Following An Opening And Closing Checklist Can Keep Personnel Safe And Help To Stop Shoplifting

Electronic Article Surveillance – 4                                                                                      WC Blog 371
Checkpoint Security Tags – 3
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Following An Opening And Closing Checklist Can Keep Personnel Safe And Help To Stop Shoplifting
        Store opening and closing procedures should never be taken for granted. A lot of things can happen during these times and particular care should be taken in everything you do. My 27 plus years in retail Loss Prevention and retail have given me a unique perspective on what should be done during an opening and closing process. From clearing registers to checking on electronic article surveillance systems, a specific task list should be in place and followed. The first reason to put the procedures in place is safety. The second reason is that set procedures help managers ensure systems are functioning properly which can impact store security.
     One of the systems that must be included in opening procedures is the store’s electronic article surveillance systems. This is the one system in a store that can stop shoplifting and that actually affects profit AND safety. The two components of this system that must be checked are the deactivation pads and the towers. The deactivation pads located at the checkout lanes de-tune the soft variety of Checkpoint security tags. The Towers are usually located at front entrances or exits and are used to detect if a tagged piece of merchandise is being carried close to the doors. The presence of towers can stop shoplifting and improve profits since generally speaking, thieves don’t like to take the chance that they will be caught due to an alarm activation. From a safety standpoint, thieves who steal from a store often times will steal from customers as well. If you have an electronic article surveillance system in place the criminals are likely going to other stores which means less crime in your building and even in your parking lot. Testing and verification devices are easy to use and ensure your EAS system functions as it should.
     In addition to your Checkpoint security system, an opening routine should include the following:
• The opening manager should drive around the building before entering. Look for signed of forced entry into back doors or ladders against the building. If anything suspicious is noted, call for police assistance before entering the building.
• Two or more people should be entering the store together. The best method to do this is to have one employee sit in the car and watch the key holder enter the building, re-lock the door and turn off the alarm. They then come to the door and let the second employee enter.
• However the store does their cash office, the manager and the cash counter should enter the cash office together and the manager then opens the safe and the register till(s) are prepared.
• Store computers should be checked to ensure they are logging in properly and the internet is working.
• A test of the electronic article surveillance towers and de-activation pads. As mentioned you want to be sure you stop shoplifting but you don’t want Checkpoint Security tags to fail to de-tune and cause customer distractions.
• If applicable, verify closed circuit television and cameras are all functioning properly. Turn on any public view monitors at this time.
• Do a quick walk through the store to ensure all lights are on and no facility emergencies have taken place overnight such as burst pipes, overflowing commodes, etc.
Closing routines should include:
• Make closing announcements around 15 minutes prior to closing. This let’s customer’s finish shopping and your managers can see who appears to be lingering behind.
• Lock all doors as the last customer exits.
• If you drop register tills before closing, have two people do it together, one person is vulnerable to a grab and run.
• Have employees check specific areas of the store for customers who may be hiding, including restrooms and fitting rooms.
• Close out registers and secure funds in the safe in the cash office. For checks and balances have two people do this together.
• Turn off all public view monitors to extend the life of the monitors.
• As the employees are ready to leave, one person should go to their car and move it to a place where they can watch the front doors. Then the key holder should set the building alarm, everyone should exit, the key holder locks the doors as the group of employees waits and they all go to their vehicles. 
• The key holder should do a final drive around the building to ensure no one is hanging around back doors or windows waiting for an opportunity to break-in.
Create an opening and closing checklist using these tips to make your store safer for employees and customers. Remember, a store that uses Checkpoint Security tags and systems and focuses on creating a safe environment is a profitable store.
Electronic Article Surveillance is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
       

Store opening and closing procedures should never be taken for granted. A lot of things can happen during these times and particular care should be taken in everything you do. My 27 plus years in retail Loss Prevention and retail have given me a unique perspective on what should be done during an opening and closing process. From clearing registers to checking on electronic article surveillance systems, a specific task list should be in place and followed. The first reason to put the procedures in place is safety. The second reason is that set procedures help managers ensure systems are functioning properly which can impact store security.
     

One of the systems that must be included in opening procedures is the store’s electronic article surveillance systems. This is the one system in a store that can stop shoplifting and that actually affects profit AND safety. The two components of this system that must be checked are the deactivation pads and the towers. The deactivation pads located at the checkout lanes de-tune the soft variety of Checkpoint security tags. The Towers are usually located at front entrances or exits and are used to detect if a tagged piece of merchandise is being carried close to the doors. The presence of towers can stop shoplifting and improve profits since generally speaking, thieves don’t like to take the chance that they will be caught due to an alarm activation. From a safety standpoint, thieves who steal from a store often times will steal from customers as well. If you have an electronic article surveillance system in place the criminals are likely going to other stores which means less crime in your building and even in your parking lot. Testing and verification devices are easy to use and ensure your EAS system functions as it should.
     

In addition to your Checkpoint security system, an opening routine should include the following:

• The opening manager should drive around the building before entering. Look for signed of forced entry into back doors or ladders against the building. If anything suspicious is noted, call for police assistance before entering the building.

• Two or more people should be entering the store together. The best method to do this is to have one employee sit in the car and watch the key holder enter the building, re-lock the door and turn off the alarm. They then come to the door and let the second employee enter.

• However the store does their cash office, the manager and the cash counter should enter the cash office together and the manager then opens the safe and the register till(s) are prepared.

• Store computers should be checked to ensure they are logging in properly and the internet is working.

• A test of the electronic article surveillance towers and de-activation pads. As mentioned you want to be sure you stop shoplifting but you don’t want Checkpoint Security tags to fail to de-tune and cause customer distractions.

• If applicable, verify closed circuit television and cameras are all functioning properly. Turn on any public view monitors at this time.

• Do a quick walk through the store to ensure all lights are on and no facility emergencies have taken place overnight such as burst pipes, overflowing commodes, etc.

Closing routines should include:

• Make closing announcements around 15 minutes prior to closing. This let’s customer’s finish shopping and your managers can see who appears to be lingering behind.

• Lock all doors as the last customer exits.

• If you drop register tills before closing, have two people do it together, one person is vulnerable to a grab and run.

• Have employees check specific areas of the store for customers who may be hiding, including restrooms and fitting rooms.

• Close out registers and secure funds in the safe in the cash office. For checks and balances have two people do this together.

• Turn off all public view monitors to extend the life of the monitors.

• As the employees are ready to leave, one person should go to their car and move it to a place where they can watch the front doors. Then the key holder should set the building alarm, everyone should exit, the key holder locks the doors as the group of employees waits and they all go to their vehicles. 

• The key holder should do a final drive around the building to ensure no one is hanging around back doors or windows waiting for an opportunity to break-in.

 

Create an opening and closing checklist using these tips to make your store safer for employees and customers. Remember, a store that uses Checkpoint Security tags and systems and focuses on creating a safe environment is a profitable store.

 

Electronic Article Surveillance is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.