50 PRODUCTS THAT SHOULD BE PROTECED WITH CHECKPOINT LABELS – PT9
It’s always good to have a plan when it comes to product protection strategies. Knowing what’s coming into your store and more importantly, what will be stolen, will keep you from losing untold thousands from shoplifting. I know there are quite a few sporting goods retailers out there reading this; and you’re also probably tired of dealing with theft. So as we continue on our list of 50 items to protect with Checkpoint Labels, I want to dedicate these next five to you specifically.
36. Golf Balls
I have seen so many ways that people will steal golf balls. From the straightforward concealment, to hiding those in larger boxes, to switching out the sleeves; if the demand is there, so will theft. One thing I’ve found that will really help cut down on shrink is the use of EAS labels inside the individual sleeves of golf balls, especially on your high end brands. This way, even if a thief does switch the sleeves, the alarm will still sound at the exit or at the point of purchase that should alert your staff to something amiss.
37. Golf Gloves
Depending on the brand, these can be quite pricey and are often overlooked in terms of EAS labels. These are prime targets for your average golfer and also hot targets for ORC activity. Sometimes a simple Checkpoint Label on the rear of the packaging will be enough of a deterrent.
38. Golf Hats
If you’re set up like a pro-shop, you’re going to have all the top brands. Nike, UA, Callaway, and the list goes on and on. Ever think about all those hats you have around the store. With a price point usually around $20-$25, having a few stolen each day can really add up to thousands of lost dollars each year. By placing a small Checkpoint Label under the brim of the hat, you can really make an impact in your bottom line. It’s in my experience that thieves will avoid the items that are security tagged and will follow the path of least resistance.
39. Baseball Gloves
Baseball season can bring in truck-loads of sales to your store, but it can also usher in a whole new set of items that, if left un-protected, will lead to loss. Baseball gloves are one of those areas. Think of all those mid-range gloves that mom and dad may not be able to afford, but little Johnny really wants. Without a solid EAS label, little Johnny might be showing up to practice wearing your lost profit.
40. Baseball Bats
This one gets me almost every year. No matter what I do, someone will try to steal a baseball bat from me at some point in the year. In my area, we rarely see someone conceal a bat, but rather they all tend to gravitate towards price switching. What I’ve found works the best is a Checkpoint Label on all my bats that are priced above $69.99. If someone brings a bat through my register with an EAS Label and it rings lower than $69.99, my cashiers are trained to immediately call for a manager. I catch about a dozen people a year doing this.
For more information about Checkpoint Labels contact us or call 1.770.426.0547.
It’s always good to have a plan when it comes to product protection strategies. Knowing what’s coming into your store and more importantly, what will be stolen, will keep you from losing untold thousands from shoplifting. I know there are quite a few sporting goods retailers out there reading this; and you’re also probably tired of dealing with theft. So as we continue on our list of 50 items to protect with Checkpoint Labels, I want to dedicate these next five to you specifically.
36. Golf Balls
I have seen so many ways that people will steal golf balls. From the straightforward concealment, to hiding those in larger boxes, to switching out the sleeves; if the demand is there, so will theft. One thing I’ve found that will really help cut down on shrink is the use of EAS labels inside the individual sleeves of golf balls, especially on your high end brands. This way, even if a thief does switch the sleeves, the alarm will still sound at the exit or at the point of purchase that should alert your staff to something amiss.
37. Golf Gloves
Depending on the brand, these can be quite pricey and are often overlooked in terms of EAS labels. These are prime targets for your average golfer and also hot targets for ORC activity. Sometimes a simple Checkpoint Label on the rear of the packaging will be enough of a deterrent.
38. Golf Hats
If you’re set up like a pro-shop, you’re going to have all the top brands. Nike, UA, Callaway, and the list goes on and on. Ever think about all those hats you have around the store. With a price point usually around $20-$25, having a few stolen each day can really add up to thousands of lost dollars each year. By placing a small Checkpoint Label under the brim of the hat, you can really make an impact in your bottom line. It’s in my experience that thieves will avoid the items that are security tagged and will follow the path of least resistance.
39. Baseball Gloves
Baseball season can bring in truck-loads of sales to your store, but it can also usher in a whole new set of items that, if left un-protected, will lead to loss. Baseball gloves are one of those areas. Think of all those mid-range gloves that mom and dad may not be able to afford, but little Johnny really wants. Without a solid EAS label, little Johnny might be showing up to practice wearing your lost profit.
