-round effort. It encompasses more than locking up merchandise or preparing for an annual inventory. Inventory control requires an in-depth look at where losses can take place, how they occur and who may be causing the losses. Once you do that you can implement solutions to the problem by creating a comprehensive shortage prevention strategy. Do that and you keep from losing control over your store profit line.  

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Cellphones On The Salesfloor – The Good, The Bad And The Ugly Of It

May 3, 2019 by Leave a Comment

The use of cellphones in the workplace has become more prolific over the years. It used to be that managers could put out a policy stating that the use of cellphones was strictly forbidden. I used to be in this camp and to a certain extent, I still am. As a Loss Prevention Manager, I saw the negative impact phones could have on customer service. Employees would focus on the phone at the expense of the customers. When the culprit was a cashier I would see the violators of the policy hiding the phone next to the register and texting in the midst of a transaction. That was totally unacceptable and did on more than one occasion result in a register error. Either merchandise was not properly scanned or the wrong change was tendered to the customer. In several cases, I had cashiers texting family and friends telling them to come in and go through their checkout lane. This would result in theft through passing or “giving back too much change” commonly known as cash theft. Of course, using the phone as a means of stealing from the store was the ugly of the cellphone issues. 

     The bad side of the cellphone conundrum is the customer service issues they cause. You have seen it, the sales floor employee looking at their phone and texting or looking through their music. Eye contact is almost non-existent. As a shopper, this drives me up to the wall. If the employees would spend as much attention to shoppers as they do their phones I can only begin to imagine the increased sales stores would enjoy. Now, as a manager in a college library, I have student assistants working for me who all have phones and most carry the phone in their back pockets. We have policies restricting when they can use the phone but often I have to correct them when they violate the policy and pull the phone out and begin texting. We have the policy in place for the same reasons that stores have (or used to have) the policy; to ensure customer service is the number one priority. Making the enforcement of the policy more difficult is that other supervisors are pulling out their phones and using them. This seems a bit hypocritical in my view.  

     There is a good side to allowing cellphones in a retail or customer service environment and it has softened me just a tad to the arguments in favor of them. If a store employee is on the sales floor and sees suspicious activity from a potential shoplifter the employee can quickly get in contact with a manager without looking for a store phone. 2-way radios are not always the most effective communication devices. Some associates keep the volume on their radios turned up and even if an earpiece is in use conversations can be overheard. I have had shoplifting suspects hear employees talking and drop merchandise as I was preparing to stop them for stealing. I have also seen customers get angry when they heard employees talking about them over radios. It could be talking about the customer’s behavior or something the customer was saying that was causing a disturbance. For example, the customer could be causing a scene about a return they were trying to do that was refused. Radios are just not always the best communication tool from a safety or security perspective. Cellphones make a convenient and more discreet method of communication and can even include text messaging which isn’t heard at all.  

     Another pro-cellphone argument is the ability to summon help in a store in the event of an emergency. As we see in social media today there is hardly a significant event that can take place without someone(s) getting it on a cellphone camera. From natural disasters to vehicle accidents and even active shooters, right or wrong people are going to get video and messages out and post it. The more employees that are allowed to carry their phones the greater the likelihood first responders will be notified quickly from multiple sources in the store. Think about the advantages this could have in the event of an altercation or robbery. Someone is likely to get through to authorities much quicker than if a store phone is the only accessible communication device. 

     As much as they can be a pain in the neck to retailers, cellphones are here to stay. By laying out expectations and policies regarding when they can be used managers can try to manage the use of phones while being flexible in allowing them to be in an employee’s possession. Who knows, such a policy might be a lifesaver someday…literally.   

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Is Pre-Employment Drug Screening Worthwhile In Today’s Culture?

May 3, 2019 by Leave a Comment

There are many ways for store owners to reduce the risk of employee theft and fraud. Background checks supplement interviews and screening questions on a job application. Manager training to know the signs and indicators that a worker may be engaging in theft activity of some sort is another preventative step. Electronic Article Surveillance systems and tags are helpful in deterring shoplifters and dishonest employees. Certainly Closed Circuit Television (CCTV), Public View monitors and mandatory package checks before leaving work all play a part in preventing internal criminal activity. One of the best tools an employer can use to reduce the chance they will even hire a thief in the first place is the use of pre-employment drug screening. The prospective employee would go to the lab, fill the cup and labs would send off the sample to have it checked for illegal substances. That has been the most common of the drug tests and many employers have relied on it to help them keep their stores profitable and safe. 

     Is this still an effective method for owners to use? With states loosening their own laws surrounding marijuana use it is a mixed bag. Not all states are legalizing it and it is still a federal crime to use, grow, distribute or possess it. So if you are in a state where it is still a crime to use marijuana and an applicant applies to a job with your company but he/she comes from a state where it has been “legalized” do you have them take a pre-employment drug test? What happens if they take the test and results show they use marijuana, do you not hire them even though it was “legal” where they came from? This can pose a dilemma for store owners. If you do hire them, do you put yourself at risk for discriminating against someone from your own state who failed and did not get hired based on that result? 

