Employee Theft- 4 WC log 311
Stop Shoplifting-3
Manager Training To Stop Employee Theft-3
Manager Training To Stop Employee Theft And Shoplifting Can Make Shortage Reduction Easier And Save You Money In The Long Run
When a new hire is brought on board with a business there should always be some type of discussion with them about the company expectations in regard to shoplifters and employee theft. Do you take the time to do an orientation or training? Do you address these points or simply gloss over them? Do you avoid even bringing it up out of concern the employee may get irritated over it and will quit? You can’t shrink from the necessity of having these orientations or on-boarding talks. But what is the best way to go about it? Well, you could just hold a meeting in an office or classroom setting and read over dry, old material that talks about theft and fraud. You could do a power point presentation with a handout, those are always fun. Though I worked for a large company I always made it a point as the Loss Prevention Manager to meet with new hires. Whether it was a mass orientation for a group of seasonal new hires or a single cashier coming to work for us; I made sure I met with everyone at some point and talked about their role in preventing shortage. I would discuss how they could help stop shoplifting and even employee theft. I also made sure they understood what would happen if I caught them stealing. I would frequently end my presentation with the comment that if they were planning on stealing while working for the company they would do themselves a favor by not showing up their first day of work so they could avoid jail later. Believe it or not, occasionally I did have new hires that would not show up for work.
Being comfortable with a topic is an important aspect of creating an impactful new employee orientation. Theft and fraud are not always topics managers are comfortable talking about. Suppose you had a class available to you on manager training to stop employee theft, would that build your confidence in this area so you could speak about it? It is possible to speak about theft and fraud in generalities but making employees understand the negative impact it has on them and the business isn’t always easy to do. Manager training to stop employee theft and shoplifter theft reduction training are just two of the seminars available to retailers from Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. Learn from an expert in the field of Loss Prevention, Bill Bregar, as he teaches you what you need to know about shoplifting and how to develop procedures to address it. Bill can also instruct you and your managers on the full impact that employee theft and fraud can have on your business and how you can see signals that may be pre-cursors to an employee stealing from you. With these trainings, whether for your employees or managers, you will have the knowledge in hand that you can use to train future managers and employees.
Are you thinking, “I have tried talking to my employees about how to stop shoplifting but they don’t seem to be paying attention or they don’t care”? It is possible that they aren’t paying attention because you don’t have all the information you need to make it important to them. For example, have you talked to employees about how it hits them in the wallet when a co-worker steals from the business? If there was no theft to worry about how much more could they be paid? How about the impact shoplifters have on them and their families in terms of the prices of merchandise when they go shopping? Of course as the business owner and manager you have your own personal interest in the success of the business and the need to curtail theft. Proper training can help you build a culture of shortage awareness in your store.
Don’t underestimate how much your employees and managers can do to stop shoplifting and prevent theft and fraud. Let Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. conduct manager training to stop employee theft in your stores and see the impact it can have on shortage reduction.
Need information on conducting manager training to stop employee theft? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
When a new hire is brought on board with a business there should always be some type of discussion with them about the company expectations in regard to shoplifters and employee theft. Do you take the time to do an orientation or training? Do you address these points or simply gloss over them? Do you avoid even bringing it up out of concern the employee may get irritated over it and will quit? You can’t shrink from the necessity of having these orientations or on-boarding talks. But what is the best way to go about it? Well, you could just hold a meeting in an office or classroom setting and read over dry, old material that talks about theft and fraud. You could do a power point presentation with a handout, those are always fun. Though I worked for a large company I always made it a point as the Loss Prevention Manager to meet with new hires. Whether it was a mass orientation for a group of seasonal new hires or a single cashier coming to work for us; I made sure I met with everyone at some point and talked about their role in preventing shortage. I would discuss how they could help stop shoplifting and even employee theft. I also made sure they understood what would happen if I caught them stealing. I would frequently end my presentation with the comment that if they were planning on stealing while working for the company they would do themselves a favor by not showing up their first day of work so they could avoid jail later. Believe it or not, occasionally I did have new hires that would not show up for work.
