Loss Prevention Systems Checkpoint Systems Dealer Loss Prevention Systems Blog

Do you want Shoplifting protection and a GREAT look for your store front?

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 22:24:34 EST

Checkpoint Systems has released new EAS systems that are revolutionary! One of them, the IP Street Style system has several features that take antennas to a new level. One that puts them more out front than any system has ever been.

LED lights are one of the most visible is the clear acrylic body. These lights have custom settings that allow a retailer to make them a part of the attraction of their store front. One option allows the Retailer to leave them on in blue, when the system alarms, the color changes to red.

The IP Street Style will also connect to your high speed internet connection. In many cases this allows us to make adjustments remotely without an on site service call.

One feature you can't see is the incredible new electronic that make this sysytem one of the most advanced. With exceptional detection and false alarm resistance, the IP Street Style system could only be better with one more feature - it's low price.

Do you want to put a stop to shoplifting once and for all with a system that will complement your stores design and appearance? Contact us today or call us at 770-426-7593

Do I want cheap labels or tags for my Checkpoint System or other EAS equipment?

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 11:49:59 EST

Sounds like a good idea! A retailer buys cheap labels or tags. Many are available, most are cheap knock-offs from Asia. Here are some of the problems customers tell us they have with them as opposed to genuine Checkpoint labels:

· Checkpoint label adhesive is aggressive and once on a piece of merchandise, it stays on. It does not dry out and fall off like a cheap label.

· Cheap labels and tags tend to reactivate themselves after your cashier deactivates them at a point of sale but before the customer exits the store. This causes an alarm, creates confusion and an unnecessary situation.

Many cheap tags or cheap labels do not have very good sensitivity. They may not alarm your Checkpoint system or other EAS system.

New Year's Resolution

connyb05@yahoo.com (Conny Bregar) — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 21:11:23 EST

The calendar turned over into 2013 and many of us usually make New Year’s Resolutions. One of the most used New Year’s Resolutions includes Shrink. This usually refers to shrinking our personal waist lines. However, when we talk about business shrink we usually refer to Retail Shrinkage. What is your New Year’s Resolution for addressing shrink in your store?

In 2001 shrink amounted to more than $31 billion and now hovers around $35 billion according to some recent studies. Shrink usually refers to loss by employee theft, shop-lifting, administrative errors and vendor fraud.

What are you planning on doing in 2013 to reduce your shrink numbers and improve your bottom line? Although the purchase of anti-shoplifting devices may seem expensive, a business owner can usually recover the initial expense of purchasing a Checkpoint security system and Checkpoint security tags or Checkpoint Security Labels, in a relatively short period of time.

You may think that you don’t need to deploy any anti-shoplifting devices in addition to the great customer services that your associates are providing. After your inventory count and looking at your financial statements for 2012, you may find that you are losing too much of your hard earned money by not deploying the technology offered by Checkpoint security systems and beefing up your retail theft prevention strategies.

A New Year’s resolution usually “wears” off shortly into the New Year. Don’t fall into the same trap when it comes to making changes to your bottom line. We don’t want it shrinking but increasing. And what better way to do that than by installing a Checkpoint Security System and changes to your retail theft prevention procedures.

Visit the Retail Loss Prevention Store today to learn more about anti-shoplifting tools from Checkpoint security systems or visit us at www.losspreventionsystems.com.

For more information on retail theft prevention, Checkpoint Security Systems or Checkpoint Security Tags, call us at 1.866.914.2597.

Social Traces - Employment Background Checks

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 10:58:07 EST

You probably know what background checks are… you might have even had one run on you. But do you really know what it means? And if you’re in HR assisting with your company’s hiring management… do you know what you’re asking for when you use a service for “Background checks”?

How about “social trace”? Ever heard of that? No, it’s not a new thing on Facebook or Twitter. It’s a check that’s run on an individual’s social security number that allows you to know what states the person has lived in and what other names they could have used. Sometimes, we get a red flag because a female’s maiden name wasn’t listed and pops up as an alias, which is pretty common and obviously nothing to worry about… but other times, we get a red flag on a social trace because the individual has used entirely different aliases—not misspellings, completely different names!

We see it all around here. There’s no telling what a new day will bring. But for you, and your company, trust us when we say that it’s better if we find out first. After all, that’s what we’re here for! And remember, if you’re not running a social security trace on your potential new hires, you could be missing out on crucial information that will keep your workplace environment safe and happy.

2011 Retail Theft And Shrinkage Preliminary Numbers Just Released!

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 11:50:09 EST

The gold standard in the loss prevention world is the National Retail Security Survey (NRSS) by Dr. Richard C. Hollinger PhD at the University of Florida Department of Sociology, Criminology and Law. This study has been conducted for the last 20 plus years.

The 2011 sources of shrinkage break down as follows (note that the preliminary percentages do not total 100 percent):

• Employee Theft – 43.9%
• Shop Lifting – 35.7%
• Administrative Error – 12%
• Vendor Fraud – 5%
• Unknown – 5.5 %

Clearly our biggest exposure continues to be employee theft. Almost half of a retailer’s losses are caused by employees that steal from you.

When you combine employee theft and shoplifting, almost 80% of our losses are due to both internal and external theft.

As a retailer you cannot be passive about your anti-theft program, policies and procedures. You must be pro-active. Yes, cameras, Checkpoint systems and burglar alarm systems are critical. They are your base infrastructure. However, simply installing equipment, then patting yourself on the back because you feel the issues are solved, is a false sense of security.

Theft has to be addressed daily. It needs to be on your mind and your staff’s mind all the time. How do you react to a Checkpoint system alarm? Does your staff simply waive the customer on? How is your merchandise arranged? Are your high theft items in locations that can be monitored easily? Are you and your staff trained in loss prevention techniques?

You want to get some of that 80 percent back to your bottom line? Contact us today or call 1-866-914-2567!

How to get the most out of your burglar alarm system

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 14:24:46 EST

Did you know that your burglar alarm system can be a business management tool? Most all modern alarm systems built within the last 15 years already contain firmware to do much more than monitor alarms. As a business owner you can use these features to manage your physical security. Here are a few to consider:

·An Open/Close Report – you should use this feature to see who arms and disarms you system. It tells you who was the first one in in the morning and the last one out for the evening. It records the date and time. This information is sent to your central station (CS) and is logged into their computer. Your alarm company sends you an automated email on a daily, weekly or whatever schedule you want showing this information. Review this report quickly each week. You can then question why that employee entered your business at 2 AM. Cost: $5 to $10 per month.
Time/Test – this feature sends an automated signal to the CS daily or weekly. The CS computer is looking for it on schedule. If the CS computer does not receive the signal, it brings that to the attention of an operator. Not only does this tell you within a day that your alarm system may not be reporting signals but it can also reveal phone line or phone system problems. Cost: approximately $10 per month.
New systems can do many other things. They can control heating, air conditioning and lighting. These systems can also tie video to your alarm system and email and text you when your system is disarmed or armed and include a short video clip of the camera looking at the front door.

As you may have seen on a TV commercial, you can also arm, disarm, and in most cases do anything you can do at the alarm keypad from your smart phone or PC. Soon some systems will have live video look-in. All of this from any computer or smart phone anywhere in the world.

New Employee Theft Seminar and Training

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 11:30:36 EST

Do you want to understand what is going on inside an employee’s head when they are involved in employee theft?
How do you talk to your employees about employee theft?

These and many other issues are addressed in our new training seminar

“Keep your friends close, keep your employees closer”

We go in-depth into the world of employee theft and the employee.

LPSI can conduct this seminar live at your company, at our facility or live via a WebEx.

Contact us for more information.

Revolutionary Wine and Liquor Bottle Security

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 11:03:34 EST

Alpha High Theft Solutions is always on the cutting edge. We now have two more weapons in our arsenal when protecting liquor and wine. This is bottle security at its best.

Magna Guarde Bottle Cap – this bottle cap is designed for those extra-large bottle necks and uniquely shaped caps. Like all of Alpha’s bottle caps, Magna Guarde provides product denial. This means that not only is the bottle protected from shoplifters but it also keeps a person from opening the bottle in the store to pour off or consume. Magna Guarde is the same design style as EASy Guarde.

3 Alarm Omni Guarde Bottle Cap – WOW, this is a hot item. Imagine an Alpha Bottle Cap with a 3 Alarm sounder built in!!! An Alpha High Theft Solutions 3 Alarm Bottle Cap provides protection on three levels: first, if the shoplifter tries to remove the cap in store, the 95 db sounder goes off.

Second, if a shoplifter attempts to remove the bottle from the store, it will set the Checkpoint System or other EAS system off.

Third, if the product goes through the Checkpoint System, other EAS system or Alpha’s Nano Gate, the built in 95 db sounder goes off. This feature also provides a bit of entertainment as the shoplifter has no choice but to give you back the bottle hidden inside their coat or bag that is screaming out.

This combined with product denial makes the 3 Alarm Omni Guarde Bottle Cap the hot item in the bottle security market.

Ready to order? Contact us today!

What is a Mystery Shop?

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 15:53:51 EST

Mystery Shops are completed by Professional Shoppers who are also known as Mystery Shoppers. These Mystery Shoppers are individuals who come into a retail store and evaluate the shopping experience. This could include customer service, speed of service, greetings by employees, product selection, age verification in the case of liquor or tobacco sales just to name a few.

Many of our mystery shops also evaluate the cleanliness of the store, employee uniforms and tend to weigh heavily on customer service. In most cases a purchase is made and we provide all of that information about the sale itself to the owner or manager. In some cases our clients want us to set up a particular situation and see how employees handle it. This may involve asking for products related to a specific event such as a wedding or holiday.

In other shops we look at integrity issues such as employee theft or giving away merchandise. In those cases the Mystery Shopper randomly selects employees or a specific employee if our client has a concern. The Professional Shoppers attempts to get “hooked up” with merchandise or service by paying the employee directly. Since that would constitute a criminal offence, the company can take legal action against the employee.

Overall a Mystery Shopper program utilizing Professional Shoppers, sets up and helps maintain a healthy environment for employees, customers and management.

Want a Mystery shop? Call us today!

Store Owners Are the Reason Shoplifting Occurs

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 17:23:02 EST

In current day and age, it seems that many people like to blame others for their problems in life. In keeping with that theme, then, shoplifting must be your problem, because you as the store owner or manager are at fault... right?!?

Actually, I think there could be some truth to that--but not in the way you may be thinking. Shoplifters are despicable pond scum; that is one of the problems in our society. They result in a collective jump in price for our necessary goods and services. The shoplifter alone is responsible for their theft.

But we as retailers do have control over our environments. The Merchant laws in almost every State in American actually define and make shoplifting a crime and provide protections for the Retailer. So where is the problem?

We simply do not exercise adequate control over our retail establishments. Oh, I know we have to be careful, because we do not “want to run off our good customers”. This is true, but that is assuming that shoplifters and customers feel, act and respond the same way. Nothing is further from the truth. A good customer rarely even notices the anti-shoplifting efforts going on. They simply do not care. They did not enter the store and begin shopping with even the slightest thought of theft. They are there to compare your prices, service and store's feel. Oh, sure, they may notice the Checkpoint Antennas or gates at the door, but most have no idea what they are for-- and even if they do, they don't allow it to occupy their thoughts while shopping. Honest shoppers don't have to care about your LP measures. The closest they get to your shoplifting efforts may be seeing the sign that says “Shoplifters will be shot at sunrise” or some such thing.

A shoplifter is another issue. They are watching for your anti-shoplifting efforts. Thieves pay close attention to employees that are providing excellent customer service. They are afraid of your employees. In case you did not know it, customer service is the number one way to prevent shoplifting. All other tools and devices are a support mechanism for customer service.

So start controlling your environment. Get some training from us if necessary and make it happen. YOU have control over whether or not a shoplifter ruins your day, week, month or year. Don’t be the reason that shoplifters find your store more attractive than your competition.

Prepare to Lose It!

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 14:59:44 EST

Many times when LPSI is called in to help a client, we find that the Owner or Manager has let a problem get so far out of control that it's shocking to us how much they have allowed themselves to lose-- be it from shoplifting, employee theft, vendor fraud, inventory control or other loss prevention areas. Even though they knew it was going on, they may have made some halfhearted attempts to “deal with it”... but they really did nothing until their situation pushed the company into severe financial difficulty.

All of that money went down the drain. In fact, dealing with problems like employee theft and shoplifting should be simple, easy and painless. What I see with most management teams or individuals is a disconnect between their normal business decision processes and an LP issue. For some reason, they tend to think LP is very complicated and fraught with legal mines. Yes, of course, we must keep criminal and civil laws in mind. But remember, we are talking about theft, truly the oldest profession in the world. Laws in this area are well defined and fairly straight forward. If you take something that is not yours, it is a crime!

Now, back to the real problem. Why does an otherwise successful, intelligent business person who can work their way through a huge variety of business problems suddenly go completely blank on what essentially is just another business issue that must be managed? They deal with sales, customer service, employment issues, insurance, taxes, permits, licenses, cash flow, banking, etc.-- on a daily basis! The problem continues to get worse, however, because this same competent, capable, intelligent individual makes the mistake of ignoring the problem and hoping it will go away. OMG! What are they thinking? The only thing that will go away is your inventory and your money! If you own a grocery store and a freezer unit starts making a strange noise, do you simply ignore it? No, you get an employee or vendor on it, NOW. Because you know that the inventory in that freezer is worth thousands of dollars in cost, sales, labor and handling!

Do not prepare to lose it, prepare to save it. For example, like most business owners, I am not a CPA. I have a CPA that handles these things. That is what he is trained for, and that's what he is good at. I call him, he fixes the problem. Even though our minds often tell us differently, we have to remember that we are not experts in everything. We all need help from time to time-- even if it is simply advice.

My CPA is on speed dial. My phone number for your LP speed dial is 1-866-914-2567.

Alpha High Theft Solutions1 Alarm, 2 Alarm & 3 Alarm Devices

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 14:15:33 EST

We are frequently asked what the difference between Alpha High Theft Solution devices that have 1 Alarm, 2 Alarm and 3 Alarm features. In the clothing security world we can use those devices in conjunction with a clothing alarm and regular security tags. These devices are used for merchandise that we have a more serious problem with or that shoplifters have targeted that may not be able to utilize traditional security tags on clothes.

Alpha Security 1 Alarm – These types of clothing security tags or devices will only trigger the antennas at the doors. A regular hard tag or label will do this. However, Alpha also has Spider Wraps, Cable Loks and other items that will cause an alarm.

Alpha Security 2 Alarm – A 2 alarm device will do what a 1 alarm device does plus it will “self-alarm”. Self-alarm means that if a shoplifter tries to remove the device, cut the cables, pry the device off or damage it the device itself will go into alarm. These 2 alarm devices have a built in sounder that produces about 90 dB of sound. That will immediately draw attention to the shoplifter. Normal repeated use by customers and store personnel will not cause an alarm. These devices are very robust.

Alpha Security 3 Alarm – These devices do everything that a 1 and 2 alarm device does plus when the shoplifter tries to leave the property the 3 alarm devices built in sounder, again about 90 dB goes off. The shoplifter then has a choice they can run down the street or mall with this sounder going off, attracting attention to themselves or they can drop the merchandise. The sounder will last up to 10 minutes once the shoplifter passes through the antennas.

These clothing security tags are as robust as any Checkpoint tags or Alpha clothing security device. They have excellent construction, solid plastic welds and high quality electronic components. Of course the added benefit is that they are reusable over and over saving you money and labor. Alpha High Theft Solutions are not intended to be for all merchandise. It is clearly more cost effective to use Checkpoint tags for the bulk of your merchandise. But remember your clothing alarm is only as good as the security tags on clothes.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase a clothing alarm or clothing security tags.

For more information on Checkpoint tags, clothing security, clothing alarm, or clothing security tags contact us at security tags on clothes or call 1.866.914.2567

Identity Theft

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 16:00:16 EST

Let me jump right to it – stealing someone’s identity is fairly easy.

According to the Federal Trade Commission (www.FTC.gov/idtheft ), ID theft strikes nearly 10 million U.S. consumers every year. That’s a bit unnerving.

You guard your credit card with your life, you don’t give out your social security number to just anyone and your passwords are all cryptic and yet – you could still be a victim and not know until it’s too late.

Part of protecting yourself is education. I want to talk to you about five areas of identity theft.

1. Social Security Number Theft - You might be surprised to find out that your child’s SS # is even more at risk than yours. Credit accounts are opened, jobs are obtained, medical insurance is purchased – all with a SS number belonging to a child. Why? Because most likely, you won’t ever check THEIR credit score – you assume they don’t have one. CBS news conducted a segment on this very thing in 2010.

