Gaming Keepers – 5 WC blog 97
Retail Anti-Theft Devices-4
Prevent Shoplifting-3
Gaming Keepers Take The Fun Out Of Video Game Theft
Sometimes there are things that just don’t make sense. When I worked in Loss Prevention for one big box retailer, one of those items the store was locking up were video games while at the same time other games were kept on open shelves or in a bargain bin. The games that were loose were protected with only an electronic article surveillance soft tag. I suppose the idea behind this was that they were cheaper so that was why people wouldn’t steal them? IF that was the train of thought someone should have informed our shoplifters. I am not belittling the use of soft tags, they do prevent shoplifting and are appropriate in many instances, especially when applied directly to a box or source tagged. However, I had enough experience with cellophane wrappers being removed and the electronic article surveillance (EAS) tag with it that I recognized gaming keepers would be the more logical retail anti-theft device for protecting video game software.
If you are not familiar with them, gaming keepers are clear, hard, plastic, locking boxes that are EAS compatible. The video game is placed in the box, the hinged bottom is locked and the merchandise cannot be taken out without a detachment key. Customers have the ability to look at the game, read the contents, warnings and ratings, and even carry it around the store. The merchant can prevent shoplifting by using these retail anti-theft devices because there is little chance a shoplifter will get the merchandise out without making a significant racket. Should a shoplifter attempt to walk out with merchandise, the keeper will set off an EAS alarm if the store has an EAS system. Sales can also be increased when gaming keepers are used because customers don’t have to wait for someone to unlock a showcase just so they can browse games. People don’t like to wait because, if they wait too long, they leave and a sale is lost.
I mentioned previously I worked for a particular big box retailer and we had these open display games protected only with the soft tags. I had one shoplifting case that could have been avoided had the store used gaming keepers for the “value” games. In this situation, a woman was in the store “shopping” and stopped at the value games. She selected a number of games and slipped them into her purse and went to the restroom. Restroom stops were not permitted by this company, but neither were stops at the time of concealment. To be clear, most stores do not allow either type of stop. The woman exited the restroom, and immediately exited the store, and no EAS alarm was activated. I inspected the restroom and indeed, found the cellophane wrappers and the EAS tags in the trash.
Being well aware that shoplifters tend to return when they feel they have found an easy target, I made my supervisor and a co-worker aware of the suspect and what she had done. Sure enough, a few days later the woman returned, this time with her daughter in tow. I had a partner with me and we watched the woman on camera as she did the same thing. This time we were able to prevent her from entering the restroom and she headed for the exit. We stopped her and she began to toss the merchandise from her purse onto the floor. The woman fled the store and left her child behind, the little girl obviously crying and screaming for her mother. Eventually the woman was caught and the child was turned over to a guardian by the police. Had we used retail anti-theft devices, such as gaming keepers, we may have avoided this ugly episode in the first place. Ease of access and perceived lack of security provided the shoplifter with what she believed was the opportunity to get away with her theft.
Prevent shoplifting of video games in your store. Use the right retail anti-theft devices and you will remove the opportunity for theft and, at the same time, improve sales with better in-stocks!
For more information on Gaming Keepers, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
Sometimes there are things that just don’t make sense. When I worked in Loss Prevention for one big box retailer, one of those items the store was locking up were video games while at the same time other games were kept on open shelves or in a bargain bin. The games that were loose were protected with only an electronic article surveillance soft tag. I suppose the idea behind this was that they were cheaper so that was why people wouldn’t steal them? IF that was the train of thought someone should have informed our shoplifters. I am not belittling the use of soft tags, they do prevent shoplifting and are appropriate in many instances, especially when applied directly to a box or source tagged. However, I had enough experience with cellophane wrappers being removed and the electronic article surveillance (EAS) tag with it that I recognized gaming keepers would be the more logical retail anti-theft device for protecting video game software.
