Prevent shoplifting-3 WC Blog 366
O Tag – 3
Retail Anti-theft Devices-3
To Stop Or To Deter Thieves To Prevent Shoplifting; Tips To Help You Decide The Approach That Fits Your Needs – Part 2
In part 1 of this article I reviewed how store managers/owners can decide if they are going to prevent shoplifting by detaining or apprehending shoplifters or are they going to rely on retail anti-theft devices such as Alpha Security products. I also covered some tips for consideration when the decision is made to make apprehensions. People react differently in situations where they are being accused of theft, even when they know they are guilty. In this part of the article I would like to give you some tips on behaviors and actions you can look for to help you have an idea how a suspect is going to react when approached or detained.
I did mention retail anti-theft devices and recognize that some readers may not be aware of these products or how they can be used as a deterrent to shoplifting if you are not comfortable with the idea of approaching or detaining suspected shoplifters. Alpha Security products such as the O Tag, is one example of a family of what are known as electronic article surveillance (EAS) devices. These items operate on a radio frequency (rf) signal and come in the form of soft tags that peel off a roll and come in a variety of sizes to protect items as small as cosmetics, or a boxed item such as large as a television. Hard tags that pin to merchandise, an O Tag that secures around a tube or round object like a golf club and cable locks that can be looped around merchandise and tightened is all made to act in conjunction with EAS towers often located at entry/exit doors of stores. When a tagged item is carried into the detection field of the towers an audible alarm and flashing lights are activated. Trained store employees respond to the alarm and conduct receipt check and recover merchandise and in some cases the alarm actually causes a shoplifter to drop merchandise and flee.
If you have made the decision that you or your store managers or Loss Prevention Associates are going to detain shoplifting suspects here are some tips to help you assess a situation:
• Is the suspect in the store and concealing merchandise? Often it is best to “customer service” someone to prevent shoplifting until they leave. If you know what the person is concealing or attempting to conceal, politely approach them and ask if they need help with whatever the item is. In other words specifically mention the item and by doing so they know that you are aware of what they have and are attempting to do. I have used this approach to point out something someone was hiding under other merchandise and while they were prying at EAS tags. I never accuse them of anything I just offer to help them with it or I can hold it at the register while they continue to shop. Usually they will just leave the store.
• If you are going to allow apprehensions for shoplifting, know your state and local requirements for stopping someone. Some states require the suspect to exit the store while others may permit passing all points of sale. Some states actually allow someone to be stopped for concealment of merchandise and at one time (though I have not checked on it recently) my state actually allowed stopping someone for taking merchandise from one department to another. A chain store may have one governing set of policies so that they are consistent across the board and usually will have the strictest policies. This ensures there is minimal room for making a bad stop which can cost a lot in lawsuits and court time.
• Keep your eye on the suspect at all times, don’t allow yourself to get distracted. A shoplifter will do one of three things, be cooperative, and flee if they see an opportunity to run or fight the person stopping them so they can get away. By keeping an arm length away and watching the person, if they strike out, the strike can be avoided or deflected. At that point let them run, don’t engage in a fight.
• If a suspect runs because retail anti-theft devices like an O Tag activate an alarm, let them go and don’t follow. If a suspect is pursued and were to be hit by a vehicle or injure a party while fleeing, you may be held responsible.
You may be deciding whether or you want to apprehend thieves to prevent shoplifting now and in the future. Whatever your decision, get professional training from Loss Prevention Systems Inc. experts who can guide you in how to handle shoplifters and make an informed decision on how you want to proceed.
Get more information on retail anti-theft devices, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
In part 1 of this article I reviewed how store managers/owners can decide if they are going to prevent shoplifting by detaining or apprehending shoplifters or are they going to rely on retail anti-theft devices such as Alpha Security products. I also covered some tips for consideration when the decision is made to make apprehensions. People react differently in situations where they are being accused of theft, even when they know they are guilty. In this part of the article I would like to give you some tips on behaviors and actions you can look for to help you have an idea how a suspect is going to react when approached or detained.
