A Funny Internal Theft Story – Atlanta Georgia

A funny thing happened on my way to an internal theft . A company that I worked for was seeing unusually high losses in their Electronics department. Upon reviewing the footage and seeing the type of merchandise that was frequently going missing we determined that external theft, or shoplifting, was probably not the culprit. See, most of the missing merchandise stayed locked up in a back closet of the Electronics department just so average customers wouldn’t have access to it. Therefore it became obvious that it must be an inside job.

I entered the store in the middle of the night and installed a covert camera in the back closet of the Electronics department. I figured that whoever was committing the internal theft would continue doing so and with video footage of the deed it would be incredibly easy to build a case. What I didn’t realize is that there was a lot more going on in that back closet than I had anticipated. On a quiet Sunday afternoon I received a phone call from one of my detectives who snickered uncontrollably as he asked me how to handle the situation.

It seems that a couple of Electronics associates had been using that back closet as a rendezvous spot and were currently involved in acts that would make a madam blush. I called the manager of the department and had him conveniently walk in on them. (Since the lovebirds weren’t my initial target I didn’t want to alert anyone to the presence of a covert camera). The couple was terminated for unprofessional conduct and time theft and about a week later the actual thief was caught red handed with over $500 worth of MP3 players stuck down his pants. 3 for the price of 1 is always a good deal, especially when you’re talking about internal theft .

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

Prevent Shoplifting With Bottle Locks

One of the most difficult items to prevent shoplifting is the liquor bottle.  Bottle shops are typically laid out in a way that is difficult to observe all areas of the sales floor from any one vantage point.  The merchandise goes from fairly low price points to high (shoplifters like to upgrade), and is in bottles that are easily concealable.  There is usually a lot of product displayed, and the customers seem to want to hang around and compare types and brands.

The more exclusive brands, that is the most expensive liquors and wines, seem to be the more popular ones among certain customers.  There are brands that become popular even for just a while, but while they are hot, it seems like that’s what everybody is talking about and getting.

If a customer is going to shoplift a liter bottle of beverage, it is just as easy to get the more expensive one as it is a more common one.  And, if the shoplifter was going to get the more common (cheaper) one, he might buy it anyway.  It is hared to justify spending three or four times the amount just to get a particular brand. 

So the goal of the retailer is to adequately display the product so as not to lose sales because of customer inconvenience, and to prevent shoplifting of a highly desirable and expensive item.

One solution to this kind of a dilemma is the bottle lock that fits around the neck of the bottle and can only be removed with a proprietary tool.  The bottle lock prevents the top from being removed without damaging the bottle and rendering it useless, or even activating an alarm when it is removed from the premises.

Bottle locks provide a visual deterrent to shoplifters, deny the unauthorized use of the product, and allow merchandise to be attractively displayed.

Prevent shoplifting without limiting access to your product with bottle locks.

Interested in bottle locks to prevent shoplifting?  Click here or call 770-426-0547 in Atlanta Georgia or anywhere.  Visit our Online Retail Loss Prevention Store for more ideas.

Prevent Shoplifting – Cost Cutting Strategy

Because of the present business economy, the strategy of most retail storeowners and managers has been to cut costs in order to survive the downturn and position for a better climate.  Overall, the results have for the most part been successful so far although there has been a decrease in payroll resulting in fewer personnel to cover the sales floor and man the registers.  The decrease in man-hours available has a negative effect on the effort to prevent shoplifting – resulting in an increase in costs.

The costs increase is in cost of goods sold. Even if the price paid to the suppliers remains the same, the cost of goods sold increases because the owner has to replace the pilfered merchandise with new goods to have merchandise on hand to sell.

Many retailers look at the problem of shoplifting as a personal one, which it is.  The shoplifter is stealing merchandise that the retailer bought with money that he earned.  The alternatives that the retailer faces are increasing the prices charged to his customers or finding ways to control or stop shoplifting.  Neither of these alternatives is optimal.

Shoppers are driven by loyalty, but even more so by price.  A price increase to cover inventory loss is seen by customers only as a price increase, and in the current economic environment price is on consumers’ minds.  This is the less desirable alternative and doesn’t really address the core issue of shoplifting.

An effective way to prevent shoplifting is to make the act of shoplifting less likely to succeed and drive the shoplifter to an easier target.

No matter what the motivation of the shoplifter – wanting something for nothing, peer pressure, impulse, or thrill – a retail anti theft device such as a Checkpoint Security System will serve as a deterrent.  The presence of a Checkpoint System at the entrance of a store or boutique is enough to stop many shoplifters.  Why risk stealing from a protected store when there is an easier victim down the street?

