EAS Label-3 WC Blog 312
Checkpoint Labels-4
Electronic Article Surveillance-5
Stop Shoplifting-4
Be Aware Of Merchandise Your Store Sells That Interfere With The Optimum Performance Of Checkpoint Labels.
Recently, LPMINSIDER magazine had an article that focused on the potential shoplifting tools stores may be unwittingly carrying on store shelves that could be used by professional boosters or shoplifters. In his article, “Are Retailers Selling Shoplifting Tools?” by Scott Womack, December 21, 2016, Mr. Womack describes an insulated can cooler he found on a store shelf that was aluminum lined. He discusses several types of EAS labels and tag he had tested when placed in the bag to see if the bag would disrupt the alarm. He found the cooler did make it more difficult for the towers to detect tags concealed in this particular bag. The writer did not say the merchandise should not be carried but possible merchandising alternatives could be considered. In order to stop shoplifting, it is sometimes necessary for retailers to evaluate how they merchandise some items and to consider if specific merchandise could contribute to theft.
Checkpoint labels are soft tags that have coils designed into them that operate on a specific radio frequency (rf) wave. This tag, when carried within range of electronic article surveillance pedestals, causes the pedestal to sound an alarm or loud beeping noise that attracts the attention of store associates. Associates or managers respond to the alarm and usually stop shoplifting from taking place, though on occasion it may be an EAS label was not properly deactivated at a point of sale. While electronic article surveillance towers continue to get better with improved range detection fields and their detection abilities they can have limitations when thieves try to use devices to interfere with the signals, particularly aluminum or foils.
One type of device professional shoplifters or boosters will use to try to defeat Checkpoint labels and an electronic article surveillance tower is the foil lined shopping bag, often called a booster bag. This was the concern noted by the author of the article. The cooler Mr. Womack found was almost a ready-made booster bag since aluminum was one of the materials used to keep product cold when placed in the bag. His article reminded me of another product I had an issue with during an encounter with a razor blade booster. In my situation, the criminal took a box of roasting bags, removed one of the bags and took it to our health and beauty department where he filled it with packages of razor blades. The roasting bags are made of aluminum foil by the same company that makes rolls of aluminum foil. I had a tussle with the criminal and did stop shoplifting of the blades but only because I had observed the theft take place, in this situation the roasting bag did defeat any EAS label and towers. Unfortunately, there was not a lot we could do about product placement because it would have required a shift of all aluminum foils and removed them from the aisle with bakeware, plastic wrap, etc.
In spite of the occasional use of shoplifting tools by professionals and the rare instance when merchandise your store sells can be used to try to defeat an electronic article surveillance system; Checkpoint labels are still one of the best means of preventing theft. It takes a lot of time to make a booster bag that doesn’t look obvious. Additionally, finding those few items a store sells that might be used to try to defeat a system can be difficult. While some product placement may be in order, an alternative is to make sure employees know to offer exceptional customer service in those areas. If your store uses closed circuit television a camera on these aisles could be of assistance.
As I mentioned earlier, electronic article surveillance pedestals are far better than when I used them. Systems have been upgraded and are better able to pick up hidden tags and defeat efforts to disrupt radio frequency signals. Find out for yourself just how effective Checkpoint labels and EAS pedestals can be to stop shoplifting in your business.
Need information on Checkpoint labels? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
LPMINSIDER magazine had an article that focused on the potential shoplifting tools stores may be unwittingly carrying on store shelves that could be used by professional boosters or shoplifters. In his article, “Are Retailers Selling Shoplifting Tools?” by Scott Womack, December 21, 2016, Mr. Womack describes an insulated can cooler he found on a store shelf that was aluminum lined. He discusses several types of EAS labels and tag he had tested when placed in the bag to see if the bag would disrupt the alarm. He found the cooler did make it more difficult for the towers to detect tags concealed in this particular bag. The writer did not say the merchandise should not be carried but possible merchandising alternatives could be considered. In order to stop shoplifting, it is sometimes necessary for retailers to evaluate how they merchandise some items and to consider if specific merchandise could contribute to theft.