I did mention retail anti-theft devices and recognize that some readers may not be aware of these products or how they can be used as a deterrent to shoplifting if you are not comfortable with the idea of approaching or detaining suspected shoplifters. Alpha Security products such as the O Tag, is one example of a family of what are known as electronic article surveillance (EAS) devices. These items operate on a radio frequency (rf) signal and come in the form of soft tags that peel off a roll and come in a variety of sizes to protect items as small as cosmetics, or a boxed item such as large as a television. Hard tags that pin to merchandise, an O Tag that secures around a tube or round object like a golf club and cable locks that can be looped around merchandise and tightened is all made to act in conjunction with EAS towers often located at entry/exit doors of stores. When a tagged item is carried into the detection field of the towers an audible alarm and flashing lights are activated. Trained store employees respond to the alarm and conduct receipt check and recover merchandise and in some cases the alarm actually causes a shoplifter to drop merchandise and flee.
If you have made the decision that you or your store managers or Loss Prevention Associates are going to detain shoplifting suspects here are some tips to help you assess a situation:
• Is the suspect in the store and concealing merchandise? Often it is best to “customer service” someone to prevent shoplifting until they leave. If you know what the person is concealing or attempting to conceal, politely approach them and ask if they need help with whatever the item is. In other words specifically mention the item and by doing so they know that you are aware of what they have and are attempting to do. I have used this approach to point out something someone was hiding under other merchandise and while they were prying at EAS tags. I never accuse them of anything I just offer to help them with it or I can hold it at the register while they continue to shop. Usually they will just leave the store.
• If you are going to allow apprehensions for shoplifting, know your state and local requirements for stopping someone. Some states require the suspect to exit the store while others may permit passing all points of sale. Some states actually allow someone to be stopped for concealment of merchandise and at one time (though I have not checked on it recently) my state actually allowed stopping someone for taking merchandise from one department to another. A chain store may have one governing set of policies so that they are consistent across the board and usually will have the strictest policies. This ensures there is minimal room for making a bad stop which can cost a lot in lawsuits and court time.
• Keep your eye on the suspect at all times, don’t allow yourself to get distracted. A shoplifter will do one of three things, be cooperative, and flee if they see an opportunity to run or fight the person stopping them so they can get away. By keeping an arm length away and watching the person, if they strike out, the strike can be avoided or deflected. At that point let them run, don’t engage in a fight.
• If a suspect runs because retail anti-theft devices like an O Tag activate an alarm, let them go and don’t follow. If a suspect is pursued and were to be hit by a vehicle or injure a party while fleeing, you may be held responsible.
You may be deciding whether or you want to apprehend thieves to prevent shoplifting now and in the future. Whatever your decision, get professional training from Loss Prevention Systems Inc. experts who can guide you in how to handle shoplifters and make an informed decision on how you want to proceed.
Get more information on retail anti-theft devices, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
People Counting Systems-4 WC Blog 386
door counting sensor-3
Make Sense Of Your Store Promotions By Using A Door Counting Sensor
Working in an academic library I am constantly learning new things that can be applied to other jobs or businesses. One example of this is a departmental assessment that we are currently conducting as a part of a larger assessment the college is going through. The college formed a committee that identified areas the college wants to focus on in order to achieve specific goals outlined in a strategic plan. That focus is on student retention, academic excellence, etc. In the process of completing the library assessment plan, we are learning how to put it together this year but in preparation for the next year assessment what I have learned is that we have to be more thoughtful in what we do. What I mean is this, rather than doing a project or making a change for the sake of doing it, we are going to have a reason for doing it and that reason should have some type of measurement to it. For example, last year we moved some of our video collection to another floor to make space for group study and provide access to more power supplies. We knew it needed to be done we had studied the behaviors of students the year before. What we failed to do was have numbers to substantiate the need for the change. On the other hand, what we could do was show the increase in patron counts as a result of the changes because that is something we were already tracking. We were able to at least demonstrate an increase in the number of people using that floor during the school year. The same process can be applied to retail stores by using people counting systems.
People counting systems assist store owners in keeping track of the number of people entering the store. By installing a door counting system at the entrance/exit of a building, managers can determine the busiest days of the week, the busiest hours and balance work schedules around that information. Additionally, a door counting sensor can be a stand-alone device or you can have it attached to your electronic article surveillance pedestal if you have a Checkpoint System protecting your merchandise from theft. If your store does have the pedestals, the door counting sensor also tracks the door alarm activity and gives store owners a report of what times alarms are going off. This information can be helpful in comparing to alarm activity logs to see if alarm activity is being addressed and if alarm activations are theft related. If there are a lot of alarms at specific times of the day a store manager may determine a person may need to be assigned as a door greeter to respond to alarms.
