Knowledge Of Anti-Theft Devices Can Help Others Prevent Shoplifting; Your Management Knowledge Can Help Others Improve Their Future Part 1

March 22, 2018 by Leave a Comment
     Opportunity knocks so they say and we want to think we are ready to answer that door and invite it in. When we hear the saying, “Opportunity Knocks” I wonder just how many of us think of it in terms of something that can benefit US if we accept it? I think back to my early years in Retail Loss Prevention. I was a Loss Prevention Associate for a department store and doing well in that role catching a lot of shoplifters and assisting in a few internal investigations. Opportunity for me knocked when a new big box retail store was coming to our area and was looking for Loss Prevention Associates. I applied only for the opportunity for a little better pay. I figured I had an advantage with my knowledge of retail anti-theft devices such as an Alpha ink tag and how to prevent shoplifting. I also had my U.S. Air Force Law Enforcement experience as a key part of my resume. Well, I was interviewed for the position and due to some unforeseen circumstances the person who was going to transfer for the L.P. Manager position changed his mind. Based on my interview, Loss Prevention experience and college degree I was offered the Loss Prevention Manager position. I say I was blessed with the opportunity and when it was presented I accepted.  While I use this example of an opportunity that was presented to me, I also like to look for opportunities when I can give to others. It may be my knowledge of retail anti-theft devices or my years of experience as a manager. I want to help other retail managers understand that there are times when they can be the agent of presenting opportunities to others.
     Before I do that I do want to be sure to clarify what I mean by retail anti-theft devices like the Alpha ink tag. As the name implies retail anti-theft devices are tools used by retailers to deter and prevent shoplifters from stealing merchandise. The types of devices I am specifically referring to utilize radio frequency technology that passes a radio wave between a tag and an electronic article surveillance tower. If a tagged item is carried too close to a tower alarms are set off and employees are alerted that someone is approached the doors with unpaid product. Some devices use an additional security feature to deter theft. The Alpha ink tag is one such device incorporating the radio frequency technology AND ink. If a shoplifter attempts to force an ink tag off of an item it will spread the ink and stain the merchandise rendering it useless to the criminal. This will prevent shoplifting since bad guys tend to leave protected merchandise alone not wanting to chance being noticed or caught when attempting to steal.
     As I was saying I would like to suggest that instead of looking for opportunities that will benefit ourselves what if we as managers made opportunities knock for others? Let me give an example from my own experiences. I work part-time as a sales associate for an office supply store. I use my knowledge of Loss Prevention and shortage prevention to make suggestions to the store manager that I think would enhance security or drive profitable sales. .  I have made suggestions that could help prevent shoplifting such as adding additional security measures to some items.  I have made suggestions to change forms that would make researching out of stocks more efficient. The suggestions might not be very beneficial to me but for my manager they could be extremely beneficial in terms of efficiency.
     I also had a conversation with a young co-worker recently. He was hired in a temporary seasonal position and started to tell me about how he was not sure he would be hired back when the opportunity arose. I asked if he had been given any feedback regarding his performance and he said he had. I used this time to give him some unsolicited suggestions for future jobs he might hold. I let him know that the suggestions were based on my experiences as a manager. Whether he chooses to use the feedback or not is his prerogative but he has been provided an opportunity that can aid him in future success if he is open to it.
     In part 2 of this article I will give some additional suggestions for how you as a manager or store owner can be the instigator of opportunity for someone else. It may be as simple as suggesting the use of an Alpha ink tag to a clothing store owner to improve shortage or giving feedback to a young employee.
Get more information on retail anti-theft devices, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today

Opportunity knocks so they say and we want to think we are ready to answer that door and invite it in. When we hear the saying, “Opportunity Knocks” I wonder just how many of us think of it in terms of something that can benefit US if we accept it? I think back to my early years in Retail Loss Prevention. I was a Loss Prevention Associate for a department store and doing well in that role catching a lot of shoplifters and assisting in a few internal investigations. Opportunity for me knocked when a new big box retail store was coming to our area and was looking for Loss Prevention Associates. I applied only for the opportunity for a little better pay. I figured I had an advantage with my knowledge of retail anti-theft devices such as an Alpha ink tag and how to prevent shoplifting. I also had my U.S. Air Force Law Enforcement experience as a key part of my resume. Well, I was interviewed for the position and due to some unforeseen circumstances the person who was going to transfer for the L.P. Manager position changed his mind. Based on my interview, Loss Prevention experience and college degree I was offered the Loss Prevention Manager position. I say I was blessed with the opportunity and when it was presented I accepted.  While I use this example of an opportunity that was presented to me, I also like to look for opportunities when I can give to others. It may be my knowledge of retail anti-theft devices or my years of experience as a manager. I want to help other retail managers understand that there are times when they can be the agent of presenting opportunities to others.

Before I do that I do want to be sure to clarify what I mean by retail anti-theft devices like the Alpha ink tag. As the name implies retail anti-theft devices are tools used by retailers to deter and prevent shoplifters from stealing merchandise. The types of devices I am specifically referring to utilize radio frequency technology that passes a radio wave between a tag and an electronic article surveillance tower. If a tagged item is carried too close to a tower, alarms are set off and employees are alerted that someone approached the doors with unpaid product. Some devices use an additional security feature to deter theft. The Alpha ink tag is one such device incorporating the radio frequency technology AND ink. If a shoplifter attempts to force an ink tag off of an item it will spread the ink and stain the merchandise rendering it useless to the criminal. This will prevent shoplifting since bad guys tend to leave protected merchandise alone not wanting to chance being noticed or caught when attempting to steal.