Being comfortable with a topic is an important aspect of creating an impactful new employee orientation. Theft and fraud are not always topics managers are comfortable talking about. Suppose you had a class available to you on manager training to stop employee theft, would that build your confidence in this area so you could speak about it? It is possible to speak about theft and fraud in generalities but making employees understand the negative impact it has on them and the business isn’t always easy to do. Manager training to stop employee theft and shoplifter theft reduction training are just two of the seminars available to retailers from Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. Learn from an expert in the field of Loss Prevention, Bill Bregar, as he teaches you what you need to know about shoplifting and how to develop procedures to address it. Bill can also instruct you and your managers on the full impact that employee theft and fraud can have on your business and how you can see signals that may be pre-cursors to an employee stealing from you. With these trainings, whether for your employees or managers, you will have the knowledge in hand that you can use to train future managers and employees.
Are you thinking, “I have tried talking to my employees about how to stop shoplifting but they don’t seem to be paying attention or they don’t care”? It is possible that they aren’t paying attention because you don’t have all the information you need to make it important to them. For example, have you talked to employees about how it hits them in the wallet when a co-worker steals from the business? If there was no theft to worry about how much more could they be paid? How about the impact shoplifters have on them and their families in terms of the prices of merchandise when they go shopping? Of course as the business owner and manager you have your own personal interest in the success of the business and the need to curtail theft. Proper training can help you build a culture of shortage awareness in your store.
Don’t underestimate how much your employees and managers can do to stop shoplifting and prevent theft and fraud. Let Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. conduct manager training to stop employee theft in your stores and see the impact it can have on shortage reduction.
Need information on conducting manager training to stop employee theft? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Pre-employment Screening-4 WC blog 273
Background Check Company-3
Employee background checks-3
Job Performance, Employment Terminations And Dishonest Employee Interviews Can Be Dangerous; Pre-employment Screening Can Make It Safer – Part 1
As a Loss Prevention Manager I had to conduct investigative interviews with dishonest employees on quite a few occasions over a 15 year period. It is never an easy thing to do since you don’t know what to expect from the person you are interviewing. In some cases you may anticipate the employee will be quiet or meek and during the interview process they become verbally aggressive or threatening. I have dealt with the employee I thought would potentially become violent and they were the one to be subdued and give an easy admission of guilt. People are all different and react to stressful situations in a multitude of ways and a store owner or manager must always use care when having to confront someone. This is one of the reasons it is so important to use employee background checks when hiring staff. You want to try to find the most suitable person to work for you and that includes the ability to do the work and the ability to get along with others in a safe environment. While a background check company may not weed out ALL of the worst candidates, pre-employment screening can be effective in eliminating many questionable applicants before you make a job offer.
When an applicant completes your job application, the answers they write down or input in the computer are the responses you have to go by. On your own, you don’t know whether this person has given you the correct Social Security Number or the real address where they lived for the past ten years. They may respond that they have no prior criminal record but, is that true? The person you are considering for the job may not even be telling you the truth about their employment history. A background check company can verify all of these things for you and help you to know if you are hiring who you think you are hiring. If there is information that cannot be verified you will be told about that too, further assisting you in your final hiring decision.
While you may not have to concern yourself with conducting investigations and interviewing dishonest employees it is highly likely that you will have to have job performance discussions with employees from time to time. I believe if you are leading your staff you will be having coaching sessions or performance discussions, it will simply be a matter of when or how frequently. You may possibly have to fire an employee at some point and these discussions can be just as contentious as an employee theft interview. You don’t know how that person is going to react during the discussion. If you had a pre-employment screening completed before hiring you may at least be sure that the person you are going to fire does not have a criminal history of violence.
Employee background checks can also provide insight into a candidate’s background and verify education, driving records, credit card and payment histories, even check sex offender registries. While not all of this information would necessarily determine if an employee would steal from your company or be a danger to others, it can be a strong indicator when making hiring choices. Pre-employment screening gives you a better picture of the candidate and if something concerns you on a report you can discuss it with the candidate on a follow up interview. If you have multiple applicants for a position it can help weed out the candidate field.
By using the background check company to conduct employee background checks you save yourself time and energy because the information you need is gathered by professionals who know how the resources needed to gather the information. If you bring on the right people or minimize the risk of bringing on those who may have violent backgrounds you can feel more confident about your safety when you have to conduct those tough discussions or reprimands.
Need information on pre-employment screening? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
As a Loss Prevention Manager I had to conduct investigative interviews with dishonest employees on quite a few occasions over a 15 year period. It is never an easy thing to do since you don’t know what to expect from the person you are interviewing. In some cases you may anticipate the employee will be quiet or meek and during the interview process they become verbally aggressive or threatening. I have dealt with the employee I thought would potentially become violent and they were the one to be subdued and give an easy admission of guilt. People are all different and react to stressful situations in a multitude of ways and a store owner or manager must always use care when having to confront someone. This is one of the reasons it is so important to use employee background checks when hiring staff. You want to try to find the most suitable person to work for you and that includes the ability to do the work and the ability to get along with others in a safe environment. While a background check company may not weed out ALL of the worst candidates, pre-employment screening can be effective in eliminating many questionable applicants before you make a job offer.