Checkpoint labels are soft tags that have coils designed into them that operate on a specific radio frequency (rf) wave. This tag, when carried within range of electronic article surveillance pedestals, causes the pedestal to sound an alarm or loud beeping noise that attracts the attention of store associates. Associates or managers respond to the alarm and usually stop shoplifting from taking place, though on occasion it may be an EAS label was not properly deactivated at a point of sale. While electronic article surveillance towers continue to get better with improved range detection fields and their detection abilities they can have limitations when thieves try to use devices to interfere with the signals, particularly aluminum or foils.
One type of device professional shoplifters or boosters will use to try to defeat Checkpoint labels and an electronic article surveillance tower is the foil lined shopping bag, often called a booster bag. This was the concern noted by the author of the article. The cooler Mr. Womack found was almost a ready-made booster bag since aluminum was one of the materials used to keep product cold when placed in the bag. His article reminded me of another product I had an issue with during an encounter with a razor blade booster. In my situation, the criminal took a box of roasting bags, removed one of the bags and took it to our health and beauty department where he filled it with packages of razor blades. The roasting bags are made of aluminum foil by the same company that makes rolls of aluminum foil. I had a tussle with the criminal and did stop shoplifting of the blades but only because I had observed the theft take place, in this situation the roasting bag did defeat any EAS label and towers. Unfortunately, there was not a lot we could do about product placement because it would have required a shift of all aluminum foils and removed them from the aisle with bakeware, plastic wrap, etc.
In spite of the occasional use of shoplifting tools by professionals and the rare instance when merchandise your store sells can be used to try to defeat an electronic article surveillance system; Checkpoint labels are still one of the best means of preventing theft. It takes a lot of time to make a booster bag that doesn’t look obvious. Additionally, finding those few items a store sells that might be used to try to defeat a system can be difficult. While some product placement may be in order, an alternative is to make sure employees know to offer exceptional customer service in those areas. If your store uses closed circuit television a camera on these aisles could be of assistance.
As I mentioned earlier, electronic article surveillance pedestals are far better than when I used them. Systems have been upgraded and are better able to pick up hidden tags and defeat efforts to disrupt radio frequency signals. Find out for yourself just how effective Checkpoint labels and EAS pedestals can be to stop shoplifting in your business.
Need information on Checkpoint labels? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Checkpoint Security System-3 WC Blog 373
Stop Shoplifting-3
Checkpoint Tags-3
Weather Emergencies And Other Crisis; How Do You Prepare, Respond, Recover and Do You Still Stop Shoplifting? Part 2
I had several tornado watches and warnings I had to respond to while working as a Retail Loss Prevention Manager. Usually these took place when we were under severe thunderstorm warnings which happen regularly here during the summer. We couldn’t shut down computers, registers to protect against power surge damage because we still operated the store during the storms. We also had to stop shoplifting since customers were still shopping at those times so we continued to operate our Checkpoint Security System as well. If the wind was picking up we locked the automatic doors which had a tendency to fly open. Otherwise we monitored our weather radio and a portable radio I had in my office until we had to act. In Part 1 of this series I shared a story about a category 1 hurricane which hit our area and our store remained open. In this article I will share a couple of other crisis our store went through and how we responded.
Before I continue I do want to briefly tell readers about Checkpoint Security Systems, what they are and why I include them in a discussion on severe weather. The systems are anti-theft tools called electronic article surveillance (EAS) systems because they are a system of electrically powered detection towers, deactivation pads designed to de-tune soft Checkpoint tags and the Checkpoint tags themselves, which may be soft labels or hard tags that attach to clothes and other products. When power goes out due to a storm the towers become inoperable and cannot detect tags and therefore no longer stop shoplifting. Being aware of this means addressing it should be included in emergency action plans.
Living in a beach, resort area we get quite a few waterspouts just offshore. Generally they stay over the ocean without doing any damage. During one storm, a water spout actually came on land and became a full-blown tornado, less than a mile from our store. I got people to move to the center of our building when we got the tornado warning but to this day I still have to shake my head thinking about what one of our store managers did that day. The Manager On Duty went outside to see if she could see the tornado! I had to yell at her to get back in the building. We don’t see many tornados around here, so I guess she got caught up in the excitement. Ultimately the twister turned away and died out shortly afterwards but no damage was done to the store or any of our customers…or managers!
