Checkpoint security systems help stop boosters

February 23, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Checkpoint security systems have been integral part of a stores loss prevention program for many years. The benefits of such as system can be measured daily by simply tracking the activations of the antennae and recording shoplift apprehensions.

Checkpoint security systems have helped my company tremendously. In a heavy customer traffic location, several of my stores deter customer theft daily by simply having a checkpoint security system in place. I hear managers in praise of these Checkpoint security systems and learn their stories of the attempted shoplifter deterred by the mere sight of the checkpoint security system.

Adding Checkpoint systems to your store(s) is a relatively inexpensive way to protect your merchandise. In my opinion, in the long the run, the investment into checkpoint systems pays for itself. I can’t tell you the number of times I have heard or seen the checkpoint systems activate, a former shoplifter dropping the merchandise and fleeing from the store. It happens. Daily.

Properly executing a Checkpoint security system involves the process of attaching Checkpoint labels and Checkpoint tags. Checkpoint labels and Checkpoint tags are tough devices that cannot easily be defeated by the would-be thief. It is well know that shoplifters thrive off of environments where they are not acknowledged. They wanna walk into a store, select the merchandise of choice and walk out of the store virtually unidentifiable. Checkpoint labels and Checkpoint tags take away that privacy and take the shoplifter from covert to overt. In the retail world, it makes no sense to me to see retailers without this form of protection. In a way, I say, good. The shoplifters coming into my store(s) and seeing the protection will deter them and send them over to the unprotected stores.

My advice to anyone without a Checkpoint Security system, INVEST, TODAY!

For more information about retail anti theft devices , retail theft prevention  or stop shoplifting or checkpoint systems visit us at anti shoplifting or call 1.770.426.0547

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Checkpoint & A Trained Staff Part 2

February 22, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Another way to keep false alarms from occurring is to test both the system and the deactivation on regularly. If your deactivation is not working then the system is going to alarm when a purchased item is presented into the RF field created by your Checkpoint security system . Maintaining the equipment is paramount to the success of the system.

This is why it is important to have a preventative maintenance plan. A lot of the issues that arise over time with deactivation are due to the wear and tear of everyday use. I’m sure if you look under one of your cash registers you will find folders and cleaning supplies and books and whatever the cashier thought was imperative for their survival for the day. When these items are pulled out and thrown back in on a daily basis, it takes its toll on the deactivation unit. Wires can come loose, the unit could get turned off, and the tuning adjustments could begin to deviate as well as a whole host of other issues. All these issues are addressed each time a preventative maintenance is performed.

It is also good to know the deactivation range and location. If the cashiers are unaware of the deactivation then they could very easily bypass it without even knowing. A live tag that should have been deactivated setting off a Checkpoint security system is just as bad as a live tag on an item that is being stolen not alarming the system. Either way it causes frustration and makes people start to ignore the system altogether.

Always remember that the Checkpoint security system can only be as good as the staff that is using it. Your security system is an important tool in the fight to stop loss but if not used properly and maintained regularly can become just that thing you tape signs to. A knowledgeable staff saves you and your company a lot of problems, headaches and money.

For more information about Checkpoint security system , retail anti theft devices , anti shoplifting or retail theft prevention contact us at checkpoint systems or call 1.770.426.0547 in Atlanta Georgia.

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Saving the drink: Liquor bottle security

February 22, 2011 by

I work in a retail environment that sells beer.  I also live in a state that does not allow Sunday beer and liquor sales.  So inevitably on Monday morning we find empty beer bottles hidden out on our sales floor by sneaky folks needing that Sunday drink.

If you sell liquor and wines, this can be a common problem any day of the week – not just on Sundays.  Just as other items that are desired can be considered high theft, so can liquors and wines.  Some retailers do not realize that bottle security is available.

Bottle locks can be placed on your products to prevent them from being opened prior to purchase.  This deters the thief from opening and drinking from the bottle within your business, and also deters shoplifters from stealing the entire bottle.  Having an Alpha Security device on bottles is a visual deterrent as well as a physical deterrent when a customer tries to open up a bottle but cannot.

Liquor bottle security might not be something that you have considered, or even realized was an option for your business.  Bottle locks do exist, and can have a profound positive effect on the loss that your business is suffering from theft or on site consumption.