2. Medical Identity Theft – With healthcare insurance premiums at an unbearable high – desperate people are committing desperate acts. Stealing an insurance ID card and having surgeries or other procedures done, is becoming more common. Women are having babies in hospitals and then leaving the medical bills, and sadly the child, behind. All the while, the woman whose identity is stolen can potentially be jailed for leaving “their” child behind and given the burden of having to prove the child is not their own.

3. Criminal Identity Theft - This happens when someone is arrested or violates a law and uses your name and address as their own. This could result in a criminal record, in your name! It could prevent you from getting that job you wanted or worse, you could end up in jail.

4. Financial Identity Theft – Typically, this involves using your personal information to obtain credit cards, loans, bank accounts, etc. You end up buying things, you’ll never see.

5. Driver’s License Theft – This is primary identification used for most of your transactions. Once a driver’s license is obtained the thief can potentially ruin, among many other things, your driving record.

Yes, this is scary, but there are things you can do to help prevent your identity from being stolen.
• Guard your information
• Shred anything that has personal information on it before you throw it away,
• If your wallet is stolen, report everything that was taken, including ID cards, credit cards, banking info.

Restoring your identity can take a tremendous amount of time and a lot of money. The key is that you must be proactive to keep this from happening to you. If you’d like to find out more about how you can protect yourself in the event that your identity is stolen please contact me.

Lisa Moore is with Work Site Connect. She has 9 years in the insurance industry. You can reach Lisa at lisa@worksiteconnect.com

Liquor Bottle Security will help you relax and enjoy a profitable summer!

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 13:32:54 EST

Summertime is upon us, and your customers are going to be outside enjoying the beautiful weather. They’ll be grilling, going to the beach or lake, camping, or just spending time outside. While enjoying the weather, many will enjoy alcohol as they socialize.

If your business sells wine or liquors, then business is probably picking up this time of year. Along with that increase in sales there could unfortunately also be an increase in loss due to theft. Bottle security will help reduce your losses and be better stocked for your honest, paying customers.
An EASy bottle bottle lock , from Alpha Security can be just the option you choose to protect their high end wines and liquors. This bottle lock is awesome; it fits over the top of the bottle and does not allow the bottle to be opened without a key. The bottle lock is then removed when the bottle is purchased, and can be reused on bottle after bottle. Liquor bottle security is so simply why wouldn’t you use it!

Your customers also like to be able to handle the vast variety of wines and liquors that you offer, reading labels and deciding what they would like to purchase them. Instead of having these items behind a counter or in a locked case, you can display them without worrying about loss from shoplifters. Bottle locks can allow free merchandising and high availability to your customers, and studies have shown that sales increase when items are displayed for the customers.

Take advantage of the increase customer flow in your business this summer. Display your merchandise openly while still deterring theft in your business through bottle locks. Using bottle security is the best way to make that happen.

Visit the Retail Loss Prevention Store to buy liquor bottle security like the EASy bottle bottle lock from Alpha Security.

For more information about Alpha security , bottle security , bottle locks , EASy bottle , liquor bottle security and contact us or call 1.866.914.2567.

�A Shoplifter Only Stole A $25 Bottle From Me. I don�t need to get Bottle Security, why spend the money?� Guess What�He Got Much More!

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Wed, 11 May 2011 10:16:35 EST

That $25 bottle actually cost you a lot more in real money liquor bottle security could have easily prevented. You have to make up for the theft of that bottle just to break even. If your store operates on a typical 2% profit margin. That’s the margin after payroll, tax, insurance, the light bill, and any other overhead you will have to sell and additional $1,250 JUST TO BREAK EVEN ($25/.02). That’s right, the next $1250 goes for making up for the $25 bottle the shoplifter stole. The most simple solution for your shrink problem: bottle security for your business.

Currently, Alpha Security is making the most reliable bottle lock systems on the market. They are high quality and very easy to use. One twist or push of a button and your bottle security ‘s in place. This liquor bottle security has really come of age. A bottle lock can be a low profile deterrant to theft. It requires an Alpha Security unlocking key kept by the register. Bottle locks are also reusable.

If you lose $500 a week in shoplifting losses that is $26,000 per year in theft that translates to $1.3 million dollars a year in actual losses to you. No company can make money in that environment.

One of the premier liquor bottle security options Alpha Security created is called EASy Bottle for (Electronic Article Surveillance). The EASy Bottle bottle lock is a solid black bottle lock that comes in several sizes. It prevents the bottle from being opened in the store and then a bottle lock alerts everyone in the store through the Checkpoint System at the doors. There are now newer versions such as Crystal Guard and EASy Guarde. Those bottle locks have clear acrylic tops and are a much lower profile. They fit on the shelf better and have a much smaller over all footprint. The EASy Bottle bottle locks , Alpha Security ‘s most well known bottle lock are still available.

Visit the Retail Loss Prevention Store for your bottle security needs

For more information about liquor bottle security or bottle locks contact us or call 1.866.914.2567

Take your shoplifting elsewhere, I have bottle security!

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Tue, 03 May 2011 11:40:46 EST

Are you having problems with shoplifters pilfering your high end liquors and wines? Have you recently started noticing open bottles on your sales floor? If you answered yes to either of the questions liquor bottle security may be your only answer.

Liquor bottle security is a new merchandising friendly way of stopping liquor thieves in their tracks. The new EASy Bottle system by Alpha Security is a great way to keep your products shopable for your paying customers and safe from would be thieves. These new bottle locks tightly fasten to the top of a bottle to keep it from being open with out a key that is kept at your cash register. A bottle lock is nearly impossible to get off without the key and a thief will not want to spend the time, or risk getting noticed, trying to break if off.

EASy bottle bottle security from Alpha Security are an inexpensive solution to your bottle security problems. Bottle locks can help prevent the thefts of people that think they can just walk in to your business and have a free drink. You can also deter the thieves that are looking to flat out steal and entire bottle of your liquor and wines, because it will be a struggle to get the bottle open, if at all.

When a shoplifter sees that you are utilizing bottle security they will certainly think twice about attempting to steal from you.
Investing in bottle locks for your high end wine and liquors makes the products available to those who really matter – your honest customers.

For more information about Alpha security , EASy bottle , bottle lock , liquor bottle security , or bottle locks or contact us at bottle security or call 1.866.914.2567.

Would you consider Employee Background Checks as Foolproof?

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 10:32:44 EST

Regardless of what your opinion is of employee background checks, they should never be considered as foolproof. Several factors contribute to the fact that they may not be foolproof but one of them involves identify theft which can happen anywhere and to anyone.

I know of a manufacturing company that conducted criminal background checks and social security traces on all employees after hiring them permanently from a temp to hire agency. One particular employee who had been on the job several weeks was hired permanently and the company proceeded to conduct the employee background check according to its standard procedures. The social security trace indicated that the employee had a previous residence in a western state and this lead to the discovery of several serious charges and convictions. In the current state of residence, the employee background check uncovered an open warrant from the previous state.

After some negotiations with the employer, the state investigative agency came to the workplace and took the employee into custody for extradition to his previous residence. Once the individual was fingerprinted, it was determined that he was not the one that the warrant had been issued for. The employee actually turned out to be an illegal immigrant who had purchased the identification, a driver’s license and a social security card from a “broker” dealing in these falsified papers.

Several weeks later the employee showed up again at the plant with a new ID. But despite him having been an excellent worker, he was not rehired. Since the occurrence of this incident, this manufacturing company has changed its procedures requiring that criminal background checks are run on all contract workers that are being sent to their location.

By providing the background company with accurate identifying information, the hiring company can help ensure that it is obtaining accurate results whenever an employee background check is conducted. The hiring company should check a prospective employee’s identification carefully and ask additional questions of the applicant, if any read flags appear.

Keep in mind that it is best to run a criminal background check in every jurisdiction where the applicant has lived, worked, or attended school. Many metropolitan areas include several counties which should also be checked. But even then, it is possible to miss some information, such as a shoplifting charge that occurred while on vacation.

However, you should always conduct employee background checks regardless whether something may be missed or not since only through comprehensive employee background checks most criminal history will be uncovered.

For more information, please contact us or call 1 866-914-2567

Is there a primary reason or cause for Employee Theft? � Atlanta Georgia

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 14:01:52 EST

If you are currently operating a business with less than 100 employees, lack of internal controls will be the biggest internal control weakness allowing employees to steal. According to the 2010 Global Fraud Study published by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, “Lack of Internal Controls” is the leading cause for employee theft at a rate of 47 percent. If you are operating a business with more than 100 employees, your chances are slightly improved and lack of internal controls is the cause of employee theft at a decreased percentage - 33.7 percent. Regardless of the size of your business, not having internal processes and procedures in place or adhering and/or enforcing them is the leading contributor to employee theft.

As a business leader you have total control over the internal procedures you have put in place and the processes that you follow day in and day out. We see our margins decreasing yet we elect to do little about enforcing our existing control or improving our internal controls. Shame on us!

But what are some of the reasons why businesses do not put sufficient emphasis on internal controls? We have good intentions by implementation processes and procedures to protect our businesses but if we don’t enforce them sufficiently, we are making idle threats and employees may not take us seriously. By drawing a line in the sand and making a stand on employee theft issues, we send a clear message to our associates indicating that employee theft or lesser violations will not be tolerated under any circumstances.

Other times we may get so busy with running our businesses which makes it hard for us to enforce our own procedures. Unfortunately those are the times that we may be faced with another serious employee theft investigation or a series of employee theft instances. Want to bring employee theft under control once and for all? Make your line in the sand a granite wall with no compromise that the waves will not affect.

We know from long experience in the loss prevention field that there are many reasons that employees steal. Some of those reasons involve greed, want or a need of some kind. We as employers can do little to effect the reasons except to do the best we can to screen out potential problems such as candidates with poor criminal histories; candidates that have a poor credit history who may be handling our money and drug abusers top the list.

For more information about employee theft contact us or call 1.866.914.2567 – Atlanta Georgia

Would your book keeper�s behavior ever turn into a Corporate Fraud Investigation? - Atlanta Georgia

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 15:17:28 EST

If you have been lucky enough and attended basic accounting 201 and 202 classes, you will be very familiar with the words “dual control”. Everything related to financial transactions is subject to dual control. This means you should incorporate processes and procedures into your daily accounting function that does not give total control over your accounts receivables and accounts payables into the hands of one person.

Your business may not be large enough to have multiple employees who work in your accounting/book keeping department. Therefore you will most likely have one person “Your Book Keeper” who creates invoices being sent to your customers, receipts the cash, check or credit card transactions from your customers for payment of these transactions, reconciles your checking accounts, your credit card statements, orders supplies, orders inventory parts and then pays for the parts and the supplies. Maybe this person also handles the payroll and pays expense reports. Now, one thing he/she probably doesn’t do is sign the actual checks. Well, good for you since at least you have one control in place.

If this description of your book keepers job description matches one that you currently deploy, trouble is brewing on the horizon. But why do you care since you are still drawing a pay check. Oh but wait, this is your company, you are responsible for everything in the end. But you as the owner of this small company are so busy with networking, generating sales leads, managing your operations, dealing with unhappy clients, exploring new business opportunities you couldn’t possibly spend time supervising your book keeper too. Besides, Mary Beth has been with your company for the last 5 years. She has always done an excellent job.

But today is the day when you will receive that call from a customer who doesn’t understand why you have run his credit card multiple times for a transaction. Or maybe the bank calls and tells you that your account is overdrawn. Or your vendor contacts you about unpaid invoices. Or you apply for a loan and you need to provide financial statements but the numbers don’t add up.

You realize that something is not right and the need for an internal theft investigation has arrived. Although you are good at what you do in your business, you don’t know how to even begin to conduct an internal theft investigation. So what is the first thing you need to do to un-do these events and get to the bottom of this situation? An internal theft investigation will include quietly compiling evidence of any fraudulent transactions, controlling your emotions and obtaining professional help.

For more information about internal theft investigations, contact us or call 1.866.913.2467 - Atlanta Georgia

How much does the lack of an anti shoplifting strategy cost your business?

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 08:43:58 EST

When considering starting your own business, you need to make decisions about a number of things, i.e. type of ownership, financing, location of your business, retail space, pricing, merchandising, advertising, marketing, staffing, etc. The list is long and at times seems endless. You keep referring back to your business plan, update and modify the plan to keep it fluid and up-to-date.

The time to open your retail business has finally arrived, the store is fully stocked, your staff has been hired and is in place ready to assist your customers. You have a good accountant and a good banker on hand. You are full of hope and enthusiasm. After your store has been open, you begin to review your sales and your net profit on a periodic basis.

Your marketing strategy is working well and your sales are above average, however, you cannot figure out why your net profit is not keeping pace? If your average merchandise item is selling for $15 and your net profit margin is 15 percent, you should clear $2.25 on each item you are selling. You just placed another order of merchandise amounting to $15,000. Your total sales thus far should be about $100,000 with a net profit of $15,000, however, your numbers don’t add up. When you compare the inventory you originally purchased, subtract the total items sold, the remaining balance does not match your inventory count. This difference is called inventory shrinkage.

You realize that you need to keep an eye on the inventory shrinkage totals. You are trying to figure out how your inventory loss of 100 pieces of inventory can be explained and/or eliminated. Some items were damaged and needed to be written off. But even after having made this accounting adjustment your inventory shrinkage is still high. Why is that? Then you realize that the inventory shrinkage can only be attributable to shoplifting or employee theft. Having lost 85 pieces of merchandise to thieves has affected your bottom line. If you had sold these 85 pieces, you could have earned an extra $191. Now you are faced with having to make up this inventory shrinkage by having to sell an additional 38 pieces of inventory just to break even.

Then you realize that your business plan did not include an anti shoplifting strategy. Where do you turn to learn about retail theft prevention? Granted you only lost $191 in net profit, you still had to pay for the merchandise and thus your cost of goods keeps increasing. An anti shoplifting strategy can incorporate contacting a loss prevention consultant and contracting for consulting services to help you understand your choices in putting an anti shoplifting strategy in place. One should start very early to the cycle of a new or existing business to implement the proper anti shoplifting policies and procedures.

For more information, contact us at anti shoplifting or call 1 866 914-2567.

Inventory Shrinkage � Atlanta Georgia

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 16:42:20 EST

I am not quite sure when you conduct your periodic inventory count but let’s presume that you just completed the count and you noticed that you are missing $10,000 in inventory. This number might represent 100 percent of your monthly sales or maybe less than 1 percent of your monthly sales or anywhere in between. This inventory shrinkage might be substantial.
Let’s also presume that your average profit margin is 5 basis points or in other words 5 percent of each item you are selling. How much in additional sales will you need in order to make up for the shortfall in inventory?
From an accounting perspective you can just write the inventory losses off. However, from a business perspective what do you have to do in order to reduce your inventory shrinkage?

Once you have determined the reasons for the inventory shrinkage, you can develop a strategy. Some of the shrinkage might be due to accounting entries but some of it may be attributable to shoplifting. So what can you do to stop shoplifting and implement a means to start your retail theft prevention strategy?

A Checkpoint Security System could easily be incorporated into your retail theft prevention strategy and become the cornerstone to stop shoplifting. A Checkpoint Security System can be purchased from a Checkpoint Security System dealer and will cost a fraction of the inventory shrinkage you just experienced in one month.

A Checkpoint Security System must be installed by a certified technician with the correct tools and software to ensure that the system is properly tuned. Periodic maintenance and adjustments are highly recommended to keep the system at peak performance due to changes in your store layout. These systems are highly reliable and will provide many years of assistance in your retail theft prevention strategy.

For more information contact your loss prevention consultants or call 1.866.914.2567 in Atlanta Georgia.

Prevent Shoplifting � Use Checkpoint Security Systems

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 10:44:45 EST

Have you been wondering how you are going to start controlling your increasing shrink numbers? Especially in a tough economy every business owner is looking for solutions to prevent shoplifting which is a significant contributor to your ever rising shrink numbers.

Are you in the market for an anti-shoplifting solution that could assist your bottom line? If the answer is yes, I would like to offer some possible solutions to improve your net margins.

Since shoplifting is one of the biggest drags on your bottom line, have you answered the question on how you are going to stop shoplifting? Although I am not aware of a way to completely stop shoplifting, having a solid business plan which includes well trained employees and using equipment like Checkpoint security systems can most certainly put the brakes on shoplifting losses in your stores.

Checkpoint security systems are made up of antennas which are installed at the front of the store while your merchandise is equipped with checkpoint tags or checkpoint labels. The type of merchandise you sell in your stores will dictate if you should use hard tag or labels or possibly both. The process to have Checkpoint Security systems installed is very straight forward; the Checkpoint tags can be attached to clothing articles while other merchandise should have Checkpoint labels applied. After you have deployed an anti-shoplifting strategy including Checkpoint Security Systems, you should see an increase in your bottom line within a very short period of time.