If a manager were to be put an assessment type program in place, the people counting systems will allow stores to measure the impact of sales initiatives. What do I mean by this? Let’s say a store owner decided he/she wanted to try to drive sales and reach out to the community. The manager has a 3-day weekend sale that provides military veterans with a 20% discount on all purchases with proof of their service, either a retired military I.D. or a Department of Defense form 214. The sale is promoted in social media, in newspapers and on store windows, doors, and signage throughout the store. Since the door counting sensor is in place, a baseline for this weekend can be compared to other weekends and to the same weekend the prior year(s). The sale is run and at the completion of the sale not only are register receipts compared but foot traffic is as well. I know you may be thinking that if sales are up isn’t that good enough? No, that won’t tell the whole story because you were giving discounts, so it isn’t apples to apples. You want to compare retail traffic because that will show if your promotion garnered additional people to visit your location. You could have a new batch of shoppers who never visited before. Receipts may only be up slightly but you could well have drawn in future clients who will be willing to shop in your store in the future. That is the kind of assessment information you want to measure.
People counting systems are not just another statistic gathering tool. They can be a powerful means of evaluating sales promotions, social media impact and customer service impact. It is up to owners and managers to decide if they want to keep flying by the seat of their pants or be strategic in how they conduct business and drive up sales.
Need information on people counting systems? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Working in an academic library I am constantly learning new things that can be applied to other jobs or businesses. One example of this is a departmental assessment that we are currently conducting as a part of a larger assessment the college is going through. The college formed a committee that identified areas the college wants to focus on in order to achieve specific goals outlined in a strategic plan. That focus is on student retention, academic excellence, etc. In the process of completing the library assessment plan, we are learning how to put it together this year but in preparation for the next year assessment what I have learned is that we have to be more thoughtful in what we do. What I mean is this, rather than doing a project or making a change for the sake of doing it, we are going to have a reason for doing it and that reason should have some type of measurement to it. For example, last year we moved some of our video collection to another floor to make space for group study and provide access to more power supplies. We knew it needed to be done we had studied the behaviors of students the year before. What we failed to do was have numbers to substantiate the need for the change. On the other hand, what we could do was show the increase in patron counts as a result of the changes because that is something we were already tracking. We were able to at least demonstrate an increase in the number of people using that floor during the school year. The same process can be applied to retail stores by using people counting systems.
People counting systems assist store owners in keeping track of the number of people entering the store. By installing a door counting system at the entrance/exit of a building, managers can determine the busiest days of the week, the busiest hours and balance work schedules around that information. Additionally, a door counting sensor can be a stand-alone device or you can have it attached to your electronic article surveillance pedestal if you have a Checkpoint System protecting your merchandise from theft. If your store does have the pedestals, the door counting sensor also tracks the door alarm activity and gives store owners a report of what times alarms are going off. This information can be helpful in comparing to alarm activity logs to see if alarm activity is being addressed and if alarm activations are theft related. If there are a lot of alarms at specific times of the day a store manager may determine a person may need to be assigned as a door greeter to respond to alarms.
If a manager were to be put an assessment type program in place, the people counting systems will allow stores to measure the impact of sales initiatives. What do I mean by this? Let’s say a store owner decided he/she wanted to try to drive sales and reach out to the community. The manager has a 3-day weekend sale that provides military veterans with a 20% discount on all purchases with proof of their service, either a retired military I.D. or a Department of Defense form 214. The sale is promoted in social media, in newspapers and on store windows, doors, and signage throughout the store. Since the door counting sensor is in place, a baseline for this weekend can be compared to other weekends and to the same weekend the prior year(s). The sale is run and at the completion of the sale not only are register receipts compared but foot traffic is as well. I know you may be thinking that if sales are up isn’t that good enough? No, that won’t tell the whole story because you were giving discounts, so it isn’t apples to apples. You want to compare retail traffic because that will show if your promotion garnered additional people to visit your location. You could have a new batch of shoppers who never visited before. Receipts may only be up slightly but you could well have drawn in future clients who will be willing to shop in your store in the future. That is the kind of assessment information you want to measure.
