WC Blog 826
Stop Shoplifting -3
Sensormatic Security System-3
My Favorite Cases When I Would Stop Shoplifting – Part 2
In Part 1 about my favorite exploits when I worked to stop shoplifting I shared three of my favorite cases but honestly that doesn’t scratch the surface. I had a lot of experiences but like many of my peers there are always those apprehensions that make such an impression they just stay with you. Even when the store uses a Sensormatic security system or other anti-theft system there are always people who are going to try steal from a store and many of the cases involved people trying to get around those systems or security tags.
In continuing my top list I pick up where I left off with number four in my personal favorite shoplifting incidents.
4. Usually any case involving an accusation that race somehow played a part in the apprehension of a shoplifter is concerning. I did have one case where the accusation was laughable. I stopped a young man for stealing a ball cap. It was not protected with a clothing security tag so it was not going to set off a Sensormatic security system tower or any electronic articles surveillance system. Fortunately, in this case I had already been watching him so I was able to stop him and get the merchandise back. The suspect returned to the security office with me and was cooperative until I asked him to empty his pockets and a small bag of marijuana came out with other assorted odds and ends and a pocket knife. At that point he got somewhat belligerent and accused me of stopping him in his words, “Because I am white!” I couldn’t help but laugh, I am caucasion too! He still went to jail for shoplifting and simple possession.
5. Speaking of shoplifters and drugs I had another drug related case that is in my top favorites list. I had a rash of bicycle thefts from our store and had to find a way to stop shoplifting in that department. I had my Loss Prevention team focus all of our attention on that particular area. It didn’t take many days of surveillance before one of my Loss Prevention Associates observed a “shopper” enter the area. He selected a bicycle and walked it all the way to the front of the store then parked it near the shopping carts. We watched our suspect walk around until he felt it was clear then went back and retrieved the merchandise and rolled it to the doors. As he walked it to the electronic article surveillance towers we apprehended our crook. As we neared the security office the suspect decide to fight with us. We eventually got him under control when he suddenly started to have a “seizure”. I am not a medical expert but the drooling and attempt to roll around was not convincing. I told the suspect that I would call an ambulance for him (as I continued to sit on him) but let him know he would be charged $500.00 for the ambulance ride. My suspect made a miraculous recovery and we were able to turn him over to the police for further processing.
6. Theft cases where drugs are involved are not always the safest but they can wind up with a funny ending. In one incident a suspect was stealing clothing. I stopped him at the exit doors and he decided to bolt on me. We ran several blocks until he sat down on the steps of a pancake house and said he was giving up. I stood over him waiting for the police to arrive. While we were waiting he asked if he could get rid of a scale he had in his pocket (for those who may not know, drug dealers use small scales to weigh out drugs they are selling, in this case marijuana). I said that was fine with me. He tossed it under a newspaper vending machine. When the police arrived I made a point of telling them that the suspect had hidden the scale. The crook had a shocked look and said he thought I said he could hide it. I reminded him I DID allow him to get rid of it I never promised him I wouldn’t tell the police about it. Not only did I stop shoplifting I helped to get a drug dealer off the street and I still laugh at the whole incident.
Not every shoplifter is deterred by a Sensormatic security system or anti-theft device. In many cases these shoplifters are involved in other criminal activity such as the use or distribution of drugs. As I mentioned they can be dangerous and I have had my share of such incidents but these are the cases that ended with a certain amount of humor and the only thing hurt were some feelings.
A Sensormatic security system is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
In Part 1 about my favorite exploits when I worked to stop shoplifting I shared three of my favorite cases but honestly that doesn’t scratch the surface. I had a lot of experiences but like many of my peers there are always those apprehensions that make such an impression they just stay with you. Even when the store uses a Sensormatic security system or other anti-theft system there are always people who are going to try steal from a store and many of the cases involved people trying to get around those systems or security tags.
In continuing my top list I pick up where I left off with number four in my personal favorite shoplifting incidents.
