I went shopping with my wife last night. Well, really we were waiting to pick up my daughter from her job and had time to kill so we went to the clothing retail store next to her store and began browsing. We had a gift to look for but that turned to naught so we went to the nightwear section and she looked through the racks for a particular item she wanted in her size. Well she found the style and color of a pair of pajama pants she liked but she wasn’t positive they would fit properly. I told her we could buy them and if they fit and she liked them she could keep them. If not, as long as we had the receipt we could return them. I certainly didn’t need to tell her this as she has a significant amount of retail experience, but as the husband and the one with the Loss Prevention experience, I felt I needed to reassure her that she would not be committing any retail fraud by trying them on at home. I also told her this because I was tired and ready to go. This experience reminded me that there are those who engage in wardrobing and do commit return fraud. A store like this could benefit from using Alpha Shark Tags on their clothing.
Since I mentioned Alpha Shark Tags I need to describe what they are and how they prevent return fraud. Shark Tags or wardrobing tags as they are sometimes called are different than electronic article surveillance tags. These tags are designed in a bright red and are placed in a highly visible location on clothes. They are not created to prevent theft so they never get de-activated or removed at the store. These devices are removed by the customer when they get home and the customer decides they want to keep the merchandise. The tags have to be cut off and once that is done they can’t be replaced. It also means the store won’t accept the item back for return. This means that there is no more buying clothes, wearing them a couple of times to look like the person has a new outfit, then returning the item with the clothing tags and receipts and getting a full refund…a type of fraud known as wardrobing. The bright color of the Shark tags ensures that if the item is worn in public with the tag still on it other people are going to know the intent is that the item is being “borrowed” and will embarrass the person wearing the garment. I should also mention that Alpha Shark tags do not interfere with the ability to try on clothes at home and if the item doesn’t fit or if it is a gift and the recipient doesn’t like the gift, as long as the tag is intact, the garment can be returned.
As a Loss Prevention Manager I did see multiple questionable returns of clothing as well as obvious attempts at return fraud. The problem was determining what was clearly fraudulent and what was not. The second part of that problem was working with the Manager on Duty to determine if we were going to take an item back and what form of reimbursement would we give. Merchandise that has clothing tags on them and a receipt, even if there were some stains, could be hard to refuse. Everything has the appearance of following the company return policies, minor stains or odors notwithstanding, so to refuse the return is hard. It is a little easier if stains are large or the merchandise is damaged but again if the tags are in place it can be tough because some managers don’t want a confrontation. Clear clothing return fraud is when the tags on the clothes don’t match the product. An example is when a perpetrator has a low end brand of jeans and attaches a store price tag and barcode from a high-end, name brand pair of jeans and takes them to the store to get the higher dollar amount back. If an employee is paying attention this fraud can be caught and the return easily denied. Wardrobing Tags prevent the harder returns because they can’t be reattached so the clothes can’t be worn and refunded.
Don’t be the victim of return fraud, it hurts profits because often the merchandise that is brought back has to be reduced in price or marked out of stock. Wardrobing tags help keep profits up and prices for customers down when they don’t have to pay for the losses through mark-ups on clothing. Oh, and that shopping trip…my wife didn’t buy anything.
Need information on Wardrobing Tags? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
People lie, employee background checks don’t. As part of the pre-employment screening process, background checks should be mandatory in every company. As a Loss Prevention professional, I have seen the value of these checks first hand. In everyday life, we are careful with our wallets, purses, vehicles, and other personal belongings. You would not trust a stranger to hold your wallet just because they say they are “honest and trustworthy” right? Well, why would you trust an employee to have access to everything inside your company? Digging further than just face value should be a part of every retailer’s pre-employment screening process. One employee who is not honest could significantly drain profits right underneath your feet. I see this often with my own eyes while closing out high dollar employee theft investigations in my stores.