     Leaving the marijuana out of the equation for the moment, there is still room for drug testing in the workplace, both pre-screening and random drug testing of employees. Drug screening can identify other illegal substances in addition to marijuana. According to thebalancecareers.com, “A typical drug test for employment purposes screens for drugs including amphetamines, cocaine, marijuana, opiates, nicotine, and alcohol.” While you may decide to overlook positive results for marijuana you can still turn down applicants for the other drugs. States may be legalizing marijuana but the debates about the safety and effects of the drug on behavior remain a concern. Just because it is legal does not mean you necessarily want someone who uses this drug or any other drug working for your business. Pre-employment drug screening is still an effective tool in your efforts to combat theft and safety concerns. 

     Why test for drugs in the first place? By testing and screening out applicants who test positive you significantly reduce the risk of hiring someone who very well may steal from your store. It may be cash or merchandise but they have a habit to feed and they still have bills to pay and they are not going to feed that habit on a retail job. Working in the store gives them access to money and merchandise that will provide the resources for their addiction. Another reason to test is to keep your store safe. Someone who is illegally using drugs or coming to work under the influence of drugs or alcohol can be a cause of an accident or can be the victim of an injury in the workplace incurred while under the influence. Whether they cause the accident or are the victim of an accident, you can end up paying for it. There is also the safety of your other employees to consider. Someone under the influence of the wrong drugs can be unstable and volatile. What is it that is going to trigger a violent action on their part? Giving them a direction or task they don’t want to do? How about a customer that says something that sets off your employee. There is no place for violence or theft in the workplace and pre-employment drug screening can help prevent both from happening. 

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Clothing Security – A Local Problem Or Something Bigger? Part 3

May 1, 2019 by Leave a Comment

Sensormatic tags -3                                                                                                                    WC Blog 763
clothing security – 5

Clothing Security – A Local Problem Or Something Bigger? Part 3

     In Parts 1 and 2 I discussed the problem clothing security when merchants have to combat opportunistic shoplifters and Organized Retail Crime rings. We discussed the international reach some of these groups can have in their theft activity. We also looked at the difficulty retailers can have in distinguishing between opportunists and professional shoplifters. Does it make a difference to identify one versus the other? In our examples of Organized crime we saw the impact on one national chain and how they are getting hit for thousands of dollars in theft on multiple incidents and in different parts of the nation. I pointed out that the anti-theft tactics of retail stores has to be multi-layered. It starts with the cultivation of a strong customer service focus. Employees must actively seek out and interact with shoppers. With a very few rare exceptions thieves do not want to be seen or assisted. Anonymity gives them the cover they need to steal.

     The use of electronic article surveillance and Sensormatic tags is the next layer of protection. Shoplifters would prefer to steal clothing that has no security device on it. Anti-theft tags pose the risk of alarm activations and they require some means of removal if the clothes they are on are lifted successfully from a store. I did mention in the earlier articles that professional theft rings may use booster bags that are intended to defeat electronic article surveillance devices but Sensormatic tags provide the ultimate protection since they are not affected by these theft tools.

     The next layer of anti-theft protection a store can incorporate is training to prevent shoplifting. You can use clothing security tags to prevent theft but if your store management team and employees have not received training to stop shoplifting then you are not doing all you can to put a stop to crime. You may think you are training your managers to ensure all customers are receiving customer service but I am here to tell you that is not enough. To truly take steps to address shoplifting a store owner has to have a team trained in all aspects of theft prevention. If you can do that you will deter the casual crook and the professional pilferer.  The in-depth training I am alluding to does not come from the novice but a business built around helping retailers improve shortage results and increase profits. 

     Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. (LPSI) specializes in retail theft prevention offering everything from clothing security options to store risk assessments and a wide range of training options. With LPSI’s services, a retail owner can schedule live, in-person training seminars, live webinar training, emailed Loss Prevention tips and online monthly newsletters with articles from experienced Loss Prevention Professionals. Did you know there are proper ways to respond to electronic article surveillance alarm activations? Are you aware that an anti-theft system that is not functioning properly can become a liability to your customer service efforts and they can also impact the effectiveness of a system? There are best practices for the placement of Sensormatic tags on clothing; do you know what those best practices are? Do you and your team know how to identify common characteristics of shoplifters? Do you know the differences between Organized Retail Crime organizations and opportunistic shoplifters? Do you and your team know how to deter each and when it is appropriate to contact police about suspicious activity? LPSI can train your staff on all of these issues and how they can stay safe in the process. 