4. Usually any case involving an accusation that race somehow played a part in the apprehension of a shoplifter is concerning. I did have one case where the accusation was laughable. I stopped a young man for stealing a ball cap. It was not protected with a clothing security tag so it was not going to set off a Sensormatic security system tower or any electronic articles surveillance system. Fortunately, in this case I had already been watching him so I was able to stop him and get the merchandise back. The suspect returned to the security office with me and was cooperative until I asked him to empty his pockets and a small bag of marijuana came out with other assorted odds and ends and a pocket knife. At that point he got somewhat belligerent and accused me of stopping him in his words, “Because I am white!” I couldn’t help but laugh, I am caucasion too! He still went to jail for shoplifting and simple possession.
5. Speaking of shoplifters and drugs I had another drug related case that is in my top favorites list. I had a rash of bicycle thefts from our store and had to find a way to stop shoplifting in that department. I had my Loss Prevention team focus all of our attention on that particular area. It didn’t take many days of surveillance before one of my Loss Prevention Associates observed a “shopper” enter the area. He selected a bicycle and walked it all the way to the front of the store then parked it near the shopping carts. We watched our suspect walk around until he felt it was clear then went back and retrieved the merchandise and rolled it to the doors. As he walked it to the electronic article surveillance towers we apprehended our crook. As we neared the security office the suspect decide to fight with us. We eventually got him under control when he suddenly started to have a “seizure”. I am not a medical expert but the drooling and attempt to roll around was not convincing. I told the suspect that I would call an ambulance for him (as I continued to sit on him) but let him know he would be charged $500.00 for the ambulance ride. My suspect made a miraculous recovery and we were able to turn him over to the police for further processing.
6. Theft cases where drugs are involved are not always the safest but they can wind up with a funny ending. In one incident a suspect was stealing clothing. I stopped him at the exit doors and he decided to bolt on me. We ran several blocks until he sat down on the steps of a pancake house and said he was giving up. I stood over him waiting for the police to arrive. While we were waiting he asked if he could get rid of a scale he had in his pocket (for those who may not know, drug dealers use small scales to weigh out drugs they are selling, in this case marijuana). I said that was fine with me. He tossed it under a newspaper vending machine. When the police arrived I made a point of telling them that the suspect had hidden the scale. The crook had a shocked look and said he thought I said he could hide it. I reminded him I DID allow him to get rid of it I never promised him I wouldn’t tell the police about it. Not only did I stop shoplifting I helped to get a drug dealer off the street and I still laugh at the whole incident.
Not every shoplifter is deterred by a Sensormatic security system or anti-theft device. In many cases these shoplifters are involved in other criminal activity such as the use or distribution of drugs. As I mentioned they can be dangerous and I have had my share of such incidents but these are the cases that ended with a certain amount of humor and the only thing hurt were some feelings.
A Sensormatic security system is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
WC Blog 831
Stop Shoplifting – 3
Sensormatic Tags -3
Openness To Suggestions Can Stop Shoplifting, Improve Safety And/Or Operations
When I was a Loss Prevention Manager I balked at some things I or my team were required to do that I felt had minimal impact on efforts to stop shoplifting. By nature I don’t like to do things that I perceive as a waste of time at work. I did not care for audit lists created by headquarters that my team had to research every single day. I may have recognized that some of the items should be on the list for every store and the list may have been a company top theft list but I believed it could have been reduced. I would have been agreeable to a shortened list with a store specific Top 5 list added on. Unfortunately many times a program is rolled out or a decision is made and as a leader you have to implement it. This is not meant to say that every program rolled out was a bad one. When directed to use Sensormatic tags on specific items that are a company-wide theft item it makes sense to require all stores to use the same measure of protection. On the other hand managers, you have to have the skills to know how to disagree with a program or policy, challenge it and have reasons for your disagreement but still get your team on board to support it. It can be a tricky balancing act but a necessary one for low and mid-level managers.
