Checkpoint Hard Tags-5 WC Blog 255
EAS tags-4
electronic article surveillance-3
Stop shoplifting-5
Helping Employees Understand How Checkpoint Hard Tags Helps Prevent Shortage
During my time as a Loss Prevention Manager we would regularly look at numbers and break them down for training purposes. We wanted to make stock shortage make sense to our store employees. It’s one thing to tell someone that the store stock shortage results came in at a 1% shrink rate it’s another thing for it to have meaning. In real life, that doesn’t sound like a tremendous amount and it certainly isn’t going to motivate an employee to do much to try to stop shoplifting. What difference will it make to that employee if one out of ten pairs of designer jeans valued at $50 hanging on a fixture is missing the Checkpoint hard tag? Nine pair of the jeans are protected, isn’t that adequate? What are the odds a shoplifter would be looking to steal THAT particular size? If your employees are indifferent to shortage you need to help them understand how important it is that they help stop shoplifting. They need to be alert to missing EAS tags and properly responding to electronic article surveillance (EAS) alarm activations. Shortage needs to be discussed in relevant terms to motivate people to want to impact it.
For readers who are not familiar with Checkpoint hard tags, I would like to take a minute to discuss them and how they can help a store stop shoplifting. EAS tags come in a soft or hard tag version. The soft tags can be peeled off of a roll of tags and applied to most surfaces. Checkpoint hard tags are designed of a hard plastic that comes in two parts. The main piece is pinned through a garment and a cap is pushed over the pin and keeps the tag on the item. Removal of the tag requires a special detachment tool and any other attempt to take the tag off results in damage to the clothing item to which it is attached. Checkpoint tags all work in conjunction with electronic article surveillance antennas and cause an antenna alarm to sound if tagged merchandise comes too close to the doorway where the antenna is located. To sum it up, EAS tags stop shoplifting through visual deterrence (shoplifters see tags and don’t want to hassle with them) and physical alarm activations (the chance of being stopped for a receipt check or the possibility they could be apprehended for theft).
When we trained employees, we tried very hard to make the numbers we were tossing at them make more sense and more of an impact. For example, one statistic we used was that for every item that was stolen, it was estimated it would require selling ten of that item to make up the lost profit. If that one pair of $50 designer jeans that was missing the Checkpoint tag was stolen it was estimated we would have to sell $500 of that same type of jeans to make up the loss. We found that the employees paid more attention when they took that into consideration.
Another training tool we incorporated to make inventory results make more sense to associates was to break the losses down by the year, month, week, day and hour. This is a great way to remind people that theft isn’t a once a year event, but it takes place throughout the year. It serves to make it clear it is important to stop prevent theft daily. Think about it like this, I worked for a big box retailer so just to make it easy $120,000 shortage would have been a good result but consider how this breaks down:
• $10,000 a month in losses
• $2307.62 a week in losses
• $328.77 a day in losses
• $13.70 an hour in losses
When all of this is taken into consideration, missing Checkpoint hard tags don’t seem like such a small deal any longer. Now employees take more ownership of helping to stop shoplifting by ensuring all merchandise has an EAS tags on them. Instead of waving off the person who has activated the electronic article surveillance antennas they will be more inclined to do a thorough receipt check. Shortage has relevance and employees see they can make an impact.
Stock shortage hurts a store’s profitability and all employees can play a role in stopping it, but there needs to be context. Explain it to your employees and help them understand how they can impact shortage by making sure Checkpoint hard tags are properly placed on all merchandise.
Checkpoint hard tags are important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
During my time as a Loss Prevention Manager we would regularly look at numbers and break them down for training purposes. We wanted to make stock shortage make sense to our store employees. It’s one thing to tell someone that the store stock shortage results came in at a 1% shrink rate it’s another thing for it to have meaning. In real life, that doesn’t sound like a tremendous amount and it certainly isn’t going to motivate an employee to do much to try to stop shoplifting. What difference will it make to that employee if one out of ten pairs of designer jeans valued at $50 hanging on a fixture is missing the Checkpoint hard tag? Nine pair of the jeans are protected, isn’t that adequate? What are the odds a shoplifter would be looking to steal THAT particular size? If your employees are indifferent to shortage you need to help them understand how important it is that they help stop shoplifting. They need to be alert to missing EAS tags and properly responding to electronic article surveillance (EAS) alarm activations. Shortage needs to be discussed in relevant terms to motivate people to want to impact it.