People counting systems are not just another statistic gathering tool. They can be a powerful means of evaluating sales promotions, social media impact and customer service impact. It is up to owners and managers to decide if they want to keep flying by the seat of their pants or be strategic in how they conduct business and drive up sales.
Need information on people counting systems? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Clothing security -4 WC Blog 388
Checkpoint Tags-3
Understanding The Unspoken Crime Of Underwear Theft And How Checkpoint Tags Can Undercut The Shoplifting Underworld
According to Merriam-Webster the following are slang or alternative words that refer to underwear; cutty sark (a term formed from the outdated words “cutty” meaning short and “sark” for shirt describing a short nightgown which they say inspired a famous ship name and that name inspired the brand of whiskey that goes by that name today). Knickers, a standard word for underwear mainly in Britain and a singlet another British term for a sleeveless undershirt. Other words include, tighty whities, underdrawers, unionsuit, unmentionables and pretties. I mention these little tidbits because to be honest I think it’s funny. Also, when we talk about clothing security I would guess that most of the time people tend to think of shirts, shoes, pants, dresses, skirts etc. I have caught thieves stealing all of these items. In addition to this list of stolen garments I have apprehended people stealing hats, socks, ties, purses, scarves and yes, underdrawers and all sorts of umentionables. It seems that when Checkpoint tags are used for clothing security to prevent shoplifting pretties and knickers are often overlooked for some reason.
Clothing security tags come equipped with electronic article surveillance (EAS) technology built into them. A radio frequency signal produced by Checkpoint tags is set to a specific frequency that can be picked up by EAS pedestals if they are carried into the detection field of the pedestals. This means a protected garment can be carried throughout the store by customers but if a crook decides to attempt to shoplift the item the tag will cause the pedestal alarms to activate and alert employees that a theft is taking place. Employees, in response to the alarm, go to the pedestals and conduct a receipt check and recover merchandise. In case you’re wondering why someone couldn’t just remove the tags and leave the store with the stolen merchandise, Checkpoint tags can only be removed with a Checkpoint detachment key. Attempts to pry the tags off or circumvent the security of the tags results in damaged merchandise and that defeats the reason the criminal is stealing in the first place.
Is it a big deal to protect underwear when you take the time to protect all the other clothing in your store? There are some statistics from The Adair Group that can potentially sway opinions one way or the other:
• According to their website, 15% of women own underwear that is five to ten years old. Ten percent of men have underwear that has seen over ten years of use. By these statistics it wouldn’t seem there is a lot of underwear being sold if it’s worn for so long.
• The website also says that the average British woman owns 34 pair of underwear while the average American woman owns 21. Based on this information it would seem there may be a market for underwear.
• Finally, they say that Euromonitor data for 2014 showed the global underwear market was worth over $110 billion dollars.
Of course it is this last piece of information that clears up any question as to why there needs to be clothing security for underwear. $110 billion dollars in underwear sales is a lot of money and therefore it is profitable enough to be a market for shoplifters.
Thieves will steal clothing if they can make money off of it through resale or if they can use it themselves. Don’t allow shoplifters to leave your shelves and racks naked due to theft. Use Checkpoint tags on all of your clothing, undergarments included and install EAS pedestals at the store entry/exit points. You will prevent shoplifting and see unmentionable increases in underwear sales.
Checkpoint Tags are important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
According to Merriam-Webster the following are slang or alternative words that refer to underwear; cutty sark (a term formed from the outdated words “cutty” meaning short and “sark” for shirt describing a short nightgown which they say inspired a famous ship name and that name inspired the brand of whiskey that goes by that name today). Knickers, a standard word for underwear mainly in Britain and a singlet another British term for a sleeveless undershirt. Other words include, tighty whities, underdrawers, unionsuit, unmentionables and pretties. I mention these little tidbits because to be honest I think it’s funny. Also, when we talk about clothing security I would guess that most of the time people tend to think of shirts, shoes, pants, dresses, skirts etc. I have caught thieves stealing all of these items. In addition to this list of stolen garments I have apprehended people stealing hats, socks, ties, purses, scarves and yes, underdrawers and all sorts of umentionables. It seems that when Checkpoint tags are used for clothing security to prevent shoplifting pretties and knickers are often overlooked for some reason.