     Since this series on clothing security has been about Organized Retail Crime and training I want to give a word of caution to store managers and owners. Shoplifting is not a “victimless crime” and in cases involving organized theft rings it can be dangerous. Some of the people involved can be extremely aggressive. If you take the steps I have outlined in these articles you will enhance clothing security (and the security of other merchandise) while keeping your employees safe. Above all else, THAT should be your number one priority.
For more information on clothing security contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

In Parts 1 and 2 I discussed the problem clothing security when merchants have to combat opportunistic shoplifters and Organized Retail Crime rings. We discussed the international reach some of these groups can have in their theft activity. We also looked at the difficulty retailers can have in distinguishing between opportunists and professional shoplifters. Does it make a difference to identify one versus the other? In our examples of Organized crime we saw the impact on one national chain and how they are getting hit for thousands of dollars in theft on multiple incidents and in different parts of the nation. I pointed out that the anti-theft tactics of retail stores has to be multi-layered. It starts with the cultivation of a strong customer service focus. Employees must actively seek out and interact with shoppers. With a very few rare exceptions thieves do not want to be seen or assisted. Anonymity gives them the cover they need to steal.
     

The use of electronic article surveillance and Sensormatic tags is the next layer of protection. Shoplifters would prefer to steal clothing that has no security device on it. Anti-theft tags pose the risk of alarm activations and they require some means of removal if the clothes they are on are lifted successfully from a store. I did mention in the earlier articles that professional theft rings may use booster bags that are intended to defeat electronic article surveillance devices but Sensormatic tags provide the ultimate protection since they are not affected by these theft tools.
     

The next layer of anti-theft protection a store can incorporate is training to prevent shoplifting. You can use clothing security tags to prevent theft but if your store management team and employees have not received training to stop shoplifting then you are not doing all you can to put a stop to crime. You may think you are training your managers to ensure all customers are receiving customer service but I am here to tell you that is not enough. To truly take steps to address shoplifting a store owner has to have a team trained in all aspects of theft prevention. If you can do that you will deter the casual crook and the professional pilferer.  The in-depth training I am alluding to does not come from the novice but a business built around helping retailers improve shortage results and increase profits. 
     

Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. (LPSI) specializes in retail theft prevention offering everything from clothing security options to store risk assessments and a wide range of training options. With LPSI’s services, a retail owner can schedule live, in-person training seminars, live webinar training, emailed Loss Prevention tips and online monthly newsletters with articles from experienced Loss Prevention Professionals. Did you know there are proper ways to respond to electronic article surveillance alarm activations? Are you aware that an anti-theft system that is not functioning properly can become a liability to your customer service efforts and they can also impact the effectiveness of a system? There are best practices for the placement of Sensormatic tags on clothing; do you know what those best practices are? Do you and your team know how to identify common characteristics of shoplifters? Do you know the differences between Organized Retail Crime organizations and opportunistic shoplifters? Do you and your team know how to deter each and when it is appropriate to contact police about suspicious activity? LPSI can train your staff on all of these issues and how they can stay safe in the process. 
     

Since this series on clothing security has been about Organized Retail Crime and training I want to give a word of caution to store managers and owners. Shoplifting is not a “victimless crime” and in cases involving organized theft rings it can be dangerous. Some of the people involved can be extremely aggressive. If you take the steps I have outlined in these articles you will enhance clothing security (and the security of other merchandise) while keeping your employees safe. Above all else, THAT should be your number one priority.

 

For more information on clothing security contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

 

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What Should Retail Workers Be Expected To Do To Stop Shoplifting? Part 2

April 25, 2019 by Leave a Comment

          Sensormatic Hard Tags – 3                                                                              WC blog 747
          Stop Shoplifting – 4

What Should Retail Workers Be Expected To Do To Stop Shoplifting? Part 2

     I began this series relating a discussion I had with my son about what his role should be in order to stop shoplifting at his new job since he is only a sales associate. It came about I had asked him if he had any encounters with potential thieves as he works in the shoe department of this clothing chain. After telling me about a suspicious incident in which a customer may have stolen an expensive pair of shoes I told him what he can do in the future to help prevent a similar occurrence. I continued the article mentioning that in my former role as a Loss Prevention Manager for over 11 years I trained employees on how to place electronic article surveillance tags like the Sensormatic hard tags. I also trained employee on how to respond properly to electronic article surveillance alarms. My duties also included investigating employee theft cases and apprehending shoplifters. My general tip to my son and other retail employees is they should not be expected to be experts in identifying a shoplifter. They should however have a sense of when someone is suspicious and indicators to look for that would suggest it would be a good idea to notify a manager or Loss Prevention. They should also be ensuring that if the store uses electronic article surveillance devices they have an obligation to ensure merchandise is properly protected.