The retailer or manager makes the decision which merchandise to protect based on theft history, price point, or any combination of factors, but can depend on the Checkpoint Security System to sound an alarm when protected merchandise leaves the premises without having been purchased.

There is virtually no type of merchandise that can’t be protected with one of the many Checkpoint tags or Checkpoint labels that are available.

A Checkpoint Security System will prevent shoplifting and control costs related to theft so that the cost of the system is quickly recovered and will continue to save the retailer money as well as reduce aggravation.

Call LPSI at 770-426-0547 or click here: Stop Shoplifting for information on controlling costs related to theft.  Visit our Online Retail Loss Prevention Store for even more ideas.

Checkpoint Systems Label and Tag Placement

Just as it is important to have Checkpoint labels for your store, it is equally important to know where to place your Checkpoint labels on the merchandise. If you are using soft Checkpoint tags to help control loss then here are a few things you will need to know.

First, the Checkpoint tags are tuned to alarm your Checkpoint security system using radio frequency. This means that when you place a Checkpoint labels on merchandise, you will want to avoid metal surfaces. Metal will hinder the effectiveness of your label, if the two are placed directly against each other.

Second, your Checkpoint tags should be placed on a flat surface. When locating a security tag on an item of merchandise, you should look for a place that is flat. The more the label bends or curves the less strength it will have when it passes through the detection field.

Third, keep in mind that you are going to be deactivating your Checkpoint labels when your merchandise is purchased. The easiest way to ensure that the label will be deactivated is to place the label near the barcode. The reason this is a good location is because the barcode will pass across the scanner and within the range of the deactivation field. It also requires no extra movements or time from your cashier’s routine, which will keep production at the high standard you have already set. This will also prevent a work interruption because of a false alarm that could have been prevented by the proper placement of your security tag.

Having the knowledge of where to place your security labels will help to ensure that your Checkpoint security system is an effective tool in preventing loss.

For more information about a checkpoint security system or checkpoint security tags contact us at anti shoplifting or visit our Online Checkpoint & Alpha Store

Thefts prevented with clothing security

I recently read about a theft in my city from several businesses in a mall.  The female suspect was caught and arrested after an alert store employee notified law enforcement about the theft.  When police searched the suspect’s vehicle, however, they found out that it was jammed full of merchandise that the suspect had stolen and taken to her car before returning for more.  She had, essentially, successfully stolen those items and would have been able to get away with the crime if she had not been greedy and gone back for more.

Much of the merchandise stolen was clothing from clothing stores.  There is one common factor among the victim stores – they did not have security tags on clothes.  There was no type of clothing alarm that alerted store employees that the thefts were occurring.  No type of clothing security is utilized in any of these businesses.  They suffered thousands of dollars of loss that was fortunately recovered – this time.  And if the crime hadn’t been discovered while in progress…those thousands would be lost.

Had clothing security tags been utilized, these stores may not have even been targeted by this individual.  Additionally, had this thief entered the stores with the intent to steal, she may have changed her mind when she realized that there were security tags on clothes.  She was able to get in and out of these businesses several times without drawing attention, and this is not easily done when clothing security is in use.

This tale of theft has a happy ending since the bad gal went to jail.  But for every shoplifter apprehended there are many more that are successfully stealing from businesses.  By protecting the clothing that you sell with clothing security tags, you are making a minimal investment that can have magnificent rewards.

Stop being a victem! Get a clothing alarm installed and go on the offense!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Prevent Shoplifting and Cover Your Assets

Although the general public may not realize it, shoplifting continues to be a huge burden on the backs of retailers.  To prevent shoplifting, they must sometimes go to extreme lengths. 

To remain competitive, the retailer must control shoplifting to keep costs down and profitability up.  Excessive inventory loss will cause a retailer to either raise prices or cut costs elsewhere to sustain profitability.  Increasing prices is likely to drive the retailer’s customer to the competition.

To shoplifters, particularly juveniles, a retail store looks as if it has an unlimited supply of merchandise and surely the owner, whoever that is, will never miss it.  What he doesn’t think about is that the business owner has already bought that merchandise and will be paying for it whether it is sold to a customer or if it walks out the door as a loss.

This is what causes storeowners to spend money on anti shoplifting measures designed to protect the money that he has invested in the merchandise and from which he expects to make a profit.

The retailer will typically do what’s necessary to prevent shoplifting and protect his merchandise and his livelihood.

An investment with a quick return is optimal and is what is gained with the addition of a Checkpoint Security System.  The Checkpoint system will prevent tagged and labeled merchandise from leaving the store without being checked at the register by a cashier by sound an alarm as the merchandise passes the system. 

A Checkpoint Security System will help you keep your assets where they belong: in your store until they are sold and taken home by a legitimate customer.