If you are not familiar with them, gaming keepers are clear, hard, plastic, locking boxes that are EAS compatible. The video game is placed in the box, the hinged bottom is locked and the merchandise cannot be taken out without a detachment key. Customers have the ability to look at the game, read the contents, warnings and ratings, and even carry it around the store. The merchant can prevent shoplifting by using these retail anti-theft devices because there is little chance a shoplifter will get the merchandise out without making a significant racket. Should a shoplifter attempt to walk out with merchandise, the keeper will set off an EAS alarm if the store has an EAS system Sales can also be increased when gaming keepers are used because customers don’t have to wait for someone to unlock a showcase just so they can browse games. People don’t like to wait because, if they wait too long, they leave and a sale is lost.
I mentioned previously I worked for a particular big box retailer and we had these open display games protected only with the soft tags. I had one shoplifting case that could have been avoided had the store used gaming keepers for the “value” games. In this situation, a woman was in the store “shopping” and stopped at the value games. She selected a number of games and slipped them into her purse and went to the restroom. Restroom stops were not permitted by this company, but neither were stops at the time of concealment. To be clear, most stores do not allow either type of stop. The woman exited the restroom, and immediately exited the store, and no EAS alarm was activated. I inspected the restroom and indeed, found the cellophane wrappers and the EAS tags in the trash.
Being well aware that shoplifters tend to return when they feel they have found an easy target, I made my supervisor and a co-worker aware of the suspect and what she had done. Sure enough, a few days later the woman returned, this time with her daughter in tow. I had a partner with me and we watched the woman on camera as she did the same thing. This time we were able to prevent her from entering the restroom and she headed for the exit. We stopped her and she began to toss the merchandise from her purse onto the floor. The woman fled the store and left her child behind, the little girl obviously crying and screaming for her mother. Eventually the woman was caught and the child was turned over to a guardian by the police. Had we used retail anti-theft devices, such as gaming keepers, we may have avoided this ugly episode in the first place. Ease of access and perceived lack of security provided the shoplifter with what she believed was the opportunity to get away with her theft.
Prevent shoplifting of video games in your store. Use the right retail anti-theft devices and you will remove the opportunity for theft and, at the same time, improve sales with better in-stocks!
For more information on Gaming Keepers, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
Checkpoint Security Systems -5 WC blog 98
Checkpoint tags – 4
Retail Theft Prevention – 3
Preventing Theft With Checkpoint Systems Part 1
As a store owner or a person in charge of managing a retail store(s), do you find yourself spending a significant amount of time trying to determine where merchandise losses are coming from? Have you examined how much of your time is being spent trying to address shortage rather than being able to focus on the other areas of your business where you could enhance sales? What if you could work smarter, not harder and drive down shortage AND put your energy into other aspects of your business? I would like to recommend that investing in a Checkpoint security system can do all this and more.
A Checkpoint security system in a nutshell is a combination of Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) antennas positioned at store access points, Checkpoint tags that are attached to merchandise, testing equipment, deactivation and detachment devices. Data analytics can also be integrated to provide you with customer traffic information, alarm activations, and alarm response times. A retail theft prevention program built around a Checkpoint security system will make a significant and immediate impact in reducing store stock shortage.
This may seem like a lot of information so I would like to take time to discuss some of the important points on each part of the system. While the company can explain all the features and benefits of each component, there are some highlights I will point out, starting with the EAS antennas. There are a number of styles to choose from, larger antennas have the ability to have advertising panels added to them that can be interchanged. Some models have the ability to read RFID tags and EAS Checkpoint tags which permit an easy transition if you were to opt for a change in the future. For stores with small entrances or where you may not have a lot of sales floor space and you can’t afford to lose any square footage, there is a small profile antenna offered called the Classic N10. Whatever you may determine your needs are while consulting with Checkpoint staff, there is an antenna that will suit your business needs.
In addition to the benefits of the styles and designs offered with the selection of antennas, there is a functional aspect to how they impact retail theft prevention. There is deterrence value to having antennas installed at entrances and exits. When a potential shoplifter or even an employee sees the antennas they know that there is merchandise in the store that is protected with Checkpoint tags or EAS labels. There is always a chance that a person entering your store with the intent of stealing may very well choose to leave and find another retailer without EAS protection. The other practical function is that when a piece of merchandise that is protected with Checkpoints tags or labels is brought within range of the antennas, a loud, audible alarm is activated in the antenna, as are flashing LED lights. Employees are alerted and respond to determine a cause for the alarm and recover merchandise someone may be attempting to steal or forgot to pay for, such as an item that was on the bottom of a shopping cart.