As I was saying I would like to suggest that instead of looking for opportunities that will benefit ourselves what if we as managers made opportunities knock for others? Let me give an example from my own experiences. I work part-time as a sales associate for an office supply store. I use my knowledge of Loss Prevention and shortage prevention to make suggestions to the store manager that I think would enhance security or drive profitable sales. I have made suggestions that could help prevent shoplifting such as adding additional security measures to some items.  I have made suggestions to change forms that would make researching out of stocks more efficient. The suggestions might not be very beneficial to me but for my manager they could be extremely beneficial in terms of efficiency.

I also had a conversation with a young co-worker recently. He was hired in a temporary seasonal position and started to tell me about how he was not sure he would be hired back when the opportunity arose. I asked if he had been given any feedback regarding his performance and he said he had. I used this time to give him some unsolicited suggestions for future jobs he might hold. I let him know that the suggestions were based on my experiences as a manager. Whether he chooses to use the feedback or not is his prerogative but he has been provided an opportunity that can aid him in future success if he is open to it.

In part 2 of this article I will give some additional suggestions for how you as a manager or store owner can be the instigator of opportunity for someone else. It may be as simple as suggesting the use of an Alpha ink tag to a clothing store owner to improve shortage or giving feedback to a young employee.

 

Get more information on retail anti-theft devices, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today

 

 

 

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ALPHA BUG TAG PUTS ALL EYES ON SHOPLIFTERS AFTER BOOSTING ELECTRONICS IN THEIR PANTS!

February 21, 2018 by Leave a Comment
ALPHA BUG TAG PUTS ALL EYES ON SHOPLIFTERS AFTER BOOSTING ELECTRONICS IN THEIR PANTS!
Alpha Bug Tag- 3                                                                     ML Blog 18
Prevent Shoplifting-3
      
       In Loss Prevention, you watch hours upon hours of CCTV, waiting for that one shoplifter to boost your products. You truly never know what situations will arise: You never know exactly who is going to steal or under what circumstances. Even with theft being a serious crime, you run across shoplifters that do some downright humorous things. Some tactics will never make sense, but you just have to laugh it off and keep being a dedicated professional. But even the most dedicated loss prevention people can’t be in the store at all times. For the moments you can’t be there to watch people, you can use the best shoplifter proof protection devices to prevent shoplifting from these situations that may arise! We often use hard tags or ink tags for clothing items, but what can be done for other products we sell? A very common misconception is there is no protection devices to fit properly, so management throws their hands up to the problem. Retailers often neglect these products due to it being a boxed product versus clothing item.  The Alpha Bug Tag is the best option for these difficult merchandise protection situations!
       I was watching one of our high theft departments and noticed 2 subjects walk right into my camera range. I knew right away according to their behavior that they were going to steal. They started looking around suspiciously, while keeping their eye on the prize. They saw 15 boxes of high dollar electronics speaker that are priced at $79.99 a piece. The size of box is small, with a high price ready for them to resell! They feel like it’s a win, win… while not realizing I am watching every move they make on CCTV. They grab the electronic speaker’s and quickly go to a corner in the store. It seems they did not see that the merchandise is tagged with an Alpha Bug Tag to prevent shoplifting. Or for some reason they don’t feel it will alarm at the door. They looked around, and started stuffing all 15 boxes into their pants. Not in any pockets though, but straight into their pants! The speakers are pretty heavy so I figured most of them would fall out as they were walking… but it didn’t. They started wobbling around the store, oddly enough making sure no one saw them. The wobbling by itself should have made them worried about getting attention from the sales staff, but again it didn’t! After they finally felt comfortable (well as comfortable as you can be with 15 boxes in your pants), they went for the exit. The alarm went off right as the subjects exited thanks to the Alpha Bug Tag. All eyes now on them from everyone in the store. Since they did exit the store, I ran out there and apprehended both subjects and brought them back to my Loss Prevention office to process them. I asked for all of the speakers back, and they started pulling them out one by one. Come to find out, they had their underwear duct taped to their legs in order to hold the speakers!! First time ever seeing this! This was definitely a strange situation, but I managed to prevent a lot of money from going out the door. My store team was so excited for the big bust, but laughed when I had to explain where the speakers were and what happened! 
       Shoplifters never cease to amaze me. In the end, my store was thankful for utilizing the Alpha Bug Tag. What if I was not watching these subjects? These subjects could have got away with a lot of merchandise. The associates need an alarm to go off, incase no one noticed the subjects stealing. It is important to utilize them to prevent shoplifting at all times!
Alpha Bug Tag is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.

In Loss Prevention, you watch hours upon hours of CCTV, waiting for that one shoplifter to boost your products. You truly never know what situations will arise: You never know exactly who is going to steal or under what circumstances. Even with theft being a serious crime, you run across shoplifters that do some downright humorous things. Some tactics will never make sense, but you just have to laugh it off and keep being a dedicated professional. But even the most dedicated loss prevention people can’t be in the store at all times. For the moments you can’t be there to watch people, you can use the best shoplifter proof protection devices to prevent shoplifting from these situations that may arise! We often use hard tags or ink tags for clothing items, but what can be done for other products we sell? A very common misconception is there is no protection devices to fit properly, so management throws their hands up to the problem. Retailers often neglect these products due to it being a boxed product versus clothing item.  The Alpha Bug Tag is the best option for these difficult merchandise protection situations!
       