As a store owner or store manager are you open to feedback from your employees? I don’t mean a scowl and nasty look with a response that you will take something under advisement. I mean are you willing to listen to suggestions and give thoughtful consideration to what someone is concerned about? For example, what if one of your employees reads that liquid detergent is becoming a target of thieves and suggests you protect your detergents with Sensormatic tags, will you give it serious consideration? Ignoring the concern may cost you a lot of money before you find out they were right. Maybe a suggestion can save your company money in preventing an accident or it just eliminates a time waster. It can be related to how to better stop shoplifting or it may be operational in nature. For example recently at my retail job I was filling an empty pallet with cases of paper. I had to take the cartons from stockroom shelves, one carton at a time. I was annoyed at the safety issue of lifting these heavy boxes while on a ladder, having to haul them down then refilling a pallet that the cases were being sold from. The productivity issue was that the cartons had to be removed from a pallet they were received on, toted UP the ladder and stored in the stockroom shelves. The process of refilling the pallet took me at least half an hour. I have to assume it took someone that long to store those cases of paper on the shelves. I voiced my concern to the Manager on Duty about the safety concern and the waste of an hour of payroll. The Manager took a picture of the shelves that still had paper on them and sent the picture to the Store Manager and the rest of the management team. That demonstrated he took my concern seriously and my suggestion that paper simply be left on pallets in the stockroom.
You might be surprised by the knowledge some of your employees possess. Maybe you have someone working for you who had Loss Prevention experience and could share suggestion on how to improve efforts to stop shoplifting. As a Freight/Stockroom Manager my job dropped when I learned after almost a year that one of my stockroom employees had once been a stockroom manager in our company! There were many times I could have called upon his experience to get projects done much more quickly had I known of his background beforehand. When I asked him why he hadn’t told me he said he didn’t think it was important. I did walk away from that experience resolved in the future to know more about the people who work for me and use their knowledge to help in the future.
Not every suggestion is going to be a good one. If an employee suggests tagging checklane candy with Sensormatic tags I would be skeptical. If they provide a suggestion to tag all of the cosmetics, because they are seeing a lot of empty shelf spaces that may be something to look into. In the end what I am saying is don’t waste energy, time and resources on tasks that don’t make sense. I also urge you to be open to suggestions offered by employees that can prevent accidents, save money or save time. You might be surprised at what they can offer.
Need more information on Sensormatic tags? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
When I was a Loss Prevention Manager I balked at some things I or my team were required to do that I felt had minimal impact on efforts to stop shoplifting. By nature I don’t like to do things that I perceive as a waste of time at work. I did not care for audit lists created by headquarters that my team had to research every single day. I may have recognized that some of the items should be on the list for every store and the list may have been a company top theft list but I believed it could have been reduced. I would have been agreeable to a shortened list with a store specific Top 5 list added on. Unfortunately many times a program is rolled out or a decision is made and as a leader you have to implement it. This is not meant to say that every program rolled out was a bad one. When directed to use Sensormatic tags on specific items that are a company-wide theft item it makes sense to require all stores to use the same measure of protection. On the other hand managers, you have to have the skills to know how to disagree with a program or policy, challenge it and have reasons for your disagreement but still get your team on board to support it. It can be a tricky balancing act but a necessary one for low and mid-level managers.
As a store owner or store manager are you open to feedback from your employees? I don’t mean a scowl and nasty look with a response that you will take something under advisement. I mean are you willing to listen to suggestions and give thoughtful consideration to what someone is concerned about? For example, what if one of your employees reads that liquid detergent is becoming a target of thieves and suggests you protect your detergents with Sensormatic tags, will you give it serious consideration? Ignoring the concern may cost you a lot of money before you find out they were right. Maybe a suggestion can save your company money in preventing an accident or it just eliminates a time waster. It can be related to how to better stop shoplifting or it may be operational in nature. For example recently at my retail job I was filling an empty pallet with cases of paper. I had to take the cartons from stockroom shelves, one carton at a time. I was annoyed at the safety issue of lifting these heavy boxes while on a ladder, having to haul them down then refilling a pallet that the cases were being sold from. The productivity issue was that the cartons had to be removed from a pallet they were received on, toted UP the ladder and stored in the stockroom shelves. The process of refilling the pallet took me at least half an hour. I have to assume it took someone that long to store those cases of paper on the shelves. I voiced my concern to the Manager on Duty about the safety concern and the waste of an hour of payroll. The Manager took a picture of the shelves that still had paper on them and sent the picture to the Store Manager and the rest of the management team. That demonstrated he took my concern seriously and my suggestion that paper simply be left on pallets in the stockroom.