In a different emergency, a fuel truck overturned on the highway in front of our store. Aside from the obvious concern about the leaking contents, we had a different problem. Police had to divert traffic through our parking lot, directly in front of our front doors. There was no written plan for this but my team improvised in my absence. Customers wanting to enter and leave were having a terrible time as the line of cars would not stop to let people pass. It took them away from monitoring the Checkpoint security system towers but my team partnered with the manager on duty to have someone monitor for alarms set off by Checkpoint tags. They then stepped outside and began directing traffic. The Loss Prevention team helped customers enter the store and get out to their cars. Their efforts allowed the store to stay open and operate as normal.
One crisis that impacted our area for nearly a week, a small brush fire turned into a major fire emergency. There had been extremely dry conditions here and a resident decided to burn leaves, ignoring a burn ban. Fire fighters from all over the state and neighboring states came in to assist. In order to help in some way I partnered with our store manager and district Loss Prevention Manager to provide bottled water for firefighters and the company made a donation to The American Red Cross to assist families displaced by the fires. Though it was not a threat to the store, the impact on the community was real and some of our employees had homes in the threatened areas.
Emergency response can be difficult and the emergency itself can seem to grow exponentially when a plan is not in place. Training and review of emergency procedures can give a level of confidence to managers even when a situation cannot be foreseen, like an overturned truck. Plan now and don’t forget that Loss Prevention and the need to stop shoplifting should be a part of those plans. In Part 3 I will discuss some ideas on how to make an emergency plan.
Checkpoint Security Systems are important and we can help you with them. Call at 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
I had several tornado watches and warnings I had to respond to while working as a Retail Loss Prevention Manager. Usually these took place when we were under severe thunderstorm warnings which happen regularly here during the summer. We couldn’t shut down computers, registers to protect against power surge damage because we still operated the store during the storms. We also had to stop shoplifting since customers were still shopping at those times so we continued to operate our Checkpoint Security System as well. If the wind was picking up we locked the automatic doors which had a tendency to fly open. Otherwise we monitored our weather radio and a portable radio I had in my office until we had to act. In Part 1 of this series I shared a story about a category 1 hurricane which hit our area and our store remained open. In this article I will share a couple of other crisis our store went through and how we responded.
Before I continue I do want to briefly tell readers about Checkpoint Security Systems, what they are and why I include them in a discussion on severe weather. The systems are anti-theft tools called electronic article surveillance (EAS) systems because they are a system of electrically powered detection towers, deactivation pads designed to de-tune soft Checkpoint tags and the Checkpoint tags themselves, which may be soft labels or hard tags that attach to clothes and other products. When power goes out due to a storm the towers become inoperable and cannot detect tags and therefore no longer stop shoplifting. Being aware of this means addressing it should be included in emergency action plans.
Living in a beach, resort area we get quite a few waterspouts just offshore. Generally they stay over the ocean without doing any damage. During one storm, a water spout actually came on land and became a full-blown tornado, less than a mile from our store. I got people to move to the center of our building when we got the tornado warning but to this day I still have to shake my head thinking about what one of our store managers did that day. The Manager On Duty went outside to see if she could see the tornado! I had to yell at her to get back in the building. We don’t see many tornados around here, so I guess she got caught up in the excitement. Ultimately the twister turned away and died out shortly afterwards but no damage was done to the store or any of our customers…or managers!
In a different emergency, a fuel truck overturned on the highway in front of our store. Aside from the obvious concern about the leaking contents, we had a different problem. Police had to divert traffic through our parking lot, directly in front of our front doors. There was no written plan for this but my team improvised in my absence. Customers wanting to enter and leave were having a terrible time as the line of cars would not stop to let people pass. It took them away from monitoring the Checkpoint security system towers but my team partnered with the manager on duty to have someone monitor for alarms set off by Checkpoint tags. They then stepped outside and began directing traffic. The Loss Prevention team helped customers enter the store and get out to their cars. Their efforts allowed the store to stay open and operate as normal.