40. Baseball Bats
This one gets me almost every year. No matter what I do, someone will try to steal a baseball bat from me at some point in the year. In my area, we rarely see someone conceal a bat, but rather they all tend to gravitate towards price switching. What I’ve found works the best is a Checkpoint Label on all my bats that are priced above $69.99. If someone brings a bat through my register with an EAS Label and it rings lower than $69.99, my cashiers are trained to immediately call for a manager. I catch about a dozen people a year doing this.
For more information about Checkpoint Labels contact us or call 1.770.426.0547.
Bottle Service-5 WC blog 140
Nightclub-5
Bottle Locks-3
Innovation With Bottle Service Ensures A Competitive Edge For A Nightclub
Owning a business and making sure it is profitable is no small accomplishment. Whether it is a retail business, a restaurant, a hair salon or a bar in order to remain successful, a business owner needs to be aware of challenges from competition and be prepared to find innovations to his/her operation. Sometimes a small business is able to build a loyal customer base and that is enough. Other owners seek to expand to multiple locations and still others set their sights on regional or national growth. I think of my local barber who has a small shop. A regular clientele that visits him and over the past 15 years or so, he has not indicated any desire to increase his business by relocating to another area. Some companies seek to establish a “Brand” that sets them apart from a competitor. Think of several popular restaurant chains, one is known for its clown, one is known for the red haired girl it is named after and another is well known for the King who represents it to the public. So, what does this mean for a nightclub owner? Even if a club owner is not seeking to expand, he or she must still be innovative, establish a brand or risk clients going elsewhere. One way to do this is to start a bottle service which includes using bottle locks.
Bottle services do not need to be complicated to institute in a club. Think of it as offering a VIP experience for customers who are willing to purchase it as a package deal. Establish special tables or booths near the band, DJ or dancefloor and reserve them for groups who purchase the service. Have a waiter or waitress who is trained as a bartender designated as the group’s host or hostess for the night. A package should include a bottle or two of a top of the line wine, champagne or spirit and mixers. The host will have bottle locks on the drinks so that the only person able to open the bottles and pour is the host or hostess. Using a special detachment key, the server can open the bottles and mix drinks ensuring that proper amounts are poured only to members of the group.
Who would be interested in paying for a VIP experience at a nightclub? Class reunion celebrations, birthday parties, bachelor and bachelorette parties or even company holiday parties. Depending on how you set up your bottle service, it could be for a few friends wanting to have a night out receiving the celebrity treatment. The sky is the limit as it is up to the club owner to decide how big the offerings will be, from a red carpet to a limousine package.
Aside from a bottle service, what other innovations could be implemented in a nightclub to remain competitive? Does the club use a live band? Perhaps once a week open to new up and coming bands. Consider rearranging furniture. While it may sound a little odd, something as small as moving tables and booths around in different arrangements can give the club a new feel. My background is in retail so the best way I can relate this is to consider when you walk into a store you frequently shop at and once in a while things are moved around. Fixtures are moved, merchandise is in a totally different location, etc. A big part of this is to give the customer the feeling that everything is new. Were you aware that in retail, everything from lighting to promotion signing affect the way consumers shop and spend money? In a similar manner, the speed of music can affect how much your customers are drinking. Look at signage and décor in your nightclub and change it occasionally to give a new feel.
Operating a profitable nightclub can be challenge, especially when a competitor moves into the area. Remaining responsive and innovative to market changes is key to staying profitable. One innovation I strongly recommend is to start a bottle service with bottle locks and a staff focused on providing a superior customer experience. This winning combination can only mean strong sales for years to come.
Bottle Service is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
Owning a business and making sure it is profitable is no small accomplishment. Whether it is a retail business, a restaurant, a hair salon or a bar in order to remain successful, a business owner needs to be aware of challenges from competition and be prepared to find innovations to his/her operation. Sometimes a small business is able to build a loyal customer base and that is enough. Other owners seek to expand to multiple locations and still others set their sights on regional or national growth. I think of my local barber who has a small shop. A regular clientele that visits him and over the past 15 years or so, he has not indicated any desire to increase his business by relocating to another area. Some companies seek to establish a “Brand” that sets them apart from a competitor. Think of several popular restaurant chains, one is known for its clown, one is known for the red haired girl it is named after and another is well known for the King who represents it to the public. So, what does this mean for a nightclub owner? Even if a club owner is not seeking to expand, he or she must still be innovative, establish a brand or risk clients going elsewhere. One way to do this is to start a bottle service which includes using bottle locks.