I was watching one of our high theft departments and noticed 2 subjects walk right into my camera range. I knew right away according to their behavior that they were going to steal. They started looking around suspiciously, while keeping their eye on the prize. They saw 15 boxes of high dollar electronics speaker that are priced at $79.99 a piece. The size of box is small, with a high price ready for them to resell! They feel like it’s a win, win… while not realizing I am watching every move they make on CCTV. They grab the electronic speaker’s and quickly go to a corner in the store. It seems they did not see that the merchandise is tagged with an Alpha Bug Tag to prevent shoplifting. Or for some reason they don’t feel it will alarm at the door. They looked around, and started stuffing all 15 boxes into their pants. Not in any pockets though, but straight into their pants! The speakers are pretty heavy so I figured most of them would fall out as they were walking… but it didn’t. They started wobbling around the store, oddly enough making sure no one saw them. The wobbling by itself should have made them worried about getting attention from the sales staff, but again it didn’t! After they finally felt comfortable (well as comfortable as you can be with 15 boxes in your pants), they went for the exit. The alarm went off right as the subjects exited thanks to the Alpha Bug Tag. All eyes now on them from everyone in the store. Since they did exit the store, I ran out there and apprehended both subjects and brought them back to my Loss Prevention office to process them. I asked for all of the speakers back, and they started pulling them out one by one. Come to find out, they had their underwear duct taped to their legs in order to hold the speakers!! First time ever seeing this! This was definitely a strange situation, but I managed to prevent a lot of money from going out the door. My store team was so excited for the big bust, but laughed when I had to explain where the speakers were and what happened! 
       

Shoplifters never cease to amaze me. In the end, my store was thankful for utilizing the Alpha Bug Tag. What if I was not watching these subjects? These subjects could have got away with a lot of merchandise. The associates need an alarm to go off, incase no one noticed the subjects stealing. It is important to utilize them to prevent shoplifting at all times!

 

Alpha Bug Tag is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.

 

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Preventing Shoplifting In Your Store

February 8, 2018 by Leave a Comment

A Target or Walmart store can and are able to fight shoplifting in their stores every day of the year.  The expense associated with shoplifting has for many years been known to be passed down to the consumer, and the increase in prices has been an expense that gradually has affected consumers around the globe.

In the United States retail shrink which includes shoplifting, employee theft, administrative errors and vendor fraud cost the US retailers close to $50 billion in 2016 alone. More than 36% of shrink was due to shoplifting, and 30% was due to employee theft.

Many local businesses across the United States have taken different approaches to prevent shoplifting.  From investing in Facial recognition software to shoplifting prevention training, many businesses have taken different approaches to the prevention of this crime.  But, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF) even as the average inventory shrink rate has increased by close to 1.5% the budgets for loss prevention personnel has decreased or remained flat.

What are some of the steps local businesses have taken to prevent shoplifting?

Signage – A Spokane Washington local business has signage that lets you know from the time you enter their store that they have Video surveillance in use and they will prosecute you in case of shoplifting, and they also have a policy of taking your name when you enter their fitting rooms. If you shoplift, they already have your name.

Customer Service -has been proven to be one of the major loss prevention strategies businesses have adopted that can also benefit them in the long run. Be aware of the difference between offering great customer service and stalking a customer.

Training –  Trained personnel cannot only help you prevent shoplifting but can prevent incidents from getting out of hand.  Knowing the laws, regulation, and the process when a shoplifting incident occurs can save lives and prevent lawsuits.

Facial recognition software – If you are using facial recognition software in your stores, caution has to be taken into consideration.  Using facial recognition improperly can lead to too many problems and too few rewards.  Properly trained personnel are one important aspect of using this kind of security measure.

There is probably a fine line between great customer service and making your customer feel like a criminal.  Losing customers because your employees follow them and are constantly asking them if they need help or making them uncomfortable is not a good solution.  If you are also targeting people for no apparent reason, the probability that the bad experience will find an outlet that will carry bad publicity for your business is very likely.

Let us know if some of the above methods you are using seem to be working for you.

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Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll

January 29, 2018 by Leave a Comment

I actually like and believe in all three of these things. When it comes to drugs they have to be the legal kind. All of us have seen the destruction that illegally used drugs cause. In a business environment, illegal drug use by an employee not only has an impact on their work performance but creates serious customer and legal issues for employers. An employee that is under the influence of any substance that influences their ability to do their job correctly or safely, will cause customers to question who they are doing business with.

If this employee drives for their employer and is involved in an accident, even if it is not their fault, then liability could come back to the company. That one is easy to understand. But what about the recent changes in the law regarding marijuana? Some States have relaxed or legalized its use. However, it is still against Federal Law… EVERYWHERE. I do not agree with these changes. Not because I am a former Law Enforcement Officer that has seen firsthand the impact on society but because it is simply wrong.

The biggest argument I hear is “well alcohol is legal. Marijuana is no different”. Sorry to say yes it is. The active ingredient in marijuana is THC. THC stays in the bloodstream for up to two weeks after it has been ingested. Alcohol leaves the bloodstream within hours of consumption. The person may not be high but the “drug” is still there.

Now that same person comes to work. They have not ingested any marijuana for let’s say a week. Now they are involved in a customer accident. This could be dropping something on a customer from a shelf, hurting a customer with the use of a forklift, pallet jack or motor vehicle, or any other poor judgment that results in injury. If it is discovered as a result of testimony, blood test…. that the employee had THC in their bloodstream….. Surprise, you as the business owner could now be liable.