Finally, as you are investigating the benefits of Checkpoint security systems, don’t forget to consider protecting all of the store entry points. It is easy to think only of the potential for shoplifters to steal, but you should be aware that roughly half of all retail shortage is due to employee theft according to the 2015 Global Retail Theft Barometer Report. Back doors or employee entrances are vulnerable points, often overlooked when EAS antennas are installed. Dishonest employees or vendors can use these access points to spirit away merchandise protected with Checkpoint tags and no alarm will be activated.
Start building a retail theft prevention program around the right Checkpoint security system, starting with the EAS antennas. With the proper tools in place, you will begin to see merchandise theft decrease sharply and profits increase. When that happens you can focus on other areas to improve sales!
For more information on Checkpoint security systems, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
As a store owner or a person in charge of managing a retail store(s), do you find yourself spending a significant amount of time trying to determine where merchandise losses are coming from? Have you examined how much of your time is being spent trying to address shortage rather than being able to focus on the other areas of your business where you could enhance sales? What if you could work smarter, not harder and drive down shortage AND put your energy into other aspects of your business? I would like to recommend that investing in a Checkpoint security system can do all this and more.
A Checkpoint security system in a nutshell is a combination of Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) antennas positioned at store access points, Checkpoint tags that are attached to merchandise, testing equipment, deactivation and detachment devices. Data analytics can also be integrated to provide you with customer traffic information, alarm activations, and alarm response times. A retail theft prevention program built around a Checkpoint security system will make a significant and immediate impact in reducing store stock shortage.
This may seem like a lot of information so I would like to take time to discuss some of the important points on each part of the system. While the company can explain all the features and benefits of each component, there are some highlights I will point out, starting with the EAS antennas. There are a number of styles to choose from, larger antennas have the ability to have advertising panels added to them that can be interchanged. Some models have the ability to read RFID tags and EAS Checkpoint tags which permit an easy transition if you were to opt for a change in the future. For stores with small entrances or where you may not have a lot of sales floor space and you can’t afford to lose any square footage, there is a small profile antenna offered called the Classic N10. Whatever you may determine your needs are while consulting with Checkpoint staff, there is an antenna that will suit your business needs.
In addition to the benefits of the styles and designs offered with the selection of antennas, there is a functional aspect to how they impact retail theft prevention. There is deterrence value to having antennas installed at entrances and exits. When a potential shoplifter or even an employee sees the antennas they know that there is merchandise in the store that is protected with Checkpoint tags or EAS labels. There is always a chance that a person entering your store with the intent of stealing may very well choose to leave and find another retailer without EAS protection. The other practical function is that when a piece of merchandise that is protected with Checkpoints tags or labels is brought within range of the antennas, a loud, audible alarm is activated in the antenna, as are flashing LED lights. Employees are alerted and respond to determine a cause for the alarm and recover merchandise someone may be attempting to steal or forgot to pay for, such as an item that was on the bottom of a shopping cart.
Finally, as you are investigating the benefits of Checkpoint security systems, don’t forget to consider protecting all of the store entry points. It is easy to think only of the potential for shoplifters to steal, but you should be aware that roughly half of all retail shortage is due to employee theft according to the 2015 Global Retail Theft Barometer Report. Back doors or employee entrances are vulnerable points, often overlooked when EAS antennas are installed. Dishonest employees or vendors can use these access points to spirit away merchandise protected with Checkpoint tags and no alarm will be activated.
Start building a retail theft prevention program around the right Checkpoint security system, starting with the EAS antennas. With the proper tools in place, you will begin to see merchandise theft decrease sharply and profits increase. When that happens you can focus on other areas to improve sales!
