What anti shoplifting efforts are effective?

April 9, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Anti shoplifting is the topic around many retail water coolers.

Honestly, one of the most impactful anti shoplifting devices anywhere is a savvy manager. Knowing what tools he has and needs and making a conscious effort to execute each appropriately can be the best for anti shoplifting.

Outside of the savvy manager, the next best tool for anti shoplifting is a Checkpoint Security system.

About 5 years ago, I walked a store that just had a Checkpoint Security System installed. Walking the various aisles, and inspecting the different merchandise, it was very apparent this store was using checkpoint labels and checkpoint tags. The Checkpoint Security System was up and running.
Weeks before, I had been in this store. Literally, it was being overrun with shoplifters. I walked in the front door, and was immediately confront by the manager on duty who told about a thief that just ran out of the back door with a bag of merchandise. Incredible? Indeed.

Too often I heard of this store getting ripped off by thieves because the store had no anti shoplifting program. The thieves knew this, and took advantage.

Almost immediately after installing the Checkpoint Security System and placing checkpoint labels and checkpoint tags on merchandise, shoplifting decreased. In some estimates, instances of shoplifting were reduced by as much as 70%. This was huge for this store.

A Checkpoint system can save you from a lot of headaches in your business. As a professional in the field of loss prevention and an advisor, I would recommend nothing less than solid store management that communicate company expectations, execute programs and ensure compliance. These managers would have the notion to ensure each of their stores was secured with a Checkpoint Security system.

Visit the Retail Loss Prevention Store for checkpoint labels and checkpoint tags and stop shoplifting once and for all!

For more information about retail anti theft devices or retail theft prevention contact us at anti shoplifting or call us 1.770.426.0547

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Protecting clothing with security tags on clothes

April 9, 2011 by

Ahhh, the world of a shoplifter.  Free merchandise, for personal use or perhaps for resale.  Grab and go, or conceal and casually walk out.  No matter how a person chooses to steal, shoplifting is out there, and it is a major problem for businesses.

Clothing is one of the most shoplifted items.  Everyone needs it, and it is reasonably easy to steal.  It can be bunched up inside of a purse, taken into a fitting room and then put on under the shoplifter’s own clothing, or bold thieves may just grab an armful of clothing and run out the nearest exit.

Business owners do not have to live in this world of theft and mayhem, however.  Clothing security, such as security tags on clothes, is a great way to fight this type of crime.  Clothing security tags are visible to the shoplifter, and offer a deterrent to those thinking about stealing from you.  Also, if clothing security tags go past your doors, an alarm sounds.  That is attention that most shoplifters do not want to experience.

Shoplifters tend to target higher priced and sought after clothing that they would like to have but do not wish to pay for.  By having a clothing alarm, you as a business owner can feel confident in the clothing security that you have invested in for your business.  Clothing security tags are most definitely a worthwhile investment for your business.

Adding to your bottom line, increasing profits, decreasing losses, and creating better in-stock for your customers are all good goals to have.  These goals can be met with an investment in clothing security and security tags on clothes for your business.

Visit the Retail Loss Prevention Store for your clothing alarm equipment and supplies.

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

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I have bottle security – take your shoplifting elsewhere

April 8, 2011 by

I am thirsty and need a drink.  Not just a drink of water…but a drink of liquor.  So I go into the nearest store and help myself.  The clerk is busy and does not notice me sampling several different types of liquor.  Then I leave, not paying for what I have just ruined.

What is liquor bottle security?  Some business owners may not even realize such a thing exists.  But there is bottle security available for business owners that sell liquor and wine.  By investing in bottle locks, for example, the above mentioned shoplifter would have to quench his thirst elsewhere, at someone else’s expense instead of yours.

Bottle security, such as the EASy bottle cap from Alpha Security, are bottle locks that fit onto your high end or high theft liquors.  They are removed at the time of purchase by employees using a key.  The bottle lock fits over the top of the bottle and prevents a thief from opening the bottle.  By having bottle locks, you can prevent the thefts by people that just walk into your business for a free drink.  You can also deter the thieves that are looking to steal your liquor and wines, because it will be a struggle to get the bottle open, if at all.

