Staff Editor — Page 268

Employee Theft Interviews

June 22, 2011 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

So, you’re a corporate fraud investigator and it’s time for you to conduct an employee theft interview. We all know that the ultimate goal of your interview is to get the subject to confess that they have taken part in some sort of internal theft, right? Well, what you may not know is that what the subject does is just as important as what they say. Non-verbal communication makes up 90% of the average person’s daily communication. Therefore, as a corporate fraud investigator it is extremely beneficial for you to know what to look for in order to quickly and efficiently get that confession that you so desperately want.

The phrase “neuro linguistic programming” refers to the almost involuntary movement of your eyes when asked a direct question. How is this useful in an employee theft interview? Well, let’s say you’re smack dab in the middle of an employee theft investigation and you ask your subject, “What happened in the cash office on Tuesday night?” Watch their eyes. If they look up and to the left (the part of the brain that controls imagination) they’re most likely making up a story to tell you. Conversely, if they look up and to the right (the part of the brain that controls memory) they’re likely trying to remember exactly what happened Tuesday night.

During an employee theft investigation, an individual’s body movements, posture, etc. can all be visual clues as to whether it is the right time to close in and push for that admission of internal theft. If someone sits with their arms folded indignantly staring at you and denying all wrong-doing through most of the interview then suddenly drops their arms, slumps their shoulders and stares at the ground it’s a good indication that mentally they’ve given up and it’s time for you to close in. As a corporate fraud investigator it is vital that you understand the part that non-verbals play in the employee theft interview process.

Visit the Retail Loss Prevention Store

For more information in internal theft , employee theft , employee theft investigation or a corporate fraud investigator contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: corporate fraud investigator, employee theft, employee theft investigation, internal theft

Clothing Security Tags Protect Profits

June 20, 2011 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

Clothing security tags with a clothing alarm really do increase profits. There are many managers out there that either don’t wanna see the profitability or can’t see it. To those managers, I say they are using Clothing Security tags incorrectly.

Clothing security tags work to secure profits a couple of different ways. From the visual aspect of clothing alarm and clothing security tags to the actual protection of merchandise, clothing security boost your profits.

Recently, I visited a store where the manager refused to follow the clothing security program as required by the company. He was somewhat rogue, maybe even a bit cynical, whatever it was, and it didn’t work to his benefit. I walked several areas of the store and noticed roughly 75% of the merchandise that need clothing security tags was untouched. I completed a quick cycle count of merchandise and looked at the sales for these items. I found on the men shirts rack that at least 10 shirts were missing. After walking the stockrooms and looking for the items, the explanation was clearer. Theses shirts arrived to the store 3 days earlier, and according to the workload schedule, the shirts were definitely put out on the salesfloor. These shirts retailed at $49.99 each and were suppose to be fitted with some form of clothing security. Not at this store. The manager didn’t see any value in security tags on clothes. In fact, he believed the merchandise was better to stuffed out onto the salesfloor and sell it quick. It’s a nice theory if we lived in a perfect world. However, without security tags on clothes and a clothing alarm the merchandise would leave the building quicker than by selling it.

Security tags on clothes woulda have worked to protect this merchandise better. However, without complete employee/manager buy in, no clothing security program can work. Security tags on clothes takes a team effort, and is important if any business wants to succeed.

Visit the Retail Loss Prevention store.

For more information contact us at clothing security tags or call 1.770.426.0547

Filed Under: antishoplifting

Make your Fitting Room an anti shoplifting zone

June 19, 2011 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

Wherever I go and whomever I talk to in this field I hear the same complaint: It’s nearly impossible to stop shoplifting in fitting rooms. The biggest reason for this difficulty is the inability of most retailers to spend the payroll to employ a dedicated fitting room attendant; someone who can provide a superior level of customer service to everyone using the fitting rooms, while (most importantly) discouraging any would-be shoplifters from concealing merchandise while inside of the secluded spaces. What’s the solution to making your fitting room an anti shoplifting zone? Checkpoint Systems retail anti theft devices.

Checkpoint Systems offers Fully Integrated Tags (FIT) which provide branding, data and security in a single tag. Using these Checkpoint labels means that when a crook enters the fitting room with the intent to steal and look for the usual retail anti theft devices (i.e. EAS or ink tags) and find none they’ll believe they’re in the clear. It’s not until the bells and whistles start going off that they’ll realize that something has gone terribly wrong with their plan. They have just walked through an anti shoplifting zone.