As a Loss Prevention Manager, I was involved in an accidental death case in one of my stores. Picture a building materials type store. Lumber, hardware, carpet, nuts, bolts…. A forklift operator was moving two full bundles of lumber and had them up on the lift about ten feet off the ground. At that moment a man and his very young son walked underneath the load. One of the forks on the lift gave way and an entire load of lumber landed on them. It killed them both instantly. There was not a piece left of either of those human beings thicker than three inches.

When OSHA, Fire/Rescue, Law Enforcement and a whole bunch of other government folks arrived on the scene, it was quickly determined that there was a defect in the fork that broke. This defect occurred during the manufacturing process. That defect was not caught as it should have been. So liability rested squarely on the forklift manufacturer. However, as required by law, our employee was drug tested immediately. His test came back positive for THC/marijuana. This caused the liability to shift to my company. All because this employee had smoked marijuana the weekend before.

So you may be thinking this can’t happen to me. I own a small boutique, grocery store, clothing store….. Yes, it can and could happen at any time. Why risk it? The commonly accepted practice is an employment drug test. Screen out potential liability and poor performers. A drug test should be required as a part of the pre-employment process, no exceptions. It is a simple and painless process. Contact us today, we can set your drug screening program up, make it very cost effective and make it simple for you and your candidate. You can reach us toll-free at 1-770-426-0547.

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Intoxicated By Love Or Simply Intoxicated, Recognize The Difference And The Risks Posed By Employees Using Drugs Or Alcohol On The Job

January 29, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Pat Benatar once described love as a battlefield. Others have described love as intoxicating. For many romantics, February and Valentine’s Day is the month of love as people express their love for one another with flowers, chocolates, gifts, and dining. Being “drunk with love” describes that adrenaline flowing through us when we are around the one who makes our heart beat faster. We may get nervous and feel sick when we think about that special someone. We certainly don’t act like ourselves. Employers need to know that being intoxicated on love is the ONLY intoxicating influence your workers should ever be under while at work.

Intoxicated employees bring many problems with them to the workplace. They bring the chance of injury to themselves or others because they are not in full control of their faculties or bodies. The worker who is under the influence of drugs (legal or not) or alcohol could easily fall from ladders, improperly lift heavy items or use poor judgment when operating equipment. Impaired judgment creates hazards that can impact that employee and the people they are working around. A compactor, cardboard baler, powered forklift and a powered shopping cart mover are all pieces of equipment that require a user to be 18 years of age or older to use them. Is a worker under the influence going to avoid using equipment they are not certified to use? On top of that if the equipment is used and proper training has not been documented or the operator is underage and an injury happens OSHA may levy huge fines on the store. If you have a member of your team operating equipment while intoxicated you could be setting your business up for failure.

Employees who come to work under the influence of drugs or alcohol or who use them during a break can also be making poor mental decisions. Would you trust a cashier who is buzzed to accurately count back change to a customer? Would you be comfortable with a closing manager who has been drinking properly closing your store? Are you confident all of the registers have been closed out and money secured? Can you be sure the doors have been locked and the alarms set? With impaired workers, there is the possibility that merchandise is stocked in the wrong locations which can lead to selling merchandise below their marked prices due to store error. Do you have a person in charge of vendor credits and chargeback processing? If they are popping pills are they properly processing paperwork? Don’t count on it and don’t count on getting full credit dollars either.

Let’s not overlook the role that drug abuse and alcoholism can and do play in employee theft. This is not a blanket indictment accusing all users of being thieves but in many internal theft cases, drug and alcohol problems are a factor. Both of these habits are expensive and in order to feed the habit some people resort to theft and fraud. They may steal cash from a register or take merchandise to sell for their next fix or bottle. The theft can be in the form of passing merchandise or under-ringing merchandise for friends. It can include manipulating receipts to create fake refunds for themselves. An employee may even steal from your customers by failing to give them the proper change back from a transaction and pocketing it. Some cashiers will steal credit cards or gift cards.

Finally, there is the chance that if you hire a drug user or someone who drinks at work or reports to work under the influence they could cause customer service issues. Is your employee short tempered because they need/want a drink or hit they can’t get and they take it out on a customer? If the employee is under the influence of drugs or alcohol is their behavior irritating a patron? Your worker may not be comprehending what a customer is saying to them and forcing the customers to repeat themselves. The myriad of potential problems can raise concerns that customers may not want to return to a store in the future.

February may be a month of love and some of your employees may be caught up in the intoxication of it. Just remember to allow it to be the only thing they are under the influence of.     It only makes sound business sense not to hire people who use illegal drugs. Take steps to avoid needless problems and keep your business prosperous by not hiring people who cannot pass a drug test and/or show up to work under the influence of alcoholic beverages. 