When an applicant completes your job application, the answers they write down or input in the computer are the responses you have to go by. On your own, you don’t know whether this person has given you the correct Social Security Number or the real address where they lived for the past ten years. They may respond that they have no prior criminal record but, is that true? The person you are considering for the job may not even be telling you the truth about their employment history. A background check company can verify all of these things for you and help you to know if you are hiring who you think you are hiring. If there is information that cannot be verified you will be told about that too, further assisting you in your final hiring decision.
While you may not have to concern yourself with conducting investigations and interviewing dishonest employees it is highly likely that you will have to have job performance discussions with employees from time to time. I believe if you are leading your staff you will be having coaching sessions or performance discussions, it will simply be a matter of when or how frequently. You may possibly have to fire an employee at some point and these discussions can be just as contentious as an employee theft interview. You don’t know how that person is going to react during the discussion. If you had a pre-employment screening completed before hiring you may at least be sure that the person you are going to fire does not have a criminal history of violence.
Employee background checks can also provide insight into a candidate’s background and verify education, driving records, credit card and payment histories, even check sex offender registries. While not all of this information would necessarily determine if an employee would steal from your company or be a danger to others, it can be a strong indicator when making hiring choices. Pre-employment screening gives you a better picture of the candidate and if something concerns you on a report you can discuss it with the candidate on a follow up interview. If you have multiple applicants for a position it can help weed out the candidate field.
By using the background check company to conduct employee background checks you save yourself time and energy because the information you need is gathered by professionals who know how the resources needed to gather the information. If you bring on the right people or minimize the risk of bringing on those who may have violent backgrounds you can feel more confident about your safety when you have to conduct those tough discussions or reprimands.
Need information on pre-employment screening? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
AA Blog
Loss Prevention Calculator: 5
Can loss prevention be free?: 3
Can Security Provide A Positive Return On Investment? The Loss Prevention Calculator Can Show You How!
As I was driving into work today I learned of a new convenience store that was opening next year in the Seattle area that would completely eliminate the need for cashiers. I found this to be very interesting since I work in the retail field. They plan to only use robots and technology to run the store, in order to eliminate the need for store employees, and make shopping more convenient. When I got to work I did a little more research on the subject and this is what I found. A major, primarily online retailer, is now advertising the creation of a new store that will allow customers to shop and pay without the need to checkout. The patent information indicates that they plan to use a combination of RFI technology and sensor fusion, among other technologies, to identify the products that you are picking up so they can automatically be added to your purchase list. This includes data from other inventory location devices such as scales, image analysis and pressure sensors, to name a few, that help to identify the item. They also plan to use customer shopping history and other data to help properly identify products. If the item is returned to the shelf it is designed so that the item is removed from your shopping list. When you are done shopping you simply leave the store, and the items are automatically charged to your account. I had several questions run through my head of course. For example, if there are no employees how do they deal with errors or adjustments, is that what the robots are for? Will this new technology help to minimize theft or increase the opportunity? Would someone be able to replace an item with a similar sized object to fool the system? What if they returned the item to a different inventory location? Can loss prevention be free? I understand this is still way out there for my imagination not to run wild, but I am curious how this will work. Although this is very exciting stuff, it does make me think about all of us small time store owners that don’t have the ability to have all of the latest and greatest technology that larger retailers have the access to. Until we get to that level, I would recommend you stick to what you can afford. The best way to make that determination is by checking out the loss prevention calculator.
The loss prevention calculator is a free tool that provides a real time look at what your security costs will be and what your return on investment (ROI) can be. As retailers we all need some level of security, determining what level of protection you need and at what cost, is key in determining our net profit margins. When it comes to security we can see a positive return on investment, in which loss prevention can ultimately pay for itself. The loss prevention calculator allows you to simply enter your annual sales numbers along with the cost of the security equipment you need, and it quickly estimates your shrinkage and shrinkage reductions, to determine how long it will take for your investment to provide a positive return. Although I think the new technology described by this new retail convenience store is innovative and may change the future of how we do business, I think we are a long ways off from it becoming an everyday reality.