For readers who are not familiar with Checkpoint hard tags, I would like to take a minute to discuss them and how they can help a store stop shoplifting. EAS tags come in a soft or hard tag version. The soft tags can be peeled off of a roll of tags and applied to most surfaces. Checkpoint hard tags are designed of a hard plastic that comes in two parts. The main piece is pinned through a garment and a cap is pushed over the pin and keeps the tag on the item. Removal of the tag requires a special detachment tool and any other attempt to take the tag off results in damage to the clothing item to which it is attached. Checkpoint tags all work in conjunction with electronic article surveillance antennas and cause an antenna alarm to sound if tagged merchandise comes too close to the doorway where the antenna is located. To sum it up, EAS tags stop shoplifting through visual deterrence (shoplifters see tags and don’t want to hassle with them) and physical alarm activations (the chance of being stopped for a receipt check or the possibility they could be apprehended for theft).
When we trained employees, we tried very hard to make the numbers we were tossing at them make more sense and more of an impact. For example, one statistic we used was that for every item that was stolen, it was estimated it would require selling ten of that item to make up the lost profit. If that one pair of $50 designer jeans that was missing the Checkpoint tag was stolen it was estimated we would have to sell $500 of that same type of jeans to make up the loss. We found that the employees paid more attention when they took that into consideration.
Another training tool we incorporated to make inventory results make more sense to associates was to break the losses down by the year, month, week, day and hour. This is a great way to remind people that theft isn’t a once a year event, but it takes place throughout the year. It serves to make it clear it is important to stop prevent theft daily. Think about it like this, I worked for a big box retailer so just to make it easy $120,000 shortage would have been a good result but consider how this breaks down:
• $10,000 a month in losses
• $2307.62 a week in losses
• $328.77 a day in losses
• $13.70 an hour in losses
When all of this is taken into consideration, missing Checkpoint hard tags don’t seem like such a small deal any longer. Now employees take more ownership of helping to stop shoplifting by ensuring all merchandise has an EAS tags on them. Instead of waving off the person who has activated the electronic article surveillance antennas they will be more inclined to do a thorough receipt check. Shortage has relevance and employees see they can make an impact.
Stock shortage hurts a store’s profitability and all employees can play a role in stopping it, but there needs to be context. Explain it to your employees and help them understand how they can impact shortage by making sure Checkpoint hard tags are properly placed on all merchandise.
Checkpoint hard tags are important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
Alpha Keepers-5 WC blog 246
Retail Anti-Theft Devices-3
Protect Electronics-5
Don’t Restrict The Use Of Alpha Keepers To Only High Dollar Goods.
I work in a small office supply store and so I see merchandise protection strategies that are in place, and some are really good. Our store uses an electronic article surveillance (EAS) system to detect merchandise that someone may attempt to walk out the door without paying for the goods. We use Alpha products to protect ink, toner, headphones, etc. One thing we don’t use enough in my opinion are Alpha Keepers to protect electronics. Don’t misunderstand, we use them but since I spent many years in retail Loss Prevention, I see what I consider missed opportunities. We use keepers to prevent shoplifting of jump drives, and SD cards but we don’t use them on products that can be just as expensive as these, items such as hdmi cords. Within the electronics category we also protect some of our printer inkjet cartridges, but not all of them. So what is it that is the determining factor if something should be locked up using Alpha Keepers?
Before we go on to address that question it only makes sense to have a conversation about what Alpha Keepers are and how they function. Keeper boxes come in a variety of shapes and sizes but they do share a few things in common. The boxes are all clear so a customer can see through them and view whatever contents the Keeper is holding. As retail anti-theft devices the Keepers protect electronics merchandise with tamper resistant locking lids and EAS technology. An attempt to walk out of a store with EAS antennas at the entrance and EAS protected merchandise hidden under clothing or in a purse causes the antenna alarm to trip. Quick response to these alarms significantly improves your odds of getting the merchandise back. It is also possible that if a would-be shoplifter starts to leave with merchandise, the alarm activation may scare the thief into dropping the merchandise still resulting in a recovery and profit to the bottom line.
What is the determining factor of what should be locked up? It really comes down to what a store wants to do with their system. The place I work has most jump drives secured in Alpha Boxes and yet, there are those below a specific dollar threshhold that do not get secured. I am opposed to this strategy. Why set a price point as the means for determining what you are going to protect? I would be more supportive of a strategy that places anything that can fit into it, inside a Keeper box. We have inserts or pictures of some items such as hard drives that are placed into boxes rather than trusting the EAS system and the retail anti-theft devices to protect the products we want to sell. Looking at it with my Loss Prevention hat on, I believe we are not using the system to its fullest potential. One of the benefits of utilizing Keepers to protect electronics is that merchandise is available for a customer to pick up and take to a register without waiting for an employee to unlock a showcase or search a stockroom. Sales are shown to improve when customers don’t have to wait to get service.