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Hit One Out Of The Park; Prevent Shoplifting Of Baseball Bats By Protecting Them With An O Tag

January 23, 2018 by Leave a Comment

 

Retail Anti-Theft Device -3                                                                                                     WC Blog 399
Prevent Shoplifting – 4
O Tag – 5
Hit One Out Of The Park; Prevent Shoplifting Of Baseball Bats By Protecting Them With An O Tag 
     As per my usual routine I was browsing the internet today to see what criminals are up to these days. My goal was to see if there was something new and hot for thieves. From my own experience as a Loss Prevention Manager I already know that sporting goods are always a popular item for criminals. They are hard to trace, can be easily traded for drugs or sold on the internet. I have had problems with shoplifters swapping out golf clubs in boxed sets, ticket switching baseball gloves, stealing bikes and I knew that baseball bats could be a potential problem but I dealt with one case of it. A shoplifter put one down the front of his pants and tried to walk out of the store (hobble out was more like it). At the time I did not have many options to prevent shoplifting of baseball bats other than lock them up which was not an option at all. Electronic article surveillance soft tags were the only retail anti-theft devices we had to use.  Well apparently there is a lot more bat theft that goes on than I knew after my search of the internet. Here are a few examples:
• From abc30  Feb. 7, 2015 – Clovis police were looking for two grand theft suspects who had stolen about $1400 worth of baseball bats from a sporting goods store.
• From NJ .com, Apr., 6, 2015 – A couple was charged with stealing nearly $3,000 worth of high-end baseball bats from a sporting goods store in Mount Laurel, N.J.
• My Coast Now reported on May 5, 2017 that thieves broke into a Nanaimo, British Columbia store and stole at least 6 rare bats and 3 Louisville Slugger bats in addition to 12 pair of football receiver gloves. http://www.mycoastnow.com/30809/unique-baseball-bats-stolen/ 
• AlbuquerqueJournal reported on April 24, 2015, that a man stole 2 baseball bats worth $300 each from a sporting goods and batting cage store.
While there is more theft than I thought there is also another device to prevent shoplifting and that is the O Tag from Alpha Security.
     The O Tag is a superior choice for protecting baseball bats because they are designed specifically to fit around the handle end of the bat shaft. Since it is designed and built by Alpha High Theft Solutions it has built in electronic article surveillance technology that works in conjunction with EAS towers from Checkpoint. The O Tag sends out radio frequency waves that can be detected by the towers when the tagged merchandise is carried to close to the doors where the towers are located. When the detection takes place a 95 decibel alarm sounds and warning lights in the towers flash. This alerts store associates to go to the doors, conduct a receipt check and recover merchandise that has not been paid for yet.
     While retail anti-theft devices on the baseball bats does prevent a theft, it is also effective in deterring one since the shoplifters often choose to avoid the risk of walking out with tagged products. Preventing a theft is great but deterring the would-be thief from even considering stealing from your store is better. The knowledge that a store tags ALL of their merchandise sends the shoplifters to other locations. No, we don’t want them to steal, ever, but if other store owners choose not to protect their goods with retail anti-theft devices that becomes their issue. If you are investing in it you will reap ALL of the benefits that result from your foresight.
     Use an O Tag on all of your baseball bats and you will improve your instock percentages and that in turn will result in increased sales and profits. Shrinkage, empty fixtures from theft and decreased profits all fit together. The converse is true also, use the O Tag, prevent shoplifting and watch profits rise.
The O Tag is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
     
 

As per my usual routine I was browsing the internet today to see what criminals are up to these days. My goal was to see if there was something new and hot for thieves. From my own experience as a Loss Prevention Manager I already know that sporting goods are always a popular item for criminals. They are hard to trace, can be easily traded for drugs or sold on the internet. I have had problems with shoplifters swapping out golf clubs in boxed sets, ticket switching baseball gloves, stealing bikes and I knew that baseball bats could be a potential problem but I dealt with one case of it. A shoplifter put one down the front of his pants and tried to walk out of the store (hobble out was more like it). At the time I did not have many options to prevent shoplifting of baseball bats other than lock them up which was not an option at all. Electronic article surveillance soft tags were the only retail anti-theft devices we had to use.  Well apparently there is a lot more bat theft that goes on than I knew after my search of the internet. Here are a few examples:

• From abc30  Feb. 7, 2015 – Clovis police were looking for two grand theft suspects who had stolen about $1400 worth of baseball bats from a sporting goods store.

• From NJ .com, Apr., 6, 2015 – A couple was charged with stealing nearly $3,000 worth of high-end baseball bats from a sporting goods store in Mount Laurel, N.J.

• My Coast Now reported on May 5, 2017 that thieves broke into a Nanaimo, British Columbia store and stole at least 6 rare bats and 3 Louisville Slugger bats in addition to 12 pair of football receiver gloves. http://www.mycoastnow.com/30809/unique-baseball-bats-stolen/ 

• AlbuquerqueJournal reported on April 24, 2015, that a man stole 2 baseball bats worth $300 each from a sporting goods and batting cage store.

While there is more theft than I thought there is also another device to prevent shoplifting and that is the O Tag from Alpha Security.

 

The O Tag is a superior choice for protecting baseball bats because they are designed specifically to fit around the handle end of the bat shaft. Since it is designed and built by Alpha High Theft Solutions it has built in electronic article surveillance technology that works in conjunction with EAS towers from Checkpoint. The O Tag sends out radio frequency waves that can be detected by the towers when the tagged merchandise is carried to close to the doors where the towers are located. When the detection takes place a 95 decibel alarm sounds and warning lights in the towers flash. This alerts store associates to go to the doors, conduct a receipt check and recover merchandise that has not been paid for yet.

 

While retail anti-theft devices on the baseball bats does prevent a theft, it is also effective in deterring one since the shoplifters often choose to avoid the risk of walking out with tagged products. Preventing a theft is great but deterring the would-be thief from even considering stealing from your store is better. The knowledge that a store tags ALL of their merchandise sends the shoplifters to other locations. No, we don’t want them to steal, ever, but if other store owners choose not to protect their goods with retail anti-theft devices that becomes their issue. If you are investing in it you will reap ALL of the benefits that result from your foresight.