One crisis that impacted our area for nearly a week, a small brush fire turned into a major fire emergency. There had been extremely dry conditions here and a resident decided to burn leaves, ignoring a burn ban. Fire fighters from all over the state and neighboring states came in to assist. In order to help in some way I partnered with our store manager and district Loss Prevention Manager to provide bottled water for firefighters and the company made a donation to The American Red Cross to assist families displaced by the fires. Though it was not a threat to the store, the impact on the community was real and some of our employees had homes in the threatened areas.
Emergency response can be difficult and the emergency itself can seem to grow exponentially when a plan is not in place. Training and review of emergency procedures can give a level of confidence to managers even when a situation cannot be foreseen, like an overturned truck. Plan now and don’t forget that Loss Prevention and the need to stop shoplifting should be a part of those plans. In Part 3 I will discuss some ideas on how to make an emergency plan.
Checkpoint Security Systems are important and we can help you with them. Call at 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
Checkpoint Security System- 3 WC Blog 372
Stop Shoplifting-3
Checkpoint Tags-3
Weather Emergencies And Other Crisis; How Do You Prepare, Respond, Recover and Do You Still Stop Shoplifting? Part 1
Severe weather is a threat every business owner must be prepared for be it hurricanes, tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, earthquakes or any other crisis you can think of. In some cases there is some sort of advance warning that makes it a little easier to keep customers and employees safe. Other times the event occurs without warning. What are some of the weather situations I have contended with as a manager in retail and even working in a college library and what steps did we have to take to recover and get back to normal operations? As a Loss Prevention Manager I had to ensure building safety and ensure our Checkpoint Security System and other retail theft prevention tools were working properly.
Why would I mention a Checkpoint Security System when discussing severe weather and recovery afterwards? The anti-theft systems in the store stop shoplifting and if you and your team are in recovery mode, you may have enough systems up and running to open your doors to sell merchandise and still be less than 100% fully back to normal. This means if there are customers in the store and they are attempting to steal, Checkpoint tags are not going to prevent pilferage if the electronic article surveillance pedestals aren’t working. Checkpoint tags emit a radio frequency signal that is picked up by pedestals and activate an alarm built into the pedestals. The pedestals do require an active power source and if the power is out, or a power surge has damaged the unit, the ability for tags to be detected is disrupted. Obviously many types of storms can result in power issues affecting a store.
I recall one time as a Loss Prevention Manager our store was in the path of a category 1 hurricane. Being in a beach location we are familiar with hurricanes and though they should never be taken lightly, this particular one was just barely above tropical storm strength and most of the locals were not too concerned about it. During a conference call with our district office I was asked my thoughts on whether we should close or stay open. I recommended we stay open. There were several factors I considered but this storm popped up unusually quickly and gave little time to prepare. We kept the store open through the storm and though power went out quite a few customers stopped in and waited out the storm. Some browsed and others hung out in the food court area chatting and making new friends. After the storm passed we were the only store in the area open for business as we ran on partial electricity with our emergency generator. I stood at the front doors conducting receipt checks since our Checkpoint Security System was not operating and I need to try to stop shoplifting to the best of my ability (partial power was reserved for registers and some lighting and while the ability to detect Checkpoint tags was important it was not critical for operations). I also made a point of letting people know the store was open since the store was pretty dark even with partial lights and all the other stores in our block were closed. People were driving by slowly trying to find somewhere that was open. I remember multiple customers telling me how much they appreciated us being open because they needed water, flashlights, batteries and other essentials.
As a store manager/owner, be aware of severe weather. Have an action plan in place even for unusual events and have a recovery plan in place to go back to business as usual. Don’t forget it is still important to stop shoplifting but making sure everyone is safe and the store is up and running are the priorities. In part 2 I will continue with a few more crises I encountered and some tip for preparing your own store. As a former Eagle Scout, I will remind you of the Boy Scout Motto: Be Prepared.
Get more information on Checkpoint Security Systems, contact us at 1.770.426.0547 today.