I am thirsty and need a drink so I’d like to steal some liquor.  However, if I walk into your business and see that you have bottle security, I’m likely to take my shoplifting elsewhere.

Investing in bottle locks for your high end wine and liquors makes the products available to those who really matter – your honest customers.

Visit the Retail Loss Prevention Store for the best in liquor bottle security for your bottle lock program .

For more information about Alpha security or bottle security or liquor bottle security or bottle locks or EASy bottle or contact us at bottle lock or call 1.770.426.0547.

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Some Hints to Prevent Shoplifting – Atlanta Georgia

April 8, 2011 by Leave a Comment

The effort to prevent shoplifting is more important than ever because in the current economy, statistics have shown an increase in the incidence of shoplifting versus previous years.  Many experts are predicting that the rates will continue rising.

It’s unfortunate that someone who plans to shoplift in your store or shop doesn’t wear a sign that says, “I AM A SHOPLIFTER!” or have it printed on his forehead so you could focus all your attention on him or her.  Unfortunately, shoplifters come in every shape and size, and from diverse backgrounds.  So to pick one out of a crowd of shoppers, most knowledgeable salespeople look for certain behaviors or characteristics in a potential shoplifter.

Here are some of the things to watch for:

o Did that customer that now carries a bag have that bag when she came in?  Acknowledge each customer as they enter or as soon as you can.
o Watch the shopper’s eyes.  Does he need help, or is he watching you?
o The customer seems to avoid you as you approach and refuses your offers to help.
o Be aware of customers with “props” – rolled up newspapers, large bags, baby strollers, and other items that can be used to hide merchandise.
o Customers who enter the store in a group then quickly split up to different areas of the store.
o Customers who continually walk into “blind spots”, out of your view.
o The customer who is too talkative, appears nervous or acts overly friendly, or tries to confuse you.

These are only a few of the things to watch for, but can be some of the most obvious. There are many potential shoplifters who have been deterred because they “just didn’t act right” and were noticed by an observant salesperson who approached the customer. greeted them, and offered to help.

Excellent customer service to each customer remains the most important defense to prevent shoplifting.

To discuss these and other ways to prevent shoplifting call 770-426-0547 or click here for more information in Atlanta Georgia and elsewhere.

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Checkpoint Security Systems save retailers bottom line

April 7, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Checkpoint Security Systems have been around for years. Their effectiveness has been proven time and time again. However, there are still businesses out there they are either not using a Checkpoint Security System or not using the Checkpoint Security System effectively.

It’s one thing to invest your money into a product that has little value or that is disposable but will give you quick profit if marketed, merchandise and positioned appropriately. It’s another thing to invest your money into a product and not use it. True with many retailers today, a product like Checkpoint Security systems not being used or used effectively.
Checkpoint Security Systems offer the merchant visible presence to deter the professional and amateur thieves.

A manager and I were monitoring the Checkpoint Security System from his office one day. We saw an unusual looking customer enter his store. This guy was talking on his cellphone, paying more attention to the employees than the merchandise. He walked down aisle after aisle. Making his way back, he stopped at the health and beauty section of the store. He picked up a box of aspirin, looked at it and put it back. He picked up another. We weren’t sure what he was doing. On his third inspection of the aspirin box, we noticed him trying to peel the checkpoint labels attached to the product. Checkpoint labels make a great visible deterrent. The customer moved to another aisle, hair care. He picked up a bottle of shampoo, another one with Checkpoint Labels. Obviously upset, the customer uses his cellphone. Whoever he is talking with, he was not happy.

After reviewing footage from other theft incidents at this store, it was determined the customer we observed had been suspected in merchandise theft previously. Now that this store had a Checkpoint Security System, this customer lost his livelihood.

Visit the Retail Loss Prevention Store

For more information about retail theft prevention or retail anti theft devices or checkpoint tags or checkpoint systems or anti shoplifting contact us at Checkpoint Security Systems or call 1.770.426.0547

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Security tags on clothes help protect the bottom line

April 7, 2011 by

Security tags on clothes are a great investment for many retailers. Offering a wide selection of styles and benefits suiting the needs of the retailers, security tags on clothes are a recommended solution.