Retail theft prevention is not only responsible, it boosts your profits. Shoplifters can quickly ravage a store, and left unchallenged will hurt the morale of the store associates and eventually kill the business. If your business continues to experience losses, you may have to cut the hours of your employees. You may start on that downward spiral that may ultimately result in the closure of your business.

Start deploying anti-shoplifting measures to curb and continue on the road to stop shoplifting. Retail theft prevention is a true possibility, but you must take the first step and develop your anti-shoplifting program. Retail theft can be prevented by the use of Checkpoint security systems and will help put your business back in the black. If your store is experiencing inventory shrinkage and you are at a loss for the next step, consider what you’ve done to help on the anti-shoplifting front.

Please contact us for professional help in your fight to stop shoplifting.
For more information contact us at anti shoplifting or call 1.866.914.2567

Why don�t shoplifters wear name tags? - Atlanta Georgia

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 09:39:37 EST

When you go to a meeting, don’t you normally wear a name tag so that people know your name? Maybe you also include the name of your company and your position with the company.

Wouldn’t life be so much easier if shoplifters behaved the same way when they walk into your store? If each shoplifter wore a name tag saying “Hello, my name is Fred, I am self-employed and I am the lead shoplifter”. Truly, wouldn’t it be helpful if we could so easily detect a shoplifter? Unfortunately shoplifters don’t wear name tags advertising their profession.

In reality, there is not a “look” to a shoplifter. They can be dressed nice, dressed shabby, be clean, be unkempt, be male, or be female. There is no picture in the dictionary next to the word “shoplifter.”

Does that mean since we don’t have a picture of a typical shoplifter, there is nothing that your business can do to prevent shoplifting? Shoplifters can be detected more by their actions than their look. Shoplifters may be looking around and watching other customers and your employees. He/she may appear nervous or apprehensive. If he or she simply wanders through the store and does not appear to be shopping the way your other customers are shopping, you may very well be dealing with a shoplifter and yes, you can teach your employees how to identify a shoplifter and prevent shoplifting.
Some shoplifters work alone but many times they work in groups.

One person may distract the employee while the other steals. Once you teach your employees that anyone can be a shoplifter whether they enter your store as a single customer or in a group, they will be better prepared to prevent shoplifting.

Training of your employees is a key element to prevent shoplifting. Have your employees pay attention to their surroundings while they are working on your sales floor. If they are stocking shelves or straightening merchandise, they can still watch the customers around them and provide good customer service.
Make sure that your employees are aware which items are considered high theft. These items should be kept in an area where employees can monitor them. Employees should provide excellent customer service at all times – but especially when customers are looking at these high theft items.

Shoplifters will never wear name tags in public but you certainly can ensure that they will not frequent your store for the “deals” of the week by applying proven tips to prevent shoplifting in your store.

For more information contact us: prevent shoplifting or call 1.866.914.2567 Atlanta Georgia

Are you in need of Loss Prevention Consultants? - Atlanta Georgia

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 10:17:44 EST

Have you reviewed your recent inventory numbers and wondered why your inventory losses have increased? If that is the case you may benefit from the expertise of trained professionals who can take a look at your business and create an effective loss prevention program. Loss Prevention Consultants are trained specialists in the area of inventory shrinkage control.

When a shoplifter first enters your store, he/she does not want to draw any kind of attention. Loss Prevention Consultants can assist in raising the level of awareness to provide the best possible customer service by greeting customers as soon as they enter the store. This raised level of attention displayed by your employees may very well deter a shoplifter.

Loss Prevention Consultants can help you create business plans and policies to decrease your shrinkage numbers. For example, if your business has a fitting room, consultants may suggest that employees physically handle all clothing that goes into the room, and that the fitting room never be left unattended. Shoplifters choose to conceal merchandise in fitting rooms, so by monitoring what goes into the room this type of theft can be prevented.
Is the layout of your sales floor conducive for shoplifters to pursue their trade? Loss Prevention Consultants can review the layout of your sales floor and make suggestions for improvement.

Loss Prevention Consultants will locate blind corners in your store and offer suggestions to rework the display to possibly open up the aisles to improve visibility of your customers and their actions. Loss Prevention Consultants will look at your sales floor with the same eye as a shoplifter and can easily make suggestions for reducing those blind spots.

High theft items should be located in a high traffic area in the store, away from the entrances. These items should also have good employee coverage so that they can be monitored. By having the merchandise away from the entrance, this can help prevent a shoplifter from grabbing the merchandise and making a quick escape out the doors.

Learn how to curb the opportunities for shoplifters to pursue their trade by hiring Loss Prevention Consultants.

For more information contact your loss prevention consultants or call 1.866.914.2567 - Atlanta Georgia

Solutions to prevent shoplifting - Checkpoint Systems and staffing

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 08:35:40 EST

Just yesterday I was at a hardware store and heard one of the Checkpoint Systems go into alarm mode. One of the employees mentioned to me to simply ignore the “noise” and mentioned that the system would soon stop to make that noise.

I was not quite sure how to interpret his response. If I was a shoplifter I might take his response as apathy on the employee’s part. The Checkpoint Systems detected that an item had been taken out of the store for a specific reason.

Most likely the Checkpoint system went into alarm mode due to a Checkpoint tag or Checkpoint label not having been deactivated but no employee should simply make the generic determination that this was a mistake on the system’s part and wave the customer through the door.

This behavior is like a gold mine to a shoplifter. It gives them the impression that they have the green light to shoplift. Shoplifters know and watch for this kind of apathy. They conceal an item on themselves, purchase several other items, set off the Checkpoint systems and wait for the wave on.

If I was a shoplifter and had seen an employee taken their job and job responsibilities seriously by approaching the custom and say “My apologies, our inventory control system has picked up a tag that we must have failed to remove or deactivate. Let me take care of that now.” Once this employee has sorted out the alarm he/she may find that it was a case of shoplifting. As a shoplifter I might now have second thoughts and probably will go to the business next door to pursue my trade.

Checkpoint Systems will give you additional support when your employee coverage is low due to the volume of customers on the floor. Or maybe your staff’s attention is deterred by a situation created by a shoplifter who is intentionally trying to distract your employee. This could not happen to the Checkpoint Systems; they are working 24/7 without any time off, vacation or sick days (well, maybe a sick day if someone breaks it).

Shoplifting will never go away. The current economic conditions are not promising to reduce shoplifting. However, even in the best of times you cannot afford to allow profits to walk out the door!

For more information contact us or call 1.866.914.2567

Yes, there are multiple way to Prevent shoplifting � Atlanta Georgia

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 09:36:42 EST

If you currently own a business, what are you doing to prevent shoplifting? If you don’t wish to stay in business very long, you can afford to sit back as your profits are walking out the door at the hands of a shoplifter.

I researched the attempted theft of a camcorder at a large retailer, by using CCTV. While the shoplifter was fighting with the package and attempting to remove the merchandise, a manager happened to walk by. The manager did not see the shoplifter in the nearby aisle; he didn’t even realize that he startled the shoplifter with his presence and was able to prevent shoplifting. Sometimes we don’t realize the direct results of our actions.

Your employees are always a good first form of defense to prevent shoplifting through paying attention to their customers and providing good customer service. A shoplifter can only shoplift if they do not have the attention of store staff, By teaching employees to provide that attention in the form of customer service will have a significant impact to prevent shoplifting. The business next door without the knowledgeable staff that knows how to prevent theft is a much better target to the shoplifter.

Establishing a loss prevention program is beneficial to boost profits and prevent loss within a business. A program can be broad and can include many levels of security. For example, having high theft items locked up can be part of a loss prevention initiative, as well as having key logs and secure key policies to prevent employee theft. Having secure keys that access locked cases can also prevent a shoplifter from stealing the keys – and then having access to the jackpot of merchandise.

Working with your employees to prevent shoplifting is one way that a business can reduce this form of shrinkage; remember not every shoplifter is as easily spooked as the person stealing the camcorder.

For more information contact us or call 1.866.914.2567 – Atlanta Georgia

Will you fall victim to not having Checkpoint Systems in your store?

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 09:04:05 EST

Some time back I reviewed a study that was discussing the behavior of habitual shoplifters. Do you realize that these habitual shoplifters will try to steal from your store again and again since there is only a 2 percent chance that they will be caught if you do not currently use one of the Checkpoint Systems.

When I was Director of Loss Prevention at a major national retailer, I saw immediate results when we installed Checkpoint systems in our stores. The shoplifters simply went somewhere else since the EAS system was the only cost effective way to shut them down. Shoplifting was no longer a given in our stores. Since people who steal are lazy for the most part, utilizing Checkpoint systems made their “job” more difficult. And so they decided to travel another path of lesser resistance by visiting the store next door.

Remember, that even when a shoplifter is caught in your store, the chances are very high that they will hit you again unless you begin to use Checkpoint systems to deter shoplifters from doing what they do.

After having installed an Electronic Article Surveillance System, we would attach checkpoint tags on merchandise that used to be targeted by the shoplifters. We would be able to decrease the theft of these high target items. This strategy also allowed us to monitor our inventory and we could easily use checkpoint tags or checkpoint labels on merchandise as needed. We were able to respond to the theft issues and begin to effectively protect our merchandise.

These Checkpoint labels can be disguised in a number of ways and are paper thin. Other system tags may be easily spotted by a shoplifter and removed from the merchandise. You may also think about attaching several checkpoint tags on particularly hot merchandise. Just make sure you add these checkpoint tags several different spots on the items.

Paying close attention to your customers creates a positive customer service experience. Greet them when they walk in, follow up with them on the sales floor and make sure that they can reach you easily. Shoplifters hate this very concept!

For more information contact us by calling 1.866.914.2567 – Atlanta Georgia

Can you truly improve your profits by working to prevent shoplifting � Atlanta Georgia

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 08:59:29 EST

It is you versus me. You are the business owner and I am a shoplifter. How can you try to stop me whose intentions are to steal from your business?
Increased prices, lost profits, inventory shrinkage and business closures are due to billions of lost dollars; dollars lost to retail theft. As you manage your daily business processes, how do you manage to prevent shoplifting?
Employees who are committed to provide good customer services provide attention to honest customers which is very much appreciated yet, I despise that service. Your employees who want to prevent shoplifting through good customer service are my worst enemy.

But I also look for secluded areas or blind corners in your store. You can prevent shoplifting by ensuring that your sales floor doesn’t provide such opportunities to me. And how are you handling your high theft items? Are they in a locked case or in a secure area? If they are not, move them so that an employee can be nearby.

What is considered a high theft item? A business needs to keep track of its inventory versus its sales of products so that a loss can be identified quickly. Once an item is identified as high theft, then measures can be taken to prevent the theft of that merchandise.

Decreased staffing has also assisted my efforts. If you have a large business and you only have a few employees on the floor at one time you cannot prevent shoplifting. I enjoy being unattended so that you cannot prevent shoplifting. Good customer service and a well laid out sales floor make it nearly impossible for me to do what I planned on doing when I entered your business. You and your profits win, while I lose. That was your goal to begin with wasn’t it?

For more information contact us or call 1.866.914.2567 – Atlanta Georgia

A Loss prevention investigator for your major cases: Should you bring in the experts? � Atlanta Georgia

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 08:25:23 EST

Should you bring a loss prevention investigator into your business to conduct the necessary research to identify the cause of a loss, develop a case, and refer it to the necessary authorities? Successful prosecution can be sought by employing an expert and recovery of the loss, in the form of restitution, can occur.

If a business experiences a loss that involves several employees, it might be best to bring in a loss prevention investigator. Several years ago I conducted a large internal theft investigation that ultimately involved eight employees resulting in losses amounting to more than $8,000. A case as complex as one like that, can be time consuming and may require the expertise of a loss prevention investigator.

Frequently a case that involves employee theft cases can be much bigger. Employee theft is the cause of more shrinkage than shoplifters because the dollar amount per instance is usually much higher. I was able to dedicate the time needed to the case I mentioned above and was able to thoroughly investigate this case, but many smaller businesses may not have the time or the loss prevention knowledge necessary to tackle this type of large theft investigation.

If you want to prevent the type of the theft involving employees from occurring, it might be in your best interest to hire loss prevention consultants who help to establish a loss prevention program after having analyzed a business and its security measures. Managers or business owners may overlook problems in the security and loss prevention measures that are obvious to loss prevention consultants. You want to reduce or eliminate the opportunities which present themselves to employees if you don’t deploy theft prevention measures thus reducing employee theft as well as shoplifting.

If you understand the principles surrounding inventory shrink, it is also critical to understand how to appropriately react when shrink occurs. Trained experts in the field of shrinkage prevention or shrinkage reaction like loss prevention consultants or a loss prevention investigator may need to be called upon in those instances.

For more information contact us or call 1.866.914.2567 - Atlanta Georgia

Tis the Season..For Being Careful When Shopping

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 10:32:06 EST

It's that time of year again. Shoppers will be hitting the stores and malls with giving on their minds. It's one of the busiest times of the year for everyone, especially criminals.
Prepare yourself for the holidays by familiarizing yourself with some basic crime prevention tips to help minimize your chances of being victimized during the busy holiday season.

Be aware of the people around you. Some of them are out to commit crimes. Don't be easily distracted; know where your shopping bags, packages, and/or other personal items are at all times. If you carry a purse or handbag, make sure not to leave them unattended. Keep an eye on your purchases.
Always keep a hand on your wallet or purse. Many purses are stolen out of shopping carts when an unsuspecting shopper turns her back or walks away from the cart momentarily. If your purse or wallet is stolen, you need to call your credit card companies and the bank immediately. Thieves do the most damage in the first couple of hours after stealing these items.
Avoid shopping alone. Take a friend or a relative to help you carry bags and/or packages.
Park in a well-lighted space, and be sure to lock the car, close the windows, and hide shopping bags and gifts in the trunk.
Avoid carrying large amounts of cash; pay with check or credit card whenever possible.
Shopping with kids? Teach them to go to a store clerk or security guard if you get separated.
When walking back to your automobile, have your lock key ready. Avoid having to look for it in your handbag. When parking, try to park near or as close to the entrance to the store as possible.
Check the back seat, under and around the car before getting in.
Do not leave shopping bags exposed in your car while unattended.
If you think are you being followed, drive to a public place or a police, sheriff, or fire station.

Most thieves pick out their targets before committing a crime. They don't want to get caught so they choose victims that aren't paying attention and may not notice something missing from a purse or packages. Criminals don't like to be noticed or remembered. They may decide against the person who has looked at them and said hello and move on to someone who is not as aware.

Holidays are a fun time of year, but can be disaster for the victims of crime. Be aware this Christmas and reduce your chances of being a victim. Don't give these bad guys the opportunity to steal from you. Be aware of your surroundings and vigilant about your personal safety and security.

Most of all - have a great holiday season.

Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. wishes to thank the Washington County Oregon Sheriff’s Office for sharing this article.

RETAIL LOSS PREVENTION�PREVENTING CREDIT CARD FRAUD

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 17:45:18 EST

There are many retail loss prevention controls that can be put in place . Have you ever noticed the back of your debit credit card? (I hope you all have any way!!) There is a strip on the back for your signature. This serves a purpose in that the retailer should check for a signature match on a slip when a purchase is made. If no signature is present, the retailer should ask for identification.

A few months ago, I walked in a Home Depot Store, purchased a $500 dollar item. That part of the story is not very remarkable. The way I purchased the item is. I used a company credit card, in a man’s name, (I am female). The cashier looked at me, said thank you and I left with my item. Not a good way for retail loss prevention to be obtained.

Credit card fraud is a huge problem in actual retail stores. The retailers have become very relaxed on their credit card acceptance policies. One reason is a retailer is not liable for fraudulent credit card charges. It gives them no incentive to check identities of the user. The second reason they are so negligent is they want to shorten customer’s time standing in a checkout line.

Would be credit card thieves contribute to inventory shrinkage through many different avenues. Preventing credit card fraud at your locations is one of the easiest ways to implement the first steps in a retail loss prevention program.

Need help finding other ways to secure your business and increase profit? For more information contact us call 1.866.914.2567

PREVENT SHOPLIFTING�LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 17:28:01 EST

There are many ways retailers can help themselves prevent shoplifting on a daily basis. One of the best ways is to choose your location wisely. Have you ever wondered why some retailers don’t do well even though the store concept is great? Sometimes it’s all about location; well it’s the same with shoplifting prevention. Here are some location ideas that can help keep shoplifting to a minimum in your retail areas.

If you have a choice, choose a store front that is located inside a mall versus on the outside street. If a thief wants to have a quick exit, it will be harder for them to lift merchandise and escape through a mall than directly into a vehicle waiting on the street corner.

Choosing a store front a bit of a distance away from a city center will also help keep prevent shoplifting and keep theft to a minimum. Stores located right in the city center are higher crime areas than the suburbs. This increases not only the criminal activity in the area, but shoplifting in particular.