Severe weather is a threat every business owner must be prepared for be it hurricanes, tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, earthquakes or any other crisis you can think of. In some cases there is some sort of advance warning that makes it a little easier to keep customers and employees safe. Other times the event occurs without warning. What are some of the weather situations I have contended with as a manager in retail and even working in a college library and what steps did we have to take to recover and get back to normal operations? As a Loss Prevention Manager I had to ensure building safety and ensure our Checkpoint Security System and other retail theft prevention tools were working properly.
Why would I mention a Checkpoint Security System when discussing severe weather and recovery afterwards? The anti-theft systems in the store stop shoplifting and if you and your team are in recovery mode, you may have enough systems up and running to open your doors to sell merchandise and still be less than 100% fully back to normal. This means if there are customers in the store and they are attempting to steal, Checkpoint tags are not going to prevent pilferage if the electronic article surveillance pedestals aren’t working. Checkpoint tags emit a radio frequency signal that is picked up by pedestals and activate an alarm built into the pedestals. The pedestals do require an active power source and if the power is out, or a power surge has damaged the unit, the ability for tags to be detected is disrupted. Obviously many types of storms can result in power issues affecting a store.
I recall one time as a Loss Prevention Manager our store was in the path of a category 1 hurricane. Being in a beach location we are familiar with hurricanes and though they should never be taken lightly, this particular one was just barely above tropical storm strength and most of the locals were not too concerned about it. During a conference call with our district office I was asked my thoughts on whether we should close or stay open. I recommended we stay open. There were several factors I considered but this storm popped up unusually quickly and gave little time to prepare. We kept the store open through the storm and though power went out quite a few customers stopped in and waited out the storm. Some browsed and others hung out in the food court area chatting and making new friends. After the storm passed we were the only store in the area open for business as we ran on partial electricity with our emergency generator. I stood at the front doors conducting receipt checks since our Checkpoint Security System was not operating and I need to try to stop shoplifting to the best of my ability (partial power was reserved for registers and some lighting and while the ability to detect Checkpoint tags was important it was not critical for operations). I also made a point of letting people know the store was open since the store was pretty dark even with partial lights and all the other stores in our block were closed. People were driving by slowly trying to find somewhere that was open. I remember multiple customers telling me how much they appreciated us being open because they needed water, flashlights, batteries and other essentials.
As a store manager/owner, be aware of severe weather. Have an action plan in place even for unusual events and have a recovery plan in place to go back to business as usual. Don’t forget it is still important to stop shoplifting but making sure everyone is safe and the store is up and running are the priorities. In part 2 I will continue with a few more crises I encountered and some tip for preparing your own store. As a former Eagle Scout, I will remind you of the Boy Scout Motto: Be Prepared.
Get more information on Checkpoint Security Systems, contact us at 1.770.426.0547 today.
It’s hell working in retail. There’s no sugar coating our jobs. We battle customer needs, employee relations issues, in-stock position, payroll, theft and the list just can go on for days. Sometimes, I go home completely worn out by the job; however, it’s days where I get a good bust that really keep me going. It’s very hard to Stop Shoplifting, but a keen set of eyes and quick reacting can often lead to great things.
To tell this story, we first have to go back; way back. To my very first year as an LP manager for my company. About 9 years. I was reviewing product returns from the previous day when I came across these flashlights that we didn’t carry. There was about 8, or 9 of them in the returns area, but they had our pricing labels attached to them. Finding it highly odd, I started doing a bit of research. I found the customer that returned them on camera and noted that he had a receipt. Even stranger. So I pulled the original transaction history and found where the sale took place; at a store a few miles up the road about a week prior.
According to the receipt, this guy purchased 9 flashlights at about $4.99 each. In reviewing the transaction video, he had a small basket full of assorted product. I even yelled at my computer screen when I saw my cashier remove various Checkpoint Tags from high dollar product, only for it to ring $4.99. He was actually able to leave the store with around $900 in product, and he only paid about $20. Then to add insult to injury, he went out and purchased some $.50 flashlights at another retailer, swapped the tags on those and returned them to me. He really is a genius. His total cost was about $5 for a $900 load. That’s a pretty good ROI if you ask me. With this video and information, I was able to enlist the help of local police. Eventually, flashlight guy was identified, but never arrested. As time went by, it drifted further from my mind as the demands of daily life took precedence, and well, I had to Stop Shoplifting in other areas of my store, ya’ know?
