Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. Provides Training To Stop Shoplifting And Reduce Employee Theft And Keep Your Employees Safe In The Process

 

Training to reduce employee theft-3                                                                                            WC Blog 320
Stop shoplifting-4
Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. Provides Training To Stop Shoplifting And Reduce Employee Theft And Keep Your Employees Safe In The Process
     Before I get too far into this article about the importance of training to stop shoplifting and training to reduce employee theft, I would ask you to take a few minutes to take a look at some of these headlines:
• Walmart loss prevention officer killed pursuing suspected shoplifter, WSB-TV, Apr 12,2016 http://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/gwinnett-county/loss-prevention-officer-killed-at-lilburn-walmart/207995435
• Loss prevention officers stabbed at JC Penney, Jan 24, 2013 http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/20700570/loss-prevention-officers-stabbed-at-jcpenney
• Kmart loss prevention officer killed by shoplifters, Jan 18, 2010,  http://www.nbc-2.com/story/11839243/kmart-loss-prevention-officer-killed-by-shoplifters
• Police: Margate Walmart Employee Killed By Fleeing Thief, Sep 21, 2012 http://miami.cbslocal.com/2012/09/21/police-margate-walmart-employee-killed-by-fleeing-thief/
• Man wanted for fatally stabbing worker at Va. Burlington Coat Factory, March 4, 2017  http://wtvr.com/2017/03/04/burlington-coat-factory-employee-fatally-stabbed-potomac-mills/ 
• Police: Employee attacks manager, co-workers while being fired, Friday, November 8, 2013 http://komonews.com/news/local/police-employee-attacks-manager-coworkers-while-being-fired
• Prescott Walmart employee arrested after attempting to harm co-workers, December 05, 2016 http://www.12news.com/news/local/arizona/prescott-wal-mart-employee-arrested-after-attempting-to-harm-co-workers/362586930
What is my point in showing you these headlines? In the first 5 reports, trained Loss Prevention employees were injured or killed in their attempts to do their jobs and prevent criminals from stealing merchandise. Let me repeat that, they were attempting to stop shoplifting and preventing criminals from getting away. In the last 2 instance employees posed a danger and/or harmed co-workers and managers. Shoplifting is not a game and many of the people who perpetrate the crimes are dangerous. Employees who steal can be just as dangerous. How prepared are you to handle a shoplifting situation? Are you or your managers truly prepared for events that could get out of hand?
     Training to reduce employee theft and stop shoplifting is important for all managers, especially those in stores with no Loss Prevention personnel available to prevent theft and help deter dishonest employees. Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. offers training sessions that can help you prevent shoplifting by teaching you about who it is that is stealing from your business, how to develop programs to deter criminals and how to approach them SAFELY. You will learn about anti-theft devices that make your store less appealing to thieves and send them elsewhere. Training programs are also available to help you with the methods of identifying employee theft and the various methods they use to steal. Were you aware that employee theft may include theft from your customers as well as your business? Employees may steal credit cards, gift cards, even receipts from your customers and in the process damage the reputation of your business. How do you repair that? Sometimes the best prevention is weeding out bad apples before they get a foot in the door. To that end, Loss Prevention Systems also has training available for teaching about pre-employment hiring and background checks. The potentially violent or dishonest employee can often be identified in a proper screening and avoided altogether. 
     If the stories I linked to do not persuade you of the real danger shoplifters can pose or that there are dangerous employees out there, then let me tell you about my personal experiences. I have nearly 20 years of Loss Prevention experience and 27 years of total retail experience. As a Loss Prevention manager for a major chain we went through training on how to properly approach shoplifters, how to detain them and if necessary physically restrain them. All of our L.P. personnel attended these sessions. While the training did prevent some dangerous situations my team and I still experienced being pushed, bitten, punched and verbal threats from thieves that they were in possession of a weapon. In some cases this was simply when we approached the suspect and hadn’t yet fully engaged in a stop. There are proper ways to try to approach shoplifters or deter them. Loss Prevention Systems Trainers can help keep you and your team safe.
     Dangers from employees can be just as real. I have had an employee who was going to be fired and he threatened to kill himself. I have had employees who were terminated from their job and threatened to meet our Human Resources Manager in the parking lot when they got off of work. I have responded to the store in the early morning hours when a freight team member pulled a box cutter on a cleaning crew employee. Background checks, pre-employment screening and training on how to be ready for these situations should be required for your managers.
     Don’t let criminals rip you off or employees steal your money and reputation. Let Loss prevention Systems, Inc. give your managers training to reduce employee theft and stop shoplifting.
     