Investing in Alpha Keepers to protect electronics makes sense because it is cost effective for a store. Once purchased Keepers are used over and over again. There is no need for continuous purchase of new Keepers. They also take up little additional room to protect the merchandise so there is minimal impact on the amount of product that can be displayed. I encourage store owners to use retail anti-theft devices to prevent shoplifting but I would especially encourage the use of Alpha Keepers to protect electronics. You are sure to drive up sales while lowering your shortage.
Alpha Keepers are important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
I work in a small office supply store and so I see merchandise protection strategies that are in place, and some are really good. Our store uses an electronic article surveillance (EAS) system to detect merchandise that someone may attempt to walk out the door without paying for the goods. We use Alpha products to protect ink, toner, headphones, etc. One thing we don’t use enough in my opinion are Alpha Keepers to protect electronics. Don’t misunderstand, we use them but since I spent many years in retail Loss Prevention, I see what I consider missed opportunities. We use keepers to prevent shoplifting of jump drives, and SD cards but we don’t use them on products that can be just as expensive as these, items such as hdmi cords. Within the electronics category we also protect some of our printer inkjet cartridges, but not all of them. So what is it that is the determining factor if something should be locked up using Alpha Keepers?
Before we go on to address that question it only makes sense to have a conversation about what Alpha Keepers are and how they function. Keeper boxes come in a variety of shapes and sizes but they do share a few things in common. The boxes are all clear so a customer can see through them and view whatever contents the Keeper is holding. As retail anti-theft devices the Keepers protect electronics merchandise with tamper resistant locking lids and EAS technology. An attempt to walk out of a store with EAS antennas at the entrance and EAS protected merchandise hidden under clothing or in a purse causes the antenna alarm to trip. Quick response to these alarms significantly improves your odds of getting the merchandise back. It is also possible that if a would-be shoplifter starts to leave with merchandise, the alarm activation may scare the thief into dropping the merchandise still resulting in a recovery and profit to the bottom line.
What is the determining factor of what should be locked up? It really comes down to what a store wants to do with their system. The place I work has most jump drives secured in Alpha Boxes and yet, there are those below a specific dollar threshhold that do not get secured. I am opposed to this strategy. Why set a price point as the means for determining what you are going to protect? I would be more supportive of a strategy that places anything that can fit into it, inside a Keeper box. We have inserts or pictures of some items such as hard drives that are placed into boxes rather than trusting the EAS system and the retail anti-theft devices to protect the products we want to sell. Looking at it with my Loss Prevention hat on, I believe we are not using the system to its fullest potential. One of the benefits of utilizing Keepers to protect electronics is that merchandise is available for a customer to pick up and take to a register without waiting for an employee to unlock a showcase or search a stockroom. Sales are shown to improve when customers don’t have to wait to get service.
Investing in Alpha Keepers to protect electronics makes sense because it is cost effective for a store. Once purchased Keepers are used over and over again. There is no need for continuous purchase of new Keepers. They also take up little additional room to protect the merchandise so there is minimal impact on the amount of product that can be displayed. I encourage store owners to use retail anti-theft devices to prevent shoplifting but I would especially encourage the use of Alpha Keepers to protect electronics. You are sure to drive up sales while lowering your shortage.
Alpha Keepers are important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
Checkpoint System-4 WC Blog 307
Retail Theft Prevention-3
Stop Shoplifting-3
Responding To A Checkpoint System EAS Alarm Can Be Intimidating; Train Your Employees How To Approach Customers With Confidence And A Smile
There are many situations in retail where employees have encounters that can be uncomfortable, especially when they aren’t trained on how to approach people. I have seen customers become defensive when a cashier catches a ticket switch while ringing a sale. The employee became intimidated by the customer’s attitude. As a Manager On Duty I have had to deal with customers who have become angry when I wouldn’t allow a full refund for an item because they had no receipt. I have seen employees wave at a customer who set off an electronic article surveillance (EAS) pedestal rather than have to try to resolve the cause of an alarm. There have also been instances where an employee did approach a shopper who set off a tower alarm and the employee’s attitude created a tense situation. For retail theft prevention to be effective store owners and managers need to conduct ongoing training with staff on how to effectively handle conflict or de-escalate situations appropriately, especially with regard to events involving Checkpoint Systems.
