Loss Prevention Systems Blog

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Is your hair HOT?

One of the hottest fashion statements a person can make right now is the use of clip in feathers and hair extensions to change their look. As most trends, these accessories can range in price and even go up into the hundreds while they are in style. This can be terrifying for the owners of beauty supply chains throughout the country.

Right now some of the top most stolen items, particularly in the Greater Atlanta area, are hair extensions (Click here for story). These extensions are either synthetic or human hair and are extremely expensive in some cases. Beauty supply stores owners are having such a high theft problem with these items that in some cases they have to worry about their own safety. Luckily there are retail anti theft devices that can be implemented to help prevent these items from walking out the door.

Checkpoint Security Systems have several products that can be attached to these hair extensions (or weaves) that will sound an alarm if they are taken without going through the cash register. The Fashion2 Mini hard tag can be pinned through the woven part of the hair extension and is small enough to fit inside packaging in most cases. There are also labels that can be attached to the outside of packaging and can also be used on other high theft beauty supply products, such as hair dye and high end scissors.

If you are a beauty supply store owner you have heard of these thefts and you are more than likely a victim, whether you know it or not. Stop letting your profits walk out and be made on the street. Stop shoplifters from stealing your high end weaves today!

Monday, December 19, 2011

Employee Theft: Where did the merchandise go? – Atlanta Georgia

 One day while working as a loss prevention manager, I observed an associate select merchandise from the display rack while they were on their break. The associate took the merchandise back to their register and placed it beneath the register. I was interested to see what the employee was about to do with the merchandise. I remembered that my district manager had said that the numbers of internal theft cases were going up in the district. Internal theft cases were known to be the most costly. One store in the district had already closed an internal theft case of over $ $25,000.00 in merchandise theft.

I contacted my district manager and let them know that I was conducting an employee theft investigation on an associate that had taken some merchandise from the display and sat it beneath their register. That evening when the associate left for the day, I saw them leave and it did not appear that they took the merchandise I saw them place beneath their register earlier that day. On day two of the employee theft investigation the associate was seen again taking merchandise and placing it at their register. While observing the associate complete a sales transaction, I observed the associate placed the merchandise from beneath the register in the bag of the customer she was checking out. The merchandise was not scanned and had not been purchased. I informed my district manager of what I had seen during the employee theft investigation.



After deducing that the associate had committed employee theft, I concluded the investigation. When I interviewed the associate and informed them that my investigation had shown that they had committed employee theft, the associate confessed that they would get merchandise that they wanted and slip it into the bag of a friend and pick it up later. The associate admitted to the employee theft of about $140.00 in merchandise theft.

For more information on employee theft , employee theft investigation or internal contact us or call 1.866.914.2567 – Atlanta Georgia

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Product Denial vs. Just Plain Theft. What’s Better in the Bottle Lock World?

 Bottle locks come in two basic designs. Each design offers different features and address different problems. Alpha Security offers very high quality models of both types plus other solutions.

The first type of bottle lock is designed for detection AND product denial in the event that the shoplifter does escape with the bottle. These bottle locks are known as EASy Guarde , Crystal Guard , EASy Bottle , bottle caps and others. A product denial bottle cap fits over the top of the bottle. It does not allow the bottle to be opened. These bottle security devices also contain a Checkpoint Systems or other EAS tag built in. This type of liquor bottle security does not require a Checkpoint type system.

 There are also bottle locks that simply notify store staff that a shoplifter is attempting to remove the bottle from the retail store. This type of bottle lock is known by several names: Steel Grip, necker, bottle neck style lock among others. When the shoplifter conceals a protected bottle and approaches the Checkpoint System or other EAS antennas located at the customer doors, the system alarms. This style of bottle lock requires a Checkpoint style system at the doors.

 Both types of bottle security are very tough but are easy for store staff to apply and remove. The materials used in the construction of Alpha Security bottle security products make it extremely difficult for a shoplifter to disable or remove them. Chances are that the shoplifter will break the bottle before the liquor bottle security device can be removed.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to Purchase EASy Bottle Bottle Locks by Alpha Security.

For more informatio on Alpha Security, Bottle Locks, Bottle Lock, Liquor Bottle Security, EASy Bottle or Bottle Security Contact Us or Call 1-866-914-2567

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Have a safe and Happy Holiday!

 Tis the season. It is officially the holiday season, as we go into stores and see Christmas displays, increased customer traffic, and giddy anticipation for what is supposed to be an exciting and magical time of year.