Until we get to the point of I-Robot, I suggest you use the loss prevention calculator, to better understand the cost of security and what level of protection you need. Can loss prevention be free? In my experience it can be. When you look at the ROI you are getting by mitigating your risk and reducing shoplifting, it is clear that a viable loss prevention program can ultimately pay for itself. Don’t wait, the calculator is free, and can show you how quickly security can work to reduce shrinkage and increase profit.
Need information on the loss prevention calculator? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
As I was driving into work today I learned of a new convenience store that was opening next year in the Seattle area that would completely eliminate the need for cashiers. I found this to be very interesting since I work in the retail field. They plan to only use robots and technology to run the store, in order to eliminate the need for store employees, and make shopping more convenient. When I got to work I did a little more research on the subject and this is what I found. A major, primarily online retailer, is now advertising the creation of a new store that will allow customers to shop and pay without the need to checkout. The patent information indicates that they plan to use a combination of RFI technology and sensor fusion, among other technologies, to identify the products that you are picking up so they can automatically be added to your purchase list. This includes data from other inventory location devices such as scales, image analysis and pressure sensors, to name a few, that help to identify the item. They also plan to use customer shopping history and other data to help properly identify products. If the item is returned to the shelf it is designed so that the item is removed from your shopping list. When you are done shopping you simply leave the store, and the items are automatically charged to your account. I had several questions run through my head of course. For example, if there are no employees how do they deal with errors or adjustments, is that what the robots are for? Will this new technology help to minimize theft or increase the opportunity? Would someone be able to replace an item with a similar sized object to fool the system? What if they returned the item to a different inventory location? Can loss prevention be free? I understand this is still way out there for my imagination not to run wild, but I am curious how this will work. Although this is very exciting stuff, it does make me think about all of us small time store owners that don’t have the ability to have all of the latest and greatest technology that larger retailers have the access to. Until we get to that level, I would recommend you stick to what you can afford. The best way to make that determination is by checking out the loss prevention calculator.
The loss prevention calculator is a free tool that provides a real time look at what your security costs will be and what your return on investment (ROI) can be. As retailers we all need some level of security, determining what level of protection you need and at what cost, is key in determining our net profit margins. When it comes to security we can see a positive return on investment, in which loss prevention can ultimately pay for itself. The loss prevention calculator allows you to simply enter your annual sales numbers along with the cost of the security equipment you need, and it quickly estimates your shrinkage and shrinkage reductions, to determine how long it will take for your investment to provide a positive return. Although I think the new technology described by this new retail convenience store is innovative and may change the future of how we do business, I think we are a long ways off from it becoming an everyday reality.
Until we get to the point of I-Robot, I suggest you use the loss prevention calculator, to better understand the cost of security and what level of protection you need. Can loss prevention be free? In my experience it can be. When you look at the ROI you are getting by mitigating your risk and reducing shoplifting, it is clear that a viable loss prevention program can ultimately pay for itself. Don’t wait, the calculator is free, and can show you how quickly security can work to reduce shrinkage and increase profit.
Need information on the loss prevention calculator? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Alpha Bug Tag 2-5 wc blog 289
I-pad theft-3
Tablet theft-3
Classic N10-3
Bugs In Hospitals Are Good When They Are Alpha Bug Tag 2’s Protecting Mobile Medical Devices
Having been a Boy Scout while growing up, I spent a lot of time outdoors so I don’t get too bothered by bugs. Of course, that means bugs should be outdoors not in our homes, hotels, restaurants and certainly not in hospitals. When I saw stories about bugs in hospitals it kind of bugged me (pun intended). One example was a story about a hospital in Pikeville, Kentucky that had a bedbug problem in June of 2016. The hospital closed down the infected areas and cleaned up the problem without further incident. http://www.wkyt.com/content/news/Pikeville-Medical-Center-working-to-eradicate-bed-bugs-382947921.html . There is one kind of bug that DOES have a place in a hospital and bedbugs are not it. You read that right, I am promoting one bug that hospitals SHOULD pursue bringing into the building. The Alpha Bug Tag 2 can be a welcome addition to hospitals that need to protect against tablet theft and i-pad theft if they use mobile medical devices to improve healthcare.