     Identifying suspicious people is not always easy to do. Sometimes there are behaviors that are suspicious and other times it may be the attire someone is wearing that may be suspicious. What is never acceptable and I warned my Loss Prevention Associates about NOT doing this is to base a suspicion on physical characteristics such as age or race. In my training I would use the following as tips for employees to determine if a shopper might be suspicious and help stop shoplifting:
• Unseasonable clothing. If a person is wearing a heavy coat and the temperature outside does not warrant it that person should be given extra customer service.
• Carrying a Large tote or handbag into the store that appears to be empty. Give that shopper a bit of extra attention and if the bag starts to appear fuller as they shop, become even more helpful.
• When a person enters the store with a ball cap pulled down low and especially if wearing sunglasses into the store and not removing them, give extra attention to that person. They are probably trying to conceal their face from cameras.
• This one is going to seem contrary to what a shoplifter would do but it was part of my talk with my son. If a customer seems TOO chatty and not about the products you are showing them, be suspicious. Sometimes it is a method used by thieves to try to gain the trust of an employee and I have even had a Loss Prevention officer of mine fooled by this tactic.
• There is also the shopper who is quick to avoid ANY interaction with an associate. They don’t want any help, they stand in corners and out of the main traffic areas and they look around more than they look at the merchandise. They might be trying to find a way to remove Sensormatic hard tags or other anti-theft devices.
These are just a few tips from my experiences and training I received and provided. I would like to point out that at no time do I tell you that you or your staff should accuse or even suggest someone is trying to steal. Every customer should be greeted in a warm and welcoming manner and offered assistance, it is the right thing to do and it will improve sales. If any of the situations above take place then EXTRA customer service should be offered to stop shoplifting. Spend more time around the customer, engage them in conversation and give them little opportunity to conceal anything. Always be pleasant. The shoplifters tend to get vocal and start to make accusations of harassment but you can always fall back to the fact that you were strictly providing customer service. 

     These are a few suggestions to get you started but this is not all encompassing. Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. has more information on Sensormatic hard tags and security systems and how they can improve sales and profit. They also have training opportunities on how to prevent shoplifting and even employee theft. There are blogs, newsletters and videos filled with informative tips and tricks to help you improve and grow your business. You and your employees can stop shoplifting without ever placing anyone in a position of having to accuse a person of trying to steal and that keeps everyone safe.
For more information about how to stop shoplifting contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

I began this series relating a discussion I had with my son about what his role should be in order to stop shoplifting at his new job since he is only a sales associate. It came about I had asked him if he had any encounters with potential thieves as he works in the shoe department of this clothing chain. After telling me about a suspicious incident in which a customer may have stolen an expensive pair of shoes I told him what he can do in the future to help prevent a similar occurrence. I continued the article mentioning that in my former role as a Loss Prevention Manager for over 11 years I trained employees on how to place electronic article surveillance tags like the Sensormatic hard tags. I also trained employee on how to respond properly to electronic article surveillance alarms. My duties also included investigating employee theft cases and apprehending shoplifters. My general tip to my son and other retail employees is they should not be expected to be experts in identifying a shoplifter. They should however have a sense of when someone is suspicious and indicators to look for that would suggest it would be a good idea to notify a manager or Loss Prevention. They should also be ensuring that if the store uses electronic article surveillance devices they have an obligation to ensure merchandise is properly protected.
     

Identifying suspicious people is not always easy to do. Sometimes there are behaviors that are suspicious and other times it may be the attire someone is wearing that may be suspicious. What is never acceptable and I warned my Loss Prevention Associates about NOT doing this is to base a suspicion on physical characteristics such as age or race. In my training I would use the following as tips for employees to determine if a shopper might be suspicious and help stop shoplifting:

• Unseasonable clothing. If a person is wearing a heavy coat and the temperature outside does not warrant it that person should be given extra customer service.

• Carrying a Large tote or handbag into the store that appears to be empty. Give that shopper a bit of extra attention and if the bag starts to appear fuller as they shop, become even more helpful.

• When a person enters the store with a ball cap pulled down low and especially if wearing sunglasses into the store and not removing them, give extra attention to that person. They are probably trying to conceal their face from cameras.

• This one is going to seem contrary to what a shoplifter would do but it was part of my talk with my son. If a customer seems TOO chatty and not about the products you are showing them, be suspicious. Sometimes it is a method used by thieves to try to gain the trust of an employee and I have even had a Loss Prevention officer of mine fooled by this tactic.

• There is also the shopper who is quick to avoid ANY interaction with an associate. They don’t want any help, they stand in corners and out of the main traffic areas and they look around more than they look at the merchandise. They might be trying to find a way to remove Sensormatic hard tags or other anti-theft devices.