Bottle services do not need to be complicated to institute in a club. Think of it as offering a VIP experience for customers who are willing to purchase it as a package deal. Establish special tables or booths near the band, DJ or dancefloor and reserve them for groups who purchase the service. Have a waiter or waitress who is trained as a bartender designated as the group’s host or hostess for the night. A package should include a bottle or two of a top of the line wine, champagne or spirit and mixers. The host will have bottle locks on the drinks so that the only person able to open the bottles and pour is the host or hostess. Using a special detachment key, the server can open the bottles and mix drinks ensuring that proper amounts are poured only to members of the group.
Who would be interested in paying for a VIP experience at a nightclub? Class reunion celebrations, birthday parties, bachelor and bachelorette parties or even company holiday parties. Depending on how you set up your bottle service, it could be for a few friends wanting to have a night out receiving the celebrity treatment. The sky is the limit as it is up to the club owner to decide how big the offerings will be, from a red carpet to a limousine package.
Aside from a bottle service, what other innovations could be implemented in a nightclub to remain competitive? Does the club use a live band? Perhaps once a week open to new up and coming bands. Consider rearranging furniture. While it may sound a little odd, something as small as moving tables and booths around in different arrangements can give the club a new feel. My background is in retail so the best way I can relate this is to consider when you walk into a store you frequently shop at and once in a while things are moved around. Fixtures are moved, merchandise is in a totally different location, etc. A big part of this is to give the customer the feeling that everything is new. Were you aware that in retail, everything from lighting to promotion signing affect the way consumers shop and spend money? In a similar manner, the speed of music can affect how much your customers are drinking. Look at signage and décor in your nightclub and change it occasionally to give a new feel.
Operating a profitable nightclub can be challenge, especially when a competitor moves into the area. Remaining responsive and innovative to market changes is key to staying profitable. One innovation I strongly recommend is to start a bottle service with bottle locks and a staff focused on providing a superior customer experience. This winning combination can only mean strong sales for years to come.
Bottle Service is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
Alpha Thunder Tags – 3 WC Blog 144
i-pad theft-3
tablet theft-3
Dump Paper Patient Records – Use Mobile Medical Devices Protected With Alpha Thunder Tags
• San Diego, California – Medical records found dumped on Paradise Hill sidewalk – Feb. 29, 2016 10news.com
• Columbus, Ohio – Thousands of Medical Records Containing Confidential Info Found In Dumpster – December 1, 2015, 10tv.com
• Springfield, Ohio – Hospital notifies patients of records in Dumpster privacy breach – Jan 26,2016, Springfieldnewssun.com
• Richmond, Kentucky – 65 Boxes of Improperly Dumped Medical Records Discovered – June 2, 2015, HIPAA JOURNAL
• Coventry West Midlands England – Coventry hospital apologises after 24 patients’ medical records found dumped in city bin – 11 May 2016, coventrytelegraph.net
• Bournemouth, England – Confidential medical records found dumped in alleyway – 23 April 2016, bournemouthecho.co.uk
These are just a small sampling of headlines across the U.S. and even England demonstrating the careless handling of paper medical files and documents. In each of these stories, confidential patient information was exposed to potential criminal activity. In this day and age, it makes little sense why medical providers continue to use paper records rather than going to electronic record keeping. Many hospitals and medical offices have made the transition to mobile medical devices to maintain patient records, share medical data, review scans and x-rays with patients and conduct long distance consultations. One valid concern with mobile devices is the threat of i-pad theft or tablet theft. Compromise of patient information is a possibility if a device is stolen.
