Checkpoint Tags –  5                                                                                                                 WC Blog 337
Stop Shoplifting- 3
Balancing Efforts To Stop Shoplifting And Use Loss Prevention Resources Wisely – Part 2
     In case you may have missed Part 1 of this two-part series, I am visiting an argument/question that recently popped up in an article in LP INSIDER magazine, “To Stop or Not to Stop the Shoplifter: Is This Still a Question?”, by Johnny Custer, LPC, CFI, March 14, 2017. The arguments posed by the writer question whether the best uses of Loss Prevention professionals should be to focus on and stop shoplifting or can they be more effective in reducing shortage in other ways. I pointed out in Part 1 that shoplifting accounts for more shortage than the author contends by referencing the 2014-2015 Global Retail Theft Barometer Report. I also expressed my concern that it is a poor use of assets for stores to focus the attention of Loss Prevention on store operations as I have personally experienced. Stores usually pay someone to manage the operations, replenishment and administrative functions for the business. I will return to this point in a little later. To be fair to the author, he did not totally disapprove of stopping shoplifters, and his concern is partially for L.P. safety. I will also say, as someone who has had to fight with shoplifters, it can be dangerous but proper training on safe apprehensions and when to disengage can alleviate much of that concern. One area that was not specifically addressed in the article and I believe can stop shoplifting AND impact other shortage is the use of Checkpoint Tags on merchandise. They can help L.P. prevent external and internal theft and even improve some operational shortage issues.
     Checkpoint Tags are readily identifiable to shoplifters when placed in highly visible locations on merchandise. Since the objective of the shoplifter is to steal without getting caught, most do not want to contend with trying to force off a tag which is usually unsuccessful and damages product. They also don’t want to risk leaving a tag on and activating the electronic article surveillance pedestals at the doors when they try to exit with unpaid for products. Employees who want to steal face the same risks, so internal theft is also reduced with the use of Checkpoint Tags. One often overlooked benefit of electronic article surveillance tags is that when a tagged item is missed by a cashier during checkout, such as a product on the bottom of the shopping cart or a small cosmetic item in a buggy, the electronic article surveillance pedestal detects the item and employees can assist the customer in purchasing it or returning it to the salesfloor. This is not a theft issue it is an operational/training issue.
     The writer states in his article, “There are other aspects of shrink occurring in your buildings that contribute to the bulk of your shrink woes. These aspects are more controllable and much safer to address.” One of his suggestions to focus on is, “Train and require continued training on all facets of business operation, including perpetual inventory process, price changes, markdowns, seasonal changeovers, DSD and receiving processes…” While I have no argument against L.P. being trained to recognize the potential shortage issues related to these areas, it is my opinion this is NOT where L.P. teams should be focused. Certainly we can be partners in this and L.P. can bring a fresh set of eyes to a problem but, I would refer again to the 2014-2015 GRTB that indicated administrative and non-crime shortage accounts for approximately 13% of shortage and vendor fraud and theft 6% of stores shortage. Together they combine for 19% of store losses. I would suggest the use of Checkpoint Tags to stop shoplifting could help to reduce some of the vendor theft that may be taking place if we are talking about the theft of other merchandise while the vendor is in the store. As I also mentioned tagging can help improve some operational issues. Unless, your L.P. team is focusing on theft related to fraudulent markdowns, I don’t feel this is the best use of a Loss Prevention department. 
     I do understand the concerns over the dangers associated with shoplifter detentions and apprehensions. That said, underestimating the impact of shoplifting and choosing to let criminals get away with theft is an invitation to increased shortage, not the other way around. Deter theft with Checkpoint Tags and customer service but don’t dismiss the value of L.P. apprehensions of shoplifters. The threat of being apprehended is a deterrent in itself.
Need information on Checkpoint Tags? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.

In case you may have missed Part 1 of this two-part series, I am visiting an argument/question that recently popped up in an article in LP INSIDER magazine, “To Stop or Not to Stop the Shoplifter: Is This Still a Question?”, by Johnny Custer, LPC, CFI, March 14, 2017. The arguments posed by the writer question whether the best uses of Loss Prevention professionals should be to focus on and stop shoplifting or can they be more effective in reducing shortage in other ways. I pointed out in Part 1 that shoplifting accounts for more shortage than the author contends by referencing the 2014-2015 Global Retail Theft Barometer Report. I also expressed my concern that it is a poor use of assets for stores to focus the attention of Loss Prevention on store operations as I have personally experienced. Stores usually pay someone to manage the operations, replenishment and administrative functions for the business. I will return to this point in a little later. To be fair to the author, he did not totally disapprove of stopping shoplifters, and his concern is partially for L.P. safety. I will also say, as someone who has had to fight with shoplifters, it can be dangerous but proper training on safe apprehensions and when to disengage can alleviate much of that concern. One area that was not specifically addressed in the article and I believe can stop shoplifting AND impact other shortage is the use of Checkpoint Tags on merchandise. They can help L.P. prevent external and internal theft and even improve some operational shortage issues.
     

Checkpoint Tags are readily identifiable to shoplifters when placed in highly visible locations on merchandise. Since the objective of the shoplifter is to steal without getting caught, most do not want to contend with trying to force off a tag which is usually unsuccessful and damages product. They also don’t want to risk leaving a tag on and activating the electronic article surveillance pedestals at the doors when they try to exit with unpaid for products. Employees who want to steal face the same risks, so internal theft is also reduced with the use of Checkpoint Tags. One often overlooked benefit of electronic article surveillance tags is that when a tagged item is missed by a cashier during checkout, such as a product on the bottom of the shopping cart or a small cosmetic item in a buggy, the electronic article surveillance pedestal detects the item and employees can assist the customer in purchasing it or returning it to the salesfloor. This is not a theft issue it is an operational/training issue.
     

The writer states in his article, “There are other aspects of shrink occurring in your buildings that contribute to the bulk of your shrink woes. These aspects are more controllable and much safer to address.” One of his suggestions to focus on is, “Train and require continued training on all facets of business operation, including perpetual inventory process, price changes, markdowns, seasonal changeovers, DSD and receiving processes…” While I have no argument against L.P. being trained to recognize the potential shortage issues related to these areas, it is my opinion this is NOT where L.P. teams should be focused. Certainly we can be partners in this and L.P. can bring a fresh set of eyes to a problem but, I would refer again to the 2014-2015 GRTB that indicated administrative and non-crime shortage accounts for approximately 13% of shortage and vendor fraud and theft 6% of stores shortage. Together they combine for 19% of store losses. I would suggest the use of Checkpoint Tags to stop shoplifting could help to reduce some of the vendor theft that may be taking place if we are talking about the theft of other merchandise while the vendor is in the store. As I also mentioned tagging can help improve some operational issues. Unless, your L.P. team is focusing on theft related to fraudulent markdowns, I don’t feel this is the best use of a Loss Prevention department. 
     

I do understand the concerns over the dangers associated with shoplifter detentions and apprehensions. That said, underestimating the impact of shoplifting and choosing to let criminals get away with theft is an invitation to increased shortage, not the other way around. Deter theft with Checkpoint Tags and customer service but don’t dismiss the value of L.P. apprehensions of shoplifters. The threat of being apprehended is a deterrent in itself.

 

Need information on Checkpoint Tags? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.