Let’s talk a little about “after the fact”. Particularly inventory. Let’s say you’ve just conducted an inventory. The numbers comeback, not so good and looking back over the year of business, what could you have done to better boost your profits and protect your assets? If you haven’t invested in a clothing security program, you’re fighting a losing battle.

Creating an action plan for your store is your next step. This plan should include what your business is gonna do over this next inventory cycle to impact the negative shrink. When preparing your plan, execute each step as you go along. For example, your store lost a large amount in women’s or young women’s jeans. You action plan should include “implementing clothing security program.” You sales associates and managers cannot provide the necessary clothing security alone. They need help, or your business will suffer the same fate, or get worse.

Clothing security, basically, requires your staff to simply attached security tags on clothes. Attaching these security tags on clothes will most certainly provide your business with the strategic initiatives to fight shrink. It’s interesting to me, seeing the large numbers o retailers that still do not provide any sort of clothing security. Just the other day, I walked into a smaller retailer, specialty shop. Although I knew nothing of this store, I could immediately tell they were in over their heads. They were trying to fight loss by over staffing and not utilizing the tools they obviously had. Security tags on clothes were obviously present, but the program was not being executed.

Visit the Retail Loss Prevention Store for your clothing alarm and clothing security tags .

For more information contact us at security tags on clothes or call 1.770.426.0547

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Distract the thieves with bottle security

April 6, 2011 by

I recently read about a theft that occurred at a liquor store in which an accomplice to the thief distracted the clerk while the thief concealed several bottles of expensive liquor.  The thieves did this several times during an evening, stealing $1000 worth of liquor.

This type of theft could happen anywhere.  When a business is being operated by only one or two clerks at a time, it is not difficult to distract them while another one steals sight unseen.  There is a way to deter this type of theft, by having bottle security.

Bottle security, such as the EASy bottle cap from Alpha Security, can help prevent theft.  These bottle locks fit on the top of the liquor or wine bottles, and are removed by using a special key when the bottle is sold.  Businesses using this type of bottle lock can display their high end liquor so that the honest customers can browse, handle, and read labels before purchasing.  The bottle locks do not take away from the look of the bottle, but they significantly reduce the opportunity for the liquor to be stolen.
Bottle security is a good visual deterrent to the shoplifter as well.

Shoplifters would like to steal a bottle of liquor and actually be able to drink it.  They do not want to have to struggle for hours to try and figure out how to remove a bottle lock.  Considering that these shoplifters are having to resort to theft to obtain liquor, they are probably not the types of people that can quickly figure out how to outsmart a security device such as a bottle lock.

Liquors and wines can be stolen, but by investing in bottle security your risk of theft can be greatly reduced.  In stock and profits will increase while loss will decrease.  That’s a good way to do business.

Alpha Security is the innovator in the market. Starting with EASy bottle and now with the latest and greatest release, EASy Guarde.

Visit the Retail Loss Prevention Store

For more information about Alpha security or bottle security or bottle locks or EASy bottle or contact us at bottle lock or call 1.770.426.0547.

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ABC’s to Prevent Shoplifting

April 6, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Drilling down to the basics of ways to prevent shoplifting, here are some sure fire winners:

Anticipate.  Learn to think like a shoplifter when merchandising.  Are there hidden areas on the sales floor where you can conceal merchandise without being seen?  Are highly desirable items displayed near exits or in far corners of the store?  Do sales staff and cashiers have a clear line of sight to all areas?  Is the store adequately staffed during busy periods so that all customers are acknowledged?  Eliminating the obvious will go a long way toward reducing or eliminating shoplifting at your store; you just have to get out of the merchant’s mindset and into the shoplifter’s skin for a minute.  What do I want, how can I get it, and what’s the risk of being caught?