Location of items inside your store can also help you as a retailer prevent shoplifting, but the location of your check out register in the store will also be a deterrent if placed in the right location. Ever wonder why retail outlets always have their checkout stands at the front of the store? It is a proven fact that stores where individuals must pass the register to exit have a lower shoplifting rate than stores with registers located in another area.

Help prevent shoplifting by keeping your store clean, tidy, well-lit and clutter free! Need help preventing shoplifting? Contact us or call 1.866.914.2567.

EMPLOYEE THEFT�WHAT ARE THE TOP ISSUES? - Atlanta Georgia

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 13:21:10 EST

There are literally hundreds of methods employee theft will occur in the workplace. Here is a listing of the top 5 employee theft items large to small employers will face, cash, merchandise, hours, expenses, and office supplies.

Cash – If you have a retail operation, it’s very important that employees do not use the same cash register. It’s extremely difficult if they are all lumped together to find the responsible party if cash comes up missing. Cash theft can encompass company credit cards, tips from other employees, return/exchange theft from transactions and a variety of other schemes.

Merchandise – It is amazing but data shows that management employees of retail stores are more likely to partake in employee theft than lower level store employees. Retailers have been known to lose even large articles, such as televisions or computers.

Hours – There are many companies out there still using manual time cards. The pen and paper method makes it easy for employees to pad their hours, showing more time than they actually worked.

Expenses – Expense reports are a little harder to fake due to attaching receipts, however there are several ways to get around that. For instance, an employee can add mileage to trips or additional tip percentages to meals. Some companies do not require receipts for under $25.00 purchases, this leaves a huge transaction opportunity for employee theft.

Office Supplies – This seems like an insignificant issue that increases employee theft problems, however if you have a very large company it can become quite costly. On the flip side, if you are a small employer and you only purchase one box of pens, all of them are “borrowed”, your expenses double for office supplies for that item.

Have theft issues in the workplace? For more information contact us at employee theft or call 1.866.914.2567 - Atlanta Georgia

CORPORATE FRAUD INVESTIGATOR � A DEFINITIVE SKILLSET - Atlanta Georgia

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 11:28:50 EST

In order to be a successful corporate fraud investigator, you may need skills you aren’t aware of. It takes more than private investigator criminal catching know-how to be on the team that investigates corporate fraud. There are a variety of crimes investigated by these individuals that range from tax evasion to embezzlement.

Corporate fraud crimes have a different scope, complexity and magnitude than your common everyday theft or fraud case contains. The ramifications can have economic consequences for employees and communities and can often affect the entire investment market.

A corporate fraud investigator needs to have accounting expertise. Corporate accounting can have infinite intricacies in the book keeping methods they use. Not only does the investigator need accounting know how, but a vase computer knowledge is needed to be able to manipulate complicated accounting software.

The corporate fraud investigator will also need to be a bit of a computer “hacker”. Often important documents have been password protected or encrypted to prevent detection.

According to several online sources and our own peoples experience, corporate fraud investigators will have anywhere between five and twenty-five years of experience. Rates are dependent on the experience level of the individual.

Want an expert corporate fraud investigator? Contact us or call 1.866.914.2567.

How a Corporate Fraud Investigation is Conducted - Atlanta Georgia

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 10:55:09 EST

Corporate fraud investigations seem much more complicated than many of us think. I’ve been in corporate America for years and did not understand the intricacies of how the investigation of wrongdoing is conducted in a large corporation. Most people don’t realize that these are not only conducted in publicly traded companies but also private entities as well.

The first intriguing thing is that the corporate fraud investigation is not only a private affair but involves the help of many federal agencies, including the Internal Revenue Service. This is because the violations that are usually being investigated are in relation to the Internal Revenue Code and related statutes.

These crimes of corporations usually involve senior executives. It takes a very savvy investigator many hours to comb through piles of information pertaining to business transactions and accounting documents. The most prevalent law that prevents violations of the Internal Revenue Code is Sarbanes-Oxley. This act imposes stiffer sentences of up to 20 years in prison for the destruction, alteration or falsification of records in order to impede a federal investigation.

During fiscal year 2010, 116 corporate fraud investigation cases were opened. Of those 116, 91 of those recommended that someone be prosecuted. There was actually a 77% incarceration rate of those 116 investigations with senior executives serving an average of 48 months. This information comes from the Criminal Investigation Management Information System.

Need advice on corporate fraud investigation. Contact us or call 1.866.914.2567 - Atlanta Georgia

White Collar Crime�How Does Dirty Money Get Clean? Atlanta Georgia

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 10:41:01 EST

Ever hear of Fred Tokars? He was an expert white collar crime money launderer. We hear that term, money laundering, associated with white collar crime on the news and in crime reports but does the average person actually know what it means?

Mr. Tokars, an attorney in the 1990’s in metro Atlanta, seemed to think it was necessary to have a hit man kill his wife in front of their children. Apparently she found out that he was laundering money. Dirty criminal money.

In the white collar crime world money laundering is very prevalent because most of the money that is laundered is gained illegally. (It wouldn’t need laundering if it wasn’t illegally obtained) People want to cover their tracks.

Money laundering is defined as the practice of engaging in financial transactions to conceal the identity, source and/or destination of illegally gained money. Tax evasion and false accounting make up many of the white collar crime accusations in the money laundering world.

So how do white collar crime experts launder money? Say a business, such as a gas station, has a long standing relationship with a bank. If they have made consistent deposits for years, then the opportunity may arise to make a “larger” than normal deposit every now and then. This doesn’t look criminal, can be attributed to the business and the money launderer can now pull their money out of the bank all nice and clean. There is a limit on deposits however, anything over $10000 is bank monitored.

People can also use shell companies that show income on the books but actually don’t make any money. The income is reported, taxes are paid and the money is laundered. This is white collar crime at its best.

Do you suspect white collar crime in your business? Contact us or call 866.914.2567.

�OPPORTUNITY� FRAUD VERSUS A PLAN???

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 16:04:30 EST

Corporate fraud schemes can fall into all types of categories. With hundreds of different fraud schemes out there it’s hard to determine the exact cost to companies across the nation. It is believed that these corporate fraud schemes cost insurance business billions of dollars every year. Believe it or not there are two specific types of corporate fraud involving insurance companies that all these schemes fit into…very simply hard versus Soft fraud.

Hard corporate fraud schemes are meticulously planned out. As an example of a “hard” fraud scheme, setting an arson fire to collect insurance money on a building. Most organized crime rings have some sort of hard fraud scheme game they are into. It can be setting up auto accidents or even as intricate as an auto theft ring.

Soft corporate fraud is much more common in the scheme of the general world population. Soft fraud is committed when an individual has an “opportunity” to exploit what might actually be a legitimate insurance claim.

Let’s look at an example of soft fraud. An employee falls at work, shatters their knee and has lots of medical claims to deal with. Some of these medical claims revolve around physical therapy. Well, if the employee thinks about it, they can drag out physical therapy for months, collecting monies for treatments they didn’t really need. The original knee injury claim is legitimate; however the additional costs are not.

Do you think that corporate fraud is occurring in your business? Contact us or call 1.866.914.2567.

CELL PHONE MAYHEM - Atlanta Georgia

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 15:45:13 EST

Cell phones are a common staple in today’s society. Almost all people, from the elderly to the toddler age have one. Unfortunately, criminals can use our cell phones against us. White collar crime involving cell phones has increased exponentially over the last few years. Typically white collar criminals are of high social standing, have higher than average paying jobs and commit some sort of crime.

Yes, even my 76 year old mother has a cell phone. I’m not sure she knows how exactly to use it, but yep she has one. The increase in technology has given criminals a whole new avenue to defraud people, cell phone cloning and service fraud.

What is cell phone fraud? It’s the unlawful use, tampering or manipulation of a cell phone or the actual cell phone service. It would never occur to most people but…There are all types of evil criminal things we can do to commit fraud with a cell phone. The two most prevalent crimes are cell phone cloning and subscriber fraud.

Cloning is based on the fact that every single cell phone in the world has a unique factory set electronic serial number and telephone number. You can take a phone, “clone” another phone’s electronic serial number and phone number and bam, an unsuspecting user is charged for fraudulent calls. Where does the white collar crime come in? It’s easier to work for a cell phone company and obtain the electronic serial numbers to commit the cloning.

Subscriber fraud is when a person or persons signs up for service with fraudulent identity. Where is the white collar crime in this? These criminals may work in a retail store or outlet and obtain your personal information, open a cell phone account using that information and cause you months or years of frustration trying to clear your name and good credit standing.

Have you been a victim of white collar crime? Contact us at www.losspreventionsystems.com or call 1.866.914.2567 for assistance.

Insurance Companies have Corporate Fraud Problems Galore!!! - Atlanta Georgia

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 15:33:48 EST

Insurance scams are a leaving corporate fraud problem in the United States. Insurance Fraud is intentionally obtaining funds from an insurance company for a purposeful act that is fraudulent. These types of frauds not only cost companies billions of dollars annually, but can affect the lives of innocent by standers as well. The Coalition against Insurance Fraud estimates that in 2006 a total of about $80 billion was lost in the United States due to insurance fraud.

Let’s look at an example of corporate fraud that affects the insurance market. People have faked their death to benefit from life insurance. In 2002, a gentleman named John Darwin supposedly died in a canoeing accident. Well, in 2007 he turned up claiming no memory of the last 5 years.

Medical disability is also one of the leading corporate fraud scams for insurance companies and worker’s compensation. Say an employee is able to convince a medical professional they are unable to work due to an injury they sustained while on the job. Not only is the company out worker’s compensation monies, but the government is out disability funds if they employee claims they cannot ever work! My dream job would be follow these folks around that are capable of holding a job but defrauding the government for disability and take photos of them roofing their house or shopping for shoes for 12 hours.

Corporate fraud in the insurance market is one of the hardest to prove. Do you think your corporation, insurance company or otherwise, have been the victim of Fraud? Contact us call 1.866.914.2567 - Atlanta Georgia

Survive An Armed Robbery, Loss Prevention Security - Atlanta

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 15:55:31 EST

Why would an armed robber choose your retail location? Because you have money or the perception that money is available.

Loss prevention security where there is a possibility of a robbery must be treated in a serious manner. Your security and loss prevention program should always include training for a robbery.

In most cases robberies only take one to two minutes from start to finish.

WHEN A ROBBERY OCCURS IN YOUR STORE OR AT THE NIGHT DEPOSIT, CONCENTRATE ON THE FOLLOWING:

* The safety of customers, employees and you is always top priority.
* Be cooperative.
* Be observant.

DO'S AND DON’TS DURING THE ROBBERY
* Heroics are uncalled for – Do not resist.

* The sooner it's over, the better – Do keep it short.

* Do give up the money when the robber demands it.

* Do not argue.

* Do not try to grab the weapon or call out for help.

* Do not over react

* Do make every effort to remain calm. Set the example for other employees.

* Do pay attention. Listen to the robber and do exactly what you are asked.

* Do not make sudden movements. Try to warn the robber of any surprises or unexpected noises.

* Do expect strong/foul language.

* Do expect to be told to lay on the floor or ground.

* Be alert. Try to remember details of the robber's appearance, clothing and/or speech.

* Do keep any holdup note, but do not allow people to handle it.

* If you can, watch the robber's direction and method of escape.

* Do not go with the robber!

TAKE THE FOLLOWING STEPS AFTER THE ROBBERY:

* Immediately lock the front door or gate. Robbers have been known to return to the store.

* Call the police immediately!

* Close off the area where the robbery took place.

* Write down everything you can recall about the robbery. Provide this information to the police upon their arrival.

* Do not give the police an exact count of the money stolen. Tell them you will make an exact count and get back to them. You do not want this amount to show up in a police report, then the newspaper.

* Give the police any holdup note.

* Notify your supervisor or corporate office immediately.

* Fill out a company security and loss prevention report. Forward a copy to your supervisor.

* Refer any media questions to your corporate office or loss prevention security department.

For more information about robbery or loss prevention security contact us at security and loss prevention or call 1.866.914.2567 - Atlanta

The Fine Print - DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY
The information provided is for informational purposes only. It is important that you follow your company’s policies and procedures. The techniques presented although conservative should still be compared with individual state and local laws before proceeding. You should consult your own legal counsel before adopting or using any of the recommendations made. Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. expressly disclaims any liability whatsoever, which may arise as a result of adhering to or failing to implement procedures discussed in this material.

Catching a Thief � A day in the life of a Loss Prevention Agent

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 08:53:46 EST

The role of a Loss Prevention Agent entails identifying, observing and apprehending shoplifters. A Loss Prevention Agent may work in the retail sector or any other sector of industry. He/she is well trained and works for the benefit of a retailer, restaurant or business owner.

The primary function of a Loss Prevention Agent is a task that takes a special skill that is honed over years and results in catching shoplifters. The Loss Prevention Agent spends countless hours on the sales floor observing customers, mingling with the every day shoppers who visit your store, pushing shopping carts around continuously observing and watching one’s surroundings.

I remember doing just this job focusing my efforts on the “hard hit” areas of the store with the highest losses or more hidden parts of the store. I was going to show the business owners that shoplifters visited the store and I was going to keep them from peddling their trade.

Sooner or later a shoplifter would arrive. I could feel the adrenaline kick in and try to remain calm. He selects 2 bottles of liquor and stuffs them into a backpack he has placed on the floor. Wow, I thought to myself, right in front of me. He stands up, as I read the label of the liquor bottle I’m holding, and heads down the aisle to the front of the store. I keep my distance, trying not to lose sight of him. He passes the opened and manned register and makes no attempt to pay for the merchandise. I gain on him. He exits, I follow. “Excuse me sir”, I say. I have succeeded in catching another thief!

It is said that roughly 30% of losses can be directly related to shoplifting activity. If it goes unchecked it can ruin a business leading to employee layoffs and business closures. Business closure sounds like a dire step but if you don’t keep shoplifting in check, it may be the final step that is available to a business owner.

And that is where I enter the picture. I am hired to detect and catch shoplifters – my job: Loss Prevention Agent.

For more information contact us at loss prevention agent or call 1.866.914.2567

A Private Sector Loss Prevention Investigator in Atlanta

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 08:49:09 EST

The skill set of a private sector Loss Prevention Investigator can be deployed in the retail sector or for that matter in any type of business. The skills acquired are unique but seamlessly and effortlessly cross over industries.

A Loss Prevention Investigator may handle employee theft or embezzlement cases as well as business fraud and vendor fraud issues - to name just a few.

Why pay for an investigator? Why wouldn’t you just call the police? Police Departments are notoriously understaffed in this area since violent crime always takes priority over other criminal matters. And with the budgetary constraints policy departments are also affected by having to cut staff.

A typical law enforcement investigator may be assigned upward of 25 cases a month. How many of those are going to get the attention they deserve. Yours case may just be added to the pile. If you do not submit a finished case that is wrapped up in a bow that is exactly what will happen. We are typically told that it will take three months up to one year before law enforcement may file any charges.

A private sector loss prevention investigator will typically do the work with higher quality and can be dedicated to that one investigation at a time. Again it is the difference between the public and private sector.

Should you possibly hire an off duty police officer? Again, the difference between the public and private sector is that not only will the lpi generally have a higher skill level but someone who is a lpi will also be a business person and not only a law enforcement officer. We understand business needs and are not only concerned with putting someone in jail.

Atlanta is a very dynamic city with a vast and diverse business community. Law enforcement in the metro are is stretched to the limit. Don’t let your case be put in “the pile”

Can someone truly steal more than $121,000 from a convenience store?

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 08:46:40 EST

After having noticed irregularities during an audit, the owner of a convenience store in the Metro Atlanta area contacted us indicating being suspicious of employees involved in lottery theft.

Where would you start when assigned a task like this? First we needed to gather additional information which the loss prevention investigator did with the use of two covert closed circuit TV cameras installed to view the cashiers’ area and the lottery machine. Video confirmed that the store manager, who had been employed for several years, was routinely stealing large quantities of lottery scratch off tickets.

Another employee would pocket the cash from cash sales after having given customers their change back from the register.

Once the loss prevention investigator had gathered this information, the convenience store manager could be interviewed. The Atlanta area convenience store manager admitted stealing lottery tickets totaling $111,150.00 and cash in the amount of $6,500.00. The store manager had a gambling problem and stealing lottery tickets satisfied that problem. The cash had been stolen to pay for some bills.

The second employee admitted to stealing approximately $3,400 in cash by ringing up sales and pocketing the cash. The loss prevention manager was able to obtain a confession from this second employee as well who admitted to stealing “spending money”. This employee also indicated knowledge of the manager’s lottery ticket activities. This individual who needed spending money had been employed for a year and a half at the convenience store.

In Atlanta please call us at 770.426.7593.

Can the task to Prevent Shoplifting Loss In Atlanta be fun?