Fast forward to present day. I’m walking to the front office from the rear of the store. As I’m walking near the front exit doors, I hear my EAS tower sound. I immediately apologize to the customer for failing to remove the Checkpoint Tags and ask to view his receipt so I may address this with the cashier that assisted him. He was very understanding; thanked me for my professionalism and began talking. Talking a whole lot. As I was jotting down the cashier’s name, I noticed that the receipt was for a bunch of $4.99 flashlights. Like a scene out of a movie, a flash of light and vivid memories of years past came flooding back. As soon as I looked in the buggy he was pushing, I saw hundreds of dollars’ worth of product. And not one flashlight.
As if the stars couldn’t align even more on this day, a good friend of mine enters the store at this exact moment. My friend is a state trooper, who also happened to be on duty at the time. With his help, we bring my flashlight guy to the security office where I’m able to recover nearly $1,500 worth of product. The better part? He still had an active warrant for the theft that occurred at the same store nearly 9 years ago. Good day all around.
After he was led out in handcuffs, I approached the cashier that failed to remove the Checkpoint Tags on one of his products. Instead of scolding the cashier for doing so, I bought her a snack and thanked her for helping me close such an old case, albeit by sheer dumb-luck. Sometimes, to Stop Shoplifting, you have really put in the leg work, other times, you just have to be at the right place, at the right time.
For more information about Checkpoint Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547.
Manger training to stop employee theft-3 WC Blog 327
Stop Shoplifting-5
Disgruntled Employees May Be Stealing And Disrupting Efforts To Stop Shoplifting; Manager Training To Stop Employee Theft Can Help You Prevent Both Problems
How happy are your employees? Sure they may seem like they are smiling when you are around but what about when you aren’t there. Are things as they seem? You may think this is an odd question for an article on theft prevention but there is more to this than you may realize. Employees who are not happy can grouse to other employees and even to customers but managers may not always be aware of it if they aren’t engaged with their staffs. Obviously this can lead to morale issues, but were you aware it could be something to look for as an indicator of employee theft? I also read an article recently that made me consider that if an employer is going to stop shoplifting they may want to focus on employee satisfaction. I’ll discuss this point a little later but the bigger picture here is that there may be activities in your store that could be indicators that theft could be or is occurring. Manager training to stop employee theft is available to store owners and leaders from Loss Prevention Systems, Inc.
By training your managers they can learn what behaviors employees may display that could tip them off that dishonest activity is taking place. You can also learn just how devastating theft can be on a business. Losses take place in the form of return fraud, credit fraud, passing, under ringing, gift card fraud, merchandise theft and of course there is shoplifting. Underestimate the impact of customer theft and you could be in for a nasty surprise when your next inventory results come in. Thieves learn where the easy targets are and when they find one they will exploit it so it is important to get the training that will teach managers how to stop shoplifting. You can also learn who the shoplifters are, how they are ripping your store off and how you should approach them. Manager training to stop employee theft and to stop shoplifting can pay off big dividends in the future.
I mentioned previously about the article I read and how it associated shoplifters with unhappy employees. In UFNews, a University of Florida web page, in an article titled, “The science of stealing”, by Allison Clark, February 16, 2016, the author has interviewed Read Hayes, co-director of the Loss Prevention Research Team at the University of Florida. Their department hosted a conference during which former shoplifters told the Loss Prevention officials in the audience their stories. One of the points made by the speakers according to the article was, “They also avoid stealing from stores where employees seem happy. Disgruntled or disengaged employees are less likely to notice theft – and more likely to look the other way if they do, they said.” (Emphasis mine). http://news.ufl.edu/articles/2016/02/the-science-of-stealing.php . Admittedly I was taken aback by this. While I always thought of happy employees being more service oriented and more likely to be productive, I had not thought that it could hinder a management team’s efforts to stop shoplifting.