 

Use an O Tag on all of your baseball bats and you will improve your instock percentages and that in turn will result in increased sales and profits. Shrinkage, empty fixtures from theft and decreased profits all fit together. The converse is true also, use the O Tag, prevent shoplifting and watch profits rise.

 

The O Tag is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
      

 

 

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Don’t Let The Dark Days Of Winter Catch You Unsecure

January 2, 2018 by Leave a Comment

With darker daylight hours comes the need for more coffee, the use of lights earlier and a plan to keep crime away from your store or business. Have you considered that one of the following types of crime could affect you?

Burglary – This is where a bad guy, low life scum type, breaks into your property when you and your staff are gone for the day. First and foremost you must have an alarm system. Not just the $99 special either. Invest enough that you have ALL exterior doors contacted. Yes, this also should apply to doors that are not used frequently or at all. Add glass break detectors on all exterior glass that can be easily reached. Enough motion detectors to create a trap effect. In other words so that no one can move around very far without a motion detector seeing them. Bad guys do not like light and sound, so add several sirens and strobe lights with at least one strobe on the front exterior and the back exterior. This will help to draw attention to your property by other citizens and the Police. You should always have an alarm control that uses cellular to communicate instead of phone or internet lines which can be cut or compromised.

Leave select lights on in the store to make it easy for the Police to see movement. The bad guys would prefer it to be dark. Are your doors and windows secure, I mean REALLY secure? Check the locks and make sure they operate correctly and are not simply cheap hardware that will give with a push or kick.

Robbery – This is the nightmare situation where someone presents you with a gun. Not as a present either. I have been involved in many shooting situations and have looked down the barrel of a few from the wrong side. It’s kind of funny how a barrel of a 9mm pistol looks like the opening of a 55 gallon barrel.

The key here is being prepared. Deterrents include well-lit stores and alert employees. Keep the cash drawers drained. Only keep the minimum amount of money in the till, the rest needs to go into a drop safe below the register or to the safe in the office. The lower form of life that commits robberies in many cases will make small purchases even a day or two ahead to see how much money is in the drawer. And yes, they know all about larger, excess bills being kept under the till tray in the drawer.

This is where a CCTV system that is adequately covering your point of sale comes in. The DVR should never be in plain sight at the point of sale; preferably in the office. Cameras should look at the point of sale from several different angles. Invest a couple of hundred dollars in a camera that mounts on the door frame at eye level. This will get a great face shot of anyone leaving.

All cameras should record 24/7 since hard drive space is cheap. You should easily get 30 to 60 days of recording. Another awesome deterrent is a Public View Monitor (PVM). A PVM is a monitor that is placed so that everyone entering the store sees themselves as they come in. It lets everyone know the system is active. A larger monitor in the 27+” range is preferred.

Employee Theft – I do not think employee theft picks up any more than other times of the year but it should get an honorable mention. Make sure you have adequate key and door control. Trash should be inspected by a manager before it goes out. Employees that steal will use the trash to get merchandise out picking it up later or have a friend get it. Employee bags should be inspected when they leave. I can send you a policy draft if needed.

Shoplifting – Shoplifters thrive and seek out concealment. Darkness adds to their psychological comfort. This is another reason for a well-lit store. Replace any burned out bulbs. Walk your store when it is dark outside to help discover any areas such as back corners that will provide aid and comfort to the shoplifting enemy. Make sure your Checkpoint system is operating correctly. If not call us for a service call. Ensure that your staff knows how to approach potential shoplifters with customer service techniques. I teach a live seminar on this for our customers, free of charge, whenever they need it.

Existing customers can call us at 770-426-7593 x103 to schedule a seminar. I also suggest that you pick up a copy of my new book: “Protect Your Store! The shoplifting prevention guide for small to medium retailers”. It is available online at Amazon and Kindle. The book has tools to shut off shoplifters right away.

Of course, these tips are good practice year round. However, take a hard, objective look at your store as it is better to prevent than recover from an incident. If we can help you, please reach out to us since we are only a call or email away.

 

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Store Safety Impacts Profits: Keep Your Store Safe During The Winter Months

January 2, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Accidents can be costly to businesses. In fact, according to the OSHA website, “It has been estimated that employers pay almost $1 billion dollars a week for direct workers’ compensation costs alone. Direct costs include workers’ compensation payments, medical expenses and costs for legal services.”

This does not take into consideration expenditures on general liability claims made by customers against businesses for accidents. The impact of a customer claim can be significant as well and according to thehartford.com “The Hartford Reports: More Than 40% Of Small Businesses Will Experience A Claim In The Next 10 Years,” March 30, 2015, the average cost of a customer injury or damage claim is $30,000 while a customer slip and fall incident is $20,000. A struck by object claim not identified as being specific to a customer or employee is listed at an average cost of $10,000. Consider then that the risk of these accidents taking place during the winter months increases significantly. What steps can you take to reduce the possibility you may have to pay out on a claim, especially during the winter months?