Clothing security tags come equipped with electronic article surveillance (EAS) technology built into them. A radio frequency signal produced by Checkpoint tags is set to a specific frequency that can be picked up by EAS pedestals if they are carried into the detection field of the pedestals. This means a protected garment can be carried throughout the store by customers but if a crook decides to attempt to shoplift the item the tag will cause the pedestal alarms to activate and alert employees that a theft is taking place. Employees, in response to the alarm, go to the pedestals and conduct a receipt check and recover merchandise. In case you’re wondering why someone couldn’t just remove the tags and leave the store with the stolen merchandise, Checkpoint tags can only be removed with a Checkpoint detachment key. Attempts to pry the tags off or circumvent the security of the tags results in damaged merchandise and that defeats the reason the criminal is stealing in the first place.
Is it a big deal to protect underwear when you take the time to protect all the other clothing in your store? There are some statistics from The Adair Group that can potentially sway opinions one way or the other:
• According to their website, 15% of women own underwear that is five to ten years old. Ten percent of men have underwear that has seen over ten years of use. By these statistics it wouldn’t seem there is a lot of underwear being sold if it’s worn for so long.
• The website also says that the average British woman owns 34 pair of underwear while the average American woman owns 21. Based on this information it would seem there may be a market for underwear.
• Finally, they say that Euromonitor data for 2014 showed the global underwear market was worth over $110 billion dollars.
Of course it is this last piece of information that clears up any question as to why there needs to be clothing security for underwear. $110 billion dollars in underwear sales is a lot of money and therefore it is profitable enough to be a market for shoplifters.
Thieves will steal clothing if they can make money off of it through resale or if they can use it themselves. Don’t allow shoplifters to leave your shelves and racks naked due to theft. Use Checkpoint tags on all of your clothing, undergarments included and install EAS pedestals at the store entry/exit points. You will prevent shoplifting and see unmentionable increases in underwear sales.
Checkpoint Tags are important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
WC Blog 467
Checkpoint Tags – 4
Checkpoint labels-3
Inventory Control Begins At Unload
Where should a store’s inventory control process begin? In the store I worked for as a Loss Prevention Manager our inventory control process began on the loading dock. We were a big box retailer and carried a large assortment of items. This included clothing, electronics, food, bedding, etcetera so our unload process played a part in our procedures. Electronic merchandise that was considered high theft would be placed in a locking, rolling cart and after the unloading was completed the cart was locked and rolled by a specialist to the electronics department for processing. The specialist was responsible for placing retail anti-theft devices on merchandise within certain categories or price point ranges. Some items would be tagged with Checkpoint Tags and other items were placed in a locking showcase. Some products were not tagged because they were shipped to the store vendor-source tagged with Checkpoint labels inside the packaging. The benefit of this process was that the number of people with access to potentially high-theft merchandise was limited because of the controls we had in place.
What are Checkpoint tags? Although the term is occasionally applied to hard tags and labels the tag is usually a two-piece device with a pin on one side and a clasping piece on the other. Checkpoint labels are a soft tag that can be peeled from a roll and adhered to an item. Designed to interact with electronic article surveillance (EAS) systems to deter theft and identify persons attempting to steal merchandise from a store, the tags and labels cause EAS systems to activate when carried near a tower. When a thief tampers with a tag it usually results in damage to the merchandise. Labels have a strong adhesive that will leave the circuit behind when someone tries to peel it off. This circuit causes the EAS alarms to sound when tagged goods are carried near the tower location. Shoplifters tend to leave merchandise alone when they see the tags or labels and try to find something else to steal or they will find another store where they can go.
I currently work for a store that has merchandise pushed to the floor and it is tagged there. Much of the work is completed before store opening and during that time there is no concern for customers being around to take something from a cart of merchandise. As the employee works the freight they are to place the appropriate Checkpoint Tags on items as directed by a security chart. This is fine when no customers are in the store but once the doors are open the merchandise on the cart is susceptible to theft. The employee has to walk away to put items up or they may be called to assist someone and they can’t keep pushing the cart back and forth to the stockroom. There have been times in the evening when I have stocked leftover freight the team could not get out and obviously I am working when there are plenty of customers in the store. I also respond to back-up calls at the register so you can see there are times when merchandise that is normally secured is not.
The only exception to this is when there is merchandise already source tagged with Checkpoint labels from the manufacturer. However, we do not know which item they may be. Often a source label is embedded in the packaging so the only way to identify those products would be with a hand scanner which our store does not use. Of course the bad guys don’t know it either until they try to walk out the door with stolen merchandise and the EAS system alarms. That is when employees respond to the alarm and conducts a receipt check then recover the merchandise.