You might be surprised by the knowledge some of your employees possess. Maybe you have someone working for you who had Loss Prevention experience and could share suggestion on how to improve efforts to stop shoplifting. As a Freight/Stockroom Manager my job dropped when I learned after almost a year that one of my stockroom employees had once been a stockroom manager in our company! There were many times I could have called upon his experience to get projects done much more quickly had I known of his background beforehand. When I asked him why he hadn’t told me he said he didn’t think it was important. I did walk away from that experience resolved in the future to know more about the people who work for me and use their knowledge to help in the future.
Not every suggestion is going to be a good one. If an employee suggests tagging checklane candy with Sensormatic tags I would be skeptical. If they provide a suggestion to tag all of the cosmetics, because they are seeing a lot of empty shelf spaces that may be something to look into. In the end what I am saying is don’t waste energy, time and resources on tasks that don’t make sense. I also urge you to be open to suggestions offered by employees that can prevent accidents, save money or save time. You might be surprised at what they can offer.
Need more information on Sensormatic tags? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Can Loss Prevention Be Free? – 3 WC Blog 815
Loss Prevention ROI Calculator – 3
The Loss Prevention ROI Calculator Shows You The One Investment That Ultimately Costs You Nothing
Use a Loss Prevention ROI Calculator and you get to see what a Sensormatic Sensor will save you in reduced shrinkage. Can I tell you what a cool concept that is? When do you have an opportunity to do this with any other purchase you make for your store? Come to think of it I can’t think of too many times this can apply to any purchase. If I decide to purchase a new suit for a job interview I can’t pull out a suit calculator and tap in a few numbers and say this is going to increase my chances of getting that job by sixty percent. Now I will say if you are car shopping the dealer information will give you an estimated gallons per mile the car will get in the city and on the highway. It isn’t a true help in the sense that it won’t tell you what you will save over your current vehicle. You may drive more than you currently do and you spending may increase. Fuel prices may go up and you will spend more for a gallon of gas than you are spending today.
Thinking about purchases you make for your business what other system or store fixture will you buy that will pay for itself over time. I would never say can a point of sale system be free? or can a new display fixture be free? No, I would not ask these questions but I would ask can Loss Prevention be free? A point of sale system may improve speed at the register or it may offer more functionality and those may help improve customer satisfaction but they don’t pay for your system over time. A new focal point fixture for a display may help to draw in some customers or drive some sales depending on what that is featured on that fixture but how do you measure that??? I have a clue that might surprise you…you actually can measure the impact of a new display, especially if it is set up as a window display for customers to see from outside your store. That display might pay for itself IF you can measure the impact it is having. You measure that impact with guess what…A SENSORMATIC LOSS PREVENTION SYSTEM! Go ahead, call me crazy but I am about to knock your socks off here. A Loss Prevention System can do more than prevent shoplifting and reduce shrinkage. Purchase a Sensormatic System and equip it with the people counting device. You start tracking the number of people entering and leaving your store. Set up you brand new window display fixture. Now look at your foot traffic data. Is there an improvement in the number of customers visiting? You wouldn’t have known that just from sales receipts, you can than your Sensormatic system for the confirmation. That is not the primary way to answer the question, “Can Loss Prevention be free?” but it does help pay for a system in a sense.
Your Loss Prevention ROI Calculator is going to demonstrate how the installation of a Sensormatic System is going to pay for itself through shortage reduction. Type in your sales data, how much you want to spend on a system, submit and you get a result that shows how much you will save in reduced shortage and an estimate of how long it will take for your brand new Sensormatic System to pay for itself. Can Loss Prevention be free? You better believe it can be, I have seen more recovered merchandise from an electronic surveillance system than I can recall.
Remember that the Loss Prevention ROI Calculator is going to only show you how much it is going to save you in terms of money saved due to decreased theft. It is now going to show you that your instocks will improve and your customers will have more purchase options as a result. It isn’t going to tell you how much your customer traffic will increase with the new displays but the Sensormatic customer counting device will. It also won’t measure the increased safety that comes with a Sensormatic system. As the shoplifting decreases so does the other crime that often accompanies it. You can’t measure EVERY benefit a Loss Prevention System will provide but it will pay for itself and the rest is icing on the cake.