Slips and Falls

Slips and falls are not uncommon all year round, however, winter increases the chances of a slip on icy sidewalks and parking lots. Additionally, people will track ice and snow into the building leaving puddles of water that contribute to slip accidents. It is necessary for store employees to be diligent in placing wet floor signs near entrances and drying those areas too. Allowing standing water to remain because “people just keep tracking it in” is not an excuse that will hold water in an accident settlement case (pun intended). It is worth investing in wet area or all weather mats for the front doors to aid in the drying of shoes as customers enter the building. Have umbrella bags available for wet umbrellas. Bure sure to have deicers and anti-icers on hand for unexpected snow and ice storms to help keep sidewalks and curbs safe for patrons and employees. Stores located in traditionally warmer climates must be even more diligent because ice and snow are not as common; finding shovels and proper equipment when that rare snow or ice storm strikes can be a difficult task. Hardware stores run out of necessary items quickly as people without the tools come in at the sudden threat of storms.

Strains and Sprains

You or one of your staff may go outside to shovel snow from your sidewalks. Be careful! Not only is there the danger of being exposed to the cold too long, there is also a chance of a strain injury resulting from the shoveling of snow and ice. In an article in webmd.com titled, “Shoveling Snow Injures Thousands Each Year,” Jan 20, 2011, by Kelli Miller, the author points out that shoveling sends on average 11,000 adults and children to the hospital each year. She continues in her article, “The American Journal of Emergency Medicine details the most common health hazards associated with shoveling snow. Snow shoveling can lead to bad backs, broken bones, head injuries and even deadly heart problems.” Carefully watch those you may send out to shovel and rotate them in and out. Look for signs of excessive stress or pain and if necessary contact a local EMS station.

Parking Lots

Ensure your employees are safe if you send them outside to collect shopping carts or clear snow from parking spaces. Have orange or yellow reflective safety vests on hand and require those working outside to wear them. Moving vehicles in a parking lot may not stop quickly enough on the icy pavement if they don’t see the employee in time. The safety vest provides additional visibility to help alert drivers. While it should go without saying make sure weather appropriate clothing such as jackets, gloves and even scarfs are available for employees to help them avoid frostbite or other cold-weather ailments.

Struck-by’s

Don’t overlook the risk of ice falling from a rooftop. Too much weight from accumulated snow and ice or a slight increase in temperatures may result in ice and snow sliding off an overhang or roof. Be sure to monitor for such hazards and take proactive measures to clear potential problems before they result in an injury.

Accidents can happen anytime but winter offers unique challenges. Be pro-active and make sure you and your managers are doing all you can to make your employees and customers safe when they visit the store to work or shop.

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Now that the holidays are over does that mean theft is too?

January 2, 2018 by Leave a Comment

 Whew! You made it through the holidays and hopefully, you were successful in deterring shoplifters and survived the fraudulent return attempts but does that mean you can rest on your laurels? Unfortunately, the answer is “No”. Criminals do not take a break because you do. As a matter of fact, you could find that this is a prime time for criminal activity to increase. Why would that be? It is during these next few weeks and months that traditionally retail owners and managers begin to tighten up payroll. They release their seasonal employees and reduce the hours budgeted to the various work centers. This leads to several theft concerns:

  • If given too much advance notice that the end of their employment is imminent there are workers that may get angry and justify stealing because of a perceived injustice. This person may think they worked hard enough to earn a permanent spot on the team or assumed they would be retained based on what they thought they were told when hired. Some managers feel a bit guilty for having to let seasonal employees go and feel an obligation to give a significant amount of advance notice so the person can look for new work. The best way to avoid this situation is to give a seasonal employee a date they will work up to and no later than during the interview process. By doing so the employer can give a reminder a week out that the last day is approaching. This gives the worker time to start looking for other employment and does not give too much lead-up time for them to start stealing if they may be so inclined.
  • As sales decline after the holiday season, managers and owners have to make budget decisions on payroll expenditures. It is not reasonable to spend the same amount of money on sales floor coverage with reduced customer counts. Where you had three or four cashiers during the last few months to ensure customers were served quickly you may now have only one cashier. The staff members that were getting 32 hours a week may be down to 25 hours a week. If the employee is dependent on that income to make ends meet and their hours are cut they may decide that stealing is a way to make up for what they have lost. 
  • When seasonal employees are released and hours reduced to cut back on payroll expenses, sales floor coverage starts to wane. This means there are fewer people to provide customer service that is one of the critical components in theft deterrence. Shoplifters know when there are fewer employees present and find it easier to avoid those few workers that are on the floor. Remember that one of the three things needed to shoplift is the opportunity and with less chance at discovery, more opportunities to steal present themselves.
  • There are operational functions that may suffer due to a reduction of payroll hours. Specifically, merchandise protection strategies including electronic article surveillance tagging of merchandise may not be as thorough. As an example, if a freight pusher is responsible for tagging products with retail anti-theft devices but they are struggling just to get freight stocked on the floor in the allotted period tagging could be a secondary issue. The focus may be on filling the floor in order to sell rather than protecting it to prevent theft.

Criminals are not going to take a vacation after the holidays. They will look for stores that lower their defenses and then take advantage of them. Be on guard as you come out of the busy season and things seem to slow down. Be wise in how you reduce seasonal employee staff and do what you can to encourage the people you are keeping. Make plans to identify and address potential problems that may arise from those decisions. Strategic planning and follow-up can minimize the chances thieves will try to target your store.

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PREVENT SHOPLIFTING BY EMBRACING NEW ALPHA TECHNOLOGY IN YOUR BUSINESS!