These are just a few tips from my experiences and training I received and provided. I would like to point out that at no time do I tell you that you or your staff should accuse or even suggest someone is trying to steal. Every customer should be greeted in a warm and welcoming manner and offered assistance, it is the right thing to do and it will improve sales. If any of the situations above take place then EXTRA customer service should be offered to stop shoplifting. Spend more time around the customer, engage them in conversation and give them little opportunity to conceal anything. Always be pleasant. The shoplifters tend to get vocal and start to make accusations of harassment but you can always fall back to the fact that you were strictly providing customer service. 
     

These are a few suggestions to get you started but this is not all encompassing. Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. has more information on Sensormatic hard tags and security systems and how they can improve sales and profit. They also have training opportunities on how to prevent shoplifting and even employee theft. There are blogs, newsletters and videos filled with informative tips and tricks to help you improve and grow your business. You and your employees can stop shoplifting without ever placing anyone in a position of having to accuse a person of trying to steal and that keeps everyone safe.

 

For more information about how to stop shoplifting contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

 

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What can a Loss Prevention System do for you?

April 19, 2019 by Leave a Comment

Loss prevention technology along with the proper personnel training will allow a retail store to reduce loss, improve customer service and provide the data necessary to access up to minute inventory information in the store.

A loss prevention system is a preventable measure retail stores need to adopt to prevent the losses that plague the retail industry. A loss prevention system along with trained personnel can be a deterrent to shoplifting, vendor and employee theft that can save the retail store thousands of dollars a month.

A loss prevention system can protect the merchandise in the store while protecting customers and the employees as well. Incidents, where violence and sometimes deaths occur, can be avoided with the proper systems, training, and the continuous effort to ensure the safety of the employees and customers alike.

A loss prevention system can allow the employees and manager of a store to focus and ensure customers have a good experience shopping at their store. Good customer experience can translate to continuous business, and great customer satisfaction has been linked to less shoplifting in the retail industry.

If you are the owner of several retail stores, a loss prevention system can be adapted to each store’s unique layout and needs while providing the same information you need to prevent shoplifting or to take the necessary measures to prevent it.

A loss prevention system is an investment a retail store cannot do without, but along with an investment in a loss prevention system, trained personnel plays an important role in making sure the system can do what it is supposed to do. Data from the loss prevention system cannot go unchecked, and it cannot be ignored.

Employees have to be trained and knowledgeable of the stores’ policies and procedures regarding shoplifting to ensure an efficient and quick response if shoplifting occurs in the store. Violence can and must be avoided at all costs.

There’s research out there that clearly indicates the cost versus benefits of having a loss prevention system in place.  Profits in a business can be slim, losing them to shoplifting, employee or vendor theft can be detrimental to any business.

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

Benefitting From A Sensormatic System Part 1

April 12, 2019 by Leave a Comment

 

Sensormatic Systems-4                                                                                             WC Blog 790
Stop Shoplifting – 3
Benefitting From A Sensormatic System Part 1
     I just attended training at the store where I work as a sales associate and the conversation got me to thinking about Sensormatic systems. Our training was on printers and we were discussing the difference between features of a printer and benefits of a particular printer. The trainer pointed out features such as an extra feed tray, a large display screen, the wide format of the printer and printing speed. Features in this case are elements of a printer that can appeal to a specific client. A benefit of a printer was what that printer would do for the customer. One customer may need to print a lot of forms so an extra feed tray reduces the amount of time the customer has to replenishing paper. A faster print speed allows the user to get more done in a shorter period of time freeing up valuable time for the user for other projects. So I wondered what I would tell someone about the features and the benefits to retailers who invest in an anti-theft system.
     Now it really isn’t a really difficult question but it is one that is packed full of information. For one thing Sensormatic systems are a trusted developer of electronic article surveillance (EAS) equipment. They continue to be an innovative leader in new tags and anti-theft devices to stop shoplifting. For example cosmetics and small merchandise that can be easily concealed in a pocket have long been a real problem for retailers. They don’t want to lock up these items because it hinders sales and it is unfair to the majority of honest customers. Traditional EAS tags have just been too large to place on these items. The Sensormatic HBC tag eliminates this issue. The feature as we see with this tag is it is a slim design that allows it to be placed on the small merchandise that was previously “untaggable”. The benefit to shop owners is that they can put these small pieces of merchandise out for customers to buy and the tag will stop shoplifting. Another benefit to the owners is the elimination of shoplifting decreases stock shortage and increases the in-stocks of these items. When out-of-stock issues go away customers can find what they are looking for and sales increases. The benefit of the HBC tags is multiplied several times over.
     Another feature of Sensormatic systems you will be interested in includes the ability to have a people counting device added in to many of their towers. At first this may seem to be an odd feature to an anti-theft system but if you are looking at enhancing your sales and you can do it using an EAS system why not take advantage of it? By making a Distinction between sales transactions and customer traffic you will be able to learn how many potential sales you are missing during the day or week. You can use the information to reallocate your payroll and personnel so that you can optimize opportunities to capture the sales you may be missing.That is a big benefit to you. 
     The ability to add a camera to some Sensormatic towers is an invaluable feature that should not be overlooked by store owners. What benefit does a store manager derive from a camera? When paired with EAS alarm activations managers can see video or images of who caused the alarm at the doors. Now bear in mind you don’t want to make an accusation of theft based on an EAS alarm but as you start to see the same person over and over again you can be on the alert for the suspect. You can even track alarm event times. It is my experience that often thieves unintentionally develop patterns and a Sensormatic camera can assist in your efforts to stop shoplifting by these criminals.
     In part 2 of this series we will continue our conversation about benefits and features of Sensormatic systems. EAS is an effective tool for shortage reduction but not all systems are created equally and a low-cost system will give you little in return on investment results. Be sure to look for part 2 to learn more about benefits and features that make Sensormatic the EAS vendor of choice for over 80% of the world’s top 200 retailers.
For more information about Sensormatic systems contact us or call 1.770.426.0547.
  