While working Loss Prevention for a retailer, there was an employee who everybody perceived as hard working, friendly, and trustworthy. The employee had a great personality and could speak well about his business. He was well liked by everyone, including my Loss Prevention team. One Monday morning, I received a call from my Operations Manager that we were missing 2 high dollar appliances from the warehouse. I first made sure he checked several possible locations where the merchandise could have been misplaced. But he was correct. Two appliances came in three trucks ago, and we were missing two items. I started reviewing several days of video and running reports to complete an investigation on where these appliances went. I come across some suspicious activity on CCTV where the item looks like it goes out the door to a customer in a red truck. I pull transactions and found that there were no customer pickups or purchases for that item on that day. I now know that the employee we trusted, had deceived us. I continued to investigate the second missing item. I went through several days of video and found that the same employee again pushed an item out the door, to the SAME red truck. No purchases or customer pickups for that specific item that day. I now was 100 percent certain we had a thief working in our building. I then started investigating more and found several more videos on non-paid items leaving the building. Once I had the theft investigation complete, I went to Human Resources to look at his folder. I was shocked at what I found. The employee did not have any type of pre-employment screening! I didn’t understand why we would not have completed one. Human Resources explained to me that they didn’t do any pre-employment screening on the people they hired during the holidays, mass hires, or certain positions in the store. I decided to request one to be completed, due to the investigation I was working on. The well liked employee who has been robbing us blind was a convicted criminal with several prior thefts. If we were conducting employee background checks on everyone we hired, we would have caught this!
I completed an interview on the employee right before we prosecuted him. He admitted to stealing close to $38,000 from us in the short two years he worked there. Although we were happy to prosecute and get a thief out of our building, it shows how much money can walk out of your store in a short period of time. This was just from one person. What about all of the other friendly people we hired during the holidays, our mass hire, or the employees who are working in non-required positions? Employee background checks are inexpensive and provide peace of mind about the type of person you are hiring. This can ensure that you are not hiring a person who is dangerous, untrustworthy, or just not a suitable fit for your business. A simple pre-employment screening, will help you keep the individuals who could potentially harm your business away!
For more information about Employee Background Checks, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547.
CHECKPOINT HARD TAGS OUTWIT 2 SUBJECTS TRYING TO BOOST OVER $3,000 WORTH OF CLOTHING ITEMS!
Checkpoint Hard Tags- 3 ML Blog 16
Stop Shoplifting -2
As a Loss Prevention Specialist, my job is to monitor and secure the store assets while utilizing equipment to stop shoplifting. Theft is a serious crime costing retailers and consumers thousands of dollars each year. I take my Loss Prevention career very seriously, but every once in a while shoplifter demonstrates a whole new level of stupidity and one can’t help but laugh. I had such an experience courtesy of the utilization of Checkpoint Hard Tags.
I went to work one morning and was notified of two subjects stealing several items of expensive clothing. I was off the night before and reviewed video to get more information on the culprit. Within minutes of reviewing, I see via CCTV 2 subjects come into the store at 7:30pm; we closed in a half hour. The subjects park, exit a dodge truck simultaneously, and walk in the store. One of the subjects is wearing a hat with a distinctive design and has dark facial hair. The second subject was not wearing a hat but had several visible tattoos that were easily identifiable. They split off from each other but seem to be communicating via their phone. Subject 1 stages a cart full expensive clothing items by the fitting room. Subject 2 scopes the store for associates. They both go into the fitting room with all of the items and exit with all of the items concealed in huge bags. They exited the store with a total of 7 shopping bags filled with $3000 worth of inventory. My store did not utilize Checkpoint Hard Tags for these items; so, I knew I had to make a change somehow. I contacted my district manager and explained why I wanted these items tagged to stop shoplifting. He approved the action plan and I was able to get the items tagged. The following week both subjects returned to the store! They did the exact same routine, but were in such a hurry they did not realize that a majority of their selected items were tagged this time. I observed them laughing on camera as they were about to exit. Then BOOM! The Checkpoint Hard Tags set off the alarm and they were not laughing anymore. They panic and start pulling all items out of the bags. They run to the truck and don’t know what to do. I ended up getting a license plate and ran it. I found out one of subject’s name and the information I needed. After figuring out the subject’s name, I was able to find the subjects social media and compare the subject’s photos to our video. They matched perfectly, and some of the photos with the exact same hat. I then was able to find a picture of the second subject matching the same tattoo, and him posting a picture of the getaway truck. I knew then I had the correct info and enough to turn into the Detectives. All clues pointed to the 2 culprits in question, and they even posted pictures wearing the stolen items!
After finding and processing all the details I put the photos, receipt, and video together for a case. Both were prosecuted. A huge win for my store! However, the bigger win is utilizing Checkpoint Hard Tags to stop shoplifting in the future–saving your store and mine thousands of dollars each year! We continue to use them and have lots of success. In the meantime, I have not seen the two subjects back in my store!