The Alpha Bug Tag 2 is an electronic article surveillance (EAS) anti-theft device that prevents theft through deterrence and EAS antenna activation. The tag is comprised of a reusable module containing the radio frequency components, alarm and LED flashing light and a disposable adhesive sled. The adhesive sled allows the module to be attached directly to mobile medical devices without damaging an i-pad, tablet or even a laptop. The Alpha Bug Tag 2 is built to prevent tampering and unauthorized tag removal with an internal tamper alarm that sounds if a thief tries to take it off while attempting an i-pad theft or laptop theft. A built in LED light flashes as a deterrent to warn criminals the tag is present and active. If a protected mobile device is carried close to EAS antennas, such as a Checkpoint Classic N10 antenna, the antenna picks up the radio frequency signal emitting from the tag. The antenna then alarms and sounds a loud warning and flashes LED lights built into it. Medical staff can respond to the antenna alarm and prevent a device from being stolen from the facility. 3-alarm versions of the tag have an additional feature that causes the tag itself to alarm if it is carried past the EAS antennas, alerting personnel who it is that is trying to get away.
I want to quickly follow up on my mention of the Checkpoint Classic N10 antenna. EAS antennas are necessary for the tags to fully function. While a tag itself may be a deterrent and will alarm if tampered with the EAS function is what prevents the actual tablet theft or i-pad theft. The Alpha Bug Tag 2 works hand in hand with the EAS antenna located at building entrances and other areas where the mobile device does not need to be carried; for example a public restroom. The Checkpoint Classic N10 antenna is a perfect antenna for medical facilities because of the small footprint they take up so they don’t interfere with gurneys, wheelchairs, crutches, walkers etc. that may need extra doorway space.
What is the concern over the protection of mobile devices used in a medical facility? Aren’t these devices password protected to prevent access to stored information? While the medical tablet or i-pad may have protections, there is no guarantee the items are safe from hacking. Thieves could obtain patient medical records including billing information, prescription information, medical history, addresses etc. Such breaches of patient information have resulted in large fines for medical providers by the Department of Health and Human Services. Fines for improper handling of personal health information have been as high as 2.25 million dollars (CVS Pharmacy 2009, source; Healthcare IT News, “6 Biggest HIPPA Breach Fines”, Erin McCann, May 23, 2014. http://www.healthcareitnews.com/slideshow/6-biggest-hipaa-breach-fines?page=4 ). The use of anti-theft devices can keep medical mobile devices from being stolen and leaving a facility.
In a nutshell, yes, while pests such as bedbugs can be a concern, most medical facilities do a great job of staying bug free. That said, the one bug that should be brought in is the Alpha Bug Tag 2 to protect mobile medical devices. Protect patient information as well as property and stay fine free.
Alpha Bug Tag 2 is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
Having been a Boy Scout while growing up, I spent a lot of time outdoors so I don’t get too bothered by bugs. Of course, that means bugs should be outdoors not in our homes, hotels, restaurants and certainly not in hospitals. When I saw stories about bugs in hospitals it kind of bugged me (pun intended). One example was a story about a hospital in Pikeville, Kentucky that had a bedbug problem in June of 2016. The hospital closed down the infected areas and cleaned up the problem without further incident. http://www.wkyt.com/content/news/Pikeville-Medical-Center-working-to-eradicate-bed-bugs-382947921.html. There is one kind of bug that DOES have a place in a hospital and bedbugs are not it. You read that right, I am promoting one bug that hospitals SHOULD pursue bringing into the building. The Alpha Bug Tag 2 can be a welcome addition to hospitals that need to protect against tablet theft and i-pad theft if they use mobile medical devices to improve healthcare.
The Alpha Bug Tag 2 is an electronic article surveillance (EAS) anti-theft device that prevents theft through deterrence and EAS antenna activation. The tag is comprised of a reusable module containing the radio frequency components, alarm and LED flashing light and a disposable adhesive sled. The adhesive sled allows the module to be attached directly to mobile medical devices without damaging an i-pad, tablet or even a laptop. The Alpha Bug Tag 2 is built to prevent tampering and unauthorized tag removal with an internal tamper alarm that sounds if a thief tries to take it off while attempting an i-pad theft or laptop theft. A built in LED light flashes as a deterrent to warn criminals the tag is present and active. If a protected mobile device is carried close to EAS antennas, such as a Checkpoint Classic N10 antenna, the antenna picks up the radio frequency signal emitting from the tag. The antenna then alarms and sounds a loud warning and flashes LED lights built into it. Medical staff can respond to the antenna alarm and prevent a device from being stolen from the facility. 3-alarm versions of the tag have an additional feature that causes the tag itself to alarm if it is carried past the EAS antennas, alerting personnel who it is that is trying to get away.