A Checkpoint System is a tool that is only as effective as the store team using it. The retail theft prevention system itself is a combination of EAS pedestals installed at entry/exit doors and other key locations in a store, and the use of protective EAS tags and labels placed on merchandise. There are also deactivation pads located at checkout lanes and detachment tools to remove hard tags from merchandise. The pedestals alarm when tagged merchandise is carried near them and alert employees that a possible theft is taking place. Tags and labels provide the protection for merchandise ensuring that if a shoplifter attempts to steal product the tower alarm will be activated. Deactivation pads and detachment tools remove hard tags or “de-tune” soft tags to ensure paid merchandise won’t inadvertently cause an alarm and be a customer distraction. If your team isn’t properly trained to use this tool you degrade the effectiveness of your system to deter theft and prevent shoplifting in your store.
What do I mean? Isn’t a retail theft prevention system going to stop shoplifting once it is installed? Just having a system will deter a certain amount of shoplifting theft, the casual shoplifter generally doesn’t want to risk setting off an EAS pedestal alarm and chance being caught. It is crucial that your employees are trained in properly responding to pedestal alarm activations to get the most out of your system and that means knowing how to approach customers and resolve alarm events. Training will also make approaching customers who have set off an alarm much easier to do.
Frequently, the EAS tower alarm sound will stop shoplifting by startling a dishonest customer and they drop the goods they had and run. But not every thief runs and not every alarm is due to an attempted theft. Employees who are not properly trained to respond can be uncomfortable or even scared to have to interact with the customer who caused the event. Spend time teaching associates to walk to the doors, smile and begin a conversation with a “hello”. They can then ask about the customer’s purchases, did they buy something that may not have deactivated at the register properly? Follow-up with the question, “Do you mind if I see your receipt to try to figure out what’s causing this alarm?” By not sounding like an accusation is being made, it de-escalates the situation by making it appear an error has taken place. By showing concern that an error may have taken place I have even been able to help a customer find that tags from a prior purchase at another store were never deactivated. I have found hidden tags in wallets and the customer said they regularly were setting off alarms and never knew why. For the person who WAS trying to shoplift, giving them a potential way out by approaching and suggesting maybe they forgot to have something rung up removes the suggestion they had the intention of stealing (even if that was their intent). This is an effective method of getting the merchandise back (which is what the tower is supposed to do) and getting the crook out of your building.
Give your employees the proper training and they can stop shoplifting when the Checkpoint system alarms go off. You also give your employees the confidence that interactions at the doors don’t have to be confrontational and they will be more willing to step up and respond to those alarms.
Need information on a Checkpoint system? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
There are many situations in retail where employees have encounters that can be uncomfortable, especially when they aren’t trained on how to approach people. I have seen customers become defensive when a cashier catches a ticket switch while ringing a sale. The employee became intimidated by the customer’s attitude. As a Manager On Duty I have had to deal with customers who have become angry when I wouldn’t allow a full refund for an item because they had no receipt. I have seen employees wave at a customer who set off an electronic article surveillance (EAS) pedestal rather than have to try to resolve the cause of an alarm. There have also been instances where an employee did approach a shopper who set off a tower alarm and the employee’s attitude created a tense situation. For retail theft prevention to be effective store owners and managers need to conduct ongoing training with staff on how to effectively handle conflict or de-escalate situations appropriately, especially with regard to events involving Checkpoint Systems.
A Checkpoint System is a tool that is only as effective as the store team using it. The retail theft prevention system itself is a combination of EAS pedestals installed at entry/exit doors and other key locations in a store, and the use of protective EAS tags and labels placed on merchandise. There are also deactivation pads located at checkout lanes and detachment tools to remove hard tags from merchandise. The pedestals alarm when tagged merchandise is carried near them and alert employees that a possible theft is taking place. Tags and labels provide the protection for merchandise ensuring that if a shoplifter attempts to steal product the tower alarm will be activated. Deactivation pads and detachment tools remove hard tags or “de-tune” soft tags to ensure paid merchandise won’t inadvertently cause an alarm and be a customer distraction. If your team isn’t properly trained to use this tool you degrade the effectiveness of your system to deter theft and prevent shoplifting in your store.
What do I mean? Isn’t a retail theft prevention system going to stop shoplifting once it is installed? Just having a system will deter a certain amount of shoplifting theft, the casual shoplifter generally doesn’t want to risk setting off an EAS pedestal alarm and chance being caught. It is crucial that your employees are trained in properly responding to pedestal alarm activations to get the most out of your system and that means knowing how to approach customers and resolve alarm events. Training will also make approaching customers who have set off an alarm much easier to do.
