Prevent shoplifting – 3 WC Blog 511
Retail Anti-Theft Devices-5
Alpha Security – 3
Keeping Stores Safe And Secure In The Midst Of An Opioid Crisis Part 1
How do you prevent shoplifting when there is a surge in opioid use in the U.S. that has become what some are calling an epidemic and a crisis? I have worked in the Retail Loss Prevention field for nearly 17 years and in retail in general for over 27 years. I have caught shoplifters who had drugs and drug paraphernalia on their person and that was scary enough. Today the problem has gotten worse and stories are now making news linking the opioid crisis and shoplifting:
• From Windsor Star, “Desperate to pay for opioids, addicts turn to crime” by Trevor Wilhelm, “Windsor police said break and enters, along with many other crimes including assaults, robberies, shopliftings and shootings are symptoms of the opioid crisis…” http://windsorstar.com/feature/chapter-2-3
• From WFMJ 21, “Officials: Opioid crisis leading to shoplifting surge”, Nov. 22, 2017 by Caroline Collins “Not only are pharmacies being targeted, but police in the valley are saying users are now shoplifting and selling the items for drug money.” http://www.wfmj.com/clip/13930175/officials-opioid-crisis-leading-to-shoplifting-surge
• From ABC 27 “Police see surge in shoplifting due to opioid crisis” October 20, 2017 by Dawn White, “Police throughout the Midstate say the opioid crisis is leading to another major issue. Users are shoplifting and reselling stolen items to buy more drugs.” http://abc27.com/2017/10/20/police-see-surge-in-shoplifting-due-to-opioid-crisis/
The issue is one that retailers have to address quickly. The drug problem only seems to be getting worse and that means addicts will be more desperate to get the money they need to feed the habit. Theft is one of the means addicts resort to in order to trade for drugs or resell for money to feed their behavior. Retail anti-theft devices are one of the best tools for stores to utilize to disrupt shoplifters from emptying their shelves.
Retail anti-theft devices come in a number of various designs which include cable locks, wraps, security boxes and many more. These devices provide protection for products by allowing the customer to pick up the item, handle it, look at the packaging and even carry the item around the store. If the customer is intent on stealing in most cases the devices are tamper-proof and prevent the removal of the protective device. Attempts to remove them activate built in alarms that warn employees someone is trying to steal merchandise and it is easy to track down where the alarm is sounding in a store. The other protection offered by retail anti-theft devices is that they will cause electronic article surveillance (EAS) towers to sound their alarms if a tagged or protected item is being carried out the doors. Tower alarms, such as the Checkpoint EAS towers you frequently see when you walk into a store can detect protective devices on merchandise even when the item is concealed in a bag, purse or under clothing. These towers have their own alarms and they are extremely loud, 95 decibels of loud to be exact. When the tower alarm sounds EVERYONE in a store hears it and trained store staff members respond and take appropriate steps to reconcile the cause of the alarm and retrieve merchandise that was going to be stolen or get the “customer” to pay for the item.
How sure am I that retail anti-theft devices such as those from Alpha Security will prevent shoplifting by opioid addicts or any other thief for that matter? As I mentioned I have an extensive background in Retail Loss Prevention and I know that the majority of shoplifters will do what they can to avoid detection. They don’t like to risk an alarm by trying to remove a security device and they certainly don’t want to attract attention walking through EAS towers and setting off those alarms. They will try to steal merchandise they don’t believe is tagged or secured. Bill Bregar the CEO of Loss Prevention Systems Inc. (LPSI) agrees with me and that is why LPSI promotes the use of Alpha Security and Checkpoint products. Bill’s experience in Retail Loss Prevention and Law Enforcement surpasses mine and he believes in the effectiveness of anti-theft devices in eliminating theft related shortage for stores. While we don’t want any store to be victimized by criminals we would rather see them go someplace else that refuses to use Alpha Security or other products to protect merchandise. THAT is exactly what retail anti-theft devices do prevent shoplifting by sending the criminals elsewhere, opioid addicts included.