It might not be that way, however, if you are the victim of a crime during the holidays. Unfortunately, thieves pay attention to the seasons also. They know that you are spending more, may have more money on you or in your purse, and they know you may have more items, such as gifts, in your house.

Burglars know that during this time of year, vehicles parked in mall or retail parking lots are likely to have valuables inside. This time of year they can find more valuables in vehicles than usual, but there are ways to prevent being a victim. When shopping, do not leave valuables or gifts out in the open where a thief could see them through the window. Keep packages in the trunk, and always lock your car. Park in a well lit and high traffic area, especially at night. And if you are shopping local, consider taking some of your purchases home, then going out again to shop, so that you do not accumulate a large amount of valuables in your vehicle at one time.

Criminals also know that homes have increased items of value during the holiday season. Do an inspection of your home and look at it through the eyes of a burglar. Do you have bushes covering windows? Are there areas of your house that are in complete darkness at night? Do you have a door that does not shut very well, or will not lock? Look at your windows to make sure they lock tightly. Always lock your house when you are not at home. It is good to lock your house even when you are home, to help prevent a criminal from just walking in and helping themselves or harming you.

Also consider keeping your valuable gifts out of sight and away from the windows. It is common practice to display your Christmas tree in your window, along with all of the gifts underneath, but this can be an invitation to a burglar looking in. It is a better idea to let Santa bring those gifts on Christmas Eve, where they will be opened right away on Christmas morning.

Nothing ruins the holiday season more than being the victim of a crime. Basic prevention can help keep the holidays the cheery time of year that they were meant to be.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

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

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

Sunday, October 23, 2011

How To Prevent Internal Theft

One of the hardest parts of working in retail management is dealing with employee theft- sometimes referred to as internal theft. It’s a personal blow to think that someone you know, someone you trust, is stealing from you and your company.

             During the interview portion of an employee theft investigation, most employees say that they stole because they couldn’t afford the items they took. In my experiences dealing with employee theft investigations, it is often unforeseen circumstances that make these associates change their honest ways. It could be that a spouse lost their job, or medical bills came sneaking up on them.

             While you can’t control the outside circumstances of every employee’s life, there are some steps you can take to prevent internal theft. By using devices like Checkpoint’s RF pedestals and RF hard tags and labels you can often keep your employees honest by making them realize how hard it will be to discreetly steal from your store. Providing visual cues like these, goes a long way to preventing employee theft.

 In all my years of loss prevention, no employee has ever walked out the door with an item of merchandise that had an RF tag on it. They stuck to the items that did not have any sort of tag or label. In fact, they went out of their way to find the items without them. Checkpoint tags and labels are a proactive solution to preventing employee theft from happening in your store.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Internal Theft: Nickel and Diming Your Business to Death

As a loss prevention investigator, a large part of my role is to help the company I work for protect their profits by working to investigate and resolve instances of internal theft. Internal theft doesn’t just happen in the form of stealing merchandise and cash. Sometimes employee theft isn’t quite as dramatic and noticeable. Although it can be hard to detect, many times employees who are stealing from your business feel more confident and comfortable engaging in margin theft, such as discount abuse, return fraud or coupon fraud. Though the dollar amounts on these cases might seem insignificant, often dishonest employees use this type of theft to test the waters and increase their confidence in what they are doing, often moving on to larger and bolder theft acts. Over time, even these margin losses can significantly impact your profits and, without an impression of control being established by addressing these incidents, your internal theft problems may grow as more and more employees find ways to cheat the system.

Bringing in a loss prevention investigator to help you identify and address employee theft and using POS exception software in conjunction with a good CCTV system can allow you to identify any issues much more quickly. A professional loss prevention investigator, even acting as a consultant, will be able to help you develop a solid case you can use to terminate the dishonest employee and help you gather valuable, professional evidence should you need the assistance of law enforcement and the courts. Quick employee theft investigation will help you minimize the erosion of your profit margins, establish an impression of control with your entire staff and, if cash or merchandise theft is also involved, give you an opportunity to recover your assets. By having a program in place to identify and address employee theft, you’ll begin to establish a culture of honesty that will encourage everyone to assist in keeping your business profitable and your employees honest.

For more information on employee theft, employee theft investigation, loss prevention investigator, internal theft or hiring a loss prevention investigator contact us or call 1.866.914.2567.