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 08:42:58 EST

Have you ever wondered how you can turn the tables on a shoplifter and turn the chore to “Prevent Shoplifting” into an activity which is actually fun? How could that possibly be accomplished you wonder?

Shoplifters require private time in your store to pursue their task of shoplifting. By providing excellent customer service you will be easily able to deter a shoplifter from his/her activities. Believe me, when I say that customer service is a prime tool to reduce or eliminate shoplifting.

To explain how to do this I will give you a real example. Previously I conducted a shoplifting prevention training session at a hardware store. I taught them the skills to deal with shoplifters. Two weeks later I received an excited call from the store manager, “it works!” He was surprised but I was not!

A person had gone to the electrical department and picked up a circuit breaker worth about $70. He stuffed it in the front of his pants. An employee saw him do this from behind. The employee proceeded to get on the PA and make an announcement in “code” that only other employees would understand. This code let store staff know that he had a shoplifter and needed help.

A total of 4 employees then followed the shoplifter through the store. They acted like they were counting items or doing other work trying to be inconspicuous. They stayed back about 20 feet but kept following him. Every time the shoplifter would stop and look at something an employee would approach him and ask if the person needed help.

The shoplifter got the message he pulled the circuit breaker out of his pants (disinfectant anyone?), put it on a shelf and walked out of the store.

The employees tracked down the shoplifter and pursued him with customer service as their weapon and the shoplifter left in frustration. No criminal charges, no reports just great customer service that worked to prevent shoplifting loss! You and your staff can do this as well.

Please contact us by calling 1.866.914.2567 for assistance to prevent shoplifting in the Atlanta area

A Key Component In Atlanta Anti Shoplifting Programs Is Training

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 15:39:33 EST

As a Loss Prevention professional and a former Director of LP for several major businesses I found out pretty fast that if my only solution to shoplifting was apprehension that I would not be employed for long.

Why is this? Go back to the old saying: “Once the horse is out of the barn...” Prevention is always the solution in any anti shoplifting program. To get there we have to look at what is the most cost effective approach. Training, training and still more training. By training you and your employees you will deter shoplifting no mater which way you take in any anti shoplifting effort.

Retail theft as in the form of shoplifting will always be dependent on your ability to convince the shoplifter to go elsewhere. Training your employees in the art of using customer service as an anti shoplifting weapon is a cost effective approach. Shoplifters despise attention so let’s give them more than they can handle. Once an employee is trained to actually spot a shoplifter they can go into the customer service attack mode. Customer service them to death!

Of course people who are shoplifting are all different and come in many types. Training will help even the newest employee to become your retail theft weapon very quickly. Then once you have a core of people trained they can then train others.

What should make up a top shelf anti shoplifting training program? There should be amongst other topics training on: Identifying a person who is trying shoplifting in your store. How shoplifters steal, how to shut down the shoplifter and actually drive them crazy (that way they go some where else, maybe even your competitor) and apprehension (if it becomes necessary).

Train your staff and reinforce the training in a positive manner and you will see retail theft drop like a stone.

For more information: anti shoplifting training in Atlanta or call 1.866.914.2567

Make A Difference Your Shoplifting Problem Use Anti Theft Devices

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 16:53:51 EST

If you are looking for an immediate impact for retail theft shoplifting problems attack it by using anti theft devices in an aggressive manner. To do this you must understand the difference between active and passive systems.

For an example of a passive system lets look at Closed Circuit TV (CCTV). Retailers will install a CCTV camera system throughout the store. But because of the cost it is nearly impossible to cover the entire sales floor. Cameras record on a DVR. The manager could even have a monitor screen in their office. However, unless the cameras are being watched at all times the system is “passive”. It is for looking at an event after the fact.

Some one who is shoplifting in your store will know this. They will even test it by concealing an item, going to another location in the store and dumping the item to see if anyone reacts. If not, the next time they come in then let the shoplifting begin!

Popular types of active anti theft devices are Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) systems such as Checkpoint security systems. Store staff place Checkpoint tags on merchandise and when a person that is shoplifting tries to steal the tagged merchandise the Checkpoint security systems located at the customer doors alarm. The other benefit of this is that when someone who thinks about shoplifting in your store sees an EAS system they most likely will go elsewhere like your unprotected competition.

Why? It is because an EAS system is active and “watching” all the time. Checkpoint security tags attached to merchandise are always working 24/7. They cannot be taken off without staff intervention. As long as the retailer maintains their Checkpoint security systems they are always guarding the merchandise that is tagged.

Different anti theft devices could include cabinets or other devices to lock down merchandise. This is not as desirable from a customer perspective as it does not allow customers to handle the merchandise and make decisions on their own. Another problem with this is that customers can become frustrated rather quickly when store staff is not right there to unlock merchandise.
The retail theft problem is tough enough to control without having the correct tools to fight it. Your merchandise tagged with Checkpoint tags keeps your profits on your bottom line.

For more information contact us: retail theft you can also call us at 1.866.914.2567

Pond Scum & Shoplifting � Similar Problems That Can Be Controlled!

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:49:03 EST

Shoplifting and shoplifters are just a retail life fact of life, similar to the “oldest profession in the world”, it isn’t going away. And if you are naïve and think that shoplifting will not happen in your store then don’t read any further since you won’t be in business much longer anyway. If you are a retailer you understand that shoplifters are like pond scum, it stinks and is a serious distraction from a beautiful environment.

Preventing shoplifting is no different than the approach to any other business problem. Control it and minimize the distractions so you can stay focused on what is really important, making money. You can achieve this by using an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) system. And as huge coincidence we happen to sell Checkpoint systems (sorry for the shameless commercial).

But getting back to the issue. EAS systems are proactive. Some retailers are under the impression that if they put a camera system (OK, we sell cameras also, no more commercials I promise) in their store that this will deter shoplifters. Camera systems are passive. Unless you are watching it live at all times it is not as effective. Shoplifters know this. In addition the cost to cover every location in the store where a shoplifter may conceal merchandise is in most cases cost prohibitive.

Merchandise is tagged or labeled by your staff. When a shoplifter tries to rip you off the protected merchandise trips the sensors at the front doors alerting your staff. Merchandise stays tagged at all times until your people remove or deactivate it. It’s proactive, all day, everyday. There is no video to watch or review. Shoplifters know what EAS systems look like and how they work. In most cases they just simply go elsewhere (like your competitor who isn’t protected). This is a much stronger deterrence than a camera system.

In summary, the key is to do this in the most profitable, cost effective way possible. You have enough work to do every day. I guess I can sum it up like this; a Checkpoint security system is like having shoplifting prevention flying on autopilot.

I almost forgot…pond scum can be controlled with chemicals sold at any farm and seed supply store.

For more information: checkpoint security systems

Why They Steal - White Collar Crime In The Atlanta Area And Elsewhere For That Matter!

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:29:46 EST

During my thirty years of Loss Prevention Investigations into what many refer to as white collar crime (employee theft or internal theft) I have come across some pretty bizarre reasons told to me by the employee thieves that I have caught.

There have been several cases where the employee thief stated that the reason that they stole from the business was that they were not given enough time off for job interviews at other business. OMG! This is weird on many levels. Number 1, I had serious problems connecting the two. How did you get from not getting time off to stealing thousands of dollars in cash and merchandise? It must be because the company is just one of those very “evil employers” that we hear about in the news all the time. Of course, the employee criminal kind of forgot to mention that the employer was the one to hire them in the first place, train them and pay them faithfully. It couldn’t be the employee’s fault…could it?

Another one that I always get a laugh (or headache) out of is the “I needed the money for my pharmaceutical problem” (not the kind you get from your Pharmacy). OK, let’s be fair and look at it from their point of view:

“I have an illegal (insert drug du jour here) habit that I have to feed sometimes hourly. I need the money. Holding up a bank seems like a lot of effort. Plus you have all those pesky exploding dye packs and gunfire associated with bank robberies. I know! I will just steal it from my employer. Can’t get shot doing that.” (some countries you can, oh well)

Another one on my top ten hit list is the “You didn’t give me my raise on time” excuse. So they decide to take it out on their evil employer. In the follow-up on those cases I can remember with this excuse, I recall that most of them were not even going to get a raise because they were not a very good employee. Maybe if they put more effort into their job? What a concept, work hard, get paid and go home, not jail.

And yes the majority of these people went to jail and got sued. Some of them we even let the IRS know about since they “forgot” to by taxes on their stolen gains. Maybe with all that, white collar crime is not a profitable idea.

For more information: white collar crime

Trust And its Relationship To Corporate Fraud

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 19:23:16 EST

Corporate fraud investigation and I have had a relationship for over thirty years. I have come to a sad but simple conclusion. When management uses the wrong kind of trust in a business environment all kinds of things go wrong. If you deal with employees, assets, cash and the rest you need to take a serious look at yourself. It usually starts this way. I have concluded an investigation, the employee has confessed and I am in the process of filing criminal charges. At this point the owner or manager says to me something like “I thought I could trust that person”.

The manager or owner feels guilty, is angry and then begins to question their skills. Believe me it is not their skills that they should be questioning. There are two kinds of trust in this world: personal trust and business trust.

Personal trust is the kind of trust that you have with your best friend. You are always there for each other. You can trust them with your car, house, spouse and dog (well maybe the dog). You know that no mater what happens they have your best interests in mind.

Business trust is defined with three words: Trust But Verify. That’s it! We do not have the luxury of anything else.

Most reasons that we end up in a corporate fraud investigation involve management using personal trust in a business environment. This is a business environment not a personal one and if your management style is to be “friends” with your employee then you should need to change careers.

We are responsible for an incredible amount of liability and assets. In many cases you’re not the owner of the business. We as a professionals realize that we must protect those assets to keep the company profitable, which in turn insures that; your employees have a job (and so do we).

Trust but verify! I am not saying that you should always be watching over employees shoulder. A healthy work environment gives employees the ability to grow and do express their own style. But that doesn’t mean that we just walk away and let them run loose either. People want a structured work environment. They want to know what they should and should not do and how to do it.

So what do you do? Here is an example; a cashier is checking their drawer in for the end of their shift. They count down the cash, checks, and charges. You need to verify it by recounting all or at least some of it, like the cash. When they say to you “I just did that” you reply, “ It looks like you did a great job to, it is accurate, thank you and good work”.

As a professional you cannot use personal trust in a business environment unless a frequent corporate fraud investigation is your favorite thing.

For more information contact us.

Management Failure At It�s Worst�Not Reporting Employee Theft

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:03:50 EST

In some companies employee theft has been occurring for so long that it has festered into a serious dilemma that is not only right under managements nose but also actually condoned. Let’s use a retail store as an example. Management overlooks employees who take small items such as candy, sodas… It goes on long enough that it not only becomes the norm but also happens right in front of management. Managers do nothing about it. So the employees learn that this is acceptable. Even worse, in some cases the same managers do it to!

The candy bar that sells for $1.25 (remember when they were $0.50?) stolen by an employee does not just cost your business a $1.50. If your stores profit margin is 2% that employee just ate $62.59 (1.25 / .02). You will have to sell $62.50 to just BREAK EVEN. Let’s say that same employee does that four times a week for a year. That’s $13,000.00 that you will have to sell to break even on a thief with a sweet tooth.

If management condones it then others will see and in many cases do the same thing. “It’s alright” becomes the culture. Which means employee theft is the norm. I can tell you for a fact that it will not stop there.

Look at the issue in another way. Some companies have a policy that if a cashier is only short $5.00 (or whatever) at the end of the day that they do not look into it because it take to much time. That tells cashiers that it is OK to steal $4.99 and or less. That’s lunch money, gasoline…(OK not very much gasoline, but still!).

This problem is one that can simply sneak up on a business. It starts out small and gets much bigger. That’s the culture that has been established. Most employee theft gets its start this way. After that the thief gets more confident because “it’s alright”. We then wonder why it has happened.

You must establish a zero theft tolerance policy. A line must be drawn in the sand. You must not just look the other way at this and hope. Employee theft cannot and will not go away on its own.

For more information about employee theft contact us

Is Management Creating Employee Theft?

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:30:15 EST

Internal theft also known as employee theft causes close to fifty percent of all retail business loss. In thirty years of conducting employee theft investigations I am still shocked by how poor a job most businesses do in common sense prevention. For example I conducted an investigation where $5000 in forged business checks were cashed. It turned out that the stock of checks was unsecure in an office supply room. The janitor’s stole 20 checks from the middle of the stack, waited a while and them began to cash them. These checks should have been secured in a locked cabinet with strict controlled access. The checks should be logged out and issued to the person that processes them.

We drop our guard because it is “more difficult” to do it the right way. You prevent employee theft by doing it the “right way” not the easy way. The key is “prevention”. Another excuse is we say, “oh I trust that person, they would never do that”. Those words get more business people in trouble. When a management person says that they are basically saying that they have no business common sense.

Another case involved employees that stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in product from a warehouse they worked in. They had keys to the warehouse that contained millions of dollars of merchandise. The alarm system was not reporting opens and closes. So coming back at night and loading up a truck was not a problem.

Internal theft or employee theft lurks around every corner. You have to be actively watching for it to prevent it. Internal theft will not go away or stop on its own. In fact it will get worse. Get your policy manual off the shelf, dust it off, update it and make sure people understand that this is your companies “business bible”, live it, enforce it! This doesn’t mean that it never changes. As your business changes your policy and procedures should change.

For more information contact us

ME? The Cause Of Shoplifting In My Store???

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:31:28 EST

What do you mean ME? Prevent shoplifting? Recent studies show that a lack of deterrence efforts by a retailer will add up to 75% more shoplifting in a store. This makes sense, don’t do anything and your store will be wide open. Not only will shoplifters hit you but they will keep coming back over and over. Then to add insult to injury their shoplifter buddies will start to show up. Now your store is “shoplifting central”.

Shutting down shoplifters is a no brainer. A “good” program that will prevent shoplifting is made up of employees that are trained and comfortable in good customer service skills that drive shoplifters crazy. It’s simple really; Approach any suspected shoplifter as you would any customer. “Hello, how can I help you?” This type of simple greeting will shut most impulse shoplifters. Chances are they will not shoplift in your store during that visit.

A “best practices” program that will prevent shoplifting involves more. Your employees must know the techniques to send amateur and professional shoplifters down the street in frustration to your competition (who is not as smart as you!). This involves more skill and knowledge through training.

Additionally to prevent shoplifters from making your store the shoplifting hot spot in the city you must understand that they know your store as well or better than you do. They will select a time of day when your employee to customer ratio is the poor. Since you are busy it makes it easier for them. To compensate you must use an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) system. EAS systems like a Checkpoint system bring the fight to the shoplifter.

Aggressive and proactive customer service that is appealing to customers and very stomach turning to shoplifters can only be achieved with training. However, once your people are trained you as the leader must regularly reinforce it. All of us have all put programs in together and in place. We feel GREAT! We fixed the issue! Then, six months later we back to where we started. Our failure is that we did not keep it a priority with our employees.

Are you the cause of your shoplifting problem? Prevent shoplifting 24/7, no exceptions.

For more contact us or call 1.866.914.2567

Employment Criminal Background Check�Is It Really Necessary?

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 17:11:28 EST

Are employee criminal background checks something that is really necessary? As a former Law Enforcement Officer I routinely came into contact with individuals that should not be allow to be loose in society with the good people. This included people that caused serious physical harm to the good people of our society that happened to become their victims. These people injured, killed, raped and stole, just to name a few. It quickly became evident to me that these people care ONLY about themselves. Most had no remorse even when caught.

I am a loss prevention professional with 30 years of experience including positions as a Director for several major businesses. I have personally investigated over 2300 employees for mainly employee theft. I found that many of these same people are in the labor pool that we as business managers and owners draw from.

These types of employees WILL steal from a business (and smile while they are doing it). The only remorse is that they were caught. This applies to all ages, sex, race, religion…. There is no magic group or age that is safer or better than another.

Add the fact that a number of different studies over the last 30 years conducted by different organizations conclude the same things: Around 20% of the work force has stolen from their employer. That’s 1 in 5 of the people in the work force today including the ones that work for you! Many people may not wish to believe this but it is an established FACT. Also please keep in mind that we are only talking about theft. It does not include other crimes.

So are criminal background checks necessary? They are not just necessary they are an absolute requirement, no excuses or compromise. Of course, if you do not mind wasting time, labor, money and losing your cash and merchandise then this does not apply to you.

By the way if you hire someone that has a past record of violence and they harm in any way another employee or customer you will be held liable. Saying I didn’t know does not hold water with both civil and criminal courts. Courts lean towards the fact that you should have conducted a criminal background check because this is normal business practice and they are readily available at low cost.

Oh, I forgot to mention that I have been told by hundreds of business people something like “I know people, I don’t have people “like that” working for ME”. Those people are the ones that are really at risk as their ego out weighs their business sense. Remember…1 in 5!