You may be a business that has your higher end wines and spirits behind the counter to help prevent theft.  Imagine having these items displayed out where customers are browsing your selections, instead of hidden out of view.  Customers want to be able to look at bottles and read the labels while they are making their selections.  By having bottle security the customer is able to do just that, and you do not have to worry that your premium products might get stolen if displayed.

For minimal investment you can reduce your liquor and wine losses and increase your bottom line with liquor bottle security.

For more information about Alpha Security or liquor bottle security or bottle security or easy bottle or bottle lock or bottle locks contact us at Alpha Security products or call 1.770.426.0547. You can also visit our Retail Loss Prevention Store

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Protecting your profits through clothing security

February 22, 2011 by

Clothing security can sometimes seem a moot point. In many retailers, the merchandise seems to turn so quickly that putting security tags on clothes seems to be time consuming and almost too difficult to manage.

Let me say, if that statement is true for you, you need help…fast! Clothing security is an important part of your retail business. After all, if you don’t have the merchandise in your stores to sell, then you have no profits. Placing security tags on clothes is just one detail in the realm of increasing your profitability.

Clothing security tags protect not only the value of your merchandise but give the appearance and impression to both your customers and employees that you truly care. I have seen and heard from business customers that frequent or have frequented many of the stores I work. The customers talk about the good and the bad of clothing security tags . Believe it or not, most customers understand the need from clothing security and realize that clothing security helps keep the merchandise they want, in your stores.

In speaking with customers over the years, the biggest complaints I’ve heard was that clothing security tags damage merchandise, or clothing security tags are a nuisance. What these comments tell me is that the stores are not managing the program effectively.

Placement of the clothing security tags is crucial for both appearance, security of the merchandise and merchandise salability. If you have security tags on clothes , yet the person placing the tags is doing it just to do it, and there is no follow up… you get what you get. Poor standards.

The execution of standards for security tags on clothes falls directly on the management within the store. Inspect what you expect, follow through with the program appropriately and clothing security can pay you back, big time.

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

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Snowballing Employee Theft – Atlanta Georgia

February 22, 2011 by Leave a Comment

The reason employee theft is so dangerous to a company is because of its’ snowballing effect. Think about it, if you saw the same customer come into the store everyday and hang out in the same department you’d become instantly suspicious of them, right? Well, that’s exactly what your average employee does, however we assume that they’re there to simply do a job so we think nothing else of it. The truth is their position gives them unquestioned regular access to both your money and your merchandise. In essence, your business is in their hands.

Employee theft is like a drug. The first time an employee decides to take from the company they’re usually scared and apprehensive. They’re shaking like a leaf; beads of sweat form on their brow and they’ll probably talk themselves out of their first few attempts. After the first time though it becomes easier and easier to conceal merchandise or dip into the register. Before you know it that same individual who looked like a frightened child the first time is a regular retail John Dillinger, and just like Dillinger he’ll eventually recruit a gang.

Some thieves are smart and keep their wrong-doing to themselves. Most like to brag. Once the bragging starts the snowballing will too. Other associates will begin looking for ways to get away with either cash or merchandise and now you have multiple people taking multiple things at multiple times of the day. Your employee theft is out of control! What’s the solution? Stop the snowball before it starts. When the other employees see that first individual get taken away in handcuffs all of a sudden employee theft doesn’t seem like the great idea it once did.

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

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Checkpoint & A Trained Staff

February 21, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Although it has become a cliché, knowledge really is power. Having a knowledgeable staff will significantly reduce your losses with the help of a Checkpoint security system . One of the main reasons for false alarms is that a cashier does not deactivate the checkpoint labels or forgets to remove the checkpoint security tags from the item being purchased.

I am sure that it has happened to you a time or two. You are purchasing something from your local hardware store or some one-stop-shop and after the purchase is complete you try to walk out the door. What happens? You alarm the system that is designed to stop shoplifters. But you are not a shoplifter. Now you have to wait for someone to check the items that you legitimately purchased or even worse a cashier that didn’t even scan the items tells you to go ahead and leave.