I am of the opinion that merchandise that is going to be secured with Checkpoint Tags should be done while the products are still in the stockroom immediately after a truck unload. I know not every store receives their freight the same way so it might be that boxes and containers may have to be opened and sorted first. However you choose to do it, just don’t send merchandise you intend to protect to the selling floor until the tagging is done. You will have much better results come inventory time.
For more information about Checkpoint Tags contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
Where should a store’s inventory control process begin? In the store I worked for as a Loss Prevention Manager our inventory control process began on the loading dock. We were a big box retailer and carried a large assortment of items. This included clothing, electronics, food, bedding, etcetera so our unload process played a part in our procedures. Electronic merchandise that was considered high theft would be placed in a locking, rolling cart and after the unloading was completed the cart was locked and rolled by a specialist to the electronics department for processing. The specialist was responsible for placing retail anti-theft devices on merchandise within certain categories or price point ranges. Some items would be tagged with Checkpoint Tags and other items were placed in a locking showcase. Some products were not tagged because they were shipped to the store vendor-source tagged with Checkpoint labels inside the packaging. The benefit of this process was that the number of people with access to potentially high-theft merchandise was limited because of the controls we had in place.
What are Checkpoint tags? Although the term is occasionally applied to hard tags and labels the tag is usually a two-piece device with a pin on one side and a clasping piece on the other. Checkpoint labels are a soft tag that can be peeled from a roll and adhered to an item. Designed to interact with electronic article surveillance (EAS) systems to deter theft and identify persons attempting to steal merchandise from a store, the tags and labels cause EAS systems to activate when carried near a tower. When a thief tampers with a tag it usually results in damage to the merchandise. Labels have a strong adhesive that will leave the circuit behind when someone tries to peel it off. This circuit causes the EAS alarms to sound when tagged goods are carried near the tower location. Shoplifters tend to leave merchandise alone when they see the tags or labels and try to find something else to steal or they will find another store where they can go.
I currently work for a store that has merchandise pushed to the floor and it is tagged there. Much of the work is completed before store opening and during that time there is no concern for customers being around to take something from a cart of merchandise. As the employee works the freight they are to place the appropriate Checkpoint Tags on items as directed by a security chart. This is fine when no customers are in the store but once the doors are open the merchandise on the cart is susceptible to theft. The employee has to walk away to put items up or they may be called to assist someone and they can’t keep pushing the cart back and forth to the stockroom. There have been times in the evening when I have stocked leftover freight the team could not get out and obviously I am working when there are plenty of customers in the store. I also respond to back-up calls at the register so you can see there are times when merchandise that is normally secured is not.
The only exception to this is when there is merchandise already source tagged with Checkpoint labels from the manufacturer. However, we do not know which item they may be. Often a source label is embedded in the packaging so the only way to identify those products would be with a hand scanner which our store does not use. Of course the bad guys don’t know it either until they try to walk out the door with stolen merchandise and the EAS system alarms. That is when employees respond to the alarm and conducts a receipt check then recover the merchandise.
I am of the opinion that merchandise that is going to be secured with Checkpoint Tags should be done while the products are still in the stockroom immediately after a truck unload. I know not every store receives their freight the same way so it might be that boxes and containers may have to be opened and sorted first. However you choose to do it, just don’t send merchandise you intend to protect to the selling floor until the tagging is done. You will have much better results come inventory time.
For more information about Checkpoint Tags contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
There are any number of reasons people shoplift but according to an article in “New Health Advisor” titled, “Why Do People Shoplift?” the reasons they give are:
- Financial Difficulty
- Low Risk
- Peer Pressure
- Emotional Pressure
- Kleptomania
Being the caring, tender-hearted soul I am (yes, my 16+ years in Retail Loss Prevention gave me a soft spot) I think it is important to understand and empathize with the troubled people who dabble in petty larceny. These misguided and perhaps ill people just may need understanding and some re-direction for their lives. You as the business owner and manager should take time to realize you are probably inviting these people to commit their misdeeds by putting out such tempting items within their grasp. Okay, the truth is I can’t spew such drivel much more. It was fun for the first few sentences but I find I’m getting ill. I have zero tolerance for theft and I really don’t care much about the excuses shoplifters give. I think I have heard them all. As far as I’m concerned you steal because you want something for free, perhaps getting a bit of a thrill in the process of committing the crime. Shoplifters may steal to make money from someone else’s hard work or to support a drug habit. Again, I don’t care and I am sure the retail owner isn’t too concerned with the reasons either. Shoplifters think they are getting something for free but there is a cost and that cost is a burden on the retailer (not to mention the customers who pay higher prices). How about retailers getting a break for once? Where are the free goodies for the owner trying to make an honest living? SURPRISE! There are freebies for the good guys too, like the Free Loss Prevention Calculator.