      
     

I just attended training at the store where I work as a sales associate and the conversation got me to thinking about Sensormatic systems. Our training was on printers and we were discussing the difference between features of a printer and benefits of a particular printer. The trainer pointed out features such as an extra feed tray, a large display screen, the wide format of the printer and printing speed. Features in this case are elements of a printer that can appeal to a specific client. A benefit of a printer was what that printer would do for the customer. One customer may need to print a lot of forms so an extra feed tray reduces the amount of time the customer has to replenishing paper. A faster print speed allows the user to get more done in a shorter period of time freeing up valuable time for the user for other projects. So I wondered what I would tell someone about the features and the benefits to retailers who invest in an anti-theft system.

Now it really isn’t a really difficult question but it is one that is packed full of information. For one thing Sensormatic systems are a trusted developer of electronic article surveillance (EAS) equipment. They continue to be an innovative leader in new tags and anti-theft devices to stop shoplifting. For example cosmetics and small merchandise that can be easily concealed in a pocket have long been a real problem for retailers. They don’t want to lock up these items because it hinders sales and it is unfair to the majority of honest customers. Traditional EAS tags have just been too large to place on these items. The Sensormatic HBC tag eliminates this issue. The feature as we see with this tag is it is a slim design that allows it to be placed on the small merchandise that was previously “untaggable”. The benefit to shop owners is that they can put these small pieces of merchandise out for customers to buy and the tag will stop shoplifting. Another benefit to the owners is the elimination of shoplifting decreases stock shortage and increases the in-stocks of these items. When out-of-stock issues go away customers can find what they are looking for and sales increases. The benefit of the HBC tags is multiplied several times over.     

Another feature of Sensormatic systems you will be interested in includes the ability to have a people counting device added in to many of their towers. At first this may seem to be an odd feature to an anti-theft system but if you are looking at enhancing your sales and you can do it using an EAS system why not take advantage of it? By making a Distinction between sales transactions and customer traffic you will be able to learn how many potential sales you are missing during the day or week. You can use the information to reallocate your payroll and personnel so that you can optimize opportunities to capture the sales you may be missing.That is a big benefit to you. 

The ability to add a camera to some Sensormatic towers is an invaluable feature that should not be overlooked by store owners. What benefit does a store manager derive from a camera? When paired with EAS alarm activations managers can see video or images of who caused the alarm at the doors. Now bear in mind you don’t want to make an accusation of theft based on an EAS alarm but as you start to see the same person over and over again you can be on the alert for the suspect. You can even track alarm event times. It is my experience that often thieves unintentionally develop patterns and a Sensormatic camera can assist in your efforts to stop shoplifting by these criminals.

In part 2 of this series we will continue our conversation about benefits and features of Sensormatic systems. EAS is an effective tool for shortage reduction but not all systems are created equally and a low-cost system will give you little in return on investment results. Be sure to look for part 2 to learn more about benefits and features that make Sensormatic the EAS vendor of choice for over 80% of the world’s top 200 retailers.

 

For more information about Sensormatic systems contact us or call 1.770.426.0547.             

 

 

Filed Under: antishoplifting Tagged With:

Clothing Security – A Local Problem Or Something Bigger? Part 2

April 4, 2019 by Leave a Comment

 