The Loss Prevention ROI Calculator is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
Use a Loss Prevention ROI Calculator and you get to see what a Sensormatic Sensor will save you in reduced shrinkage. Can I tell you what a cool concept that is? When do you have an opportunity to do this with any other purchase you make for your store? Come to think of it I can’t think of too many times this can apply to any purchase. If I decide to purchase a new suit for a job interview I can’t pull out a suit calculator and tap in a few numbers and say this is going to increase my chances of getting that job by sixty percent. Now I will say if you are car shopping the dealer information will give you an estimated gallons per mile the car will get in the city and on the highway. It isn’t a true help in the sense that it won’t tell you what you will save over your current vehicle. You may drive more than you currently do and you spending may increase. Fuel prices may go up and you will spend more for a gallon of gas than you are spending today.
Thinking about purchases you make for your business what other system or store fixture will you buy that will pay for itself over time. I would never say can a point of sale system be free? or can a new display fixture be free? No, I would not ask these questions but I would ask can Loss Prevention be free? A point of sale system may improve speed at the register or it may offer more functionality and those may help improve customer satisfaction but they don’t pay for your system over time. A new focal point fixture for a display may help to draw in some customers or drive some sales depending on what that is featured on that fixture but how do you measure that??? I have a clue that might surprise you…you actually can measure the impact of a new display, especially if it is set up as a window display for customers to see from outside your store. That display might pay for itself IF you can measure the impact it is having. You measure that impact with guess what…A SENSORMATIC LOSS PREVENTION SYSTEM! Go ahead, call me crazy but I am about to knock your socks off here. A Loss Prevention System can do more than prevent shoplifting and reduce shrinkage. Purchase a Sensormatic System and equip it with the people counting device. You start tracking the number of people entering and leaving your store. Set up you brand new window display fixture. Now look at your foot traffic data. Is there an improvement in the number of customers visiting? You wouldn’t have known that just from sales receipts, you can than your Sensormatic system for the confirmation. That is not the primary way to answer the question, “Can Loss Prevention be free?” but it does help pay for a system in a sense.
Your Loss Prevention ROI Calculator is going to demonstrate how the installation of a Sensormatic System is going to pay for itself through shortage reduction. Type in your sales data, how much you want to spend on a system, submit and you get a result that shows how much you will save in reduced shortage and an estimate of how long it will take for your brand new Sensormatic System to pay for itself. Can Loss Prevention be free? You better believe it can be, I have seen more recovered merchandise from an electronic surveillance system than I can recall.
Remember that the Loss Prevention ROI Calculator is going to only show you how much it is going to save you in terms of money saved due to decreased theft. It is now going to show you that your instocks will improve and your customers will have more purchase options as a result. It isn’t going to tell you how much your customer traffic will increase with the new displays but the Sensormatic customer counting device will. It also won’t measure the increased safety that comes with a Sensormatic system. As the shoplifting decreases so does the other crime that often accompanies it. You can’t measure EVERY benefit a Loss Prevention System will provide but it will pay for itself and the rest is icing on the cake.
The Loss Prevention ROI Calculator is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
Sensormatic labels – 3 WC Blog 816
Stop Shoplifting -3
Drug Addiction, Shoplifting And How Sensormatic Labels Can Make A Store Less Vulnerable
I just watched a recorded webinar about opioid use in libraries and as I often do I found it applicable to retail businesses and the use of Sensormatic labels. Having been a Retail Loss Prevention Manager I have dealt with shoplifters and criminals who have been high on drugs. Drug use and the impact it has on society is an unfortunate problem overall but it is a real concern for retailers. I have been able to stop shoplifting by those who were high on crack cocaine, marijuana and I have even caught suspected methamphetamine users. The webinar I watched on the topic referenced how the users of these drugs become addicted and need more of the substances to maintain the same level of high. The speaker referenced how many of these addicts will resort to theft to feed the addiction and that can include car break-ins, house break-ins, robbery and shoplifting. He also spoke about libraries being a place these addicts will go to in order to shoot up, using the restrooms as a secluded location for their activity.
Clearly retailers have to be aware that if libraries are chosen because addicts feel they can blend in with the public and be out of the view of police, then stores can be chosen for the same reason. One concern noted in the webinar is the dropped needles and paraphernalia from the drug user. Some of the ingredients are potentially dangerous if they just touch the skin, such as fentanyl. The problem is potentially worse for retailers due to the fact that the addict may try to steal while they are in the store. Now you have the dangers associated with the abuser’s needles and such plus the increased chance of shoplifting. The use of Sensormatic labels to protect merchandise becomes that much more important.