Sounds too good to be true doesn’t it? Better yet, can Loss Prevention be free? What if I told you there IS a Free Loss Prevention Calculator and by using it you can answer the question, “Can Loss Prevention Be Free?” for yourself. Let’s begin with the calculator, what is it? The Free Loss Prevention Calculator is a tool offered by Loss Prevention Systems Inc. (LPSI) that allows a retail store owner or manager to see how much time it would take for an investment in a Checkpoint Security System to pay for itself. Enter your estimated annual sales and how much you are willing to invest in a Checkpoint System and the calculator estimates a shortage reduction from 1.2% to .65% annually, that’s nearly a full HALF percent reduction. The number of months it will take for the system to pay for itself is calculated for you. You read that correctly, over time your retail anti-theft system (electronic article surveillance pedestals, tags, and other equipment) can save you enough money that the system pays for itself in reduced inventory shortage results.
The shoplifters think they are getting free stuff but they are always looking over their shoulder, worrying whether or not they will be caught by Loss Prevention agents. I am giving you the scoop on things that are really free for you to use to improve your bottom line. Speaking of Scoops and freebies, how about “Ruby’s Scoops” from LPSI? These are free Loss Prevention tips you can receive straight to your email. How about signing up for the free online LPSI Magazine? How can anyone beat free advice and informative articles on shoplifting prevention? LPSI provides free tips, advice, humor and information. I truly know of no other company that offers so many FREE resources to potential customers, not just their regular clients.
Shoplifters and those who commit retail fraud may get away with their crimes for a while, but eventually they will be caught. Very few can get away with it without ever paying a price. For the business owners it is time for YOU to get a break. I’ve always said nothing is free but now I have to take back that statement. Can Loss Prevention be free? Yes it can! Does the Free Loss Prevention Calculator cost anything to use it or is there some kind of catch to it? No there’s not. Can I really get free tips and advice on how to prevent theft and fraud? Yes you can, through all of the resources LPSI offers to people who really want expert tips and tricks to make life miserable for shoplifters.
Get more information on the Free Loss Prevention Calculator, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
THE ALPHA 3 ALARM DETERS ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME RING FROM STEALING HIGH DOLLAR MERCHANDISE!
Alpha 3 Alarm: 4 ML Blog 03
Retail Anti-Theft Devices: 3
If you are going to implement merchandise protection throughout your store, why not use the highest quality devices in the Loss Prevention market? I have used several types of retail anti-theft devices in my stores, and the Alpha 3 Alarm I would highly suggest to stores. It significantly aids in reducing shrink and gaining profits when utilized in retailers. The costs are minimal to implement when weighed against gains and benefits. My experience has afforded me the opportunity to work with a majority of theft prevention devices in use today, old and new. I’ve learned that shoplifters benefit each year from retailers who refuse to update their loss prevention plans and their store’s technology. If your trends continually increase, it is time to change your tactics!