Get more information on Checkpoint Hard Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
As a Loss Prevention Specialist, my job is to monitor and secure the store assets while utilizing equipment to stop shoplifting. Theft is a serious crime costing retailers and consumers thousands of dollars each year. I take my Loss Prevention career very seriously, but every once in a while shoplifter demonstrates a whole new level of stupidity and one can’t help but laugh. I had such an experience courtesy of the utilization of Checkpoint Hard Tags.
I went to work one morning and was notified of two subjects stealing several items of expensive clothing. I was off the night before and reviewed video to get more information on the culprit. Within minutes of reviewing, I see via CCTV 2 subjects come into the store at 7:30pm; we closed in a half hour. The subjects park, exit a dodge truck simultaneously, and walk in the store. One of the subjects is wearing a hat with a distinctive design and has dark facial hair. The second subject was not wearing a hat but had several visible tattoos that were easily identifiable. They split off from each other but seem to be communicating via their phone. Subject 1 stages a cart full expensive clothing items by the fitting room. Subject 2 scopes the store for associates. They both go into the fitting room with all of the items and exit with all of the items concealed in huge bags. They exited the store with a total of 7 shopping bags filled with $3000 worth of inventory. My store did not utilize Checkpoint Hard Tags for these items; so, I knew I had to make a change somehow. I contacted my district manager and explained why I wanted these items tagged to stop shoplifting. He approved the action plan and I was able to get the items tagged. The following week both subjects returned to the store! They did the exact same routine, but were in such a hurry they did not realize that a majority of their selected items were tagged this time. I observed them laughing on camera as they were about to exit. Then BOOM! The Checkpoint Hard Tags set off the alarm and they were not laughing anymore. They panic and start pulling all items out of the bags. They run to the truck and don’t know what to do. I ended up getting a license plate and ran it. I found out one of subject’s name and the information I needed. After figuring out the subject’s name, I was able to find the subjects social media and compare the subject’s photos to our video. They matched perfectly, and some of the photos with the exact same hat. I then was able to find a picture of the second subject matching the same tattoo, and him posting a picture of the getaway truck. I knew then I had the correct info and enough to turn into the Detectives. All clues pointed to the 2 culprits in question, and they even posted pictures wearing the stolen items!
After finding and processing all the details I put the photos, receipt, and video together for a case. Both were prosecuted. A huge win for my store! However, the bigger win is utilizing Checkpoint Hard Tags to stop shoplifting in the future–saving your store and mine thousands of dollars each year! We continue to use them and have lots of success. In the meantime, I have not seen the two subjects back in my store!
Get more information on Checkpoint Hard Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
Ipad theft-3 WC Blog 377
Bug Tag-3
Sometimes Compromise Is Good Except When It Is Patient Information That Is Compromised; Prevent Medical Ipad Theft With An Alpha Bug Tag
April 22nd, 2017 in Fairfax County Virginia, a suspect was being sought in the theft of cash AND iPads from medical offices on the Inova Fair Oaks Medical Campus, according to an April 25th, 2017 report on the WJLA website, the story by Nancy Chen. The subject of the investigation is accused of 17 break-ins on the campus. A June 1, 2017 article on the website, laist, by Julia Wick, titled, “Massive Security Breach At Rodeo Drive Plastic Surgery Clinic Put Thousands Of Patient Files At Risk”, reported that “…an estimated 15,000 files containing medical and other personal information were stolen from their practice”. An Office Manager for the practice acting as spokesman said, “When we entered we saw that every bit of medical records had been taken including backup hard drives and iPads with patient information,…” The fact that patient information can be so easily compromised is disconcerting. Think about all of the information you provide to a doctor during a visit. Not long ago I made a visit to a doctor and I had to give them my name, address, social security number, place of employment, date of birth, medical insurance card and patient medical history. Interestingly enough I gave it via an iPad on a bracket at the sign in counter. That’s a lot of personal information for a criminal to get their hands on if there was an iPad theft at this location. The fact is, iPads were stolen at the two locations the articles mentioned. Granted these were break-ins versus thefts during operating hours but the devices are gone and with them any patient data that may have been stored on them. There is a device called a Bug Tag that can help prevent an iPad theft or medical tablet theft from a medical provider’s office.