Alpha Thunder Tags can be attached to mobile medical devices in order to prevent i-pad theft or tablet theft and thereby minimize the possibility of data theft. Alpha Thunder Tags are small anti-theft devices that have an adhesive backing used to secure them to the item to be protected. The tags are radio frequency sensitive to activate electronic article system (EAS) antennas when in the range of the antennas. In other words, if a hospital or physician’s office has EAS antennas installed at all entrances and exits, anytime someone carries a mobile medical device near them, the antenna alarm will sound. Antennas also have LED lights that will flash when the alarm activates so employees can respond and recover devices that are leaving the building. Tamper protection built into the tag ensures that if someone tries to remove the tag an internal alarm in the protection device will sound.
Using paper medical records has several issues associated with them. Traditional patient files require a lot of space to maintain. As a practice grows or a hospital expands, increased patient load means increased information and if that information is in paper format, file cabinet space begins to take up space that should be used for staff or patients. Additionally, document security becomes a concern. It is easy to leave a patient file on a desk or counter and fail to properly secure it in a locked cabinet at the end of the day, leaving it exposed to potential theft. We can also see just from the very few cases cited above, disposal of old records or transport of records can lead to poor handling by staff or even contracted vendors who are supposed to destroy them properly.
Does this mean that e-records cannot have their own problems? Certainly not, the news is filled with incidents of hackers stealing information from major retail stores, private businesses and even government agencies. Medical providers must ensure they have proper data encryption and firewalls in place to prevent hacking from the outside. BUT, by using mobile medical devices the risk of unattended documents is eliminated. Old records in electronic format can be archived without having to transport them somewhere for destruction and no additional space is taken up due to new patients being admitted to a practice.
The possibility of medical tablet theft and i-pad theft should not prevent a medical provider from moving away from paper patient files to e-records. An EAS antenna system and Alpha Thunder Tags can protect mobile medical devices and allow a practice to enjoy the advantages of using digital resources to improve patient care.
Get more information on Alpha Thunder Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
• San Diego, California – Medical records found dumped on Paradise Hill sidewalk – Feb. 29, 2016 10news.com
• Columbus, Ohio – Thousands of Medical Records Containing Confidential Info Found In Dumpster – December 1, 2015, 10tv.com
• Springfield, Ohio – Hospital notifies patients of records in Dumpster privacy breach – Jan 26,2016, Springfieldnewssun.com
• Richmond, Kentucky – 65 Boxes of Improperly Dumped Medical Records Discovered – June 2, 2015, HIPAA JOURNAL
• Coventry West Midlands England – Coventry hospital apologises after 24 patients’ medical records found dumped in city bin – 11 May 2016, coventrytelegraph.net
• Bournemouth, England – Confidential medical records found dumped in alleyway – 23 April 2016, bournemouthecho.co.uk
These are just a small sampling of headlines across the U.S. and even England demonstrating the careless handling of paper medical files and documents. In each of these stories, confidential patient information was exposed to potential criminal activity. In this day and age, it makes little sense why medical providers continue to use paper records rather than going to electronic record keeping. Many hospitals and medical offices have made the transition to mobile medical devices to maintain patient records, share medical data, review scans and x-rays with patients and conduct long distance consultations. One valid concern with mobile devices is the threat of i-pad theft or tablet theft. Compromise of patient information is a possibility if a device is stolen.
Alpha Thunder Tags can be attached to mobile medical devices in order to prevent i-pad theft or tablet theft and thereby minimize the possibility of data theft. Alpha Thunder Tags are small anti-theft devices that have an adhesive backing used to secure them to the item to be protected. The tags are radio frequency sensitive to activate electronic article system (EAS) antennas when in the range of the antennas. In other words, if a hospital or physician’s office has EAS antennas installed at all entrances and exits, anytime someone carries a mobile medical device near them, the antenna alarm will sound. Antennas also have LED lights that will flash when the alarm activates so employees can respond and recover devices that are leaving the building. Tamper protection built into the tag ensures that if someone tries to remove the tag an internal alarm in the protection device will sound.
Using paper medical records has several issues associated with them. Traditional patient files require a lot of space to maintain. As a practice grows or a hospital expands, increased patient load means increased information and if that information is in paper format, file cabinet space begins to take up space that should be used for staff or patients. Additionally, document security becomes a concern. It is easy to leave a patient file on a desk or counter and fail to properly secure it in a locked cabinet at the end of the day, leaving it exposed to potential theft. We can also see just from the very few cases cited above, disposal of old records or transport of records can lead to poor handling by staff or even contracted vendors who are supposed to destroy them properly.