Aside from the problem of how to stop shoplifting and the drug use in your store you also have to be careful about what is happening outside your store. Is the exterior of your building inviting to the drug user? I have driven around the back of some stores and they are stacked with clutter, old fixtures, broken pallets and dumpsters. They are not well lit and they are inviting to people who don’t want to be seen. This can be the dealing of drugs, the use of drugs or even waiting for someone to pass by so they can rob them. Dark parking lots with lights that are burned out are also an invitation to criminals who are looking to break into vehicles. Add to all of this panhandlers who are not banned from store property because store owners feel badly for them. I’m not trying to be harsh, I feel sympathy for those who are struggling but as a Loss Prevention Manager I also saw the discomfort and concern when shoppers trying to come in or leave my store were approached by strangers. Often it was clear that a panhandler was an addict looking for some quick money.
Drug abusers may also pose a physical danger to your employees and customers. As the speaker on the webinar was talking about the problems of the drugs, he also pointed out how they affect the users. In some instances they are lethargic and when using opioids with fentanyl they can go into a fentanyl coma. He mentioned that it is when these abusers are shaken out of their comas, as is the case when Narcam is used, they can become violent and irrational. I can also say from first-hand experience that some drug abusers on crack or methamphetamine can be violent and will fight when confronted.
So where do Sensormatic labels and systems fit into all of this? The narcotics abuser and even an alcoholic who is financially strapped but has an addiction to feed will often turn to shoplifting. They certainly do not want to be caught because that is going to impede their ability to get the next fix. That results in one of two things they risk stealing from a store where electronic article surveillance is used to stop shoplifting, significantly increasing the chance of being caught. Two, they go to stores where electronic article surveillance is not used and they face minimal risk of being caught.
Don’t allow your store to be an inviting location for thieves and especially drug addicts. Make your products less appealing and harder to steal by setting up a Sensormatic security system and placing Sensormatic labels on all of your merchandise. You will make your building safer and reduce shortage at the same time.
Need information on how to stop shoplifting? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
I just watched a recorded webinar about opioid use in libraries and as I often do I found it applicable to retail businesses and the use of Sensormatic labels. Having been a Retail Loss Prevention Manager I have dealt with shoplifters and criminals who have been high on drugs. Drug use and the impact it has on society is an unfortunate problem overall but it is a real concern for retailers. I have been able to stop shoplifting by those who were high on crack cocaine, marijuana and I have even caught suspected methamphetamine users. The webinar I watched on the topic referenced how the users of these drugs become addicted and need more of the substances to maintain the same level of high. The speaker referenced how many of these addicts will resort to theft to feed the addiction and that can include car break-ins, house break-ins, robbery and shoplifting. He also spoke about libraries being a place these addicts will go to in order to shoot up, using the restrooms as a secluded location for their activity.
Clearly retailers have to be aware that if libraries are chosen because addicts feel they can blend in with the public and be out of the view of police, then stores can be chosen for the same reason. One concern noted in the webinar is the dropped needles and paraphernalia from the drug user. Some of the ingredients are potentially dangerous if they just touch the skin, such as fentanyl. The problem is potentially worse for retailers due to the fact that the addict may try to steal while they are in the store. Now you have the dangers associated with the abuser’s needles and such plus the increased chance of shoplifting. The use of Sensormatic labels to protect merchandise becomes that much more important.
Aside from the problem of how to stop shoplifting and the drug use in your store you also have to be careful about what is happening outside your store. Is the exterior of your building inviting to the drug user? I have driven around the back of some stores and they are stacked with clutter, old fixtures, broken pallets and dumpsters. They are not well lit and they are inviting to people who don’t want to be seen. This can be the dealing of drugs, the use of drugs or even waiting for someone to pass by so they can rob them. Dark parking lots with lights that are burned out are also an invitation to criminals who are looking to break into vehicles. Add to all of this panhandlers who are not banned from store property because store owners feel badly for them. I’m not trying to be harsh, I feel sympathy for those who are struggling but as a Loss Prevention Manager I also saw the discomfort and concern when shoppers trying to come in or leave my store were approached by strangers. Often it was clear that a panhandler was an addict looking for some quick money.