For more information on Checkpoint security systems, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
CPN10-3 , Thunder Tag-4 , Tablet Theft-3
Checkpoint Systems In The Medical Field
Many doctor’s offices are converting to all digital records keeping systems. This allows them to use less physical space for those bulky file cabinets or records boxes. It also allows offices the ability to share information more easily and freely. Imagine the convenience of simply emailing patient history or lab results directly to another provider, instead of having to retrieve them and fax or even mail them. Many offices are now even converting their check-in process to a digital format and providing the patient with a tablet or I-pad to enter or update their information. Unfortunately there always seems to be a downside to any process evolution, and this is no exception. Office staff was already responsible for the security and maintenance of paper records; a tablet theft could result in the loss of hundreds or thousands of patients’ records.
You’ve heard of financial identity fraud, but medical identity fraud can be just as devastating. It’s hard enough for someone to deal with the bank if their credit card information is stolen and they discover unauthorized charges. Medical information is just as valuable. Health insurance is a new commodity that hackers can sell. It is a new lucrative market and the money that can be made from one tablet theft from a medical office is astounding. A local news station just covered a story last week that was a prime example of what can happen when this type of information gets in the wrong hands. A woman got a hospital bill in the mail for her husband. There was also a whopping charge for an MRI, which her insurance did not cover. The big problem: her husband had not been hospitalized. Someone had stolen his medical records and made a fake health insurance and identity cards. Then they went and had some outpatient surgery, among other procedures, and now this poor woman gets the bill. When the investigation is completed, I would hate to be the medical office manager that gets the blame for this breach. Heads will roll.
Instances like this will get more common as the switch to digital occurs, because a tablet theft from a doctor’s office can have such far reaching repercussions. There is a solution to protect these valuable devices though. Two tools, the Checkpoint N10 system and the Alpha Thunder Tag, are the tag team duo that can save the day. The thunder tag is simply attached to the device that needs to be protected. If someone attempts to remove or tamper with the tag, it will self-alarm and alert your staff. If a patient accidentally attempts to take the tablet beyond the established perimeter, the thunder tag will also set off an alarm. That is where the N10 system plays its part. This is a sleek, space-saving system that attaches to the door frame. It has the same detection capability of its larger counterparts that you see at the entrance of many department stores. This same system that protects a store’s merchandise from shoplifters can protect any medical devices at a doctor’s office or hospital.
Keeping the patient’s medical information secure is paramount. When considering the cost of the digital conversion and the fines and sanctions the office would face if a loss occurs, the answer is clear. An investment in the Checkpoint N10 system and Alpha Thunder tags is well worth the peace of mind knowing your equipment is secure.
For more information on the Checkpoint N10 System and Alpha Thunder Tags, contact us or call: 1.770.426.0547
Many doctor’s offices are converting to all digital records keeping systems. This allows them to use less physical space for those bulky file cabinets or records boxes. It also allows offices the ability to share information more easily and freely. Imagine the convenience of simply emailing patient history or lab results directly to another provider, instead of having to retrieve them and fax or even mail them. Many offices are now even converting their check-in process to a digital format and providing the patient with a tablet or I-pad to enter or update their information. Unfortunately there always seems to be a downside to any process evolution, and this is no exception. Office staff was already responsible for the security and maintenance of paper records; a tablet theft could result in the loss of hundreds or thousands of patients’ records.
You’ve heard of financial identity fraud, but medical identity fraud can be just as devastating. It’s hard enough for someone to deal with the bank if their credit card information is stolen and they discover unauthorized charges. Medical information is just as valuable. Health insurance is a new commodity that hackers can sell. It is a new lucrative market and the money that can be made from one tablet theft from a medical office is astounding. A local news station just covered a story last week that was a prime example of what can happen when this type of information gets in the wrong hands. A woman got a hospital bill in the mail for her husband. There was also a whopping charge for an MRI, which her insurance did not cover. The big problem: her husband had not been hospitalized. Someone had stolen his medical records and made a fake health insurance and identity cards. Then they went and had some outpatient surgery, among other procedures, and now this poor woman gets the bill. When the investigation is completed, I would hate to be the medical office manager that gets the blame for this breach. Heads will roll.