The concern with a tablet or iPad is that they can be so small that they are easy to conceal in a purse, under a shirt, or in a cargo pants pocket. If a medical mobile device is stolen it is quite easy for a thief to hide the item(s) and stroll out of the building unnoticed. A Bug Tag is attached directly to the mobile device with an adhesive and tamper protections prevent someone from removing the tag without setting off a built in alarm in the tag. Along with placing the tags on tablets and iPads facilities set up electronic article surveillance (EAS) towers at entrances and areas where such devices do not need to be taken, such as at a point in front of restroom doors. Should someone approach a tower the sensor in the tower detects the Bug Tag and alarms in the tower are set off. Facility, staff and employees can respond and recover the device before it can be removed from the building or taken into an off-limits area.
I know that the stories I referenced were about break-ins and my point was to demonstrate that devices that have or potentially have patient information can be stolen and place patients at risk. But consider that on February 8, 2017 a criminal stole several iPads from the lobby of Leamington District Memorial Hospital. On March 23, 2016, two iPads were stolen from Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital’s Children’s Ward according to OURHEALTH Hawke’s Bay’s website. The article states, “…the two stolen iPads – one belonging to the Hospital Play Specialist Service and the other the property of the Medical Team in the Children’s Ward.” These stories are reminders that iPad theft and medical tablet theft is a real problem and if not protected there is a good chance someone will try to steal them and the patient information they contain.
The job of the medical providers is to care for their patients. Take care of their health and their patient information. Place a Bug Tag on each of your iPads and tablets and an EAS tower at all of your entrances and off-limit areas.
Get more information on iPad Theft, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
On April 22nd, 2017 in Fairfax County Virginia, a suspect was being sought in the theft of cash AND iPads from medical offices on the Inova Fair Oaks Medical Campus, according to an April 25th, 2017 report on the WJLA website, the story by Nancy Chen. The subject of the investigation is accused of 17 break-ins on the campus. A June 1, 2017 article on the website, laist, by Julia Wick, titled, “Massive Security Breach At Rodeo Drive Plastic Surgery Clinic Put Thousands Of Patient Files At Risk”, reported that “…an estimated 15,000 files containing medical and other personal information were stolen from their practice”. An Office Manager for the practice acting as spokesman said, “When we entered we saw that every bit of medical records had been taken including backup hard drives and iPads with patient information,…” The fact that patient information can be so easily compromised is disconcerting. Think about all of the information you provide to a doctor during a visit. Not long ago I made a visit to a doctor and I had to give them my name, address, social security number, place of employment, date of birth, medical insurance card and patient medical history. Interestingly enough I gave it via an iPad on a bracket at the sign in counter. That’s a lot of personal information for a criminal to get their hands on if there was an iPad theft at this location. The fact is, iPads were stolen at the two locations the articles mentioned. Granted these were break-ins versus thefts during operating hours but the devices are gone and with them any patient data that may have been stored on them. There is a device called a Bug Tag that can help prevent an iPad theft or medical tablet theft from a medical provider’s office.
The concern with a tablet or iPad is that they can be so small that they are easy to conceal in a purse, under a shirt, or in a cargo pants pocket. If a medical mobile device is stolen it is quite easy for a thief to hide the item(s) and stroll out of the building unnoticed. A Bug Tag is attached directly to the mobile device with an adhesive and tamper protections prevent someone from removing the tag without setting off a built in alarm in the tag. Along with placing the tags on tablets and iPads facilities set up electronic article surveillance (EAS) towers at entrances and areas where such devices do not need to be taken, such as at a point in front of restroom doors. Should someone approach a tower the sensor in the tower detects the Bug Tag and alarms in the tower are set off. Facility, staff and employees can respond and recover the device before it can be removed from the building or taken into an off-limits area.
I know that the stories I referenced were about break-ins and my point was to demonstrate that devices that have or potentially have patient information can be stolen and place patients at risk. But consider that on February 8, 2017 a criminal stole several iPads from the lobby of Leamington District Memorial Hospital. On March 23, 2016, two iPads were stolen from Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital’s Children’s Ward according to OURHEALTH Hawke’s Bay’s website. The article states, “…the two stolen iPads – one belonging to the Hospital Play Specialist Service and the other the property of the Medical Team in the Children’s Ward.” These stories are reminders that iPad theft and medical tablet theft is a real problem and if not protected there is a good chance someone will try to steal them and the patient information they contain.
The job of the medical providers is to care for their patients. Take care of their health and their patient information. Place a Bug Tag on each of your iPads and tablets and an EAS tower at all of your entrances and off-limit areas.
Get more information on iPad Theft, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
CHECKPOINT LABELS STOP THEIVES FROM WALKING OUT THE DOOR WITH YOUR HIGH DOLLAR PRODUCTS!