Does this mean that e-records cannot have their own problems? Certainly not, the news is filled with incidents of hackers stealing information from major retail stores, private businesses and even government agencies. Medical providers must ensure they have proper data encryption and firewalls in place to prevent hacking from the outside. BUT, by using mobile medical devices the risk of unattended documents is eliminated. Old records in electronic format can be archived without having to transport them somewhere for destruction and no additional space is taken up due to new patients being admitted to a practice.
The possibility of medical tablet theft and i-pad theft should not prevent a medical provider from moving away from paper patient files to e-records. An EAS antenna system and Alpha Thunder Tags can protect mobile medical devices and allow a practice to enjoy the advantages of using digital resources to improve patient care.
Get more information on Alpha Thunder Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
Return Fraud-4, CP Labels-2, Alpha Shark Tags-3
Return Fraud: Theft By Deception
Many customers today consider a store’s return policy to be synonymous with their level of customer service. Modern customers consider the ability to return merchandise as a right instead of a privilege, and many refuse to shop at stores with strict policies. A lot of stores have lightened up their return policies to the point they are accepting everything, with or without proof of purchase. Unfortunately with the race for grabbing the market share of shoppers, came the trade off for billions of dollars of loss due to return fraud. It has become a monumental problem, and has grown by more than 25% since 1995.
1. Return fraud reduces sales, gross margin, and profit. There is the loss of the profit from the original sale as well as the investment made into buying the merchandise to re-sell.
2. The company loses the time and money spent processing the refund. Then they must determine if the items can be resold. And, if they can be, the loss of time restocking the merchandise back to the shelf.
3. Returns that can’t be resold must then be dealt with, via some form of markdown or just thrown out in the trash. Cosmetics, many clothing items, and even electronics can not be resold for full value if they have been opened and used, even only once.
I deal with returns on a daily basis at the small retail pharmacy I work for. We sell a variety of health and beauty items, and we have a pretty basic return policy. If you have a receipt, you have no problem. Without a receipt, we are supposed to issue a store credit on a card. It works just like cash, and has very few restrictions for what people can purchase with it. It is also completely up to the manager’s discretion whether to accept the return or not. When a customer attempts to return a high retail item without a receipt, I trust my gut more than anything to detect return fraud. We had a guy that was going to some of our stores and trying the same routine at every one of them, and he was very successful. The guy would come in without being seen and go grab a store brand box of hair regrowth formula. Then he would go to the front door and act as though he just came inside. He would come to the checkout and claim he needed to return it because he had an allergic reaction to the product. He would start talking to the cashier or manager, claiming he had talked to our corporate office and they had told him he could get cash back for the item even though he had no receipt. I advised all of our stores to conceal Checkpoint labels inside the box. Sure enough, at the next store he tried, he got back to the front door and the alarm sounded because of the active Checkpoint labels present inside the packaging. BUSTED!
A clothing retailer has a little more of a challenge than the pharmacy business though. People buy clothes many times with no intention of keeping them in the first place. They are what we call wardrobers and they buy it, wear it, and return it expecting a full refund. A new great way to battle this type of return fraud is to attach Alpha Shark Tags to the clothing inventory. (Talk about taking a bite out of crime!) Alpha Shark Tags are a simple tool that becomes a crucial part of the store’s return policy. The tag is designed to be removed at home with a simple pair of household scissors. Once removed, however, the item is no longer eligible for returns. No more buying a party dress to show off for the big neighborhood cookout just to return it two days later, smelling like smoke and spotted with barbeque sauce. Alpha Shark Tags are the new weapon against wardrobers and they are very effective in stopping this especially heinous form of return fraud.
For more information on Return Fraud, contact us or call: 1.770.426.0547
Many customers today consider a store’s return policy to be synonymous with their level of customer service. Modern customers consider the ability to return merchandise as a right instead of a privilege, and many refuse to shop at stores with strict policies. A lot of stores have lightened up their return policies to the point they are accepting everything, with or without proof of purchase. Unfortunately with the race for grabbing the market share of shoppers, came the trade off for billions of dollars of loss due to return fraud. It has become a monumental problem, and has grown by more than 25% since 1995.
1. Return fraud reduces sales, gross margin, and profit. There is the loss of the profit from the original sale as well as the investment made into buying the merchandise to re-sell.