In addition to helping you stop shoplifting, Checkpoint labels retail anti theft devices also afford retailers with the ability to speed merchandise to the shelf. This can save you valuable man hours which you can in turn use to increase profits by focusing on sales, customer service or by employing a dedicated fitting room attendant to further cut down on shrink within your organization. Checkpoint labels are also helpful anti shoplifting tool in combating internal theft as well, making them a worthwhile investment for any retail company. If you’re serious in your attempts to stop shoplifting then you need to take a serious look at Checkpoint Systems.

Visit the Retail Loss Prevention Store

For more information contact us: Stop Shoplifting or call 1.770.426.0547

Filed Under: antishoplifting Tagged With: Anti-Shoplifting, Checkpoint labels, checkpoint systems, Retail Anti Theft Devices, stop shoplifting

Bottle Security will Prevent Thieves from Stealing your Profits

June 19, 2011 by Staff Editor

Alpha Security, the leader in loss prevention and security options for businesses, has security products available for those who sell wine and spirits. These businesses know all too well that wine and liquor are considered high theft products. Some people just don’t want to have to pay for their booze.

Businesses that sell liquor do not have to just keep raising prices to offset the losses hey are having. Bottle locks from Alpha Security, such as EASy bottle caps are an amazing commodity for those that sell liquor and wine. An EASy bottle lock is a hard plastic bottle lock which can only be removed by using a special key when the bottle is purchased. Liquor stores know all too well that bold shoplifters will just walk into the business, grab several bottles, and then walk out of the store. Using bottle locks can be a terrific deterrent to this “grab and go” type of theft.

Additionally, your customers like to be able to browse your products, handle the bottles, and read the labels. If bottle security is not used businesses owners just could not afford to allow this luxury. Knowing all too well the risk of displaying quality liquors and wines, many businesses opt to have these items behind a counter or in a locked case. Either way, sales suffer due to these restrictions.

Could you imagine having your finest products displayed out on the shelf where customers can get a full view of what your business has to offer? With a minimal investment in bottle security this dream can come true. If you use bottle lock on your product your losses can be greatly reduced and your sales can greatly increase. That combination of reduced losses and increased sales means increased profit for your business. That is something the shoplifters cannot steal from you.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase bottle security by Alpha Security.

For more information on Alpha Security , bottle lock , bottle locks or bottle Security contact us at EASy bottle or call 1.770.426.0547.

Filed Under: Security Tagged With: Alpha Security, bottle lock, bottle locks, bottle security, easy bottle

Prevent Shoplifting Isn’t Getting Any Better Anytime soon!

June 19, 2011 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

Aggressively prevent shoplifting in your retail store or your profits will suffer. Shoplifters are not going away anytime soon. In fact as un-employment continues to be high and the economy remains unstable a higher percentage of people are shoplifting to get what they need and want. We also know from studies that shoplifters shift to unprotected retailers.

From many years of experience in loss prevention, I know that when shoplifters know that you are an easy target they will hit you over and over again. Shoplifters will also tell their friends about your store (“Hey they are asleep at the switch in there. They are clueless”). Over time you become “the store of choice” for shoplifters. Without realizing it your profits get slowly worse.

What measures do you take in order to prevent shoplifting from your business?

Training!!! Have an Anti-shoplifting training program. Doing it once feels good for a while but like any other business issue unless you make it a priority your employees will loose interest over time. You have to refresh and train new people.
Don’t be afraid to approach suspected shoplifters. Their goal is to be anonymous. Let them know you are aware, see and are helping them. Shoplifters hate customer service. Give them their fill! If necessary stand right there with them providing exceptional customer service.
Install a Checkpoint Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) system. Label and tag a select group of merchandise. EAS is a labor multiplier. Spend less labor dollars to cover the same amount of sales floor. Shoplifters are caught at the door. This creates deterrence. Word will get around.

Not doing everything you can to prevent shoplifting is the same as hoping that a roof leak will repair itself. YOU can fix the problem. Step back and objectively look at your operation now. You might be surprised what you see.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Prevent Shoplifting

Exactly what is the primary cause of Employee theft in Atlanta GA?

June 19, 2011 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

We know from long experience in the corporate fraud investigation field that there are many reasons for the employee theft you may be experiencing. Greed, want, need are all reasons. We as employers can do little to effect the reasons except to do the best we can to screen out potential problems. Criminal background checks find problems such as candidates with poor criminal histories; candidates that have a poor credit history who may be handling our money and drug abusers top the list

But what are the CAUSES of employee theft? In the 2010 Global Fraud Study by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners it was found that the leading primary internal theft weakness is…”Lack of Internal Controls”. In organizations with less than 100 employees it amounts to 47% (over 100 employees equals 33.7%). There is not even a close second.

