Checkpoint hard tags-5                                                                                               WC Blog 336
Stop shoplifting-4
Balancing Efforts To Stop Shoplifting And Use Loss Prevention Resources Wisely –  Part 1
     To stop or not stop shoplifters is a question that has been asked even before I started working in Loss Prevention nearly 27 years ago. It popped up again when I was reading an article in LP INSIDER  magazine, “To Stop or Not to Stop the Shoplifter: Is This Still a Question?” by Johnny Custer, LPC, CPI, March 14, 2017. I found some points I agreed with and others points I found myself shaking my head in disagreement over. The one side of the argument is that catching shoplifters reduces shortage and the writer of the article notes that this was the focus of shortage reduction when Loss Prevention departments were created. The writer goes on to pose the question, “Does shoplifting have the kind of impact on shrink that we once thought?” A few lines later he references a 2012 report that indicates shoplifting accounts for approximately 24% of annual shrink. Well, my rebuttal to that statistic at least is that according to the 2014-2015 Global Retail Theft Barometer Report, shoplifting in North America accounted for approximately 36% of retail shrinkage. The report compares that number to the prior year which placed shrinkage due to shoplifting at 37% (pg. 53). It does not seem realistic that shortage from shoplifting jumped 13% in two years so someone’s numbers are off. My stance is that shoplifting does have a significant part to play in retail shortage and it must be addressed. I will touch on a few other points in a moment. What I do want to strongly point out is that one way or another external theft must be a focus for shortage reduction even if it is through deterrence and Checkpoint hard tags are one way a store can stop shoplifting.
     By protecting merchandise with electronic article surveillance (EAS) retail anti-theft devices such as Checkpoint Hard Tags, criminals are confronted with two problems. First, the tags themselves are placed in a visible location so there is no question the merchandise is going to sound an alarm at the doors when EAS pedestals pick up the radio frequency wave emitted by the tags. The alarm is going to tip off nearby employees a theft attempt is taking place. Staff will see who the shoplifter is and they also have a chance to conduct a receipt check and recover merchandise. The second problem the criminal has is how secure the tags are on a garment or other merchandise. Attempts to pry or force Checkpoint Hard Tags off of most items will result in damaged product. This is not what the shoplifter is bargaining for when they come in to steal. Clearly deterrence and detection properties of these retail anti-theft devices can stop shoplifting and send the bad guys to another store to commit their crimes.
     
     One of the arguments the writer makes is that too many resources are focused on trying to stop shoplifting which he says is only causing 24% of shrink and not enough on the other causes, be they operational or internal theft related. The article also discusses the dangers associated with confronting a shoplifter, especially if the Loss Prevention Agent is by him or herself. I agree that operational shortage should be a component of the Loss Prevention department but I don’t believe it should be a major focus point. I believe it is incumbent on the store management team to understand and address operational shortage. I saw a period in my LP Management career where the company I worked for did shift the focus more towards operational involvement for a time. We were even looking at department productivity opportunities, were best practices being followed? We were to become more knowledgeable on the backroom and product return and check-in procedures. I didn’t balk at having to learn more, I balked at the idea the store was paying a stockroom/freight manager a lot of money to run the department, why not make THAT person ensure best practiced were followed? 
     In part 2 of this article I will continue with my thoughts on the topic of whether we should stop shoplifting by focusing efforts on external theft or re-think the role of Loss Prevention in the stores. Regardless of which side of the argument you find yourself after reading about all points of view, one thing that cannot be argued is that Checkpoint Hard Tags are an effective tool in the fight to keep shortage low.
Get more information on Checkpoint Hard Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.  
     

To stop or not stop shoplifters is a question that has been asked even before I started working in Loss Prevention nearly 27 years ago. It popped up again when I was reading an article in LP INSIDER  magazine, “To Stop or Not to Stop the Shoplifter: Is This Still a Question?” by Johnny Custer, LPC, CPI, March 14, 2017. I found some points I agreed with and others points I found myself shaking my head in disagreement over. The one side of the argument is that catching shoplifters reduces shortage and the writer of the article notes that this was the focus of shortage reduction when Loss Prevention departments were created. The writer goes on to pose the question, “Does shoplifting have the kind of impact on shrink that we once thought?” A few lines later he references a 2012 report that indicates shoplifting accounts for approximately 24% of annual shrink. Well, my rebuttal to that statistic at least is that according to the 2014-2015 Global Retail Theft Barometer Report, shoplifting in North America accounted for approximately 36% of retail shrinkage. The report compares that number to the prior year which placed shrinkage due to shoplifting at 37% (pg. 53). It does not seem realistic that shortage from shoplifting jumped 13% in two years so someone’s numbers are off. My stance is that shoplifting does have a significant part to play in retail shortage and it must be addressed. I will touch on a few other points in a moment. What I do want to strongly point out is that one way or another external theft must be a focus for shortage reduction even if it is through deterrence and Checkpoint hard tags are one way a store can stop shoplifting.

 

By protecting merchandise with electronic article surveillance (EAS) retail anti-theft devices such as Checkpoint Hard Tags, criminals are confronted with two problems. First, the tags themselves are placed in a visible location so there is no question the merchandise is going to sound an alarm at the doors when EAS pedestals pick up the radio frequency wave emitted by the tags. The alarm is going to tip off nearby employees a theft attempt is taking place. Staff will see who the shoplifter is and they also have a chance to conduct a receipt check and recover merchandise. The second problem the criminal has is how secure the tags are on a garment or other merchandise. Attempts to pry or force Checkpoint Hard Tags off of most items will result in damaged product. This is not what the shoplifter is bargaining for when they come in to steal. Clearly deterrence and detection properties of these retail anti-theft devices can stop shoplifting and send the bad guys to another store to commit their crimes.

         

One of the arguments the writer makes is that too many resources are focused on trying to stop shoplifting which he says is only causing 24% of shrink and not enough on the other causes, be they operational or internal theft related. The article also discusses the dangers associated with confronting a shoplifter, especially if the Loss Prevention Agent is by him or herself. I agree that operational shortage should be a component of the Loss Prevention department but I don’t believe it should be a major focus point. I believe it is incumbent on the store management team to understand and address operational shortage. I saw a period in my LP Management career where the company I worked for did shift the focus more towards operational involvement for a time. We were even looking at department productivity opportunities, were best practices being followed? We were to become more knowledgeable on the backroom and product return and check-in procedures. I didn’t balk at having to learn more, I balked at the idea the store was paying a stockroom/freight manager a lot of money to run the department, why not make THAT person ensure best practiced were followed? 
     

In part 2 of this article I will continue with my thoughts on the topic of whether we should stop shoplifting by focusing efforts on external theft or re-think the role of Loss Prevention in the stores. Regardless of which side of the argument you find yourself after reading about all points of view, one thing that cannot be argued is that Checkpoint Hard Tags are an effective tool in the fight to keep shortage low.

 

Get more information on Checkpoint Hard Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.