When this occurs it makes both the customer and employee lose faith in the system and its ability to stop shoplifting . All that is needed to prevent this from occurring in your store is a knowledgeable staff. If the employees understand how the Checkpoint security system works, then they will be more inclined to use it properly because no one wants to make a customer feel like a thief when they have done nothing wrong.

One of the main ways too keep this from occurring is consistency. Set a standard for where and how Checkpoint security tags should be placed. This will help cashiers know where to look to remove hard tags and ensure that soft tags are deactivated upon purchase. Also, it will improve the speed in which employees are able to tag merchandise because it will become repetition and not something new or different every time they are tasked with this job. (To be continued…)

For more information about Checkpoint security system , retail anti theft devices , checkpoint security tags , anti shoplifting or retail theft prevention contact us at Checkpoint Security System or call 1.770.426.0547 Atlanta Georgia.

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Bottle Lock ; Is It The Solution To Liquor & Wine Theft?

February 21, 2011 by

If you own a liquor store you know all about shoplifting. But you may not know about all the prevention techniques and bottle lock items available. During good times or bad shoplifters will steal from you. Liquor stores also have another problem related to shoplifting. There are individuals that will enter the store, open a bottle of your best, drink some then put it back on the shelf. This issue is really no better than when a thief removes the merchandise from the store.

There are several things you should consider to combat these thefts. This is a multi stage solution.

First is greeting the customers when they enter the store. Why do you think that major retailers have a “greeter”? Well-established studies have shown that if impulse and some amateur shoplifters are greeted when they enter the store that they will not shoplift during that visit. This is because that in their mind they have been seen and no longer blend into the crowd. I like to stress that this should go beyond the “Hi, welcome to ___” statement. I believe that if possible they should be asked if you could assist them in finding something. This adds more interaction and clearly establishes that they have been noticed. Of course this is also very good customer service for your good customers. Remember, customers love attention shoplifters hate it.

Next we all know that you can be routinely in situations where you do not have a good employee to customer ratio. What can you do? There is other customer service and anti shoplifting techniques however, they all rely on employee actions. In this case you need items that physically secure your product. If you have a Checkpoint system at your customer doors then you have most of the problem solved. However, this may not be the best environment for just using Checkpoint labels on your bottles.

Two other Alpha High Theft Solutions products will take care of this. If you do not seem to be having issues with consumption in the store then use an Alpha Steel Grip. This bottle lock comes in several sizes and wraps around the neck of the bottle. The new Steel Grip has a redesigned coated plastic steel band that locks into a redesigned hard tag. The Steel Grip will trip the Checkpoint system at the doors.

The second is an even hotter product called EASy Guarde. This is merchandise denial product. It is a bottle lock that fits over the cap of the bottle and locks it down. There is a Checkpoint Tag built in. The bottle cannot be opened with this bottle lock on it. The EASy Guarde is clear acrylic and black.

The Steel Grip and the EASy Guarde can only be removed by store employees with the special S3 key. You can learn more about these Bottle Locks at www.LossPreventionSystems.com

Be proactive and sell more, loose less and make more margin!

For more information about Alpha Security or  bottle locks or bottle security or easy bottle or liquor bottle security contact us at bottle lock or call 1.770.426.0547. You can also visit the Retail Loss Prevention Store to purchase bottle locks

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Coordinating with Management to Prevent Shoplifting

February 21, 2011 by Leave a Comment

If you’ve been in this business for any amount of time you realize that coordinating with management to prevent shoplifting can be a difficult task. The job of management in a retail environment is to make merchandise as accessible as possible to the customer in hopes that they will be more apt to purchase it. The loss prevention investigator knows that every customer could potentially be a thief so they’re trying to keep the merchandise from being readily accessible to these types of individuals. It’s like plaids and stripes, these 2 ideals just don’t go together.

For this reason it is vital that the loss prevention investigator have superior communication skills and be able to convey his concerns and his strategy to prevent shoplifting in a clear and concise manner. Years ago, in one of my stores, we created “the horseshoe” to combat a growing shoplifting problem with small, easily concealed merchandise. Essentially the racks were arranged to form a horseshoe or “U” shape and everyone who walked into the horseshoe was watched like a hawk. Inevitably theft went down significantly.  Recently the management staff felt that the horseshoe was limiting customer access and was to blame for the decreased sales in that department.