Instances like this will get more common as the switch to digital occurs, because a tablet theft from a doctor’s office can have such far reaching repercussions. There is a solution to protect these valuable devices though. Two tools, the Checkpoint N10 system and the Alpha Thunder Tag, are the tag team duo that can save the day. The thunder tag is simply attached to the device that needs to be protected. If someone attempts to remove or tamper with the tag, it will self-alarm and alert your staff. If a patient accidentally attempts to take the tablet beyond the established perimeter, the thunder tag will also set off an alarm. That is where the N10 system plays its part. This is a sleek, space-saving system that attaches to the door frame. It has the same detection capability of its larger counterparts that you see at the entrance of many department stores. This same system that protects a store’s merchandise from shoplifters can protect any medical devices at a doctor’s office or hospital.
Keeping the patient’s medical information secure is paramount. When considering the cost of the digital conversion and the fines and sanctions the office would face if a loss occurs, the answer is clear. An investment in the Checkpoint N10 system and Alpha Thunder tags is well worth the peace of mind knowing your equipment is secure.
For more information on the Checkpoint N10 System and Alpha Thunder Tags, contact us or call: 1.770.426.0547
CP Hard Tags-3 , EAS-2 , Stop Shoplifting-1 , CP Tags-4
Security Guard Vs. Checkpoint Systems
There are a few retailers that I have seen lately using loss prevention associates dressed as security guards, instead of the undercover approach. I get the deterrence factor of using these people, and I’m not against this as a way to stop shoplifting. If you can find the right people to do the job, train them according to all your policies and local regulations, your store can benefit from their presence. If nothing else, they can make some customers and even the staff feel more safe and secure. However, I think in order to really make a difference and reduce shrink in your store, you should take a look at the additional assistance you can get by introducing an electronic article surveillance system, like Checkpoint. Especially if you have the kind of staff and “security” personnel the store I went to this weekend employs.
I took my daughter shopping for a tie dye kit for her birthday, and the best locally owned place I knew to go was this crazy mix of gift shop and smoke shop that sells everything you can think of. We were greeted and offered help as soon as we walked in the door. My daughter was immediately mesmerized by all the band t-shirts and black light room decorations, so I just wondered around aimlessly, doing what I usually do: figuring out if a store has loss prevention tools in place. First of all, there are two clerks in the middle of this weird round checkout counter. There was a guy walking around the store with a black t-shirt on that said “security” on the back of it. Honestly, I kinda thought he could have actually been the store’s security, but there is the off chance that was just one of the novelty shirts they sell there. I accidentally (on purpose) took a pair of sunglasses I was “looking at” too close to the front door and activated their electronic article surveillance system. One of the clerks looked up from pricing merchandise, the security guy turned around but didn’t come closer, and the other clerk never budged. Now, I’ll admit I don’t look like much of a threat or a typical theft issue for a store like this, so I won’t crack on them too hard. As I really looked around, I could see that all the t-shirts had Checkpoint hard tags on them. All the beanie caps, bandanas, and scarves and more had some form of Checkpoint tags as well.
The store’s staff can’t see everything that happens. They get busy with other customers and things happen that draw their attention away. That’s why it’s so important to utilize Checkpoint tags and Checkpoint hard tags on any merchandise that may be targeted for theft. Clothing and accessories get stolen often because people conceal unpaid items beneath their own clothing when the staff gets distracted. Sometimes these people come in groups in order to create the distractions themselves. Checkpoint tags will alert the staff of the theft attempt as soon as the criminal gets too close to the door and activates the alarm. Also, the thief can’t just pry off Checkpoint hard tags. They can see they will damage the shirt or other item they are trying to steal if they try to tamper with the hard tag that is pinned through, so they will be more likely to just put it back. It might be worth it to some to find out if that’s a real security guard, but they know for sure they’ll be caught if they mess with Checkpoint tags!
Need more information on Checkpoint Hard Tags? Contact us or give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
There are a few retailers that I have seen lately using loss prevention associates dressed as security guards, instead of the undercover approach. I get the deterrence factor of using these people, and I’m not against this as a way to stop shoplifting. If you can find the right people to do the job, train them according to all your policies and local regulations, your store can benefit from their presence. If nothing else, they can make some customers and even the staff feel more safe and secure. However, I think in order to really make a difference and reduce shrink in your store, you should take a look at the additional assistance you can get by introducing an electronic article surveillance system, like Checkpoint. Especially if you have the kind of staff and “security” personnel the store I went to this weekend employs.
