sensormatic labels – 4 WC Blog 781
Stop Shoplifting – 3
‘Cents’less Acts Of Violence Can Be Averted With Sensormatic Labels
As I read the news stories on Loss Prevention, retail and even Google searches I find I want to see retailers stop shoplifting more than I ever did in the past. While I have always detested the crime of shoplifting and have had more than my own share of violent encounters, it seems the problem of violence has grown exponentially. I just saw a video on abc7chicago.com of a security guard fighting with a shoplifter in a 99 cent store! You read that correctly a fight in a 99 cent store. I don’t know if it is more shocking that a store selling merchandise valued at less than a dollar has a security guard in it or that a fight broke out in that store. Added to that was the video showed the shoplifter removing something from a bag and then throwing it at the security guard and then tipping over a sunglass fixture. I don’t want to paint the security guard as a totally helpless victim because according to the report he aimed pepper spray at the suspect and it appears he punched her (although it took place after she threw the item at him). Do a Google search of shoplifter fights and things get even uglier. What are store owners to do? Do you just give up and let people steal and hope it isn’t enough to put you out of business? Do you hire security guards (if you can afford them) and risk fights? There is an alternate solution and that is the use of Sensormatic labels and tags to prevent people from trying to steal in the first place.
Before I continue let me make it clear that I am not telling you that the use of electronic article surveillance will stop shoplifting completely. I promise what it will do is reduce your store shrinkage significantly. The installation of Sensormatic pedestals and application of Sensormatic labels to your merchandise have been proven to have a dramatic impact on the amount of shoplifting taking place in a store. It is such a powerful tool that Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. has created a free to use ROI (return on investment) calculator. The calculator assumes a store will reduce shrinkage by about half a percent by installing a complete Sensormatic security system. Ponder the advantages that means for a business. Not only does a store reduce losses which is a victory in and of itself the store also becomes safer.
How do I come to that conclusion? If you reduce the number of shoplifters coming to your location because you have put up obstacles in the form of electronic article surveillance tags and towers you reduce the chances of violent activity by these same people. Shoplifters have a tendency to go to the stores they deem are easy pickings. When the risk of getting caught increases because of anti-theft devices they prefer to go where there is no system in place. Yes, I detest the shoplifters and have a special revulsion towards the violent sort of thief. I would prefer they were all in jail but obviously that is not going to happen. In light of this, I am telling retailers to install a Sensormatic system to drive out this element and shoo them elsewhere.
I watched the video from the 99 cent store several times. I paused and looked carefully at the entrance doorways in the frames that were clear to see. There was no sign of any type of electronic article surveillance tower in the any of those pictures. So let’s recap for clarity’s sake, No Sensormatic labels or pedestals, one belligerent shoplifting suspect throwing merchandise with other customers nearby and one security guard using pepper spray and punching at a shoplifting suspect. To this seasoned Loss Prevention professional it is a recipe for disaster.
Would the store stop shoplifting in this case had they used Sensormatic labels on the merchandise they were selling? At a 99 cent store I would imagine they could have used labels on at least the items that are found to be high shortage for this type of business. Training of employees on how to handle a suspected shoplifter situation would have also been helpful and could have diffused this incident or helped address it in a different manner. Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. can help you with training too because employee safety is just as important to them as their client’s financial success.
Whether your store deals in dollars or cents you need to stop shoplifting from taking place. It can cost you a lot of money and it can create a dangerous environment for your customers and employees by encouraging violent crooks to take advantage of your business. Improve your store all around with a Sensormatic system.
Get more information on Sensormatic labels, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
As I read the news stories on Loss Prevention, retail and even Google searches I find I want to see retailers stop shoplifting more than I ever did in the past. While I have always detested the crime of shoplifting and have had more than my own share of violent encounters, it seems the problem of violence has grown exponentially. I just saw a video on abc7chicago.com of a security guard fighting with a shoplifter in a 99 cent store! You read that correctly a fight in a 99 cent store. I don’t know if it is more shocking that a store selling merchandise valued at less than a dollar has a security guard in it or that a fight broke out in that store. Added to that was the video showed the shoplifter removing something from a bag and then throwing it at the security guard and then tipping over a sunglass fixture. I don’t want to paint the security guard as a totally helpless victim because according to the report he aimed pepper spray at the suspect and it appears he punched her (although it took place after she threw the item at him). Do a Google search of shoplifter fights and things get even uglier. What are store owners to do? Do you just give up and let people steal and hope it isn’t enough to put you out of business? Do you hire security guards (if you can afford them) and risk fights? There is an alternate solution and that is the use of Sensormatic labels and tags to prevent people from trying to steal in the first place.
Before I continue let me make it clear that I am not telling you that the use of electronic article surveillance will stop shoplifting completely. I promise what it will do is reduce your store shrinkage significantly. The installation of Sensormatic pedestals and application of Sensormatic labels to your merchandise have been proven to have a dramatic impact on the amount of shoplifting taking place in a store. It is such a powerful tool that Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. has created a free to use ROI (return on investment) calculator. The calculator assumes a store will reduce shrinkage by about half a percent by installing a complete Sensormatic security system. Ponder the advantages that means for a business. Not only does a store reduce losses which is a victory in and of itself the store also becomes safer.
How do I come to that conclusion? If you reduce the number of shoplifters coming to your location because you have put up obstacles in the form of electronic article surveillance tags and towers you reduce the chances of violent activity by these same people. Shoplifters have a tendency to go to the stores they deem are easy pickings. When the risk of getting caught increases because of anti-theft devices they prefer to go where there is no system in place. Yes, I detest the shoplifters and have a special revulsion towards the violent sort of thief. I would prefer they were all in jail but obviously that is not going to happen. In light of this, I am telling retailers to install a Sensormatic system to drive out this element and shoo them elsewhere.
I watched the video from the 99 cent store several times. I paused and looked carefully at the entrance doorways in the frames that were clear to see. There was no sign of any type of electronic article surveillance tower in the any of those pictures. So let’s recap for clarity’s sake, No Sensormatic labels or pedestals, one belligerent shoplifting suspect throwing merchandise with other customers nearby and one security guard using pepper spray and punching at a shoplifting suspect. To this seasoned Loss Prevention professional it is a recipe for disaster.
Would the store stop shoplifting in this case had they used Sensormatic labels on the merchandise they were selling? At a 99 cent store I would imagine they could have used labels on at least the items that are found to be high shortage for this type of business. Training of employees on how to handle a suspected shoplifter situation would have also been helpful and could have diffused this incident or helped address it in a different manner. Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. can help you with training too because employee safety is just as important to them as their client’s financial success.
Whether your store deals in dollars or cents you need to stop shoplifting from taking place. It can cost you a lot of money and it can create a dangerous environment for your customers and employees by encouraging violent crooks to take advantage of your business. Improve your store all around with a Sensormatic system.
Get more information on Sensormatic labels, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