Don’t compromise on on your business contact us or call 1.866.914.2567

Hiring a Loss Prevention Consultant

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 17:46:44 EST

OK you just figured out that you need a Loss Prevention Consultant! What now? Many people hold themselves up to be loss prevention consultants. What does a LP consultant do? There are a number of specialties in LP: shoplifting, employee theft, inventory control, LP training and auditing just to name a few. Sometimes safety falls under LP.

Quite a few people that consult in LP are generalists in most of these areas. Consider narrowing your search down by thinking carefully about what your needs are. For example loss prevention consultants who have auditing development skills can help you control losses by identifying and preventing shoplifting, theft, cash shortages and more.

Auditing is proactive. A LP consultant should design an audit to hunt down the causes of loss and bring them to the surface. Upper management then can make procedure changes that increase profitability. Audits should then be done on a regular but unannounced basis. All results should go directly to Senior Management.

Another proactive way loss prevention consultants assist businesses with is Training. LP training should target all employees from entry-level to middle management. Topics can include inventory control, vendor fraud, employee theft identification and prevention, dealing with employee theft, shoplifting, pre-employment interviewing and more.

A seasoned loss prevention consultant should have a minimum of 15 years of experience in several major companies. Ask for letters of reference or referrals. You should discuss their experience with them at length. Does this person fit with your business model and goals? Watch for individuals that talk like a police officer. A true LP professional is a businessman not a policeman.

For more information contact us or call 1.866.914.2567

More than one way to prevent theft; however, these stats are amazing!

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 13:38:24 EST

Retailers are keenly aware that when they prevent theft they will at the same time increase profits. Because inventory shrinkage figures into operating costs, reducing inventory losses will boost profits. You might be surprised to know that another benefit is reducing inventory shrinkage will also increase sales numbers.

A recent survey conducted by Price Waterhouse Coopers studied a supermarket chain tracking 98 unique product sku's. The first four weeks they measured inventory shrinkage to set a baseline. At the end of the four weeks a Checkpoint Security System was installed to prevent theft and it included pedestal antennas at entry / exit ways that react to tags, labels which look like bar codes, “keepers” which are plastic transparent boxes that deny product access and hard tags that are pinned to merchandise and the 98 sku’s were measured for ten weeks.

What they found was surprising; not only did they record a remarkable reduction of 69.79% in inventory shrinkage but additionally measured an increase in sales of 9.2%! This proved the theory that if you prevent theft you will naturally sell more product. The reason is simply because there is more product available for sale, which proves keeping shelves stocked with product and available for sale is critical to building profits.

The PWC survey focused on how to prevent shoplifting. This is mostly incoming “customer” traffic taking product out the front door; however, some employee theft goes out the front door too.

There are many ways to prevent theft in retail environments as well as many types of theft to consider when designing a loss prevention program.

To explore more about this topic visit Call us today at 1-866-914-2567 or email us.

Prevent Shoplifting Now! It�s Not Going Away

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 14:31:51 EST

If you are not aggressively trying to prevent shoplifting in your retail store your profits will suffer. Shoplifters are not going away. In fact as un-employment continues to be high and the economy remains unstable a higher percentage of people are shoplifting to get what they need and want. We also know from studies that shoplifters shift to unprotected retailers.

From experience, I know that when shoplifters know that you are an easy target they will hit you over and over. Shoplifters will also tell their shoplifter friends about your store (“Hey they are asleep at the switch in there. They are clueless”). Over time you become "the store of choice". Without realizing it your profits get slowly worse.

What measures do you take to prevent shoplifting?

Training!!! Have an Anti-shoplifting training program. Doing it once feels good for a while but like any other business issue unless you make it a priority your employees will loose interest over time. You have to refresh and train new people.
Install a Checkpoint Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) system. Label and tag a select group of merchandise. EAS is a labor multiplier. Spend less labor dollars to cover the same amount of sales floor. Shoplifters are caught at the door. This creates deterrence. Word will get around.
Don’t be afraid to approach suspected shoplifters. Their goal is to be anonymous. Let them know you are aware, see and are helping them. Shoplifters hate customer service. Give them their fill! If necessary stand right there with them providing exceptional customer service.

Waiting to prevent shoplifting is like hoping that engine knock in your car will get better on it’s own. YOU can fix the problem. Step back and objectively look at your operation now. You might be surprised what you see.

Contact us or call 1.866.914.2567

Clothing Security Tags with Ink!

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 16:48:32 EST

Think of this, a shoplifter in your clothing area wants to steal a shirt. They conceal the shirt and leave. They get away and are not caught. Do you think they be back? Oh yeah!

Now consider this, when they get home (somewhere under a slimy rock) they take out their new shirt and discover a Checkpoint Chekink tag attached. OK now what do they do?

They will have to forcefully remove the clothing security tag. When they do, long before the tag is broken off the two vials of pressurized ink/dye break the brightly colored mixture spreads out on the shirt staining it forever. And because the vials are pressurized the ink does not just seep out.

But wait; let’s put the entire shirt and Chekink tag in the freezer. Once we freeze the tag we try to then force it off. Sorry, we thought of that. The ink/dye in the glass vials are made with a solution that has anti-freeze. Oops, still pressurized and still liquid. Think they will come back to shoplift from you again? Probably not but your competitor down the street….

What about accidents by your store personnel? Won’t we ruin some merchandise? A high amount of force is required to break the vials and normal use does not cause a problem. Hit them with a hammer and we may have an issue. This is a clothing security tag with an attitude. Oh and by the way they work with any checkpoint hard tag or by themselves!

Tactics in Clothing Security Tags

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 16:35:19 EST

Tactics in Clothing Security Tags

If you are using regular clothing security tags but you are still are experiencing losses you need to evaluate the problem and take further action. Follow the process below:

1 Are your losses on all different types of merchandise you sell or just specific ones? In other words certain lines such as Polo or leather jackets are being targeted. You have to know this first. Keep a clipboard handy for your associates to note when they find evidence of the loss of tagged product.

5 Consideration should be given to the location of your clothing security tags. Do you put them on a seam or other location that is strong enough to make tag removal difficult? Are your associates applying tags to every one of the items that you have decided must be tagged? Many times tagging does not happen and the product gets put out anyway.

6 If it is specific line of items that have problems you may need to add a special tag to your arsenal of tags. Tags that go several more levels higher in security. You would not use these for everything, just problem areas. This new tag will still cause an alarm on the Checkpoint system as usual. However, the tag itself has its own sounder built in that is VERY loud. As the tag goes through the Checkpoint antennas its built in sounder goes off. There is little doubt at that point where the tag is.

Better yet while still in the store a shoplifter that attempts to damage or remove the tag will cause the tag sounder to go off.

7 Do your associates simply wave a customer through when the Checkpoint Anti-shoplifting system alarms? Every time you do this you train your customers, shoplifters and anyone else that observes this that you can shoplift and not be stopped.

If you put a properly train your associates and put a priority on clothing security tags you WILL reduce your shoplifting losses.

Brand New Clothing Security Tags By Checkpoint

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 16:28:23 EST

Checkpoint has released a new, dynamic clothing security tag. Called the “3G Hard Tag With Super Lock”, this tag is a bi-color gray/white. 3G’s are similar in size to the standard mini-hard tag.

3G’s will solve several problems in the mini-hard tag arena. Knockoffs that are cheap imports have been made to look identical to the Checkpoint mini hard tag, Genuine Checkpoint mini hard tags have the Checkpoint logo. Most knockoffs have rough edges that snag and damage clothing. They also have poor locking clutches that do not function smoothly. This causes frustration at checkout. The 3G has a hole located near the clutch that will take a flex string. This is used to loop the flex string through larger items and allows you to use the tag more diverse situations.

The 3G clothing security tags by Checkpoint will require a Checkpoint super detacher, which means that shoplifters will not be able to remove them. Store personnel will place the 3G the same as any other hard tag. Using a pin place them on a seam, top rear of a shirt below the collar, eyelet of a shoe, etc. Use the same pins you already have.

An additional clothing security tag suggestion is to place a label such as a 410 barcode in a pocket in addition to the hard tag. This will double your security for a few pennies more.

Handling A Checkpoint Security System Alarm

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 16:11:28 EST

What should you do if there is a customer caused alarm on your stores Checkpoint security system? Here are some helpful tips:

Approach the customer in a friendly manner and state “Pardon me, we must not have properly checked out your purchase. Please come back into the store, and we will take care of that for you.”
Ask the customer for their bag – do not grab it.
You should walk the purchase through the checkpoint security system pedestals verifying the alarm.
Check all merchandise against the receipt.
If the merchandise checks out – pass all items over the deactivation pad another time.
If you find merchandise that has not been purchased - at this time ask the customer if they would like to purchase it.

Another way to remember this process when you approach the customer is to use the "vowels" (a,e,i,o,u) of alarm response:

A Address the customer. “Excuse me madam/sir...”

E Explain what has occurred. “…We must have failed to deactivate or remove an inventory control label or tag from the merchandise you purchased…”

I Invite the customer back into the store… "Please step back into the store with me so I may assist you…”

O Offer an apology. “…I am sorry for this inconvenience to you.”

U Understand what alarmed the system.

Common sense, training, your checkpoint security system and being prepared will stop shoplifting.

Using Clothing Alarm Tags

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 16:17:16 EST

The clothing alarm tag is one of the hottest inventions to protecting retail merchandise. These tags come in many varieties however; the basic concept is that a very hard plastic tag is placed on a piece of clothing. Tags can only be removed by store personal at the point of sale.

Clothing alarm tags normally are used in conjunction with an Electronic Article Surveillance System (EAS) such as Checkpoint. If a shoplifter attempts to steal the item it causes an alarm on the EAS system alerting store personnel.

Clothing alarm tags containing vials of permanent ink or dye are also widely used. This type of tag is called “product denial”. Shoplifters that attempt to forcefully remove the tag cause pressurized glass vials to break and spread ink on the item, ruining it. Ink tags can also be used with an EAS system.

Other clothing alarm tags are constructed with built in alarm sounders. An aircraft cable is looped through expensive coats such as leather jackets. When a shoplifter tries to cut the cable or force the tag open the built in siren goes off. This type of tag is also routinely used with an EAS system.

Employee Fraud And The Police

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 15:16:32 EST

A number of business owners believe that the Police will conduct employee fraud investigations. While this may be true in some situations. The fact is that most Police Departments are busy. Their caseload is overwhelming at best. As a former Police Officer I can tell you that most crimes reported do not get investigated. There is simply not enough resources to handle it all.

If you go to the Police with a mostly unsolved situation of employee fraud they will most likely take a report but in most situations nothing more will be done. Even if they do open an investigation the fact is that very few Detectives know how to investigate employee fraud and theft. That is one of the reasons why the retail industry has Loss Prevention Departments. LP professionals specialize in these investigations. Good LP investigators can conduct the normal employee fraud or theft investigation in a matter of a few days.

Once the facts and information are pulled together an LP investigator will interview the subjects with the goal of obtaining a written admission. After the necessary elements of the investigation come together a presentation can then be made to the Police or Prosecutor.

Conducting Employee Theft Investigations

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 14:28:56 EST

Employee theft investigations must be initiated whenever you suspect employee theft. I have seen a large amount of business owners and managers that hesitate or bury their heads in the sand and act as if theft is not occurring. For years now the University of Florida study has routinely shown that employee theft accounts for approximately 48% of company losses.

If not addressed employee theft will continue and grow. If the employee has gotten away with it one time they most likely will continue to steal. Businesses that do not attack the issue will not prosper. I have even seen businesses tolerate employee theft because they do not want to lose a “trusted or important” employee. That begs the question, how trusted or important is the person who is stealing from the very company that pays them?

Leaving this person in place is business suicide. We have recently conducting employee theft investigation of a person who has stolen hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and was not terminated because the company owner was afraid to let this “important” person go.

Nobody is that important where employee theft should be ignored. Employee theft investigations are normally a fast simple investigation. Go to the police? No, most law enforcement agencies do not have the experience, time or even desire to do a proper investigation of this type. Use an experienced LP Investigator.

More information on employee theft investigation or call 1.866.914.2567

The Solution For Using CCTV In Retail Theft

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 13:30:37 EST

You have a CCTV system or are going to purchase one. Your retail theft problems are not over when the installer walks out the door. CCTV is like any other tool it is not effective unless you use it properly. To stop retail theft you must do the following:

Employee Theft – Make the CCTV system more of an “active” tool rather than a passive one. Consider trying this: bring a different employee in every few weeks and go over with them something you observed. Example, bring in a cashier, show them a short video of them working the POS and checking out a few customers. Complement them! The speed at which they processed the customers through their line, how friendly they are and that they appear to be engaging in a sincere manner. Make it ALL about complements. They will walk out of your office feeling good but they know that you are watching. This should not be a big surprise, YOU HAVE A CAMERA SYSTEM! Do you think that this will get around to other employees? Of course it will.

Shoplifting – Signs that tell shoplifters you have a CCTV system or that it is “live” are OK but you cannot rely on this to be the primary way to make the system appear to be active. Wait until a customer or a suspected shoplifter is in a concealed area or acting odd and then approach them. “I noticed on our camera system that you seem to need some help. Can I help you with….”? Do this enough and word gets around.

Vendor’s – Combine the above techniques for employee theft and shoplifting. Ask the vendor or delivery person into your office and with that camera or clip of video playing where they can see it ask them about a issue or discrepancy or issue. Consider positive comments such as “I noticed that you were working carefully and paying close attention to what you delivered. Thank you.” An e-mail with a short video clip to their supervisor or upper management and complementing them on the work this person is doing. That information will spread.

CCTV ability to prevent retail theft is unlimited if you use it in “active mode”!

Retail Theft Deterrence & CCTV

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 11:04:46 EST

Some retailers have a false sense of being secure by installing a CCTV system to deter retail theft. CCTV systems are a powerful tool, but like other tools in the fight against theft they have limitations. Retailers come to believe that now that they have installed a CCTV system that their retail theft will stop with little or no further effort on their part. That belief may actually cost them more money in the long run.

Here’s why: CCTV systems are passive in nature. They record 24/7 but normally they are not watched live. Certainly a small business owner may have a monitor and glance at it during the day. However, unless a person or incident is brought to their attention that is the extent of it. There may even be a monitor that a cashier can use to observe. But really how much time does that cashier spend watching? Most likely very little, especially after the novelty has worn off.

So what do we do? First you have to set your expectations correctly. CCTV is a great tool used to deter, stop and catch several types of retail theft including: employee theft, shoplifting and vendor fraud. But, keeping in mind that CCTV is a PASIVE system you must remember that everyone else knows this also including employees, shoplifters and vendors. These people know over time that the system is not actively being watched. Most cases it only used to look back at an incident. They are aware that you do not have the payroll to actively observe. In most cases they will test this to see if you are watching.

I will present the solutions to each of these in a following blog.
Contact us if you want more information or call 1.866.914.2567

Inventory Loss In a Retail Environment

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 16:41:30 EST

All retailers have inventory loss. These losses come in many forms: employee theft, shoplifting, vendor fraud, damage, spoilage, paperwork errors and more. It is not if you are going to have an inventory loss the issue is how are you going to prevent it and what do once it occurs?

A solid prevention program is the most cost effective way to keep your money on the bottom line. Prevention programs should consist of three elements first, Employee training then an audit program and finally Investigation. Think of this like a table with three legs. You have to have all three of them for it to stand up. These elements also feed into each other.

By having a solid employee-training program it keeps most errors from occurring to begin with. Are you talking openly with your new hires and existing employees about employee theft? Explaining the impact on inventory loss and profit, which ultimately impacts them.

Properly designed audit programs look for what your people have missed or neglected through their training and experience.

If the audit reveals theft or you become aware of theft from any source then an investigation should occur. We have seen many a retailer ignore theft and act like it does not occur in their business. This only serves to let the thefts to grow in value and frequency.

You can stop retail theft and inventory loss with a solid loss prevention program!

For more information: inventory loss

Retail Loss and Vendor Fraud?

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 15:41:46 EST

Vendors who are the very people that supply you with merchandise have stolen from retailers. I am not saying that every vendor will do this. Most vendors are working hard trying to earn and keep your business. However, vendor fraud results in approximately 5% of retail loss.

How does this happen? They are a business. They may have employees that are stealing and this could affect you. Say you are supposed to get 50 items in a carton. But an employee thief at the vendor’s facility only packs 48 to a carton in your order. They take the stolen items out and put it in the trash then come back later and get them out of the dumpster.

Sound crazy? We have done many of these types of retail loss theft investigations. If your employee is only counting in the cartons and not counting the contents you are putting money in that “piggy bank” of the thief at your expense.

There have been some cases where the vendor them self will short an order. Don’t catch it and they get paid in full at your expense. I have caught several very large, well known businesses doing this.