I took my daughter shopping for a tie dye kit for her birthday, and the best locally owned place I knew to go was this crazy mix of gift shop and smoke shop that sells everything you can think of. We were greeted and offered help as soon as we walked in the door. My daughter was immediately mesmerized by all the band t-shirts and black light room decorations, so I just wondered around aimlessly, doing what I usually do: figuring out if a store has loss prevention tools in place. First of all, there are two clerks in the middle of this weird round checkout counter. There was a guy walking around the store with a black t-shirt on that said “security” on the back of it. Honestly, I kinda thought he could have actually been the store’s security, but there is the off chance that was just one of the novelty shirts they sell there. I accidentally (on purpose) took a pair of sunglasses I was “looking at” too close to the front door and activated their electronic article surveillance system. One of the clerks looked up from pricing merchandise, the security guy turned around but didn’t come closer, and the other clerk never budged. Now, I’ll admit I don’t look like much of a threat or a typical theft issue for a store like this, so I won’t crack on them too hard. As I really looked around, I could see that all the t-shirts had Checkpoint hard tags on them. All the beanie caps, bandanas, and scarves and more had some form of Checkpoint tags as well.
The store’s staff can’t see everything that happens. They get busy with other customers and things happen that draw their attention away. That’s why it’s so important to utilize Checkpoint tags and Checkpoint hard tags on any merchandise that may be targeted for theft. Clothing and accessories get stolen often because people conceal unpaid items beneath their own clothing when the staff gets distracted. Sometimes these people come in groups in order to create the distractions themselves. Checkpoint tags will alert the staff of the theft attempt as soon as the criminal gets too close to the door and activates the alarm. Also, the thief can’t just pry off Checkpoint hard tags. They can see they will damage the shirt or other item they are trying to steal if they try to tamper with the hard tag that is pinned through, so they will be more likely to just put it back. It might be worth it to some to find out if that’s a real security guard, but they know for sure they’ll be caught if they mess with Checkpoint tags!
Need more information on Checkpoint Hard Tags? Contact us or give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Background Checks-5 WC blog 105
Background Check Company-5
A Background Check Could Have Prevented Stolen Checks
When I worked as a Loss Prevention Manager for a big box retailer I had a number of cases I investigated that involved credit card and check fraud. Our store was located in a resort area with many hotels and tourist attractions. Several of the cases of financial transaction fraud involved theft from hotel patrons. So who did I often find were the guilty parties involved in these cases? Hotel room attendants who were party to the crimes in several cases, either using the stolen cards or check information themselves or providing it to a third party who, in turn, used the items. I would suspect that had I been able to investigate, I would learn that in these cases there were no background checks conducted. Often, especially in the summer months, hotels ramp up their hiring to meet the needs of the peak tourist season. Mass hiring tends to mean there are few if any background checks conducted because the need is so great.
Why would background checks make a difference in the cases I dealt with? A Background check company can dig into the history of potential new employees. They can check multiple state or local criminal histories, driving records, even education background if the employer requests it. A Background check company can help an employer know more about an applicant than just the questions on an application or what a personality screening supposedly scores a candidate. Had the hotels that employed the housekeepers made the effort to have thorough background checks completed, they may have learned that the people stealing from their guests had prior convictions for crimes.
I recall one specific case I worked in which our store had a customer report that a check had been written at our location from his account, but he insisted he had not been the person who wrote it. He said he had not written any checks at our store when he was visiting our town. I reviewed purchase information and was able to verify we had closed circuit television video recording available. Video review confirmed that the customer making the complaint was not the subject I had on camera. I asked the customer to contact our local police department to file a report, while I made contact with some investigators I knew on the department. After showing detectives the video we had and after they did some investigation at the hotel where the guest had stayed, police arrested a hotel housekeeper. It turned out that while the guest and family were at the beach, the housekeeper rifled through the complainant’s belongings, found the checkbook and removed several checks from the middle of the checkbook.