Keep in mind that the cause is something that we as business leaders have complete control over. Yet business appear to do little, or clearly not enough, to protect the fragile margins we have. I believe that there are two reasons for this.

Number one is that it seems in many cases there is a lack of strong leadership. The kind of leadership that people understand and respect. An understanding by employees at all levels that strong controls that the company has in place will not under any circumstances be violated and that such violation is not open to interpretation. The violation of these procedures will be met with strict and immediate punishment at all levels. This draws a line in the sand.

Number two is that even when that line in the sand is drawn we find it to hard or we are too busy to maintain it. Because of this that line in the sand is quickly washed away by the waves. We then find ourselves a year later scratching our heads trying to make sense of why we are having yet another corporate fraud investigation another serious internal theft or series of employee theft incidents have occurred.

Want to bring internal theft under control once and for all? Make your line in the sand a granite wall with no compromise that the waves will not affect.

For more information about employee theft or a consultation for a corporate fraud investigation in Atlanta GA contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: corporate fraud investigation, employee theft, internal theft

Checkpoint Systems: The Best Way To Prevent Shoplifting

June 17, 2011 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

Over the years I’ve found that there is no fool-proof way to stop shoplifting. I’ve met some individuals with great anti shoplifting instincts and superb retail theft prevention floor surveillance skills who could sniff out a shoplifter like a bloodhound on a Porterhouse. I’ve also met other tech-types, like myself, who could work the magic of Merlin with a CCTV system. Regardless of what method you prefer, however, it’s still you against the world and that’s almost always a losing battle. That’s where Checkpoint Security Systems comes in.

See, the best form of retail theft prevention to stop shoplifting is to keep the thieves out of your establishment in the first place. Checkpoint Security Systems provide a number of solutions that, when used properly, can be a powerful anti shoplifting too and make your merchandise unattractive to the average criminal while still making it highly accessible to honest customers who wish to purchase it. Thieves are lazy, (that’s why they’re thieves and not hardworking folks like the rest of us) they’re looking for the path of least resistance. Checkpoint Systems provide tagging solutions with their Checkpoint Security tags, EAS systems, spider-wraps and the like that make crooks take a step back and think.

Is it possible to get passed these forms of retail theft prevention? Possibly, but that sounds like a lot of work. Thieves know that a lot of company’s simply don’t go through the trouble of securing their merchandise properly. They’re aware that some establishments simply don’t value their bottom line enough to use Checkpoint Systems Checkpoint Security tags and other products and services. Therefore the average crook will take that short walk or drive to the next retailer and steal their merchandise. The question you have to ask yourself is who you want to be. The path of least resistance? The easy mark? If your answer is no then you need to invest in Checkpoint Systems: the best way to stop shoplifting.

Visit the Retail Loss Prevention Store to purchase Checkpoint Security tags and other anti shoplifting tools.

For more information on Checkpoint Security Systems contact us at Stop Shoplifting or call 1.770.426.0547

Filed Under: antishoplifting Tagged With: Anti-Shoplifting, checkpoint security system, checkpoint security systems, Checkpoint security tags, checkpoint systems, retail theft prevention, stop shoplifting

Liquor Bottle Security – Try EASy Bottle

June 17, 2011 by Staff Editor

In the liquor bottle security world Alpha Security is the top of the line. Alpha Security has released a new product in the continuing war of liquor and wine bottle theft and shoplifting. The EASy Bottle bottle lock is designed to not only prevent shoplifters from removing the bottle from the store. It stops thieves from consuming the spirit on the property.

There are two earlier versions of bottle security which are still in production and have good features but Alpha Security is the top-of-the line in liquor bottle security. The bottle lock top is clear so price labels; tax stamps and the like can be seen on the cap. The EASy Bottle bottle lock contains either a RF or AM hard tag built right. This will trip your Checkpoint Security System if the shoplifter attempts to steal the bottle. The original EASy Bottle is a bulkier unit compared to this newer model of bottle locks.

The locking mechanism is a very cool improvement over Crystal Guard. Instead of twisting to lock or unlock you press down on a button to lock and the spring release pops up when you press down again to release the bottle lock. These are bottle locks that make life simple and secure. The new locking style is a much tighter grip than the early EASy Bottle design.