Frequently, the EAS tower alarm sound will stop shoplifting by startling a dishonest customer and they drop the goods they had and run. But not every thief runs and not every alarm is due to an attempted theft. Employees who are not properly trained to respond can be uncomfortable or even scared to have to interact with the customer who caused the event. Spend time teaching associates to walk to the doors, smile and begin a conversation with a “hello”. They can then ask about the customer’s purchases, did they buy something that may not have deactivated at the register properly? Follow-up with the question, “Do you mind if I see your receipt to try to figure out what’s causing this alarm?” By not sounding like an accusation is being made, it de-escalates the situation by making it appear an error has taken place. By showing concern that an error may have taken place I have even been able to help a customer find that tags from a prior purchase at another store were never deactivated. I have found hidden tags in wallets and the customer said they regularly were setting off alarms and never knew why. For the person who WAS trying to shoplift, giving them a potential way out by approaching and suggesting maybe they forgot to have something rung up removes the suggestion they had the intention of stealing (even if that was their intent). This is an effective method of getting the merchandise back (which is what the tower is supposed to do) and getting the crook out of your building.
Give your employees the proper training and they can stop shoplifting when the Checkpoint System alarms go off. You also give your employees the confidence that interactions at the doors don’t have to be confrontational and they will be more willing to step up and respond to those alarms.
Need information on a Checkpoint System? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
AA Blog 28
Alpha Shark Tag: 5
Return Fraud: 3
Prevent Return Fraud With The Alpha Shark Tag
Children are truly a blessing and I wouldn’t change it for the world, but if any of you have children, you know how expensive they can be. As they get older, the costs increase significantly, especially if you have girls. I have two girls that are ten years apart. I have one that is 18 and one that is 8, so I have been through the teenage years, and will be going through it again in the near future. When you have girls they tend to be very high maintenance. They want designer clothes, they need their hair colored and cut every two months, plus they need makeup and their nails done. I would like to say this is where it ends, but that is only the beginning. Between school clothes, school activities and sports, and extra-curricular activities the expenses increase exponentially. Of course high school also includes at least three or four dances each year, with Homecoming and Prom being two major events in a girl’s life. These events alone are wallet busters. They need a dress, shoes, hair appointments, nails, makeup, and corsages and then you add dinner before, maybe a limo to arrive in style, and you are out at least a grand. The dress alone costs at least $300, and there is no way they can wear the same dress twice, that is a fashion no no. I think that part always hurt the most. Granted you could always try and sell it used to someone the following year, but you only get a fraction of what it is worth, which is very disheartening since it was only worn for about five hours. I know there are some people out there that would just take the dress back to the store the following day for a full refund. As tempting as that sounds I am not one of those people. Being in the retail business I know how frustrating retail fraud can be and the cost associated with this type of activity. That is why we use the Alpha Shark Tag in our stores.
The Alpha Shark Tag provides the retailer with the means to prevent this type of behavior. This tag is designed to be placed on high priced or designer items without damaging the product. They can be used on clothing, bags, shoes and other items, typically associated with return fraud. These are inexpensive devices that provide a bright visual deterrent that can be used to supplement your store return policy. These devices, once removed cannot be re-attached by the customer. Therefore, many retailers use the Alpha Shark Tag as a means to enforce their store return policy. Stores are placing these tags on their high frequency return items and refusing to supply a refund if the tag has been removed from the item. The store simply places the tag in a very obvious location that can’t be concealed during the use of the item, thus preventing return fraud. These can also be used for online or catalog sales by simply adding the tag to the item prior to shipment. I understand why people are associated with these types of returns, but I also know the cost to the retailer can be significant, if they don’t take action to prevent this type of behavior.
If you are a retailer and you are tired of footing the cost associated with re-stocking worn/used merchandise, I recommend you get the Alpha Shark Tag. These tags work great as a deterrent because many people shop with the intent to commit return fraud. They know their daughter will only wear the dress once, so why keep the item when they can just use it once and return it. These devices can be equipped with the retailers’ return policy to add an additional deterrent, thus sending these fraudsters to your competitor.