                                                                                                                                                       WC Blog 762
Sensormatic Tags – 4
Clothing Security-4
Clothing Security – A Local Problem Or Something Bigger? Part 2
      In Part 1 of this series on clothing security I challenged retailers to begin looking at the problem of shoplifting as more than a local issue. I referenced an article I found on an international Organized Retail Crime (ORC) group that was caught in Australia. The international flavor to the story was that this group was based out of Chile and one member had been caught in a police raid on a hotel room in the Los Angeles, California area in 2018. One store that was specifically mentioned in the article that had been targeted by these people was Victoria’s Secret. I have more to say on that in a bit. What I am concerned about is whether or not retailers are looking at their merchandise shortage and assuming that they are just being targeted by opportunists? Are retailers using Sensormatic tags and systems to protect clothes from theft? Are all possible steps being taken to stop this activity?
     National chain store Loss Prevention Departments already know about Organized Retail Theft gangs and how they get away with their activity. Smaller, independent store owners may not be familiar with these gangs. Managers may not recognize that missing merchandise can be more than just shoplifting by people looking for kicks it may be something more ominous. Now I can’t be of much assistance to the national chain stores as they have their Loss Prevention Departments and most have decided on what their model of theft prevention is going to be. I CAN help those of you who own your own stores. I will tell you that if you don’t use Sensormatic tags and electronic article surveillance pedestals you are being hurt by shoplifters. They are emptying your shelves and keeping real patrons from being able to purchase those items. I can also tell you as I mentioned in Part 1 that there are layers to a strong anti-theft culture. It starts with customer service from the time a customer enters the store until the time they leave. I am not talking about haranguing someone but just greeting people, offering assistance being observant and being available. 
     The next layer to an anti-theft culture is the use of clothing security tags on merchandise. The security devices used in your store should be Sensormatic tags. Professional shoplifters, as mentioned in the news article in Part 1, use “booster bags”. These are bags lined with tin foil with the purpose of interfering with electronic article surveillance systems. Acousto-magnetic Sensormatic tags are immune to these bags so theft attempts are thwarted at the towers as a shoplifter approaches. Other brands of security tags will set off pedestals but a booster bag will prevent them from working correctly. I will also say that other brands are not as reliable as those manufactured by Sensormatic, especially if they are made by an unknown manufacturer.
     I pointed out that Victoria’s Secret was specifically mentioned as a victim by this international criminal theft ring. It would appear from the research I was able to do on this retailer that this chain uses for clothing security. If that is true then there is something going on that is not working properly in their protection strategy.  I do know that in searching articles on shoplifting this store pops up a lot. Many of those news items indicated the theft incidents were in the thousands of dollars. After finding out about a national organized retail crime organization stealing from there, I wondered how many similar theft activities might also be international in scope. Here are some examples of what I mean:
• Gwinnet Daily Post, Jan 2, 2019 by Isabel Hughes – “Shoplifters steal over $300,000 from Gwinnett Victoria’s Secret stores”
• Myrtlebeachonline.com, Dec 5, 2018 by Hannah Strong – “’Professional Shoplifters?’ Thieves stuff clothes in bags at Victoria’s Secret, cops say”. The story reports three people stole around $3,800 in clothes.
• Greenvilleonline.com, Oct 9, 2018 by Teddy Kumala – “Men in bonnets shoplift thousands from Spartanburg Victoria’s Secret store”
• Abc7chicago.com, March 13, 2018, “Women arrested for trying to steal 11Kworth of Victoria’s Secret bras”
I want to say that I am not being critical of Victoria’s Secret as they are the victim of these criminals. I am saying there is something that is going on that is creating these kinds of headlines. It is also making them a target of extremely significant shoplifting activity.
    The final layer in a strong anti-theft culture involves the training of store managers and personnel. In Part 3 of this series I will discuss the importance of manager training to prevent shoplifting and employee theft and how it relates to clothing security. 
Need information on clothing security? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.

In Part 1 of this series on clothing security I challenged retailers to begin looking at the problem of shoplifting as more than a local issue. I referenced an article I found on an international Organized Retail Crime (ORC) group that was caught in Australia. The international flavor to the story was that this group was based out of Chile and one member had been caught in a police raid on a hotel room in the Los Angeles, California area in 2018. One store that was specifically mentioned in the article that had been targeted by these people was Victoria’s Secret. I have more to say on that in a bit. What I am concerned about is whether or not retailers are looking at their merchandise shortage and assuming that they are just being targeted by opportunists? Are retailers using Sensormatic tags and systems to protect clothes from theft? Are all possible steps being taken to stop this activity?

National chain store Loss Prevention Departments already know about Organized Retail Theft gangs and how they get away with their activity. Smaller, independent store owners may not be familiar with these gangs. Managers may not recognize that missing merchandise can be more than just shoplifting by people looking for kicks it may be something more ominous. Now I can’t be of much assistance to the national chain stores as they have their Loss Prevention Departments and most have decided on what their model of theft prevention is going to be. I CAN help those of you who own your own stores. I will tell you that if you don’t use Sensormatic tags and electronic article surveillance pedestals you are being hurt by shoplifters. They are emptying your shelves and keeping real patrons from being able to purchase those items. I can also tell you as I mentioned in Part 1 that there are layers to a strong anti-theft culture. It starts with customer service from the time a customer enters the store until the time they leave. I am not talking about haranguing someone but just greeting people, offering assistance being observant and being available. 

