EAS Labels-3 WC Blog 313
Stop Shoplifting-3
Checkpoint Security Tags-3
Are Professional Boosters Bugging You With Theft? Checkpoint Security Tags Have A Solution To Help “SWAT” Them Away
Back in the days when I was a Loss Prevention Manager we had theft issues involving certain items we suspected were being stolen by Organized Retail Crime (ORC) groups. These groups would target specific items that had high resale value on the black market and they were being sold for under the retailer prices. Items at that time included DVD’s, CD’s, Cosmetics, a number of Health and Beauty items and even boxed sets of ball cards. The stores in our market took a number of steps to try to stop shoplifting from taking place but we also wanted to identify our merchandise if it got to certain locations notorious for dealing in stolen goods. Flea markets and mom and pop shops were two notable locations where we suspected our merchandise was ending up. In order to try to identify our products from items that may have been taken from other retailers we used a number of tricks. We began marking product with store stamps that included the store number and stickers with a logo and even EAS labels that we marked. In some cases these tactics proved useful but as any good investigator knows you don’t assume a tactic can’t be defeated, you try to find ways to get by a tactic before the bad guys do. We found that often we could find ways around some of our own strategies and if we could then thieves could as well, that’s how they make a living. Those days may be behind retailers now. New Checkpoint security tags are on the market that will defeat even the most stubborn criminal.
The 2928 S Micro “SWAT” Tag is the latest member in the family of Checkpoint security tags. This tag is a tiny 1.1” diameter circle in size. It helps stop shoplifting and reduces shortage due to the visible circuitry that potential shoplifters can see when they look at the tag. The clear viewing window helps keep product information easy to read and gives the store flexibility in the placement of EAS labels on merchandise. The feature that I am most excited about with this new product is an indelible, leave-behind layer that will stymie some boosters and help aid Loss Prevention and police efforts to shut down Organized Retail Theft rings. It works like this; the booster sees the “SWAT” Tag and forcibly removes it from the package. An indelible graphic is left behind on the package that cannot be removed! This means that if the booster sells it to their buyer and it is on a store shelf or flea market booth, the merchandise is marked and risky for resale or easy to identify in a sting operation. Just when you think it can’t get any better, the leave behind layer is customizable if a retailer chooses to do so. A custom QR code can be included making it easy for ORC investigators to scan the code and identify where the product originated. The second option is for a custom layer that has a company logo on it. If no customizing is to be done, a black lock logo is the default, warning away thieves.
You may be wondering if this works on product that is shrink-wrapped. What happens when the bad guys tear off the plastic wrap that seals so many items, doesn’t the logo go away? When boosters steal, the merchandise has to be in the condition that it is sold. For example, if a video game software item is stolen and the shrink wrap is removed, it will not have the same resale value to the buyer. Boosters make about .25 cents on the dollar so if they make $10 on a $40 video game, that amount will go down significantly if they remove the cellophane wrapper, if they can sell it at all. The risk/reward ratio is not in the booster’s favor so they have to keep packaging intact. You can see then how the 2928 S Micro “SWAT” Tag is superior to other EAS labels in terms of preventing ORC theft.
Checkpoint security tags can stop shoplifting and reduce store shortage. The Checkpoint “SWAT” Tag can prevent ORC theft and help law enforcement break up the groups that are plaguing your store and other retailers. Start enjoying the benefits of reduced theft and improved profits today by ordering the 2928 S Micro “SWAT” Tag for ALL of your merchandise.
Get more information on Checkpoint Security Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
Back in the days when I was a Loss Prevention Manager we had theft issues involving certain items we suspected were being stolen by Organized Retail Crime (ORC) groups. These groups would target specific items that had high resale value on the black market and they were being sold for under the retailer prices. Items at that time included DVD’s, CD’s, Cosmetics, a number of Health and Beauty items and even boxed sets of ball cards. The stores in our market took a number of steps to try to stop shoplifting from taking place but we also wanted to identify our merchandise if it got to certain locations notorious for dealing in stolen goods. Flea markets and mom and pop shops were two notable locations where we suspected our merchandise was ending up. In order to try to identify our products from items that may have been taken from other retailers we used a number of tricks. We began marking product with store stamps that included the store number and stickers with a logo and even EAS labels that we marked. In some cases these tactics proved useful but as any good investigator knows you don’t assume a tactic can’t be defeated, you try to find ways to get by a tactic before the bad guys do. We found that often we could find ways around some of our own strategies and if we could then thieves could as well, that’s how they make a living. Those days may be behind retailers now. New Checkpoint security tags are on the market that will defeat even the most stubborn criminal.
The 2928 S Micro “SWAT” Tag is the latest member in the family of Checkpoint security tags. This tag is a tiny 1.1” diameter circle in size. It helps stop shoplifting and reduces shortage due to the visible circuitry that potential shoplifters can see when they look at the tag. The clear viewing window helps keep product information easy to read and gives the store flexibility in the placement of EAS labels on merchandise. The feature that I am most excited about with this new product is an indelible, leave-behind layer that will stymie some boosters and help aid Loss Prevention and police efforts to shut down Organized Retail Theft rings. It works like this; the booster sees the “SWAT” Tag and forcibly removes it from the package. An indelible graphic is left behind on the package that cannot be removed! This means that if the booster sells it to their buyer and it is on a store shelf or flea market booth, the merchandise is marked and risky for resale or easy to identify in a sting operation. Just when you think it can’t get any better, the leave behind layer is customizable if a retailer chooses to do so. A custom QR code can be included making it easy for ORC investigators to scan the code and identify where the product originated. The second option is for a custom layer that has a company logo on it. If no customizing is to be done, a black lock logo is the default, warning away thieves.
You may be wondering if this works on product that is shrink-wrapped. What happens when the bad guys tear off the plastic wrap that seals so many items, doesn’t the logo go away? When boosters steal, the merchandise has to be in the condition that it is sold. For example, if a video game software item is stolen and the shrink wrap is removed, it will not have the same resale value to the buyer. Boosters make about .25 cents on the dollar so if they make $10 on a $40 video game, that amount will go down significantly if they remove the cellophane wrapper, if they can sell it at all. The risk/reward ratio is not in the booster’s favor so they have to keep packaging intact. You can see then how the 2928 S Micro “SWAT” Tag is superior to other EAS labels in terms of preventing ORC theft.
Checkpoint security tags can stop shoplifting and reduce store shortage. The Checkpoint “SWAT” Tag can prevent ORC theft and help law enforcement break up the groups that are plaguing your store and other retailers. Start enjoying the benefits of reduced theft and improved profits today by ordering the 2928 S Micro “SWAT” Tag for ALL of your merchandise.
Get more information on Checkpoint Security Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