I want to quickly follow up on my mention of the Checkpoint Classic N10 antenna. EAS antennas are necessary for the tags to fully function. While a tag itself may be a deterrent and will alarm if tampered with the EAS function is what prevents the actual tablet theft or i-pad theft. The Alpha Bug Tag 2 works hand in hand with the EAS antenna located at building entrances and other areas where the mobile device does not need to be carried; for example a public restroom. The Checkpoint Classic N10 antenna is a perfect antenna for medical facilities because of the small footprint they take up so they don’t interfere with gurneys, wheelchairs, crutches, walkers etc. that may need extra doorway space.
What is the concern over the protection of mobile devices used in a medical facility? Aren’t these devices password protected to prevent access to stored information? While the medical tablet or i-pad may have protections, there is no guarantee the items are safe from hacking. Thieves could obtain patient medical records including billing information, prescription information, medical history, addresses etc. Such breaches of patient information have resulted in large fines for medical providers by the Department of Health and Human Services. Fines for improper handling of personal health information have been as high as 2.25 million dollars (CVS Pharmacy 2009, source; Healthcare IT News, “6 Biggest HIPPA Breach Fines”, Erin McCann, May 23, 2014. http://www.healthcareitnews.com/slideshow/6-biggest-hipaa-breach-fines?page=4 ). The use of anti-theft devices can keep medical mobile devices from being stolen and leaving a facility.
In a nutshell, yes, while pests such as bedbugs can be a concern, most medical facilities do a great job of staying bug free. That said, the one bug that should be brought in is the Alpha Bug Tag 2 to protect mobile medical devices. Protect patient information as well as property and stay fine free.
Alpha Bug Tag 2 is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
O Tag- 4 WC Blog 300
Prevent Shoplifting-3
Retail Anti-Theft Device-3
Displaying merchandise can be tricky, especially when the merchandise is something that someone is going to want to try out. Take a bicycle for instance, how many times do you see someone sitting on a bike in a store, then start riding it? It happens fairly regularly because people want to know how something is going to look and feel before they purchase it. Infant strollers were an item that could be a big issue for my store from time to time. We had the display models tied down to the display shelf for customer safety and to prevent shoplifting. Often someone wanted to put their baby in it to see how they fit or they wanted to push a buggy to see how heavy it felt. Some of the strollers had hefty price points on them and you didn’t want to potentially lose a sale so you cut the tie down straps and took the stroller off of the shelf for the potential buyer. Sometimes the customers cut the straps themselves and you didn’t know they weren’t secure until you spot checked them at some point. Thieves also took the baby strollers off the display shelf and put their cute little babies in the buggy. The criminal strolled around the store until they felt comfortable walking out the door with one of our baby buggies. When I was trying to protect display baby strollers I had electronic article surveillance (EAS) soft tags I used to thwart thieves. Today there are even better retail anti-theft devices for this merchandise, the O tag by Alpha Security.
The O tag is a heavy duty, hard tag with a circular inner design. The tag is a single piece unit with a hinge that allows it to be opened and then secured around products that are tubular, such as golf clubs, baseball bats, cords for power tools and baby strollers. Once the tag is locked onto a piece of merchandise it requires a special detachment tool to take it off. Like other retail anti-theft devices from Alpha Security, the tags have a radio frequency (rf) coil built into them. This causes EAS antenna alarms to be set off when the tagged item is moved too close to an exit protected by an antenna. Alarm lights flash, a beeping noise blares and store employees are immediately alerted to a potential attempted shoplifting. I say attempted because often the alarms prevent shoplifting because the criminal abandons the merchandise and leaves when an alarm sounds. If they don’t run, an employee checks the receipt and validates the cause of the alarm and recovers the product.
It can be hard to ascertain if some items are being stolen because they can be worn, carried, or pushed around a store and look like it belongs to the person in possession of it. Backpacks are an example of this, if the tags are pulled off and a shoplifter puts it on and wears it through the building. If you don’t see them when they enter the store and you don’t see them tear the tags off, it can be touchy as to whether or not you should stop them and ask for a receipt. Being suspicious of someone is not sufficient grounds to make an accusation of theft. Infant strollers are the same. A shopper enters the store carrying a baby, goes to the strollers and removes tags, places the baby in it and rolls it through the store and out the door. I have had to make a few apprehensions involving baby buggies and I was always careful that I knew for sure the item belonged to the store. There are few things more uncomfortable for a Loss Prevention officer than to have to apprehend a parent with a child. Being absolutely certain eases some of the discomfort associated with such a stop. An Alpha O Tag can help easily identify merchandise that belongs to the store and prevent shoplifting, especially when placed in a visible location on a stroller frame.