Checkpoint Labels: 4 ML Blog 12
Stop Shoplifting: 3
It’s the day after your inventory and you are going through the final numbers. The final numbers, which you all worked so hard all year to see. You put in strenuous hours and effort for this. You get the numbers back and feel a little uneasy. You knew theft was happening at your store, but you had no idea it was this massive. Now you have to cut hours and make adjustments due to the amount of shrink that you have. You look back and wonder where your anti-shoplifting plan went wrong, as the numbers show a clear increase in loss. Now it’s time to make a change, to protect your store’s assets by the proven method, Checkpoint labels.
Businesses can’t run anymore on shoplifter awareness and depending on associates to deter. Action Plans that stop shoplifting have to include the highest form of security protection. I’ve personally watched thieves walk out with over $200,000 in one year. Think about running a store that has 5 shoplifters a week, only boosting $100 each. Usually the amount is ALOT more but let’s underestimate for illustration purposes. Even with only 5 low value thefts per week, that’s almost $25,000 from those final numbers. Think of how much you could do for your business with $25,000. As an expert Loss Prevention Manager, I’ve seen it all. From the rookie thieves stealing a couple hundred bucks a time until they get caught, to the professional thieves running out the doors with 3,000 in ONE incident. The professionals know what security devices really stop shoplifting and which ones are just there to deter. I’ve had good luck at my stores utilizing Checkpoint Labels. They are extremely durable, which make them difficult for removal by shoplifters. The best part is how they alarm at the door, leaving the shoplifter panicked and inclined to drop the merchandise. A few weeks ago, I was watching a group of 3 subjects walk into my store, selecting high dollar men’s clothing items. I purposely had these items tagged, due to the dollar amount and being a high theft product. The thieves were not used to having this type of product tagged from other retailers. They go into the fitting room, and come out with all of the items in shopping bags! They came into the store with the empty shopping bags folded in their pockets, ready to go! If I wasn’t watching them on camera, associates would have thought they purchased the items. They would not think anything of the subjects walking around with the store’s shopping bags, since we have customers who sometimes still shop after realizing they can spend more money after their first purchase. The thieves were bolting for the door and were ready to exit. They had no idea we utilize the advanced security labels on our products. Before they exit, the alarm system starts alarming! They drop the items and run to their vehicle. A large recovery for us! This is just one example that happened recently. There have been numerous similar cases each month that I have investigated, in which the system alarming prevented high dollar merchandise from walking straight out of the door. This is exactly why, I continue to utilize Checkpoint Labels in every store I work with.
From petty thieves to professionals, Checkpoint Labels are the route to go to stop shoplifting. It’s hard to find anti-shoplifting devices that prevent all types of thefts. I feel so much more comfortable knowing that my stores use a high level of security devices that help my shrink numbers one day at a time.
For more information about Checkpoint Labels, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547.
It’s the day after your inventory and you are going through the final numbers. The final numbers, which you all worked so hard all year to see. You put in strenuous hours and effort for this. You get the numbers back and feel a little uneasy. You knew theft was happening at your store, but you had no idea it was this massive. Now you have to cut hours and make adjustments due to the amount of shrink that you have. You look back and wonder where your anti-shoplifting plan went wrong, as the numbers show a clear increase in loss. Now it’s time to make a change, to protect your store’s assets by the proven method, Checkpoint labels.
Businesses can’t run anymore on shoplifter awareness and depending on associates to deter. Action Plans that stop shoplifting have to include the highest form of security protection. I’ve personally watched thieves walk out with over $200,000 in one year. Think about running a store that has 5 shoplifters a week, only boosting $100 each. Usually the amount is ALOT more but let’s underestimate for illustration purposes. Even with only 5 low value thefts per week, that’s almost $25,000 from those final numbers. Think of how much you could do for your business with $25,000. As an expert Loss Prevention Manager, I’ve seen it all. From the rookie thieves stealing a couple hundred bucks a time until they get caught, to the professional thieves running out the doors with 3,000 in ONE incident. The professionals know what security devices really stop shoplifting and which ones are just there to deter. I’ve had good luck at my stores utilizing Checkpoint Labels. They are extremely durable, which make them difficult for removal by shoplifters. The best part is how they alarm at the door, leaving the shoplifter panicked and inclined to drop the merchandise. A few weeks ago, I was watching a group of 3 subjects walk into my store, selecting high dollar men’s clothing items. I purposely had these items tagged, due to the dollar amount and being a high theft product. The thieves were not used to having this type of product tagged from other retailers. They go into the fitting room, and come out with all of the items in shopping bags! They came into the store with the empty shopping bags folded in their pockets, ready to go! If I wasn’t watching them on camera, associates would have thought they purchased the items. They would not think anything of the subjects walking around with the store’s shopping bags, since we have customers who sometimes still shop after realizing they can spend more money after their first purchase. The thieves were bolting for the door and were ready to exit. They had no idea we utilize the advanced security labels on our products. Before they exit, the alarm system starts alarming! They drop the items and run to their vehicle. A large recovery for us! This is just one example that happened recently. There have been numerous similar cases each month that I have investigated, in which the system alarming prevented high dollar merchandise from walking straight out of the door. This is exactly why, I continue to utilize Checkpoint Labels in every store I work with.