Alpha Shark Tags are important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
Children are truly a blessing and I wouldn’t change it for the world, but if any of you have children, you know how expensive they can be. As they get older, the costs increase significantly, especially if you have girls. I have two girls that are ten years apart. I have one that is 18 and one that is 8, so I have been through the teenage years, and will be going through it again in the near future. When you have girls they tend to be very high maintenance. They want designer clothes, they need their hair colored and cut every two months, plus they need makeup and their nails done. I would like to say this is where it ends, but that is only the beginning. Between school clothes, school activities and sports, and extra-curricular activities the expenses increase exponentially. Of course high school also includes at least three or four dances each year, with Homecoming and Prom being two major events in a girl’s life. These events alone are wallet busters. They need a dress, shoes, hair appointments, nails, makeup, and corsages and then you add dinner before, maybe a limo to arrive in style, and you are out at least a grand. The dress alone costs at least $300, and there is no way they can wear the same dress twice, that is a fashion no no. I think that part always hurt the most. Granted you could always try and sell it used to someone the following year, but you only get a fraction of what it is worth, which is very disheartening since it was only worn for about five hours. I know there are some people out there that would just take the dress back to the store the following day for a full refund. As tempting as that sounds I am not one of those people. Being in the retail business I know how frustrating retail fraud can be and the cost associated with this type of activity. That is why we use the Alpha Shark Tag in our stores.
The Alpha Shark Tag provides the retailer with the means to prevent this type of behavior. This tag is designed to be placed on high priced or designer items without damaging the product. They can be used on clothing, bags, shoes and other items, typically associated with return fraud. These are inexpensive devices that provide a bright visual deterrent that can be used to supplement your store return policy. These devices, once removed cannot be re-attached by the customer. Therefore, many retailers use the Alpha Shark Tag as a means to enforce their store return policy. Stores are placing these tags on their high frequency return items and refusing to supply a refund if the tag has been removed from the item. The store simply places the tag in a very obvious location that can’t be concealed during the use of the item, thus preventing return fraud. These can also be used for online or catalog sales by simply adding the tag to the item prior to shipment. I understand why people are associated with these types of returns, but I also know the cost to the retailer can be significant, if they don’t take action to prevent this type of behavior.
If you are a retailer and you are tired of footing the cost associated with re-stocking worn/used merchandise, I recommend you get the Alpha Shark Tag. These tags work great as a deterrent because many people shop with the intent to commit return fraud. They know their daughter will only wear the dress once, so why keep the item when they can just use it once and return it. These devices can be equipped with the retailers’ return policy to add an additional deterrent, thus sending these fraudsters to your competitor.
Alpha Shark Tags are important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
Training to reduce employee theft-3 WC Blog 304
Stop shoplifting-4
Employee Theft-3
Can Your Employees Be Stealing? Professional Manager Training To Reduce Employee Theft Is Now Available For Everyone
I can remember when I started working in the Loss Prevention field over 26 years ago and I had no idea what it would entail. I assumed I was going to catch shoplifters stealing clothes, how hard could that be? There were about two days of training from the human resources department on company procedures. I then was required to spend time on the salesfloor and operating a cash register but I knew that wasn’t what I would be happy doing, I wanted to start catching bad guys. Finally I was released to go to the Loss Prevention department! I learned about closed circuit television (and yes, VCR’s), and I began learning how to identify signs of shoplifting. I eventually helped stop shoplifting by assisting in catching thieves, then catching them on my own. As I learned to do my job and became better at it, I began to learn about employee theft. I can’t say I didn’t know it existed, but I had no idea there were so many methods that employees will use to steal. When I eventually took a promotional opportunity to move to a Loss Prevention Manager for another company, I took with me the knowledge I had gained. In my new role I learned even more and had additional training to reduce employee theft. If it was important for me to receive ongoing training, how important is it for a retail owner and managers of stores with no security resources to receive training to reduce employee theft?
Employee theft can include more than simply cash theft from a register or stealing a pack of gum from a checklane. Return fraud, gift card fraud, merchandise theft, and even time card manipulation all impact store profits and can be detrimental to customer service as well. Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. offers training programs that can help owners and managers learn how to identify and address issues, reducing the impact they can have on a business. Additional training programs are offered to help stop shoplifting in stores. There is no better resource for training than by an expert who has been in the field and has experience investigating and prosecuting internal theft cases. This experience is available to help retail managers learn what they can do to deter associate theft and stop shoplifting.