There is no guarantee that this particular employee had a criminal record and that was not information I sought or was offered. If she did have a record and a background check company had been hired to conduct a screening there is a strong probability it would have been discovered and she may not have been hired. I would also like to add a point here. I understand people need a second chance, and it can be difficult for those with criminal histories to obtain that second chance. That second chance may require the applicant to accept a job that does not place them in a position that may jeopardize the safety and security of others, especially in a job that may leave them alone with little oversight. An employer can use the results received from a background check company to still hire someone, but they may be placed in a different position.
Background checks protect the employer and can protect the clientele of a business. Hiring the wrong people can ruin a company’s brand and reputation. Let a background check company help you know who you are hiring and place people in the right job, it makes good business sense.
For more information on Background Checks, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
When I worked as a Loss Prevention Manager for a big box retailer I had a number of cases I investigated that involved credit card and check fraud. Our store was located in a resort area with many hotels and tourist attractions. Several of the cases of financial transaction fraud involved theft from hotel patrons. So who did I often find were the guilty parties involved in these cases? Hotel room attendants who were party to the crimes in several cases, either using the stolen cards or check information themselves or providing it to a third party who, in turn, used the items. I would suspect that had I been able to investigate, I would learn that in these cases there were no background checks conducted. Often, especially in the summer months, hotels ramp up their hiring to meet the needs of the peak tourist season. Mass hiring tends to mean there are few if any background checks conducted because the need is so great.
Why would background checks make a difference in the cases I dealt with? A Background check company can dig into the history of potential new employees. They can check multiple state or local criminal histories, driving records, even education background if the employer requests it. A Background check company can help an employer know more about an applicant than just the questions on an application or what a personality screening supposedly scores a candidate. Had the hotels that employed the housekeepers made the effort to have thorough background checks completed, they may have learned that the people stealing from their guests had prior convictions for crimes.
I recall one specific case I worked in which our store had a customer report that a check had been written at our location from his account, but he insisted he had not been the person who wrote it. He said he had not written any checks at our store when he was visiting our town. I reviewed purchase information and was able to verify we had closed circuit television video recording available. Video review confirmed that the customer making the complaint was not the subject I had on camera. I asked the customer to contact our local police department to file a report, while I made contact with some investigators I knew on the department. After showing detectives the video we had and after they did some investigation at the hotel where the guest had stayed, police arrested a hotel housekeeper. It turned out that while the guest and family were at the beach, the housekeeper rifled through the complainant’s belongings, found the checkbook and removed several checks from the middle of the checkbook.
There is no guarantee that this particular employee had a criminal record and that was not information I sought or was offered. If she did have a record and a background check company had been hired to conduct a screening there is a strong probability it would have been discovered and she may not have been hired. I would also like to add a point here. I understand people need a second chance, and it can be difficult for those with criminal histories to obtain that second chance. That second chance may require the applicant to accept a job that does not place them in a position that may jeopardize the safety and security of others, especially in a job that may leave them alone with little oversight. An employer can use the results received from a background check company to still hire someone, but they may be placed in a different position.
Background checks protect the employer and can protect the clientele of a business. Hiring the wrong people can ruin a company’s brand and reputation. Let a background check company help you know who you are hiring and place people in the right job, it makes good business sense.
For more information on Background Checks, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
Alpha Spider Wrap-1 , Alpha Hang Tag-2 , Retail Anti Theft Devices-2 , Prevent Shoplifting-3
Don’t Let Shoplifters Steal The Show
There is no typical thief or shoplifter. They range in age, gender, and race. Ten million people have been caught in just the last five years. Shoplifting affects more than just the store and the criminal. The store has to call the local authorities, so there is the added burden to the police. They have to take their attention and focus off of other potentially harmful people and situations to come deal with the thief. Sometimes the police get there in time to catch and haul the criminal away; other times they just come to take the report. When too much theft occurs, there are the additional costs to make up for those losses and those are usually passed on to the consumer. There is also the loss of sales taxes to the local community. If store managers and their staff are going to prevent shoplifting, they have got to have the retail anti-theft devices they need to get the job done. That is where Alpha Technology comes into play to help stores secure the valuable inventory on their shelves.