Drug abusers may also pose a physical danger to your employees and customers. As the speaker on the webinar was talking about the problems of the drugs, he also pointed out how they affect the users. In some instances they are lethargic and when using opioids with fentanyl they can go into a fentanyl coma. He mentioned that it is when these abusers are shaken out of their comas, as is the case when Narcam is used, they can become violent and irrational. I can also say from first-hand experience that some drug abusers on crack or methamphetamine can be violent and will fight when confronted.
So where do Sensormatic labels and systems fit into all of this? The narcotics abuser and even an alcoholic who is financially strapped but has an addiction to feed will often turn to shoplifting. They certainly do not want to be caught because that is going to impede their ability to get the next fix. That results in one of two things they risk stealing from a store where electronic article surveillance is used to stop shoplifting, significantly increasing the chance of being caught. Two, they go to stores where electronic article surveillance is not used and they face minimal risk of being caught.
Don’t allow your store to be an inviting location for thieves and especially drug addicts. Make your products less appealing and harder to steal by setting up a Sensormatic security system and placing Sensormatic labels on all of your merchandise. You will make your building safer and reduce shortage at the same time.
Need information on how to stop shoplifting? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Stop Shoplifting – 3 WC Blog 825
Sensormatic Security System – 3
My Favorite Cases When I Would Stop Shoplifting – Part 1
I focus a significant amount of my writing on my efforts to stop shoplifting. Having engaged in Retail Loss Prevention for about 17 years both as a Loss Prevention Officer and a Loss Prevention Manager you accumulate shoplifting stories. Some are funny, some are scary, some are bizarre and in some cases they are sad. When Loss Prevention professionals say there is no stereotypical shoplifter they are correct. In some cases shoplifters attempt to avoid merchandise that will set off a Sensormatic security system. Others don’t know enough to understand what they are attempting to steal will activate a system alarm. And well, sometimes the shoplifter is too drunk or drugged to know or care anyways. As I was thinking back on some of MY personal favorite shoplifting cases I had my own Top 10 list I thought I would share but not necessarily in any particular order.
1. My very first shoplifter! It was special for two reasons. This gentleman went into a high-end clothing department, selected a very expensive suede jacket and went around a pillar and stuffed it into a shopping bag. It was so quick I had to rewind the VCR and review the video…yes, VCR. Sure enough it went in the bag. Our office was on the second floor of the store so I had to rush down the stairs and catch up to him. As he was walking out our alarm tower, very similar to a Sensormatic security system, sounded. I identified myself and the suspect fled. I contacted our operator and she in turn called the police for me. I chased the suspect to an apartment building and the police arrived and got him out, it wasn’t even his apartment! The jacket was recovered and the suspect went to jail. Later I learned from my father that he was a co-worker of my dad and they were supposed to be on a lunchbreak during a mental health counseling services conference at a nearby hotel. My shoplifter never came back from lunch. My dad and the rest of the group did not know why he did not return, I was happy to fill in the pieces. Someone needed his OWN counseling service after that I am certain.
2. Near the top of my list of favorite shoplifting cases was a couple who were shoplifting clothing together. Not all of our merchandise was protected with clothing security devices to stop shoplifting. In this case the pair were stealing garments that were not protected. I followed them through the store on foot while my supervisor took over cameras. When it appeared the couple was ready to head for an exit I stopped them in the vestibule between the sets of exit doors. The guy ran out but the girl with him who had the merchandise ran back into the store. I locked the outer doors with my key and then walked back in the building. The girl still had the merchandise but did not see me and tried to exit the same doors again to meet with her partner. As she entered the vestibule the second time I locked the inside set of doors. She was trapped. The young man pounded on the outside doors demanding that I let her out. Chivalry died when he heard the sirens of approaching police cars and he fled. I can still picture the anger of this shoplifter as she paced inside the vestibule threatening me if I didn’t let her go.