In part 2 of this series I will discuss safety concerns associated with the opioid epidemic. In the meantime find out from LPSI how they can help you in reducing your risk of increased theft in the midst of this crisis.
Need information on Alpha Security? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
How do you prevent shoplifting when there is a surge in opioid use in the U.S. that has become what some are calling an epidemic and a crisis? I have worked in the Retail Loss Prevention field for nearly 17 years and in retail in general for over 27 years. I have caught shoplifters who had drugs and drug paraphernalia on their person and that was scary enough. Today the problem has gotten worse and stories are now making news linking the opioid crisis and shoplifting:
• From Windsor Star, “Desperate to pay for opioids, addicts turn to crime” by Trevor Wilhelm, “Windsor police said break and enters, along with many other crimes including assaults, robberies, shopliftings and shootings are symptoms of the opioid crisis…”
• From WFMJ 21, “Officials: Opioid crisis leading to shoplifting surge”, Nov. 22, 2017 by Caroline Collins “Not only are pharmacies being targeted, but police in the valley are saying users are now shoplifting and selling the items for drug money.”
• From ABC 27 “Police see surge in shoplifting due to opioid crisis” October 20, 2017 by Dawn White, “Police throughout the Midstate say the opioid crisis is leading to another major issue. Users are shoplifting and reselling stolen items to buy more drugs.”
The issue is one that retailers have to address quickly. The drug problem only seems to be getting worse and that means addicts will be more desperate to get the money they need to feed the habit. Theft is one of the means addicts resort to in order to trade for drugs or resell for money to feed their behavior. Retail anti-theft devices are one of the best tools for stores to utilize to disrupt shoplifters from emptying their shelves.
Retail anti-theft devices come in a number of various designs which include cable locks, wraps, security boxes and many more. These devices provide protection for products by allowing the customer to pick up the item, handle it, look at the packaging and even carry the item around the store. If the customer is intent on stealing in most cases the devices are tamper-proof and prevent the removal of the protective device. Attempts to remove them activate built in alarms that warn employees someone is trying to steal merchandise and it is easy to track down where the alarm is sounding in a store. The other protection offered by retail anti-theft devices is that they will cause electronic article surveillance (EAS) towers to sound their alarms if a tagged or protected item is being carried out the doors. Tower alarms, such as the electronic article surveillance towers you frequently see when you walk into a store can detect protective devices on merchandise even when the item is concealed in a bag, purse or under clothing. These towers have their own alarms and they are extremely loud, 95 decibels of loud to be exact. When the tower alarm sounds EVERYONE in a store hears it and trained store staff members respond and take appropriate steps to reconcile the cause of the alarm and retrieve merchandise that was going to be stolen or get the “customer” to pay for the item.
How sure am I that retail anti-theft devices such as those from Loss Prevention Systems Inc. (LPSI) will prevent shoplifting by opioid addicts or any other thief for that matter? As I mentioned I have an extensive background in Retail Loss Prevention and I know that the majority of shoplifters will do what they can to avoid detection. They don’t like to risk an alarm by trying to remove a security device and they certainly don’t want to attract attention walking through EAS towers and setting off those alarms. They will try to steal merchandise they don’t believe is tagged or secured. Bill Bregar the CEO of LPSI agrees with me and that is why LPSI promotes the use of retail anti-theft devices. Bill’s experience in Retail Loss Prevention and Law Enforcement surpasses mine and he believes in the effectiveness of anti-theft devices in eliminating theft related shortage for stores. While we don’t want any store to be victimized by criminals we would rather see them go someplace else that refuses to use retail anti-theft devices to protect merchandise. THAT is exactly what retail anti-theft devices do prevent shoplifting by sending the criminals elsewhere, opioid addicts included.
In part 2 of this series I will discuss safety concerns associated with the opioid epidemic. In the meantime find out from LPSI how they can help you in reducing your risk of increased theft in the midst of this crisis.
Need information on retail anti-theft devices? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