For further information on ways to prevent shoplifting, call 770-426-0547 or click here: Anti shoplifting devices.  Please visit us online for more ideas at Retail Loss Prevention Store.

Protect a wide variety of merchandise with Checkpoint Systems

One of my employees recently caught a shoplifter that was taking all kinds of merchandise, from several different departments in our store.  She was even having her children help her conceal the merchandise in her large purse.  For every shoplifter that we catch – how many more are out there that are doing the same thing and not getting caught this time?  I hate to imagine…but I know the number is high.

What can you do to help prevent theft in your stores?  Investing in Checkpoint security systems is one excellent resource.  Checkpoint systems utilize Electronic Article Surveillance by sounding alarms if merchandise with an active alarm goes near the sensors at the exits to your business.

Checkpoint tags or checkpoint labels are both available and can be applied to nearly every type of merchandise that a business owner may choose to protect.
Some shoplifters are not picky as to what they steal. They just grab what they can fit into their purse or their pockets, whether or not they need the items.  They can also steal a wide variety, from clothing to food to household items.  Music, movies, stereo equipment or TVs are also common targets.

If a shoplifter desires an item enough, there is a way to steal it.

Checkpoint security systems can make a shoplifter reconsider whether or not it is worth it to steal from your business.  Most shoplifters want the quick conceal and get away and do not want to take the time to remove anti shoplifting devices such as Checkpoint tags.  Checkpoint labels can alert employees if a shoplifter approaches your exits with an item that still has an active label.  It should come as no surprise that shoplifters do not like to attract the kind of attention that a Checkpoint security system can bring.

For more information about Checkpoint security systems or checkpoint tags or checkpoint security system or checkpoint systems or anti shoplifting or Checkpoint labels contact us at checkpoint security system or call 1.770.426.0547.

Protecting your profits with the use of Clothing security tags

Clothing Security Tags are used by many retailers in their efforts to help control theft by customers and maintain their inventory levels.

Professional shoplifters around the world are deterred daily by these security tags on clothes . If the regular shoplifter is looking for privacy and an easy way to get in and out of the store with very little recognition, then clothing security tags are a great deterrent.

As an example of the benefits of having clothing security, a sporting goods retailer I worked for had issues with customer theft of merchandise off of the salesfloor. The store input a clothing alarm program that included clothing security tags.  These security tags on clothes offered a visible deterrent to potential shoplifters. Thieves like to get into the store, take the merchandise they can quickly sell or move and get out of the store with as little interaction with store employees as possible. A clothing alarm takes away that privacy. The minute the thief tampers with the device or attempts to remove it in any way, an alarm activates. Instantly taking away the discreet atmosphere desired by these bums.

Clothing security tags are not new, but the technology is evolving. It is becoming more and more an important part of the everyday operations of many retailers. Certainly, for a business to grow and produce profits, they must have the merchandise to sell. Well, a solid clothing security program places the retailer in a better position to increase their profits.

That sports retailer I worked for as been able to keep their average shrink to less 1%, thanks in large part to the clothing security program they have enacted. Combined with an excellent employee awareness program, security tags on clothes offer the best way to keep merchandise in your stores and boost your profits.

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

Using Cash Controls to Prevent Internal Theft – Atlanta Georgia

The best way to prevent internal theft within your organization is to inform your employees about your internal security measures. Furthermore, make sure they understand that if caught stealing you will prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law. The fact is that most employees steal simply because they think they can easily get away with it. Let it be known that they will probably be caught and definitely have to pay the price for their wrong-doing once caught and you’ll limit the number of thieves within you building.

Here are a few tips on how cash controls can help you prevent internal theft and send a message to your employees: Limit the amount of cash in a register and do frequent safe drops throughout the day. There’s nothing more tempting than a mound of cash sitting in front of you. Take away that temptation. Put one employee in charge of setting up cash drawers and put another one in charge of double checking it. Never put one person in charge of all of your money, again the temptation is too high. Issue one drawer to each cashier. Nobody else should be allowed to ring on this drawer. This sends the message that ‘whatever happens to this drawer is your responsibility’.

You should require that every register be closed after each transaction and a register should never be left unlocked when not attended. This will eliminate the claim that another employee rang in a sale when they were on break, at lunch, etc. All over-rings or under-rings should be signed off by a manager and the signature of all managers should be kept on file to prevent possible forgeries. These steps send the message that you’re serious about controlling your money and keeping employees honest. Use them and you’re guaranteed to limit the amount of internal theft you experience.

For more information about employee theft or corporate fraud investigator or corporate fraud investigation or employee theft investigation contact us at Internal Theft or call 1.770.426.0547 we are located in the Atlanta Georgia area