From petty thieves to professionals, Checkpoint Labels are the route to go to stop shoplifting. It’s hard to find anti-shoplifting devices that prevent all types of thefts. I feel so much more comfortable knowing that my stores use a high level of security devices that help my shrink numbers one day at a time.
For more information about Checkpoint Labels, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547.
Since I spend much of my time on a computer at work and writing I started to think about the potential impact it could be having on my eyesight. I have always had very good vision but I have noticed in recent months that I have been experiencing a little more difficulty in reading books in low light. It has not always been this way for me. I am thinking it is related to my time on the computer, my wife says I’m just getting old but I KNOW that can’t be true. It did make me begin to wonder if there was a correlation between the use of technology and eyesight especially with all the people on smart phones, tablets and computers today. As I bounced this around in my head it also dawned on me that there a lot of small children that are using everything from tablets to smart phones. Could this be causing eyesight problems for children before they enter their teenage years? If so, could the eyewear industry see an increase in sales due to increased uses of computer/phone technology? My last question is for eyewear stores, if there is an increase are you ready to prevent shoplifting of your merchandise because increased patronage could mean increased theft?
Theft is always a concern for retailers but those that fail to take steps to prevent shoplifting often experience increased merchandise shortage at inventory time. Increased shortage means less profit and a decline in sales because merchandise can’t be kept in stock to sell to paying customers. By using retail anti-theft devices on goods, merchandise theft can be greatly curtailed if not stopped completely. Specialty stores like an eyewear retail shop can use an eyewear tag on glasses to stop pilferage. An eyewear tag is an electronic article surveillance (EAS), retail anti-theft device that is attached to the arm of a pair of glasses. The tag will cause an EAS tower to sound an alarm and lights will flash if glasses with a tag on them are carried close to the doors. Alarm activations result in store employees responding to the doors and conducting receipt checks and recovering unpaid products. They also result in bad guys dropping merchandise and running. One other benefit of the tag is that it deters criminals from stealing in the first place. The tag can only be removed with a special detachment key and if someone tries to pry it off at minimum the arm will break off if the whole frame doesn’t fall apart.
Do our eyes get damaged from the use of technology? According to an article on the American Optometric Association website titled, “The 21st century child: Increased Technology Use May Lead To Future Eye Health And Vision Issues”, posted July 28, 2015, “ Today’s electronic devices, also give off high-energy, short-wave, blue and violet light, which may affect vision and even prematurely age the eyes. Early research shows that overexposure to blue light could contribute to eye strain and discomfort and may lead to serious conditions later in life such as age- related macular degeneration (AMD), which can cause blindness.” (Italics and underlining are mine for emphasis) http://www.aoa.org/newsroom/the-21st-century-child-increased-technology-use-may-lead-to-future-eye-health-and-vision-issues?sso=y . The story goes on to report that Optometrists are watching new research on the subject. If the initial concerns on the subject prove to be true then it could be I am experiencing some of my sight issues to technology use. The larger issue is that there should be more concern for the children who are growing up in an age where 5 year olds are smarter than I am when it comes to smart phones. They are constantly in front of these devices and it is not unreasonable to suspect we will see the increase in eyeglass wear as I suggested at the beginning of the article.
Optical store owners get ready sales could be growing at an exponential rate as the effect of technology start to take their toll on so many of our young adults. I hope the studies do not play out and children do not suffer ill-effects. If however you see me or more of my peers in the near future, prepare now to prevent shoplifting by using retail anti-theft devices because not everyone that enters your store is going to be honest. Use an eyewear tag on all of your glasses and you will continue to see black ink on that bottom line.
Need information on eyewear tag? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