One final word from the article and this did confirm what many of us in Loss Prevention already believed, but not necessarily for the reasons we thought. Customer service is a strong deterrent to stop shoplifting. I would say most of us would have pointed out that customer service removes the opportunity for the thief to get away with their crime. However, according to the article, “…when an employee looks you in the eye and starts a conversation, it’s often game over for thieves said the sole female shoplifter on the stage. “Partly it’s the customer service. It’s also that if someone has looked at me and talked to me, they can pick me out of a lineup.””. Think about that, engaging customers in conversation, saying hello, offering assistance and making eye contact can discourage criminals who understand the potential consequences if they are caught stealing!
Manager training to stop employee theft and prevent shoplifting are important tools to help you improve your stock shortage results and thereby improve profitability. Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. can teach you and your staff the signals that you may have disgruntled employees and how to prevent it. They can also teach you how to approach shoplifters so they leave your store alone. Customer service drives sales but, as the woman in the article said it also prevented her from shoplifting. Let Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. professional staff help educate your team.
Get more information on manager training to stop employee theft, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 now.
How happy are your employees? Sure they may seem like they are smiling when you are around but what about when you aren’t there. Are things as they seem? You may think this is an odd question for an article on theft prevention but there is more to this than you may realize. Employees who are not happy can grouse to other employees and even to customers but managers may not always be aware of it if they aren’t engaged with their staffs. Obviously this can lead to morale issues, but were you aware it could be something to look for as an indicator of employee theft? I also read an article recently that made me consider that if an employer is going to stop shoplifting they may want to focus on employee satisfaction. I’ll discuss this point a little later but the bigger picture here is that there may be activities in your store that could be indicators that theft could be or is occurring. Manager training to stop employee theft is available to store owners and leaders from Loss Prevention Systems, Inc.
By training your managers they can learn what behaviors employees may display that could tip them off that dishonest activity is taking place. You can also learn just how devastating theft can be on a business. Losses take place in the form of return fraud, credit fraud, passing, under ringing, gift card fraud, merchandise theft and of course there is shoplifting. Underestimate the impact of customer theft and you could be in for a nasty surprise when your next inventory results come in. Thieves learn where the easy targets are and when they find one they will exploit it so it is important to get the training that will teach managers how to stop shoplifting. You can also learn who the shoplifters are, how they are ripping your store off and how you should approach them. Manager training to stop employee theft and to stop shoplifting can pay off big dividends in the future.
I mentioned previously about the article I read and how it associated shoplifters with unhappy employees. In UFNews, a University of Florida web page, in an article titled, “The science of stealing”, by Allison Clark, February 16, 2016, the author has interviewed Read Hayes, co-director of the Loss Prevention Research Team at the University of Florida. Their department hosted a conference during which former shoplifters told the Loss Prevention officials in the audience their stories. One of the points made by the speakers according to the article was, “They also avoid stealing from stores where employees seem happy. Disgruntled or disengaged employees are less likely to notice theft – and more likely to look the other way if they do, they said.” (Emphasis mine). http://news.ufl.edu/articles/2016/02/the-science-of-stealing.php . Admittedly I was taken aback by this. While I always thought of happy employees being more service oriented and more likely to be productive, I had not thought that it could hinder a management team’s efforts to stop shoplifting.
One final word from the article and this did confirm what many of us in Loss Prevention already believed, but not necessarily for the reasons we thought. Customer service is a strong deterrent to stop shoplifting. I would say most of us would have pointed out that customer service removes the opportunity for the thief to get away with their crime. However, according to the article, “…when an employee looks you in the eye and starts a conversation, it’s often game over for thieves said the sole female shoplifter on the stage. “Partly it’s the customer service. It’s also that if someone has looked at me and talked to me, they can pick me out of a lineup.””. Think about that, engaging customers in conversation, saying hello, offering assistance and making eye contact can discourage criminals who understand the potential consequences if they are caught stealing!
Manager training to stop employee theft and prevent shoplifting are important tools to help you improve your stock shortage results and thereby improve profitability. Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. can teach you and your staff the signals that you may have disgruntled employees and how to prevent it. They can also teach you how to approach shoplifters so they leave your store alone. Customer service drives sales but, as the woman in the article said it also prevented her from shoplifting. Let Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. professional staff help educate your team.
Get more information on manager training to stop employee theft, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 now.