Infant stroller theft does occur and possibly more frequently than you realize. Who wants to think a mom or dad would steal merchandise using their baby as a prop? Use an O Tag on your strollers as well as other merchandise you may carry that have tubular designs and put the brakes on free-wheeling crooks.
Get more information on O Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
Displaying merchandise can be tricky, especially when the merchandise is something that someone is going to want to try out.Take a bicycle for instance, how many times do you see someone sitting on a bike in a store, then start riding it? It happens fairly regularly because people want to know how something is going to look and feel before they purchase it. Infant strollers were an item that could be a big issue for my store from time to time. We had the display models tied down to the display shelf for customer safety and to prevent shoplifting. Often someone wanted to put their baby in it to see how they fit or they wanted to push a buggy to see how heavy it felt. Some of the strollers had hefty price points on them and you didn’t want to potentially lose a sale so you cut the tie down straps and took the stroller off of the shelf for the potential buyer. Sometimes the customers cut the straps themselves and you didn’t know they weren’t secure until you spot checked them at some point. Thieves also took the baby strollers off the display shelf and put their cute little babies in the buggy. The criminal strolled around the store until they felt comfortable walking out the door with one of our baby buggies. When I was trying to protect display baby strollers I had electronic article surveillance (EAS) soft tags I used to thwart thieves. Today there are even better retail anti-theft devices for this merchandise, the O tag by Alpha Security.
The O tag is a heavy duty, hard tag with a circular inner design. The tag is a single piece unit with a hinge that allows it to be opened and then secured around products that are tubular, such as golf clubs, baseball bats, cords for power tools and baby strollers. Once the tag is locked onto a piece of merchandise it requires a special detachment tool to take it off. Like other retail anti-theft devices from Alpha Security, the tags have a radio frequency (rf) coil built into them. This causes EAS antenna alarms to be set off when the tagged item is moved too close to an exit protected by an antenna. Alarm lights flash, a beeping noise blares and store employees are immediately alerted to a potential attempted shoplifting. I say attempted because often the alarms prevent shoplifting because the criminal abandons the merchandise and leaves when an alarm sounds. If they don’t run, an employee checks the receipt and validates the cause of the alarm and recovers the product.
It can be hard to ascertain if some items are being stolen because they can be worn, carried, or pushed around a store and look like it belongs to the person in possession of it. Backpacks are an example of this, if the tags are pulled off and a shoplifter puts it on and wears it through the building. If you don’t see them when they enter the store and you don’t see them tear the tags off, it can be touchy as to whether or not you should stop them and ask for a receipt. Being suspicious of someone is not sufficient grounds to make an accusation of theft. Infant strollers are the same. A shopper enters the store carrying a baby, goes to the strollers and removes tags, places the baby in it and rolls it through the store and out the door. I have had to make a few apprehensions involving baby buggies and I was always careful that I knew for sure the item belonged to the store. There are few things more uncomfortable for a Loss Prevention officer than to have to apprehend a parent with a child. Being absolutely certain eases some of the discomfort associated with such a stop. An Alpha O Tag can help easily identify merchandise that belongs to the store and prevent shoplifting, especially when placed in a visible location on a stroller frame.
Infant stroller theft does occur and possibly more frequently than you realize. Who wants to think a mom or dad would steal merchandise using their baby as a prop? Use an O Tag on your strollers as well as other merchandise you may carry that have tubular designs and put the brakes on free-wheeling crooks.
Get more information on O Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
AA Blog 32
Checkpoint Labels: 5
Stop Shoplifting: 3
Checkpoint Labels Provide A Multi-Faceted Means to Stop Shoplifting and Avoid Price Swapping
When it comes to retail shoplifting, I have had my share of problems, but I have also learned a lot throughout the years. I have learned new ways to protect my store and my products from not only shoplifting in general, but from price switching and clearance tagging. I am not sure if this has been a problem for you in your store, but I know it was a huge problem for me. Of course we weren’t locating these issues on the front end, but instead we were finding them after the sale, when we were netting our losses. We had a large problem, with people switching prices or adding clearance stickers to expensive items, which included returns for full price credits on the same items. It was a problem that was significantly affecting our bottom line and we knew we had to do something about it. We just weren’t sure how we could stop shoplifting of this type, without requiring management approval for every sale item. This as you know would be time consuming and an irritation to our loyal customers. I had discussed these issues with some of my counterparts to see what they were doing to prevent this type of activity in their stores. Some of them had changed their brand of labels, so they would adhere better, but that still wasn’t fool proof. I wanted a way to ensure that our labels were being utilized to the best of our ability without added expense. That was when I discovered Checkpoint Labels.