One evening, I was in my Loss Prevention camera room scanning to see what activity was going on in my store. After only 30 minutes of watching the cameras, I recognize 3 organized retail crime members who have targeted my location previously. I kept constant camera coverage on the subjects, as my adrenaline starts kicking in. I wait to see what items the professional thieves are going to attempt to boost this time. The subjects boosted several of our high dollar purses the last time, so I figured they would go to the same department again. The purses they target range from $49.99-$169.99 per purse, which can add up quickly in shrink. We lost close to $1,000.00 when they boosted from us the last time, so we depended on the Alpha 3 Alarm improvements to properly deter them. I watch 2 of the subjects go into one of our departments and “act” like they are shopping. The 3rd subject scopes the store as a lookout, watching for associates in the store to ensure no one is following them. The 3rd subject does a hand signal to the other 2 subjects as an “all clear”. They walk over to our purse department and start looking at the higher dollar items. I can see on camera the subjects look at our cables, and start talking amongst each other. They were not expecting our purses to be protected by an Alpha 3 Alarm, since the store did not have this before. We placed the alarms on high dollar merchandise throughout our store, after seeing our shrink increase from merchandise constantly going out the door. The shoplifters continue to search for a row of purses without a cable. They knew if they try to cut the cable, it would alarm bringing immediate attention to them. The subjects end up leaving the department frustrated that all of the purses were cabled, and then exit out of the store. They jump in their car quickly and leave empty handed. An exciting, massive theft prevention for my store! This exact scenario is not uncommon for Loss Prevention teams to see. It’s proven a very effective deterrent out of several retail anti-theft devices that we have tried before.
This showed my store team the importance of ensuring we are utilizing the Alpha 3 Alarm and making sure we continue to use them as part of our Shrink Action Plan. The boosters could have wiped us out for over 2,000 in just 2 visits to our store. It’s incidents like this that make us realize the importance of keeping our merchandise protection standards updated at the highest standard possible. Even the store associates gave us feedback that they really liked how the cables allow shoppers to securely try on our merchandise without any issues. We were able to expand our purse display, allowing more product to be on the sales floor since utilizing our new devices. Improve your bottom line by taking retail anti-theft devices to the next level!
Need information on the Alpha 3 Alarm? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
If you are going to implement merchandise protection throughout your store, why not use the highest quality devices in the Loss Prevention market? I have used several types of retail anti-theft devices in my stores, and the Alpha 3 Alarm I would highly suggest to stores. It significantly aids in reducing shrink and gaining profits when utilized in retailers. The costs are minimal to implement when weighed against gains and benefits. My experience has afforded me the opportunity to work with a majority of theft prevention devices in use today, old and new. I’ve learned that shoplifters benefit each year from retailers who refuse to update their loss prevention plans and their store’s technology. If your trends continually increase, it is time to change your tactics!
One evening, I was in my Loss Prevention camera room scanning to see what activity was going on in my store. After only 30 minutes of watching the cameras, I recognize 3 organized retail crime members who have targeted my location previously. I kept constant camera coverage on the subjects, as my adrenaline starts kicking in. I wait to see what items the professional thieves are going to attempt to boost this time. The subjects boosted several of our high dollar purses the last time, so I figured they would go to the same department again. The purses they target range from $49.99-$169.99 per purse, which can add up quickly in shrink. We lost close to $1,000.00 when they boosted from us the last time, so we depended on the Alpha 3 Alarm improvements to properly deter them. I watch 2 of the subjects go into one of our departments and “act” like they are shopping. The 3rd subject scopes the store as a lookout, watching for associates in the store to ensure no one is following them. The 3rd subject does a hand signal to the other 2 subjects as an “all clear”. They walk over to our purse department and start looking at the higher dollar items. I can see on camera the subjects look at our cables, and start talking amongst each other. They were not expecting our purses to be protected by an Alpha 3 Alarm, since the store did not have this before. We placed the alarms on high dollar merchandise throughout our store, after seeing our shrink increase from merchandise constantly going out the door. The shoplifters continue to search for a row of purses without a cable. They knew if they try to cut the cable, it would alarm bringing immediate attention to them. The subjects end up leaving the department frustrated that all of the purses were cabled, and then exit out of the store. They jump in their car quickly and leave empty handed. An exciting, massive theft prevention for my store! This exact scenario is not uncommon for Loss Prevention teams to see. It’s proven a very effective deterrent out of several retail anti-theft devices that we have tried before.
This showed my store team the importance of ensuring we are utilizing the Alpha 3 Alarm and making sure we continue to use them as part of our Shrink Action Plan. The boosters could have wiped us out for over 2,000 in just 2 visits to our store. It’s incidents like this that make us realize the importance of keeping our merchandise protection standards updated at the highest standard possible. Even the store associates gave us feedback that they really liked how the cables allow shoppers to securely try on our merchandise without any issues. We were able to expand our purse display, allowing more product to be on the sales floor since utilizing our new devices. Improve your bottom line by taking retail anti-theft devices to the next level!
Need information on the Alpha 3 Alarm? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