As a result, the horseshoe was dismantled. Sales did make a slight increase but shrink in that department went through the roof. At that point it was easy to point out to management that the small increase in sales didn’t cancel out the large increase in theft. The horseshoe was back within a month and shoplifting leveled off. You have to consider the needs of the business above all else. If you can build a strong working relationship between your loss prevention investigator and your management staff you will make it that much easier to prevent shoplifting in your store. 

For more information contact us at Prevent Shoplifting or call 1.770.426.0547

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Prevent Shoplifting and Miss All the Fun

February 21, 2011 by Leave a Comment

You can prevent shoplifting from your store, but if you do, you are likely to miss incidents such as the following that were reported by the daily publication, Creative Loafing:

How much can a shoplifter stuff in his pants? A man seen on surveillance video at a convenience store in Connecticut, fled after stuffing at least 17 cans of Red Bull energy drink down his pants. And in Cairns, Australia, a 51-year-old man was caught shoplifting, witnessed by security staff putting three limes and a package of beef tongue in his pants. When cornered, the man (like clowns exiting a clown car) pulled out an additional two onions, three trays of rump steaks and a packet of lamb forequarter chops.

Okay, the thought of these two criminals actually stuffing energy drink and groceries into their trousers at first seems pretty comical.  At least in these two instances, the offenders were detected and apprehended.  Many times, shoplifters who are not quite so inept as these two get away with it, costing businesses billions of dollars annually in lost merchandise and profit, and there’s no fun in that.

Now nothing may prevent shoplifting entirely by really dedicated and daring theives like the ones described here, but there are retail anti theft devices that are manufactured to stop shoplifting by customers of a retail store.

A Checkpoint Security System at the entrance to a store announces that the management of the store is serious about controlling costs and crime by treating sholifting seriously, which in turn keeps prices low for customers.

A Checkpoint Security System is a type of electronic article surveillance (EAS) technology that detects special Checkpoint tags and Checkpoint labels that pass through its field and emits an audible alarm, alerting staff and others that merchandise is leaving that has not been through checkout.  The shoplifters soon learn that the merchadise is protected and move on to less risky environments.  The preventative benefit of the presence of a Checkpoint System has an immediate positive impact on inventory loss and profitability.

For your information, if Mr. Red Bull had been successful, the retailer would have had to sell an additional 340 cans of the drink to break even because of the profit loss from the theft.

Want to know more about ways to prevent shoplifting and keep your profits?  Call LPSI at 770-426-0547 or click here: Retail Theft Prevention.  Be sure to visit our Online Retail Loss Prevention Store.

 

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New Alpha Clothing Security Tags.

February 20, 2011 by

Alpha High Theft Solutions has produced several new clothing security tags. If you are a retailer that is concerned about clothing security you will want to look consider these in your arsenal.

The first is the S3 Multi Tag. This tag is a bit of a departure form the normal. The most obvious feature is that it has two pins. These pins are part of one base and form a “U”. Both pins lock into the hard tag. This makes the S3 Multi Tag ideal clothing security tags for lingerie, dresses or any other item with a strap. In this case the pins never punch through any material. This would also be great for leather items.

The S3 Multi Tag itself has a bit of a teardrop shape. It is 0.75” thick and 1.25” high by 1.25” wide. The S3 Multi Tag is very dark slate gray in color and requires a S3 detacher.

The second new item is the S3 Accessory Tag. This dark gray hard tag is somewhat triangular shaped and very small, 1.0” wide at the base and 1.0” tall. What makes this a hot item is that it has a very small black plastic coated aircraft cable tipped by a built in pin. The cable can loop around anything such as a shoe strap, purse latch or hardware. The S3 Accessory Tag could also be used with other merchandise such as power tools or anything else with some loop. It is a very versatile hard tag that is not just for clothing security

After looping the cable and pin through the merchandise the pin is then inserted into the back of the S3 Accessory Tag. It is then locked in place and can only be opened with an S3 Detacher. The really cool thing about these is that the cables come in some very nice lengths, 2”, 6”, 9”, and 21”. They are available in either RF or AM.

For more information about security tags on clothes or clothing security tags or clothing alarm contact us at clothing security or call 1.770.426.0547. You can also visit our Retail Loss Prevention Store

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