Of course, the liquor bottle security cap will require a key to remove it. There have been some changes in that area also. The original EASy Bottle Cap used a very simple key that could not be used with any other Alpha Security product. The newer units use an S3 key. This is a special key made only by Alpha Security. It is not just for liquor bottle security or a bottle lock. The S3 can be used with the entire Alpha Security line. This includes other hard tags but also the Steel Grip bottle locks line.

Visit the Retail Loss Prevention Store to purchase your new bottle security.

For more information about bottle locks and other bottle security options contact us at bottle security or call 1.770.426.0547

Filed Under: Security Tagged With: Alpha Security, bottle lock, bottle locks, bottle security, easy bottle, liquor bottle security

Use Clothing Security: Protect your business from shoplifters

June 17, 2011 by Staff Editor

There are a lot of red flags that you may be noticing in your business that indicate that you are a victim of theft. If you aren’t using any form of Clothing Security it is almost guaranteed. Are you finding hangers, tags, or empty packages out on your sales floor? Is there merchandise that is unaccounted for? Is your inventory telling you that there is supposed to be merchandise on your shelves that cannot be found? All of these can suggest that you are losing merchandise to shoplifters and thieves.

If you own or manage a business that sells clothing, there are types of clothing security available to help protect this highly sought after merchandise. In the retail environment I work in, we see clothing shoplifted on an almost daily basis. It is easy to conceal, therefore easier to steal. The use of Clothing security tags with a clothing alarm are some ways to help stop this downward spiral of profit loss.

Arming your store with a visible clothing alarm system at your entrance and exit, while using clothing security tags, will keep your clothing in your store for your customers to purchase. Shoplifters are observant and scope out businesses they wish to target. By having visual deterrents like security tags on clothes and a clothing alarm, you can have a profound impact on your profitability by retaining the merchandise you wish to sell.

Professional shoplifters, also called boosters, are out there and target businesses that sell clothing. They can steal thousands worth of clothes in a very short amount of time, and leave you wondering why your clothing racks are empty. Throw them off with a clothing alarm and clothing security tags, let them know you take the protection of your merchandise seriously.

If you aren’t utilizing clothing security tags you might as well say “Steal me” on the tag, next to the price that the shoplifter will not look at. But by using security tags on clothes you sell, you can send a different message to the shoplifter: “Plan to pay, or go away.”

Visit the Loss Prevention Store Website to purchase Clothing Security.

For more information on clothing security tags , clothing security or security tags on clothes contact us at clothing alarm call 1.770.426.0547.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: clothing alarm, Clothing Security, clothing security tags, security tags on clothes

Funny excuses given by shoplifters, one of the best reasons you should Prevent Shoplifting.

June 17, 2011 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

Over the years I have run into some pretty weird situations with shoplifters. When a company must prevent shoplifting they must apprehend the thieves that are stealing.

In one situation I apprehended a guy who had stolen a framed picture of Christ. He did not fight me, resist, run or any thing else that we are always prepared to deal with. But when the Police arrived at the store and we were switching handcuffs on the shoplifter he turned to me and said, “This is not a very Christian thing you are doing to me”. This guy STEALS and I am the sinner!

Another is the guy who stole a $1.00 fishing lure from a sporting goods store. That was all he took! I stopped him and took him into custody. When I got him back to the Security Office I emptied his pockets (he was handcuffed) and was bagging it up for the police when I discovered a “wad” of cash well over one hundred dollars. I was shocked (still naïve then) and asked him why he stole a minor $1.00 item when he clearly had the cash to pay for it. He said, “I wanted to see if I could get away with it”. I just shook my head and told him that it was good that he had the cash on him, as he would need it for bail.

Another of my all time favorites is this one time I stopped and detained a middle aged woman for stealing about $300 worth of new tennis shoes that I had witnessed her switch tags on to a lower priced shoe. This woman had a pretty heavy Eastern European accent. Again while police officers were taking her into custody she stated that I was discriminating against her because she was European. The police officers taking her into custody, whom I knew very well started laughing. She looked at them with shock when they told her. “Lady this store is owned by a French company and he (pointing to me) is married to German citizen. I met my clearly better half when I was in the Army stationed in Germany. They reminded her that she had the right to remain silent and they told her they would prefer that she exercise that right.

I have found over the years that you can prevent shoplifting and be entertained at the same time.

For more information on how you can prevent shoplifting please contact us at Prevent Shoplifting or call 1.770.426.0547- Atlanta Georgia

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Prevent Shoplifting