How do you stop this? Receiving must fully piece count every shipment. A supervisor should then do a spot audit of approximately 10% of the order.

Contact us today for more information

More Retail Shrinkage, Shoplifting

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 15:25:45 EST

If shoplifting is the second largest area of retail loss, how do you fight it?

Training!!!. If you are not teaching your associates how to prevent shoplifting to begin with you will never, ever succeed as a retailer. The key is the way they are trained. The main focus should not be on catching the shoplifter.
Even though this is important, prevention is much more profitable and will lower retail loss.

Prevention training involves the actual approach to a suspected shoplifter. It is simple, can be entertaining as you drive the shoplifter insane and send them down the road to someone else who is doing nothing but watching their revenue walk out the door. The approach is different for each situation. Every employee that works the sales floor should be trained in this method. This should also be made a job duty. If you do this you will decrease your shoplifting losses. You do not need to have specialized employee, be a loss prevention or security expert to approach a suspected shoplifter.

Don’t be the store down the road that is watching their revenue walk out the door.

Why do you need Loss Prevention Systems as your Background Check Experts?

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 19:29:49 EST

We recently conducted an investigation for one of our clients into a suspected embezzlement/theft by one of their employees. During this investigation, we found that the person of interest had been arrested and charged with seven counts of Credit Card Fraud, fined and served probation.

The employee had been hired as a temp-to-perm through a staffing agency that conducts employee background checks using a commercial database provider which is very unreliable. This commercial database provider returned “No Record Found”, missing the Credit Card Fraud, but in addition two other separate instances of cashing bad checks.

The employee confessed to stealing over $10,000 of the company’s money by manipulating the accounting system.

You should always conduct a new employee background checks when an employee comes on board. Do not depend on a staffing company to do a thorough job.

We specialize in employee theft investigations. However, why not let us prevent this type of loss through:

Employment background checks
We ARE the Background Check Experts!

Loss Prevention Training

Our Operational audit program

Contact us today or call 1.866.914.2567

Experiencing Retail Shrinkage?

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 19:10:40 EST

Retail Shrinkage also known as “shrink” is the difference between what the physical inventory and the records show. This rarely comes out to “0” it is normally short or over.

Shrink is usually made up of one or more of the following areas: employee theft, shoplifting, vendor fraud, paperwork errors or improper store-to-store transfers. The University of Florida Retail Study that has tracked these statistics for many years generally rank:

Employee theft 48%
Shoplifting 32%
Administrative Error 15%
Vendor Fraud 5%

These numbers change very little each year. What we have learned is that employee theft always ranks very high in retail shrinkage. It is always the biggest area of loss to a retailer. The main reason for this is that managers and employees have considerable access to cash and merchandise. Some retailers do not want to believe this and the excuse that we usually hear is “I trust my employees”.

LPSI has but one response to this: “Trust But Verify”. Sometimes retailers (large and small companies) use personal trust in place of business trust. Business trust is trust but verify. using personal trust in a business environment sets you up for trouble.

Contact us today or call 1.866.914.2567

Keep Your Checkpoint System in A1 Shape

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 17:16:47 EST

A Checkpoint security system is not an install and walk away system. This is commercial grade equipment but like your car the system needs a little TLC from time to time to keep it in top shape.

As you make changes in store layout, outside interference, abuse, wear and tear reduce the system’s performance. For example moving a display to close could cause intermittent alarms. Loss Prevention Systems (LPSI) Technicians attached our laptops with factory software and re-tune the system each time we visit.

When Checkpoint’s Research and Development team makes improvements you get the benefit as download those updates to your systems firmware.
You get all of this and more from a LPSI Preventative Maintenance Agreement.

A professionally installed properly maintained Checkpoint security system is designed for many years of reliable performance.

For more information checkpoint security system or call 1.866.914.2567

Retail Shoplifter Facts

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 14:11:01 EST

Over 60% of shoplifters steal from the same store when they get away with it the first time. Generally the store culture made them feel comfortable. This makes sense. If we create environments where the shoplifter is relaxed enough to continue they will also tell their friends. Your store will then attract more shoplifters.

Once caught, few shoplifters will return to the same store to make another attempt. The key is to deter them. If that doesn’t work make them feel very uncomfortable once they do pick up merchandise and attempt to conceal it or catch them. Checkpoint anti shoplifting systems handle all three levels, deterrence, attempt and catching the shoplifter.

Habitual shoplifters, after being apprehended, do return to the same store when there is no Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) system in place. This is because the chance of being caught a second time is only 2%. Shoplifters want your merchandise either to keep or sell. The goal is to make them uncomfortable enough or stop them down completely. Send them down the street to another retailer that is not protecting themselves. You’re anti shoplifting efforts will be noticed among shoplifters.

For more information contact LPSI or call 1.866.914.2567

Checkpoint Electronic Article Surveillance

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 17:58:26 EST

Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) equipment provides security and loss prevention to store merchandise. However, EAS is not the complete solution to the shoplifting problem and will not stop shoplifting by itself. Points that should be kept in mind when using EAS in a loss prevention program include:

Certain labels and tags can be noticed by shoplifters and removed. Concealment is important with labels. Labels can be disguised and hard tags should be made extra secure depending on where and how they are attached.

Labeling and tagging merchandise costs in both the labels and tags and labor. This can be cost prohibitive if you attempt to tag and label all merchandise. Consider establishing a price point and up that are to be tagged. Of course you also want to label and tag any merchandise that is prone to theft.

A properly maintained system, labels and tags can be a huge support to customer service when there is a high ratio of customers to employees.

Security and loss prevention professionals know that the presence of tagging systems themselves can be a deterrent to most types of shoplifters.

Dye tags can be used on soft goods and clothing for product denial.

Want more information on: security and loss prevention or call 1.866.914.2567

Retail Loss Prevention Physical Security

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 17:12:30 EST

•A well-lighted area deters shoplifters. Retailers must maintain adequate lighting. A Shoplifter tends to gravitate towards less traveled, darker more concealed areas like hidden areas and corners to conceal the merchandise they are stealing.
•Limit your customer exits and entrances. Loss prevention security begins at the door. It also requires to many employees to watch multiple exits. Large retailers know this and genneraly have only one entrance and exit. Close off or make any unused door an emergency exit with the approiate hardware.
•Keep displays and shelving low so they can be seen over by an employee. A major part of retail loss prevention is insuring that you are training and empowering your employees to be your eyes and ears in loss prevention. Make sure they can see every where possible in the course of their normal duties. Teach them how to approach any suspicious customers.

You must have a procedure for loss prevention security measures that should be followed if there is an emergency or the power goes off:

•An employee must be stationed at the front door.
•Do you have flashlights ready for this purpose? Do you test them monthly?
•Is there a procedure for ringing up sales without the POS? The power is out. Do your cashiers know how to use a calculator? Is there a battery operated calculator kept at each POS? Do cashiers know how to calculate tax? Do cashiers know what your stores tax rate is?

Retail loss prevention security forces your losses down and profits up.

Need more information? retail loss prevention or call 1.866.914.2567

Checkpoint's Valueguard Anti Shoplifting Systems

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 15:24:37 EST

Checkpoint Security Systems has a security solution for smaller retailers called ValueGuard. If you are looking to protect their profits, it combines a simple design approach with many features on Checkpoint's Security Systems more sophisticated antenna systems. This results in a rugged Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) antenna that's easily professionally installed and maintained. It is capable of delivering immediate profit impact at a cost-effective price.

Ideally suited for grocery stores, hard goods stores, liquor, book, sporting goods and convenience stores. The ValueGuard system offers Digital Signal Processing, Checkpoint label discrimination with the ability to perform in today's most demanding retail environments.

Features:

ValueGuard works with the entire range of Checkpoint labels 8.2 MHz RF tags and labels.
Tunable for either 8.2 MHz or 9.5 MHz applications.
Integrated alarm sounder and alarm indicator light, which makes alarm identification easy.
3 foot or 6 foot aisle systems.
Stainless Steel end caps help protect the antennas form damage. Optional bumper guards are available.
Optional merchandising panels can help generate additional revenue through advertising sales or to promote in-store specials.
Checkpoint labels may be custom printed by the retailer with your barcode, product or logo information.

For more information contact us today!

White Collar Crime

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 09:36:44 EST

Wikipedia defines white-collar crime as "a crime committed by a person of respectability and high social status in the course of his occupation". We have found that this kind crime is not just reserved for the Senior Management of a business or retail establishment. Department Heads, Assistant Managers and Managers are frequently involved in white-collar crime.

We have investigated thousands of people in these positions. This type of management has access to cash, inventory, bookkeeping records and deposits. They can make changes to records and inventory and are in fact expected to do so in a legitimate business situation.

Because of this access and trust there are some that end up committing white collar crime by voiding sales, modifying the accounting records, stealing inventory and depositing checks to their own account in order to steal cash and merchandise.

The reasons for this type of theft are as diverse as the people committing white-collar crime. Not only are the standard “excuses” there such as drugs, gambling and plain old greed but others as well. For example during this time of economic problems we are finding that a spouse that is out of work puts pressure on the family finances since the possibility of finding a job is bleak. People are also justifying theft because they are used to a certain level of income, which brings with it “toys” that they now can’t afford.

How does an employer protect it self from white-collar crime? To begin with the hiring process must screen out candidates that have high-risk backgrounds. Some of these include:

Termination from a previous job for theft
The candidates credit record shows a poor history. If they cannot manage their own money do you really want them managing yours? There are some exceptions such as a massive medical problem. But beyond that type of issue a poor credit record tells you how they manage their life.
Traffic violations beyond an occasional speeding ticket. DUI’s, reckless driving and frequent accidents will also tell you about the person.
Criminal histories also give us a window into a person’s mindset. I am not talking about the check they bounced in college for pizza. Assaults, fighting, domestic violence, drunk and disorderly type incidents show that a person is not in control of themselves. And of course convictions for serious crimes such as robbery, murder, rape and kidnapping are not only showing us that the person is out of control but is a high-risk liability for an employer. If you hire someone like this and they commit any crime against your employees or customers and you will most likely be held liable.
Testing candidates with one of the many employment-screening tools that sort out people that are prone to theft are very effective.
Drug testing
Conducting several interviews by more than one management person skilled in pre-employment interviewing.
Do not forget checking references. This tends to get down played but it has merit. Insist on references with previous co-workers, supervisors, teachers and others beyond the ones that are listed on the resume. Ask for more and specify the type.

White-collar crime will never go away, ever. Protect your self by being proactive.

Easy Clothing Security

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 17:15:26 EST

It happens every day. Shoplifters steal clothing from retail stores. How do you stop it? The solution is very simple. Achieve true clothing security by using a Checkpoint anti shoplifting system.

A tag is attached to the garment to be protected. This tag can only be removed by store personnel. The tag is then removed at the cash wrap and the customer proceeds on their way. You cannot achieve clothing security any easier than that.

Oh want more clothing security? Add an ink tag! Ink tags release a permanent dye if tampered with. The shoplifter really has to work on the item to get the ink tag to break and spread the ink so accidents are rare.

Still more? Drop a soft tag/label into a pocket! This gives you double coverage. This is anti shoplifting at it's best.

Don’t let the shoplifters control your store. Take it back with anti shoplifting clothing security by Loss Prevention Systems and Checkpoint. 1.866.914.2567

New Checkpoint Security Tags

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 16:43:23 EST

Checkpoint has release several new tags. One of the most exciting is the EP-3210 Clear Poly (Enhanced Performance). This tag is “see-thru”. Checkpoint has really outdone itself this time!

This tag can be placed directly over the barcode on a product. The barcode can then be read directly through the tag. But there is more. The EP-3210 Clear Poly pretty much disappears once in place. Yes the circuit of the tag is visible but in the tests we have run the tag blends into many products packaging.

Checkpoint truly is the innovator in the Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) market. The new line of EP tags include two sizes of round tags which are great for small boxes or bottles and have no corners that may have to wrap around the edges. Other sizes include the postage stamp size and the EP-410, which is the same size as the traditional 410 tag.

But why use the new EP tags? This series gives the BEST performance of any 8.2 tags in the market, period end of sentence!

All Checkpoint security tags deliver performance well above any other manufacture. The adhesive is aggressive and wont give out and cause the tag to fall off the merchandise. When a Checkpoint security tag is deactivated… it is deactivated. It will not re-activate on it’s own. Reactivated tags are common with non-Checkpoint and cause embarrassing alarms when your customer attempts to exit your store after a legitimate purchase.

Loss Prevention Systems carries the entire Checkpoint security tag line including the EP-3210 Clear Poly. Call us today. 1-866-914-2567.

Checkpoint Security Systems Training

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 14:47:39 EST

Checkpoint security systems provide a very strong deterrent to all levels of shoplifters. This includes the impulse, amateur and professional shoplifters. But employee involvement is critical. Many times we install a Checkpoint security systems and the retailer feels that they have solved all their shoplifting problems. This is far from the truth.

Employees understand the basic operation of the Checkpoint security systems installed. The most common problem is that employees are not trained and held accountable for alarms when they occur.

In many cases the Checkpoint system will alarm and an employee will just wave the customer (or shoplifter) through. Even worse they will say the system is not working properly. Because of a lack of training or confidence the employee just told everyone in range that they can shoplift to their hearts content…. and will just be waved on.

Loss Prevention Systems provides on site training when we install our Checkpoint security systems. We also provide our customers with training documents that allow you to keep the training on going.

How often should you train and provide follow up training to your employees on the use of your Checkpoint security system? You decide. It depends on how much money you are willing to loose.

When Do Shoplifters�..Shoplift?

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 14:24:58 EST

It’s not hard to figure out if you keep some anti shoplifting basics in mind:

· Early in the morning, just after opening because what are you focused on? Opening the store, getting the cash into the drawer, dealing with problems from the day before and most important that first cup of coffee.

· On busy days because shoplifters like to blend into a crowd. They do not want to stand out. They will dress and act like your average customer.

· When a sales floor is unattended. What else can you say to this except “duh” do not leave the sales floor unattended. Any anti shoplifting methods stop with out employees.

· At closing time. Like at opening we are focused on wrapping up the day, counting the drawers, straightening up for tomorrow, securing the store and of course going home.

In other words shoplifters steal anytime WE give them the opportunity. Any anti shoplifting program will not work without a little planning and common sense.

Early Warning Signals Of Shoplifting

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 13:57:16 EST

“It is of greater benefit to us to anticipate retail shrinkage, procedural defects, lax enforcement of controls and prevent shoplifting loss then to concentrate only on resolving retail loss that need not have occurred”

We have trained tens of thousands of retail employees and management on shoplifting prevention. Loss Prevention Systems training includes early warning signals of shoplifting that prevent shoplifting. If you prevent shoplifting then you not only are ahead financially but you send the shoplifter down the street to your competitor.

Here are a few of our “early warning signals”

1 Unusually friendly relationships among employees and outsiders such as truck drivers, repairman and trash collectors. These outsiders can be in collusion with an employee who allows them to shoplift.

2 Customers that will only deal with one employee and refuse to buy from anyone else. This form of retail loss like the other two involves collusion.

3 Gifts or favors to accounts payable employees from suppliers or to accounts or to accounts receivable employees from customers.

Remember the key is to prevent shoplifting and retail loss before it occurs!

Effect of Inventory Shrinkage on an Organization

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:12:17 EST

Many companies do not understand the true impact of inventory shrinkage or loss. For example: If your company's inventory shrinkage this year is $100,000, that's $274 in shrinkage every day.

Is that the total impact on the bottom line?

Consider this: For your organization to simply recover or break even on a $100,000 inventory shrinkage or loss, you would have to sell an additional $13,700 every day! ($274 divided by .02% profit margin) This is on top of your normal sales.

Think about this...how many more items would you have to order, receive, count, mark, prepare paperwork for, stock, and finally sell just to produce these extra sales to break even?

Add to this the fact that inventory shrinkage really cannot be recovered. You then begin to understand why one third of US business failures are blamed on corporate theft.

The obvious solution is to prevent the theft, errors and abuse that cause inventory shrinkage and loss in the first place.

Internal Theft Of Your Company Information

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:35:09 EST

It can happen to all of us. A disloyal employee decides to take a job with a competitor or start his or her own business. What makes them disloyal is that they download and take with them your customer and confidential information. This is internal theft. What can you do? I most cases it depends on your states law. However, there is also the Federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.

But you must first take preventive actions. The internal theft of your information should be prohibited in your employee handbook that the employee signs when they come to work for you. Their access to your data is only for the furtherance of your business only and ends when they terminate. Even if you forget to remove them from your computer systems.

Next make sure that you retrieve laptop computers and immediately delete their access to your building, alarm system, remote access passwords. The courts cannot help you unless you first help yourself prevent internal theft.

Who Shoplifts?