3. You’ve heard of a fleeing felon? This favorite of mine, although not so much at the time involved a peeing felon. Our store had a big theft problem with Pokemon cards. The box sets were tagged so that a Sensormatic security system or other anti-theft system could detect if a shoplifter was trying to exit with stolen merchandise. Unfortunately individual packs were iffy since they had foil packaging. There was also the problem of thieves opening packages and just taking the cards they wanted. In this case a young boy perhaps 5 or 6 years old was in the process of opening a package near the back of the store. I walked up on him from behind, asked somewhat loudly what he was doing and startled him. He appeared frozen and then I heard the sound of liquid spilling on the floor. Yes, I scared him that much. I recovered the cards, took him to the front of the store and paged his mother. I think justice was served and released him to her custody.
In Part 2 we will continue this trip down memory lane as I relate some of my most beloved stories from when I worked to stop shoplifting and make our stores more profitable.
Get more information on a Sensormatic security system, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
I focus a significant amount of my writing on my efforts to stop shoplifting. Having engaged in Retail Loss Prevention for about 17 years both as a Loss Prevention Officer and a Loss Prevention Manager you accumulate shoplifting stories. Some are funny, some are scary, some are bizarre and in some cases they are sad. When Loss Prevention professionals say there is no stereotypical shoplifter they are correct. In some cases shoplifters attempt to avoid merchandise that will set off a Sensormatic security system. Others don’t know enough to understand what they are attempting to steal will activate a system alarm. And well, sometimes the shoplifter is too drunk or drugged to know or care anyways. As I was thinking back on some of MY personal favorite shoplifting cases I had my own Top 10 list I thought I would share but not necessarily in any particular order.
1. My very first shoplifter! It was special for two reasons. This gentleman went into a high-end clothing department, selected a very expensive suede jacket and went around a pillar and stuffed it into a shopping bag. It was so quick I had to rewind the VCR and review the video…yes, VCR. Sure enough it went in the bag. Our office was on the second floor of the store so I had to rush down the stairs and catch up to him. As he was walking out our alarm tower, very similar to a Sensormatic security system, sounded. I identified myself and the suspect fled. I contacted our operator and she in turn called the police for me. I chased the suspect to an apartment building and the police arrived and got him out, it wasn’t even his apartment! The jacket was recovered and the suspect went to jail. Later I learned from my father that he was a co-worker of my dad and they were supposed to be on a lunchbreak during a mental health counseling services conference at a nearby hotel. My shoplifter never came back from lunch. My dad and the rest of the group did not know why he did not return, I was happy to fill in the pieces. Someone needed his OWN counseling service after that I am certain.
2. Near the top of my list of favorite shoplifting cases was a couple who were shoplifting clothing together. Not all of our merchandise was protected with clothing security devices to stop shoplifting. In this case the pair were stealing garments that were not protected. I followed them through the store on foot while my supervisor took over cameras. When it appeared the couple was ready to head for an exit I stopped them in the vestibule between the sets of exit doors. The guy ran out but the girl with him who had the merchandise ran back into the store. I locked the outer doors with my key and then walked back in the building. The girl still had the merchandise but did not see me and tried to exit the same doors again to meet with her partner. As she entered the vestibule the second time I locked the inside set of doors. She was trapped. The young man pounded on the outside doors demanding that I let her out. Chivalry died when he heard the sirens of approaching police cars and he fled. I can still picture the anger of this shoplifter as she paced inside the vestibule threatening me if I didn’t let her go.
3. You’ve heard of a fleeing felon? This favorite of mine, although not so much at the time involved a peeing felon. Our store had a big theft problem with Pokemon cards. The box sets were tagged so that a Sensormatic security system or other anti-theft system could detect if a shoplifter was trying to exit with stolen merchandise. Unfortunately individual packs were iffy since they had foil packaging. There was also the problem of thieves opening packages and just taking the cards they wanted. In this case a young boy perhaps 5 or 6 years old was in the process of opening a package near the back of the store. I walked up on him from behind, asked somewhat loudly what he was doing and startled him. He appeared frozen and then I heard the sound of liquid spilling on the floor. Yes, I scared him that much. I recovered the cards, took him to the front of the store and paged his mother. I think justice was served and released him to her custody.
In Part 2 we will continue this trip down memory lane as I relate some of my most beloved stories from when I worked to stop shoplifting and make our stores more profitable.
Get more information on a Sensormatic security system, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