I recognize that many small stores do not have a Loss Prevention department. Even national chain stores do not all have in-store security but rather someone at a district or regional level responsible for employee theft investigations. These Loss Prevention managers often visit stores and conduct safety and security audits and spend time training and educating store managers. So what is a small, independently owned store manager to do when he or she can’t afford their own Loss Prevention personnel? Store managers must become educated on the impact of theft on their store and how to identify signs of dishonest activity. An employee who is going to steal isn’t going to advertise their intentions. There are some thieves who are good at what they do and they can make it difficult even for a trained security professional to catch them. There are steps a management team can take to help preclude employees from stealing first place. From pre-employment screening to holding new employee orientations that include the topics of internal theft and how to stop shoplifting, Loss Prevention Systems, inc. wants to help you with training to reduce employee theft.
You may not have a Loss Prevention department but with the proper training you can learn how to protect your business from unnecessary losses. Let us help you keep shortage low and profits high.
Get more information on training to reduce employee theft, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
I can remember when I started working in the Loss Prevention field over 26 years ago and I had no idea what it would entail. I assumed I was going to catch shoplifters stealing clothes, how hard could that be? There were about two days of training from the human resources department on company procedures. I then was required to spend time on the salesfloor and operating a cash register but I knew that wasn’t what I would be happy doing, I wanted to start catching bad guys. Finally I was released to go to the Loss Prevention department! I learned about closed circuit television (and yes, VCR’s), and I began learning how to identify signs of shoplifting. I eventually helped stop shoplifting by assisting in catching thieves, then catching them on my own. As I learned to do my job and became better at it, I began to learn about employee theft. I can’t say I didn’t know it existed, but I had no idea there were so many methods that employees will use to steal. When I eventually took a promotional opportunity to move to a Loss Prevention Manager for another company, I took with me the knowledge I had gained. In my new role I learned even more and had additional training to reduce employee theft. If it was important for me to receive ongoing training, how important is it for a retail owner and managers of stores with no security resources to receive training to reduce employee theft?
Employee theft can include more than simply cash theft from a register or stealing a pack of gum from a checklane. Return fraud, gift card fraud, merchandise theft, and even time card manipulation all impact store profits and can be detrimental to customer service as well. Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. offers training programs that can help owners and managers learn how to identify and address issues, reducing the impact they can have on a business. Additional training programs are offered to help stop shoplifting in stores. There is no better resource for training than by an expert who has been in the field and has experience investigating and prosecuting internal theft cases. This experience is available to help retail managers learn what they can do to deter associate theft and stop shoplifting.
I recognize that many small stores do not have a Loss Prevention department. Even national chain stores do not all have in-store security but rather someone at a district or regional level responsible for employee theft investigations. These Loss Prevention managers often visit stores and conduct safety and security audits and spend time training and educating store managers. So what is a small, independently owned store manager to do when he or she can’t afford their own Loss Prevention personnel? Store managers must become educated on the impact of theft on their store and how to identify signs of dishonest activity. An employee who is going to steal isn’t going to advertise their intentions. There are some thieves who are good at what they do and they can make it difficult even for a trained security professional to catch them. There are steps a management team can take to help preclude employees from stealing first place. From pre-employment screening to holding new employee orientations that include the topics of internal theft and how to stop shoplifting, Loss Prevention Systems, inc. wants to help you with training to reduce employee theft.
You may not have a Loss Prevention department but with the proper training you can learn how to protect your business from unnecessary losses. Let us help you keep shortage low and profits high.
Get more information on training to reduce employee theft, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
Employee Background Checks: 5
Pre-Employment Screening: 4
Background Checks; Are They Important To Your Business?
I have been a member of the law enforcement community for over 15 years. My career started as a police officer for the USAF. I served 8 years as a police officer, or Security Police as they call it, and held a myriad of duties throughout my enlistment. One of those jobs was in personnel security, which involved the management of security clearances, the military’s version of employee background checks. In the military we utilize security clearances as a means to evaluate a person’s background, in order to determine if they can be in a position of trust. This may involve access to classified or sensitive information, or may just involve the need to evaluate their character and trustworthiness, based on the position in which they are assigned. My job was to manage this process by ensuring all personnel were receiving 5 or 10 year periodic reviews as required. It also involved the review of the background questionnaires to ensure accuracy and completeness prior to being submitted. This required that I sit down with each individual and go over their information and required documentation. On one occasion during the review process I came across the section that documented marriages and/or divorces and began reviewing the information. There was an entry showing a marriage, in which the spouses name was documented as: FUK MUK Smith. It showed the marriage only lasted about 3 weeks and occurred in Las Vegas, NV. I found this unusual and asked the applicant if that was their former spouse’s full name, at which time she indicated that it meant “First Name Unknown, Middle Name Unknown.” I have to admit this was a first for me and took a lot of will power not to laugh at the situation. It reminds me of the Carrie Underwood song, “Last Name”, where she describes a drunken Las Vegas wedding, in which she wakes up not knowing her last name. Although this wasn’t a normal occurrence it did help break up the monotony of completing hundreds of background investigations each year.