December 25, 2017 by Leave a Comment

 

PREVENT SHOPLIFTING BY EMBRACING NEW ALPHA TECHNOLOGY IN YOUR BUSINESS! 
 Prevent Shoplifitng-3                                                                     ML Blog 10
  Alpha Hang Tag- 3
        Shrinkage takes a massive bite out of your stores bottom line.  Shoplifters are one of the highest contributors to shrinkage for the retail industry.  Retailers have a myriad of ways to protect their assets from thieves. We have to think smarter than the thief and stay one step ahead of them at every turn to prevent shoplifting.  We accomplish this goal by using the most advanced security devices available and embracing new technology. Most stores will place spider wraps and large tags on their products for theft prevention. That is an excellent deterrent for boxed items and clothing, but what about our clamshell packaged merchandise?  In the stores that I have worked Loss Prevention for, we can easily have over 50 percent of our products hanging on a peg hook.   With such a large quantity, why wouldn’t you protect that product as well? Many stores are forgetting about those areas, which leads to a trending high amount of loss each year.
 
        In one of my stores, my expert Loss Prevention team apprehended 132 shoplifters in 1 year.  60% of those shoplifting cases had product that was selected from peg hooks versus off fixtures.  I would place the merchandise on a locking peg hook thinking it was protected and that the merchandise could not be removed unless an associate unlocked the peg.  However, it never failed that a thief would come through with a knife and cut the top of the plastic off.  This was so they could get the product off of the locking peg and steal it easily.  I watched one morning via CCTV, a shoplifter come through an aisle of high dollar product on pegs. I noticed the subject quickly pulling an item out of his pocket. I saw on camera that he pulled out his own box cutter, and then cut a whole row of product off. After getting the merchandise off, he concealed it all into an empty shopping bag! After concealing, he had a get away driver waiting and fled the scene. It all happened extremely fast. Not only did he get away with 10 expensive items, but it could have been a harmful situation for associates. We had to change the culture! We had to put a stop to the thieves from coming in, using knives/box cutters to steal items regularly. After figuring out where the issue was, I was able to get approval to order the Alpha Hang Tag. I had no idea these existed in the Loss Prevention world. I received a shipment in and place them on our highest theft products to prevent shoplifting in that area. I would complete counts daily to track if the Alpha Hang Tag was truly working. After 4 weeks of usage and tracking, I found 0 product was cut off by thieves. The only product that was missing, was the product that was sold to customers. This was a huge win for my store! 
 
        After noting the success rate, I was able to obtain approval to order more and place it on other products as well. The feedback I received from associates was likewise positive. The Alpha Hang Tag is extremely small, so it is very customer friendly. It is also easy to put on, so it does not take inordinate amounts of time for the associates to put on before putting the merchandise on the sales floor. The best part for the store was not finding tons of empty packaging daily any longer, knowing that we were able to prevent shoplifting!
Get more information on how to prevent shoplifting, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today. 

Shrinkage takes a massive bite out of your stores bottom line. Shoplifters are one of the highest contributors to shrinkage for the retail industry.  Retailers have a myriad of ways to protect their assets from thieves. We have to think smarter than the thief and stay one step ahead of them at every turn to prevent shoplifting. We accomplish this goal by using the most advanced security devices available and embracing new technology. Most stores will place spider wraps and large tags on their products for theft prevention. That is an excellent deterrent for boxed items and clothing, but what about our clamshell packaged merchandise?  In the stores that I have worked Loss Prevention for, we can easily have over 50 percent of our products hanging on a peg hook. With such a large quantity, why wouldn’t you protect that product as well? Many stores are forgetting about those areas, which leads to a trending high amount of loss each year.        

 

 In one of my stores, my expert Loss Prevention team apprehended 132 shoplifters in 1 year. 60% of those shoplifting cases had product that was selected from peg hooks versus off fixtures. I would place the merchandise on a locking peg hook thinking it was protected and that the merchandise could not be removed unless an associate unlocked the peg. However, it never failed that a thief would come through with a knife and cut the top of the plastic off. This was so they could get the product off of the locking peg and steal it easily. I watched one morning via CCTV, a shoplifter come through an aisle of high dollar product on pegs. I noticed the subject quickly pulling an item out of his pocket. I saw on camera that he pulled out his own box cutter, and then cut a whole row of product off. After getting the merchandise off, he concealed it all into an empty shopping bag! After concealing, he had a get away driver waiting and fled the scene. It all happened extremely fast. Not only did he get away with 10 expensive items, but it could have been a harmful situation for associates. We had to change the culture! We had to put a stop to the thieves from coming in, using knives/box cutters to steal items regularly. After figuring out where the issue was, I was able to get approval to order the Alpha Hang Tag. I had no idea these existed in the Loss Prevention world. I received a shipment in and place them on our highest theft products to prevent shoplifting in that area. I would complete counts daily to track if the Alpha Hang Tag was truly working. After 4 weeks of usage and tracking, I found 0 product was cut off by thieves. The only product that was missing, was the product that was sold to customers. This was a huge win for my store!         

After noting the success rate, I was able to obtain approval to order more and place it on other products as well. The feedback I received from associates was likewise positive. The Alpha Hang Tag is extremely small, so it is very customer friendly. It is also easy to put on, so it does not take inordinate amounts of time for the associates to put on before putting the merchandise on the sales floor. The best part for the store was not finding tons of empty packaging daily any longer, knowing that we were able to prevent shoplifting!

 

Get more information on how to prevent shoplifting, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today. 

 

 

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