Checkpoint Labels are the perfect way to prevent price swapping. These labels can be easily printed in store, so you can print the label with your pricing and your store logo on site at a low cost. These labels once applied, cannot be removed without damaging the label. They are also equipped with EAS technology to stop shoplifting. They are a multi-faceted tool to protect all your products. They come in various sizes and shapes to meet all of your needs, and a new label can easily be re-applied in the event of a sale. This eliminates the need for a secondary sales tag, which can be swapped to other non-sale items. Having the ability to quickly adjust pricing in store, is an ideal way to protect your products while saving time and money. It also makes for a good shopping experience for your customers, by reducing time and hassle during the checkout process. Checkpoint Labels also offer a clear label that can be placed over the existing barcode, which adds EAS technology and prevents price swapping all in one label.
Preventing shoplifting is an ongoing battle, regardless of the method in which it is occurring. I know I have struggled with managing this problem from all angles, but I do know that Checkpoint Labels have substantially reduced my loss. They work on so many levels to protect my property, which makes for a cost-effective means to stop shoplifting. I have purchased the label makers, which really helps me manage my pricing more effectively in store. They come in large rolls that allow me to manage my products and my security at a low cost, with very little effort. I love how handy they are, and unlike other cheap labels, I know they won’t peel off, and they work more effectively in alerting my staff when a breach occurs. Now anytime a fellow retailer comes to me about their personal store issues, I can pass on the knowledge I have learned, and hopefully help them in their loss prevention efforts. Helping one another is key in this field.
Get more information on Checkpoint Labels, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
When it comes to retail shoplifting, I have had my share of problems, but I have also learned a lot throughout the years. I have learned new ways to protect my store and my products from not only shoplifting in general, but from price switching and clearance tagging. I am not sure if this has been a problem for you in your store, but I know it was a huge problem for me. Of course we weren’t locating these issues on the front end, but instead we were finding them after the sale, when we were netting our losses. We had a large problem, with people switching prices or adding clearance stickers to expensive items, which included returns for full price credits on the same items. It was a problem that was significantly affecting our bottom line and we knew we had to do something about it. We just weren’t sure how we could stop shoplifting of this type, without requiring management approval for every sale item. This as you know would be time consuming and an irritation to our loyal customers. I had discussed these issues with some of my counterparts to see what they were doing to prevent this type of activity in their stores. Some of them had changed their brand of labels, so they would adhere better, but that still wasn’t fool proof. I wanted a way to ensure that our labels were being utilized to the best of our ability without added expense. That was when I discovered Checkpoint Labels.
Checkpoint Labels are the perfect way to prevent price swapping. These labels can be easily printed in store, so you can print the label with your pricing and your store logo on site at a low cost. These labels once applied, cannot be removed without damaging the label.They are also equipped with EAS technology to stop shoplifting. They are a multi-faceted tool to protect all your products. They come in various sizes and shapes to meet all of your needs, and a new label can easily be re-applied in the event of a sale. This eliminates the need for a secondary sales tag, which can be swapped to other non-sale items. Having the ability to quickly adjust pricing in store, is an ideal way to protect your products while saving time and money. It also makes for a good shopping experience for your customers, by reducing time and hassle during the checkout process. Checkpoint Labels also offer a clear label that can be placed over the existing barcode, which adds EAS technology and prevents price swapping all in one label.
Preventing shoplifting is an ongoing battle, regardless of the method in which it is occurring. I know I have struggled with managing this problem from all angles, but I do know that Checkpoint Labels have substantially reduced my loss. They work on so many levels to protect my property, which makes for a cost-effective means to stop shoplifting. I have purchased the label makers, which really helps me manage my pricing more effectively in store. They come in large rolls that allow me to manage my products and my security at a low cost, with very little effort. I love how handy they are, and unlike other cheap labels, I know they won’t peel off, and they work more effectively in alerting my staff when a breach occurs. Now anytime a fellow retailer comes to me about their personal store issues, I can pass on the knowledge I have learned, and hopefully help them in their loss prevention efforts. Helping one another is key in this field.
Get more information on Checkpoint Labels, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