The next layer to an anti-theft culture is the use of clothing security tags on merchandise. The security devices used in your store should be Sensormatic tags. Professional shoplifters, as mentioned in the news article in Part 1, use “booster bags”. These are bags lined with tin foil with the purpose of interfering with electronic article surveillance systems. Acousto-magnetic Sensormatic tags are immune to these bags so theft attempts are thwarted at the towers as a shoplifter approaches. Other brands of security tags will set off pedestals but a booster bag will prevent them from working correctly. I will also say that other brands are not as reliable as those manufactured by Sensormatic, especially if they are made by an unknown manufacturer.

I pointed out that Victoria’s Secret was specifically mentioned as a victim by this international criminal theft ring. It would appear from the research I was able to do on this retailer that this chain uses for clothing security. If that is true then there is something going on that is not working properly in their protection strategy.  I do know that in searching articles on shoplifting this store pops up a lot. Many of those news items indicated the theft incidents were in the thousands of dollars. After finding out about a national organized retail crime organization stealing from there, I wondered how many similar theft activities might also be international in scope. Here are some examples of what I mean:

• Gwinnet Daily Post, Jan 2, 2019 by Isabel Hughes – “Shoplifters steal over $300,000 from Gwinnett Victoria’s Secret stores”

• Myrtlebeachonline.com, Dec 5, 2018 by Hannah Strong – “’Professional Shoplifters?’ Thieves stuff clothes in bags at Victoria’s Secret, cops say”. The story reports three people stole around $3,800 in clothes.

• Greenvilleonline.com, Oct 9, 2018 by Teddy Kumala – “Men in bonnets shoplift thousands from Spartanburg Victoria’s Secret store”

• Abc7chicago.com, March 13, 2018, “Women arrested for trying to steal 11Kworth of Victoria’s Secret bras”

I want to say that I am not being critical of Victoria’s Secret as they are the victim of these criminals. I am saying there is something that is going on that is creating these kinds of headlines. It is also making them a target of extremely significant shoplifting activity.

The final layer in a strong anti-theft culture involves the training of store managers and personnel. In Part 3 of this series I will discuss the importance of manager training to prevent shoplifting and employee theft and how it relates to clothing security. 

 

Need information on clothing security? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.

 

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: ,

I Want Shoplifters To Steal From My Store!

March 31, 2019 by Leave a Comment

Really?? Is that what you are thinking? Because if you do not have an active shoplifting prevention plan that you work, then you might as well put up a sign that says “Shoplift Here Because We Do Not Care!” That is what the shoplifters hear and see.  

So to have a great plan in place for shoplifters to steal, here are the things you need to do: 

  • Poor customer service. Shoplifters love it when they come into your store and the customer service is lax, mediocre or simply non-existent. They do not need your help to steal, just privacy. 
  • Make sure you do not train your employees to spot and/or deter shoplifters. Lazy, untrained store staff are the shoplifter’s best friend. You really cannot say “steal my stuff” better than that. 
  •  DO NOT BUY a Sensormatic anti-shoplifting system from Loss Prevention Systems! We are in the business of shutting down shoplifters. 
  • Make sure that you keep the lighting dim. Do not replace lights when they go out especially in dark, hidden areas of your store. It makes the shoplifter’s job easier. 
  • Do not put those pesky little Sensormatic hard tags and labels on your merchandise. It hurts the shoplifter’s ability to resell your stuff.  
  • Make sure that your staff never greets anyone when they come in. If you are not going to supply good customer service anyway do not bother to look up from your smart phone. You certainly do not want to have a low score in that on-line game you are playing. Besides, greeting shoplifters makes them feel uncomfortable because they have been noticed. 
  • Make sure shoplifters have a clear unobstructed path out of your doors. That way the arm load of merchandise they have in hidden or in plain sight does not get in their way. Actually it will make it more convenient for them to load up even more. 
  • If you want to at least feel a little better about all this put up signs that say “No Shoplifting” or “Shoplifters Will Be Prosecuted”. This sends a clear signal to the shoplifters that you have no clue about what it takes to stop them. It is kind of like that old joke; putting up shoplifting signs is like wetting your pants in a dark suit. You feel warm but no one notices. 
  • If you do spot a shoplifter, do not stop them. This is the best way to spread the word in the shoplifting world. They will flock to you like flies to….. They will clean you out just in time to move in next season’s merchandise. Hey, this also saves you time and payroll dollars in the inventory process since there is less to count. 
  • Make sure you have a CCTV system since shoplifters do not care about cameras. They know you do not have the payroll dollars to watch them full time and they know that they will be long gone before you would have any opportunity to review the recording. 

On the other hand shoplifting prevention is not all that difficult. Just do the opposite of the items listed above. We can help you with all of it from procedures, training and the installation of a brand new Sensormatic system. 

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