Before I get too far into this article about the importance of training to stop shoplifting and training to reduce employee theft, I would ask you to take a few minutes to take a look at some of these headlines:

• Walmart loss prevention officer killed pursuing suspected shoplifter, WSB-TV, Apr 12,2016 http://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/gwinnett-county/loss-prevention-officer-killed-at-lilburn-walmart/207995435

• Loss prevention officers stabbed at JC Penney, Jan 24, 2013 http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/20700570/loss-prevention-officers-stabbed-at-jcpenney

• Kmart loss prevention officer killed by shoplifters, Jan 18, 2010,  http://www.nbc-2.com/story/11839243/kmart-loss-prevention-officer-killed-by-shoplifters

• Police: Margate Walmart Employee Killed By Fleeing Thief, Sep 21, 2012 http://miami.cbslocal.com/2012/09/21/police-margate-walmart-employee-killed-by-fleeing-thief/

• Man wanted for fatally stabbing worker at Va. Burlington Coat Factory, March 4, 2017  http://wtvr.com/2017/03/04/burlington-coat-factory-employee-fatally-stabbed-potomac-mills/ 

• Police: Employee attacks manager, co-workers while being fired, Friday, November 8, 2013 http://komonews.com/news/local/police-employee-attacks-manager-coworkers-while-being-fired

• Prescott Walmart employee arrested after attempting to harm co-workers, December 05, 2016 http://www.12news.com/news/local/arizona/prescott-wal-mart-employee-arrested-after-attempting-to-harm-co-workers/362586930

What is my point in showing you these headlines? In the first 5 reports, trained Loss Prevention employees were injured or killed in their attempts to do their jobs and prevent criminals from stealing merchandise. Let me repeat that, they were attempting to stop shoplifting and preventing criminals from getting away. In the last 2 instance employees posed a danger and/or harmed co-workers and managers. Shoplifting is not a game and many of the people who perpetrate the crimes are dangerous. Employees who steal can be just as dangerous. How prepared are you to handle a shoplifting situation? Are you or your managers truly prepared for events that could get out of hand?

Training to reduce employee theft and stop shoplifting is important for all managers, especially those in stores with no Loss Prevention personnel available to prevent theft and help deter dishonest employees. Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. offers training sessions that can help you prevent shoplifting by teaching you about who it is that is stealing from your business, how to develop programs to deter criminals and how to approach them SAFELY. You will learn about anti-theft devices that make your store less appealing to thieves and send them elsewhere. Training programs are also available to help you with the methods of identifying employee theft and the various methods they use to steal. Were you aware that employee theft may include theft from your customers as well as your business? Employees may steal credit cards, gift cards, even receipts from your customers and in the process damage the reputation of your business. How do you repair that? Sometimes the best prevention is weeding out bad apples before they get a foot in the door. To that end, Loss Prevention Systems also has training available for teaching about pre-employment hiring and background checks. The potentially violent or dishonest employee can often be identified in a proper screening and avoided altogether. 

If the stories I linked to do not persuade you of the real danger shoplifters can pose or that there are dangerous employees out there, then let me tell you about my personal experiences. I have nearly 20 years of Loss Prevention experience and 27 years of total retail experience. As a Loss Prevention manager for a major chain we went through training on how to properly approach shoplifters, how to detain them and if necessary physically restrain them. All of our L.P. personnel attended these sessions. While the training did prevent some dangerous situations my team and I still experienced being pushed, bitten, punched and verbal threats from thieves that they were in possession of a weapon. In some cases this was simply when we approached the suspect and hadn’t yet fully engaged in a stop. There are proper ways to try to approach shoplifters or deter them. Loss Prevention Systems Trainers can help keep you and your team safe.

Dangers from employees can be just as real. I have had an employee who was going to be fired and he threatened to kill himself. I have had employees who were terminated from their job and threatened to meet our Human Resources Manager in the parking lot when they got off of work. I have responded to the store in the early morning hours when a freight team member pulled a box cutter on a cleaning crew employee. Background checks, pre-employment screening and training on how to be ready for these situations should be required for your managers.

Don’t let criminals rip you off or employees steal your money and reputation. Let Loss prevention Systems, Inc. give your managers training to reduce employee theft and stop shoplifting.

 

Need information on training to reduce employee theft?  Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now