As a current Manager of Loss Prevention, in the civilian sector, I am tasked with managing our employee background checks and pre-employment screening for our company as well. I take this job very seriously, as I feel that it is very important to screen our employees and mitigate our liability, by rejecting unfavorable candidates. By completing pre-employment screening we are able to identify information that may warrant an unfavorable employment action in advance so we can avoid future problems. Not completing employee background checks opens the company up to future employment issues that can’t be rectified quickly or without large amounts of HR involvement. This can result in possible delays in productivity and negatively impact work performance for an entire division, shift or company as a whole. Tracking and documenting behavior is time consuming, and typically results in additional behavioral issues, that can go on for an extended period of time. Pre-Employment screening also helps to identify individuals who may have violent tendencies. Workplace violence is a serious issue that affects all types of businesses; big or small. Our employees are our biggest asset and require the highest level of protection when it comes to assessing our risk. That is why employee background checks are so important. They allow us to properly evaluate our new hires, and reduce our risk for workplace violence, and other HR related issues.
If you aren’t currently conducting pre-employment screening, I seriously recommend you start. Regardless of whether we are dealing with classified information, or simply doing data entry or working as a cashier at the local supermarket, knowledge is power. Avoid the future personnel issues by pre-screening your employees and ensuring you hire those that best represent your company, and the values you want portrayed to your customers.
Employee Background Checks are important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.214.0547 and let’s talk.
I have been a member of the law enforcement community for over 15 years. My career started as a police officer for the USAF. I served 8 years as a police officer, or Security Police as they call it, and held a myriad of duties throughout my enlistment. One of those jobs was in personnel security, which involved the management of security clearances, the military’s version of employee background checks. In the military we utilize security clearances as a means to evaluate a person’s background, in order to determine if they can be in a position of trust. This may involve access to classified or sensitive information, or may just involve the need to evaluate their character and trustworthiness, based on the position in which they are assigned. My job was to manage this process by ensuring all personnel were receiving 5 or 10 year periodic reviews as required. It also involved the review of the background questionnaires to ensure accuracy and completeness prior to being submitted. This required that I sit down with each individual and go over their information and required documentation. On one occasion during the review process I came across the section that documented marriages and/or divorces and began reviewing the information. There was an entry showing a marriage, in which the spouses name was documented as: FUK MUK Smith. It showed the marriage only lasted about 3 weeks and occurred in Las Vegas, NV. I found this unusual and asked the applicant if that was their former spouse’s full name, at which time she indicated that it meant “First Name Unknown, Middle Name Unknown.” I have to admit this was a first for me and took a lot of will power not to laugh at the situation. It reminds me of the Carrie Underwood song, “Last Name”, where she describes a drunken Las Vegas wedding, in which she wakes up not knowing her last name. Although this wasn’t a normal occurrence it did help break up the monotony of completing hundreds of background investigations each year.
As a current Manager of Loss Prevention, in the civilian sector, I am tasked with managing our employee background checks and pre-employment screening for our company as well. I take this job very seriously, as I feel that it is very important to screen our employees and mitigate our liability, by rejecting unfavorable candidates. By completing pre-employment screening we are able to identify information that may warrant an unfavorable employment action in advance so we can avoid future problems. Not completing employee background checks opens the company up to future employment issues that can’t be rectified quickly or without large amounts of HR involvement. This can result in possible delays in productivity and negatively impact work performance for an entire division, shift or company as a whole. Tracking and documenting behavior is time consuming, and typically results in additional behavioral issues, that can go on for an extended period of time. Pre-Employment screening also helps to identify individuals who may have violent tendencies. Workplace violence is a serious issue that affects all types of businesses; big or small. Our employees are our biggest asset and require the highest level of protection when it comes to assessing our risk. That is why employee background checks are so important. They allow us to properly evaluate our new hires, and reduce our risk for workplace violence, and other HR related issues.
If you aren’t currently conducting pre-employment screening, I seriously recommend you start. Regardless of whether we are dealing with classified information, or simply doing data entry or working as a cashier at the local supermarket, knowledge is power. Avoid the future personnel issues by pre-screening your employees and ensuring you hire those that best represent your company, and the values you want portrayed to your customers.
Employee Background Checks are important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.214.0547 and let’s talk.