Shoplifters are a problem for drug stores, discount stores, grocers, specialty shops, clothing boutiques and more. No matter what your business sells, deterrence is the key to prevent shoplifting. There are many choices when it comes to retail anti-theft devices, and your best security option depends on what you sell. I work for a small retail pharmacy and dealt with two thefts in the last week. Do you realize that many shoplifters will buy something as well as steal from your store in the same visit? I had a guy come in to get a prescription for his young daughter. He turned it in at the pharmacy and walked around the store while he waited for it to be filled. I noticed him in our baby care section, but I assumed he was just killing time. I watched him for a bit, and then went back to working on some other things. A little while later, I found two empty packages over there. So, he bought that medication for his child, but he stole a thermometer and a nasal aspirator. It’s cough and cold season, and to tell the truth, we should have known better than to merchandise those back there unprotected. Now I have those items protected with Alpha Hang Tags. They clip right onto the package, and they can still be hung right on the peg as they had been. Alpha Hang Tags are easily removed by the staff and they are 100% recyclable.
I just dismantled a glass security case about a month ago in our diet and nutrition section. Then I discovered we had some diet pills getting stolen. I could give in and put that big heavy case back up, but I know how to fix the problem without that unsightly thing. Today when that replacement box of diet pills arrived with the delivery, I attached an Alpha Spider Wrap. Try to get that box open now; I dare you. Your fingers will break before that cable will. Depending on the size of the package and how you display it for sale, there are many tools like the Alpha Spider Wrap to protect your merchandise. Don’t let the shoplifters win. You’ve got too much to lose. Prevent shoplifting with these tools and many more.
For more information on Alpha Technology, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
There is no typical thief or shoplifter. They range in age, gender, and race. Ten million people have been caught in just the last five years. Shoplifting affects more than just the store and the criminal. The store has to call the local authorities, so there is the added burden to the police. They have to take their attention and focus off of other potentially harmful people and situations to come deal with the thief. Sometimes the police get there in time to catch and haul the criminal away; other times they just come to take the report. When too much theft occurs, there are the additional costs to make up for those losses and those are usually passed on to the consumer. There is also the loss of sales taxes to the local community. If store managers and their staff are going to prevent shoplifting, they have got to have the retail anti-theft devices they need to get the job done. That is where Alpha Technology comes into play to help stores secure the valuable inventory on their shelves.
Shoplifters are a problem for drug stores, discount stores, grocers, specialty shops, clothing boutiques and more. No matter what your business sells, deterrence is the key to prevent shoplifting. There are many choices when it comes to retail anti-theft devices, and your best security option depends on what you sell. I work for a small retail pharmacy and dealt with two thefts in the last week. Do you realize that many shoplifters will buy something as well as steal from your store in the same visit? I had a guy come in to get a prescription for his young daughter. He turned it in at the pharmacy and walked around the store while he waited for it to be filled. I noticed him in our baby care section, but I assumed he was just killing time. I watched him for a bit, and then went back to working on some other things. A little while later, I found two empty packages over there. So, he bought that medication for his child, but he stole a thermometer and a nasal aspirator. It’s cough and cold season, and to tell the truth, we should have known better than to merchandise those back there unprotected. Now I have those items protected with Alpha Hang Tags. They clip right onto the package, and they can still be hung right on the peg as they had been. Alpha Hang Tags are easily removed by the staff and they are 100% recyclable.
I just dismantled a glass security case about a month ago in our diet and nutrition section. Then I discovered we had some diet pills getting stolen. I could give in and put that big heavy case back up, but I know how to fix the problem without that unsightly thing. Today when that replacement box of diet pills arrived with the delivery, I attached an Alpha Spider Wrap. Try to get that box open now; I dare you. Your fingers will break before that cable will. Depending on the size of the package and how you display it for sale, there are many tools like the Alpha Spider Wrap to protect your merchandise. Don’t let the shoplifters win. You’ve got too much to lose. Prevent shoplifting with these tools and many more.
For more information on Alpha Technology, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