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:05:09 EST

Trying to prevent shoplifting is a difficult task if you do not know who the shoplifter is. The best way to prevent a shoplifter from succeeding in you store is to start with knowing the three types of shoplifters:

Impulse Shoplifters – This type of shoplifter steals because you provide them with opportunity. Most want the merchandise for personal use

Amateur Shoplifters – Steal consistently and enter your store with the intent to steal. Amateur shoplifters generally keep the merchandise they steal. However, they may steal for friends or others and give or sell them the merchandise.

Professional Shoplifters – These thieves steal to sell the merchandise. This is their job. This type of shoplifter is usually skilled and quick.

Prevent shoplifting by using anti-shoplifting techniques and equipment. These methods will shut down all levels of shoplifters.

Internal Theft Signals

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 15:25:36 EST

Too often, signals pointing to internal theft, even when noticed, are mistakenly ascribed to chance, error, coincidence, or some other benign circumstance....and the signals are ignored.

What are the signals for internal theft? Contact us and we will share some. Internal theft will not go away on its own.

Prevent Shoplifting By Not Being Fooled

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:30:13 EST

Shoplifters use deception to confuse employees. This could be a diversion such as a Shoplifters partner creating a disturbance in another part of the store, pulling employees away from the merchandise to be stolen.

I have seen situations as simple as a screaming child to faked slip and falls to fake “customer complaints” that get loud. To prevent shoplifting you must train to deal with these situations. If an incident occurs only a limited amount of employees should respond. Others should actually stay away from the incident and turn their attention towards the balance of the store and customers.

Another way to prevent shoplifting of this type is to use your public address system. Make a “ghost call” such as “security to sections 3 and 12”. This will throw the shoplifters off since the shoplifters do not know where these “sections” are and you have announced two that sound like they are far apart. At that point your legitimate customers could be Security personnel as far as the Shoplifter would know.

Employee Theft Investigation & Policy

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:05:54 EST

In my 30 plus year career in loss prevention I have had the duty to conduct employee theft investigations on over 2300 employees. These investigations have involved employees of all ages, races and positions from entry level to upper management and partners.

Most employee theft investigations must be conducted as a result of management failing to follow their own policy, procedure or even common sense. I have also found that in many cases management will fail to learn from previous employee theft investigations. Not learning from history will make you destine to repeat it.

Get your policy manual out, dust it off, review it and update it. Then make sure that everyone else know and understands that they must follow it. This will be work in the beginning but will make the life of a manager easier in the long run because they do not have to keep reinventing the wheel. You will also find that you will reduce the number of employee theft investigations that need to take place. The rules are there for a reason: It happened before and the company lost money. That’s why there is a policy for it.

Checkpoint Security Systems

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 15:14:39 EST

Checkpoint security systems are a major key in the preventing shoplifting and in inventory shrinkage control. We have seen retail shrinkage rates drop as much as 50% in many retailers.

Checkpoint security tags are paper-thin and come is dozens of styles. Tags can have custom barcode and pricing information printed on them by the end user. This reduces labor and helps to disguises the tag from shoplifters.

A Checkpoint security system is professionally installed and consists of a set of antennas at a customer entrance. The antennas are stylish and complement any décor. You can even place advertizing panels on them that communicate your latest sales, promotions or just your logo. Checkpoint security systems can even count your customers entering and leaving.

Contact us today for more information. Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. is a Certified Checkpoint Security Systems Dealer. We can install and support any location in the mainland US.

Retail Clothing Security, CCTV vs Checkpoint EAS?

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 11:16:45 EST

In most case of clothing security in a retail environment both Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) systems such as a Checkpoint system and a Closed Circuit Television System (CCTV) system are both desirable systems to have. To be successful though you must have correct expatiations of each.

A CCTV system is generally a PASSIVE system. How many retailers can afford to have an employee watch a CCTV system on a regular basis? In most cases involving clothing security or other retail goods a CCTV system is used in a spot situation where a potential thief is suspected. I have found that most uses of CCTV are after the fact or passive. Most Shoplifters know that you are not actively watching.

An EAS system is actively providing clothing security and protection of other retail goods. The tags cause an alarm at the door and of course attract employee attention. They work 24/7 as long as the Checkpoint system is maintained properly and powered.

Clothing Security In A Retail Environment

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 10:14:09 EST

Shoplifters employ a number of approaches when stealing clothing in a retail store. Clothing security should be a multi-layered approach. The front line is always customer service but the determined or organized shoplifter(s) will use tactics such as diversion and deception to thwart your clothing security customer service efforts.

Labor is one of the Retailers largest expenses. Because of this medium to smaller Retailers find it is not cost effective to hire LP or Security Store Investigators to seek out and apprehend Shoplifters in clothing security or in the protection of other retail goods.

To counter this a Retailer must use devices such as a Checkpoint Electronic Article Surveillance System (EAS), ink tags or physical security methods.

Genuine Checkpoint Labels vs Imports

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 08:38:15 EST

In some cases Checkpoint labels are slightly more expensive than imported labels. Why is that? Many times imported labels reactivate by the time the customer gets to the front door. This causes an unnecessary alarm. Import labels have a weaker adhesive and can fall off or are easy to remove.

Genuine Checkpoint labels have a tremendous amount of engineering behind them. They will not reactivate and the adhesive is very aggressive. Why put up with the aggravation? We carry only genuine Checkpoint. Contact us today to order.

How To Beat A Shoplifter (no, don't use a stick)

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 11:33:54 EST

Since shoplifters come in all shapes, sizes, colors and ages, how can we prevent them from taking advantage of us?

We don't know who is a potential shoplifter and who isn't. First of all, most people are not shoplifters, so they shouldn't be made to feel like one, so we'll look at the more subtle ways to prevent this crime from happening in the first place.

Look at the arrangement of your store. Are there out of the way areas or blind spots where even the most casual shoplifter might be tempted to conceal some goods? Arrange fixtures to maximize the view from the register area or other areas where staff are present.

Know your merchandise so that someone intent on changing price tickets or barcodes will have another obstacle to overcome - a knowledgeable associate. Be sure all merchandise is correctly marked and priced.

Keep shelves, bins, and racks full. Arrange merchandise so that you will know when any is missing. Keep expensive, small, desirable items like designer sunglasses under lock and key. When demonstrating them to a customer, limit the number that are out of the case so that you can keep up with them. This will deter the casual thief, and your customers will understand.

If you use fitting rooms for customers to try on clothing, be sure to keep them clear of merchandise, hangers, and tags. This lets the shoplifter know that the associates are on top of their inventory, knowing what goes in and what comes out.

The most important deterrent to a shoplifter is exceptional customer service. Acknowledge each and every customer as they enter you area and anticipate their every need. A conscientious and alert employee is the single most effective deterrent to prevent shoplifting.

How To Attract A Shoplifter

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 11:31:22 EST

So you have a store that is too profitable, and you want to increase your losses, what do you do?

One of the easiest ways to lose merchandise and profits is to invite shoplifters into your store.

Shoplifters come into stores where it is easy to steal. You can get a reputation as a store that is easy to steal from by totally disregarding every customer who enters! When he or she walks in, don't even look up from what you are doing to acknowledge or greet the customer in any way. That way, the potential shoplifter will feel more at ease.

Next, as the shoplifter appears to be browsing, continue to ignore him or her and keep doing your stock work or paperwork, or even go back in the stockroom out of sight. This will give the shoplifter ample time to select and conceal merchandise without fear of being detected.

Arrange your displays so that there are lots of areas to hide behind and are out of the line of sight of the sales counter.And finally, place all your small and most expensive merchandise far away from the counter. Near the exit door is best.

By following these simple guidelines, you can help increase your store's losses and reduce profit.

And by ignoring all customers, even the legitimate ones will want to stay away and shop somewhere else.

But if you'd rather avoid shoplifters, please and satisfy your customers, simply pay attention to each customer that enters your store, make everyone feel welcome, and provide genuinely great customer service to everyone.

Smash & Grab Theft Epidemic In Atlanta

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 11:26:13 EST

By John Heavener, President Georgia Retail Assn.

Shrinkage has always a challenge for retailers, accounting for 1.52% of sales in 2009. Shrinkage has historically been defined as losses from shoplifting, employee theft, paperwork errors and vendor fraud. However, in the last four years activities in and around Atlanta, Georgia caused the Georgia Retail Association (GRA) to consider adding smash and grab thefts as an additional category of shrinkage.

Beginning in 2006 Atlanta saw 16 smash and grab burglaries. These typically occurred when thieves broke down doors; exterior windows and even came through adjoining walls to steal merchandise.

In 2007 we saw a dramatic increase in smash and grab burglaries with 97 being reported to LERPnet a service of the National Retail Federation (NRF) whereby retailers and law enforcement report retail theft.

The number of smash and grab thefts increased to 130 in 2008. There were an additional 119 in 2009.

Merchandise loss during that four-year period was nearly $4,000,000.Of those thefts 44% were smash and grabs and 56% were grab and runs. However, the biggest dollar losses came from the smash and grab incidents. A thorny part of this criminal activity is that more than half of the perpetrators were juveniles, usually connected to street gangs.

While 58% of the stores hit have been part of national chain specialty stores; 21% have been small/ independent retailers; and 20% have been national department store chains.

Those smash and grab burglaries continue to be a major threat to retailers in the Atlanta Metro area, but have expanded to Dawsonville and Columbus as well.

As recently as February, 2010 we have seen this phenomenon expand to include convenience stores and pharmacies.

Designer glasses ($352,066 in losses) and high-end blue jeans ($1,235,172 in losses) have been hot items throughout the problem, but recently the trend has been to steal cell phones, mp3 players and computers. The theft of electronic merchandise has now surpassed $350,000.

The typical smash and grab occurs in a matter of minutes, with breaking, entry and theft occurring before police or security can respond.

In the early summer of 20009 the GRA Board Chair, Bill Bregar of Loss Prevention Services and GRA President, John Heavener began talking about what, if anything, GRA could do to stem this wave of criminal activity. The two GRA leaders decided it would be best to open a dialog between retailers and law enforcement on the smash and grab problem.

Since Macy's was a member of GRA, and they had experienced a number of smash and grab burglaries, a call was made to Mike Liberatore, Vice President for Loss prevention for Macy's Southeast Region. Mike was instantly interested and suggested that a call be made to Angelica Rodriguez, Senior Loss Prevention Director at the NRF about providing data from LERPnet.

Over forty individuals from twenty-plus retailers, law enforcement personnel and district attorney staff attended the first meeting held at the Georgia Capitol. They decided to work together as the Coalition on Smash and Grab Thefts to develop some answers to the problem.

Meeting monthly since August, the group formulated a legislative remedy, similar to the law passed in Florida in 1996.

In October representatives of the group met with Representative Rich Golick, from Smyrna, Georgia, who chairs the House of Representative's judiciary committee that handles criminal legislation. Agreement was soon reached that a bill which would address the use of an automobile in retail burglary, along with tougher penalties for adults who recruit juveniles for criminal activities and tougher penalties for juveniles, who represent more than half of the smash and grab offenders, was needed.

Sharla Jackson, an attorney in the Fulton County District Attorney's office explained that if we continue to turn these juveniles back out on to the street, there was little or no chance of rehabilitating them. Instead these youthful criminals wore their arrests as a badge of honor, giving them status within their gangs.

Recently, Senator Preston Smith, from Rome, Georgia, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, introduced a bill drafted by GRA to address this issue. That legislation, Senate Bill 423, is the result of six month's work by the Coalition on Smash and Grab Thefts.

In addition to the legislative remedy introduced by Senator Smith, the Coalition will be working to educate youngsters about the retail industry and about what criminal activity can do to ruin their lives. In addition the Coalition will work with the City of Atlanta, churches and various nonprofit groups to provide alterative activities designed to lessen gang activity.

(Those interested in working on the problem of smash and grab thefts can contact Mr. Heavener at 678-523-176 or Mr. Bregar at 770-426-7593, extension 101.)

It's a Robbery - What Should You Do?

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 11:20:54 EST

Since most robberies take only one or two minutes to complete, it is quite important that you take the time to learn what you and your employees should do in the case of being robbed. The priority is always the safety of the employees and customers. You should cooperate completely and observe every detail of the situation.

If your store is robbed, remember:
·Do not resist, this is not the time for heroics.
·Keep it short; the sooner it is over, the better.
·Do give up the money demanded.
·Do not argue.
·Don't overreact; don't attempt to grab a weapon or call for help.
·Make every effort to remain calm. Set the example for the other employees.
·Do not make any sudden movements. Warn the robber of any noises that may surprise him (ex: the alarm on the stock room door or safe).
·Expect strong or foul language. Expect to be told to lie on the floor.
·Be alert. Try to remember details of the robber's appearance, clothing, speech, etc.
·Keep any holdup note, but don't allow people to handle it.
·If possible, watch the robber's method and direction of escape.

After a robbery:
·Call the Police and Security (if available).
·Close off the area where the robbery took place.
·Write down everything you can recall and provide the Police with this information.
·Give the Police any hold-up note received.
·Cooperate fully with the Police.

Whatever you do, remember that lives are much more important than any amount of money.

Employee Theft is Up

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 11:18:21 EST

The 2008 University of Florida study shows that inventory shrinkage or "shrink" is significantly higher at 1.51% from the all time low of 1.44% in 2007. Keep in mind this is 2008. So it is reasonable to assunme that 2009 will be worse because of the economy. Sources of inventory shrink nationally are as follows: 42.7% Employee Theft, 35.6% Shoplifting, 15.4% Administrative, 3.7%Vendor Fraud and 3.9% unknown.

Employee theft is still at the top of the list. We have found in our work that this holds true for non-retailers also.

On the shoplifting front projections are that there will be an increase in loss due to the ecomomy and Organized Retail Theft (ORT). By the way, 71% of all shoplifting is attributed to Amateurs.

What does this mean to you? Retailers and business of all types are subject to employee theft. Do not wait to get your policy and procedures in line and enforced. Chances are you are losing money somehow right now. Get it fixed!

Some areas that you should look carefully at include:

Accounting and Bookkeeping-Are there enough 2 party controls in place? Is an audit or review of critical functions such as AP and AR being conducted? We have found employees stealing money from these areas by processsing charge card credits to their personal accounts, creating phony invoices and then voiding them upon receipt of payment.

Refund and Void Controls-Are two employees required as the return is being processed while the customer is still there? Do you have key or password control on the refund and void function?

Receiving Controls-Who is doing this? Is there some check and balance? A manager should "audit" every shipment by spot checking a few items. Let's keep the employee and vendor honest.

Shoplifters In Collusion With Employees?

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 11:06:18 EST

Many times Loss Prevention Professionals find that a Shoplifter is not just working alone. They have developed relationships with employees that are actively or passively helping them. In some cases for profit or a "cut". In other cases they are allowing friends to steal. For instance, a Cashier allows a friend to bring high value merchandise through their POS, pretends to ring up the high value merchandise but uses a low value SKU such as a pack of gum.

Many times we in Management think that this type of employee theft or shoplifting is only committed by "younger" people. This is not the case at all. Do not be mislead by a preconceived notion.

Below are situations that you must be on alert for at all times:

Unusually large or frequent refunds to a particular customer for returned merchandise.
Anonymous phone calls or letters concerning theft.
Unusually friendly relationships among employees and outsiders such as truck drivers, repairmen and trash collectors.
Frequent contact among employees and visitors, especially those visitors who carry shopping bags or other containers.
Contact by employees with gamblers, drug dealers, gang members, loan sharks, etc.
Many customers always deal with one employee and refuse to buy from anyone else.
Stock being sold in outlets that never buy from the company.
Gifts or favors to accounts payable employees from suppliers or to accounts receivable employees from customers.
Reduced purchases by customers who deal closely with warehouse or shipping personnel.
Presence of outside personnel (telephone repair, building service, salesmen, etc.) in areas where they have no legitimate business, or in un-businesslike communication with employees.
Newly received items being sold in flea markets.
Complaints received from other business or retailers.
Shoplifters are always blamed for the theft.
Gifts or favors from other mall retailers accepted by your employees.

These "signals" do not necessarily prove the existence of theft; they only point to the possibility of such theft.

RF or Acousto-Magnetic Label Technology

bbregar@LossPreventionSystems.com (Bill Bregar) — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 18:06:35 EST

We are asked frequently which is better. Both technologies have strengths.

Checkpoint RF labels are paper thin, can be printed on, disguised easily, come in dozens of sizes and shapes.

Acousto-magnetic labels are approximately 1/8" thick, only comes in one shape and cannot be disguised?

A shoplifter will look for any anti-shoplifting label. But the better it is disguised the higher the chance that they will not discover it. A false barcode is fine but how about fooling the shoplifter with a label that has your stores actual product information such as price, real barcode, company logo and more on it?

Checkpoint RF thermal labels can be run through most of the more popular retail printers.

Checkpoint RF security tags are a great way to put your retail loss prevention program in high gear.