Be proactive.  Train and educate your staff on everything there is to know about shoplifting.  Knowledge and awareness are keys in the battle to prevent shoplifting.  Include shoplifting prevention as part of every staff meeting, even if it is just a short mention.  Shoplifter awareness and prevention should become a part of everyone’s job description, since the impact of shrinkage is so great on the profit of any retail business.  Remind staff that it is money that is displayed on the sales floor and it should be treated as such.

Checkpoint Systems.  Think of EAS by Checkpoint Systems as the employee that doesn’t need to be reminded of the importance of controlling shoplifting.  That is its one and only purpose, to stand at the store’s exit and announce when merchandise is leaving that hasn’t been paid for.  And it never calls in sick or takes a break.  True, it needs other employees to do its job, but its presence makes everyone’s job a little easier by making more time available for employees to do the other aspects of their jobs.

These ABC’s are not meant to be comprehensive in any way.  But changing attitudes, along with the introduction of anti shoplifting technology, is a great way to prevent shoplifting at your location.

Call 770-426-0547 for more ideas to prevent shoplifting or click here for information.  Be sure and visit our Online Retail Loss Prevention Store by clicking here.

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Preventing Employee Theft – Atlanta Georgia

April 6, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Employee theft is on the rise in the U.S. and American retailers are paying a heavy price. Some blame the economy, gas prices, the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, the President, etc. Who really cares why it’s happening? What we really want to know is how to prevent it from happening to us, right? Well, here are a few handy dandy tips I’ve picked up along the way that may be able to help you prevent employee theft in your organization.

My mama always said, “A fish rots from the head first.” Now, I have no idea whether this is true or not, but I do know that if your employees see you breaking the rules and ignoring the regulations then it’s only a matter of time before they’re doing it too. Always be honest and up front with your employees about what you expect from them and what they can expect from you. Lead by example. Make sure all employees are aware of the rules. Have them read your handbook, etc. and then have them sign acknowledging that they’ve read and understand the rules and regulations.

Establish an employee entrance/ exit; enforce a rule that no personal belongings (purses, backpacks, etc.) are to be allowed on the sales floor. Make sure that the employee parking lot is a good distance from the building. In short, make it as difficult as possible for your workers to steal from you. Most employee theft is a crime of opportunity. Eliminate the opportunity and you’ll usually eliminate the crime. However, if you do have someone who you catch stealing from your organization you should always prosecute that individual to the fullest extent of the law. It sends a message. That message? You will NOT tolerate employee theft.

For more information about employee theft investigation or internal theft or corporate fraud investigator contact us at Employee Theft or call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta Georgia

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Increase profit and sales with Checkpoint systems

April 5, 2011 by Leave a Comment

I helped investigate a case in which a group of individuals were targeting several different stores in the retail chain that I work for, stealing high dollar electronics.  These individuals would distract employees near the front of the business and simply walk out of the store.  In my own store, they walked out with ten electronics items over the course of two hours, making several trips in and out of the store.  They were eventually caught in my store when retail anti theft devices alerted employees and the thieves were recognized from their previous thefts.

Many of the electronics items these individuals stole did not have anti shoplifting devices on them.  They were not shipped with this protection by the manufacturer.  However, if the merchandise had been protected by Checkpoint labels or Checkpoint tags, employees would have been alerted much sooner that these thefts were occurring.  A loss similar to this in your business could be prevented by utilizing Checkpoint security systems.

Checkpoint tags and Checkpoint labels can be secured to virtually any type of merchandise that you choose.  You know your merchandise and what is being stolen or unaccounted for due to shrink, so Checkpoint systems offer the freedom to choose what merchandise you wish or need to protect.

Businesses need to offer what the customer desires, and that is difficult to do if your shelves are often bare from stolen merchandise.  Better instock is an additional benefit of anti shoplifting devices such as Checkpoint systems.  Increased profit and increased sales can result also…there is nothing wrong with that!

Minimal investment, decreased loss, increased profit – these are all benefits of a reliable anti shoplifting approach such as Checkpoint security systems.

For the best in retail anti theft devices Visit the Retail Loss Prevention Store

For more information about anti shoplifting or checkpoint security systems or checkpoint labels or checkpoint systems or retail anti theft devices or contact us at checkpoint tags or call 1.770.426.0547.

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