2. The company loses the time and money spent processing the refund. Then they must determine if the items can be resold. And, if they can be, the loss of time restocking the merchandise back to the shelf.
3. Returns that can’t be resold must then be dealt with, via some form of markdown or just thrown out in the trash. Cosmetics, many clothing items, and even electronics can not be resold for full value if they have been opened and used, even only once.
I deal with returns on a daily basis at the small retail pharmacy I work for. We sell a variety of health and beauty items, and we have a pretty basic return policy. If you have a receipt, you have no problem. Without a receipt, we are supposed to issue a store credit on a card. It works just like cash, and has very few restrictions for what people can purchase with it. It is also completely up to the manager’s discretion whether to accept the return or not. When a customer attempts to return a high retail item without a receipt, I trust my gut more than anything to detect return fraud. We had a guy that was going to some of our stores and trying the same routine at every one of them, and he was very successful. The guy would come in without being seen and go grab a store brand box of hair regrowth formula. Then he would go to the front door and act as though he just came inside. He would come to the checkout and claim he needed to return it because he had an allergic reaction to the product. He would start talking to the cashier or manager, claiming he had talked to our corporate office and they had told him he could get cash back for the item even though he had no receipt. I advised all of our stores to conceal Checkpoint labels inside the box. Sure enough, at the next store he tried, he got back to the front door and the alarm sounded because of the active Checkpoint labels present inside the packaging. BUSTED!
A clothing retailer has a little more of a challenge than the pharmacy business though. People buy clothes many times with no intention of keeping them in the first place. They are what we call wardrobers and they buy it, wear it, and return it expecting a full refund. A new great way to battle this type of return fraud is to attach Alpha Shark Tags to the clothing inventory. (Talk about taking a bite out of crime!) Alpha Shark Tags are a simple tool that becomes a crucial part of the store’s return policy. The tag is designed to be removed at home with a simple pair of household scissors. Once removed, however, the item is no longer eligible for returns. No more buying a party dress to show off for the big neighborhood cookout just to return it two days later, smelling like smoke and spotted with barbeque sauce. Alpha Shark Tags are the new weapon against wardrobers and they are very effective in stopping this especially heinous form of return fraud.
For more information on Return Fraud, contact us or call: 1.770.426.0547
Alpha Security-3 WC Blog 138
Retail Anti-Theft Devices-4
Alpha Cable Lock-3
Prevent Shoplifting-4
Why Allow Wallets To Walk Away? Tighten Up Security On Accessories With Alpha Cable Locks
Work in Retail Loss Prevention long enough and you end up with those situations that make you just shake your head and ask yourself, “Did that really just happen?” I had a moment like that when I started off as a department store Loss Prevention Officer. I was in our security office watching our sales floor via a closed circuit television system. One of our top theft departments was handbags and wallets. In order to prevent shoplifting of the highest priced purses, we kept them in lock-up showcases. Everything else was open-sell and protected with electronic article surveillance (EAS) tags, employee customer service and cameras. We did not have the retail anti-theft devices available to us that are on the market today that are available through Alpha Security, such as the Alpha cable lock.
Before I continue my story, everyone knows what a lock-up display case is, however not everyone is as familiar with the Alpha cable lock. The cable lock is made up of a tough, thin, steel cable, connected to an EAS sensitive, housing. The casing or shell has a flashing LED light that makes a visual deterrent to prevent shoplifting by drawing the thief’s attention to the retail anti-theft device. Locks are also tamper proof and will sound a high pitched alarm if someone attempts to cut the cable. Since they are EAS sensitive, if a piece of merchandise with a lock on it is carried too close to EAS antennas the antenna alarm will activate and warn employees of a possible theft attempt. Once alerted, employees can respond to the alarm activation and determine the cause of the alarm or the alarm may cause a crook to drop merchandise and run. I have seen numerous recoveries of merchandise over the years due to EAS alarm activations and proper employee response or merchandise abandoned by would-be shoplifters.
Continuing with my, “Did that really just happen?” story, I was in the camera room monitoring the CCTV system and received a call from a store associate alerting me to a male subject in the handbag department. I asked the associate to give customer service and I would watch on camera. The subject was picking up purses, and wallets, looking at them and then putting them back. I confess I was starting to think this was just a guy gift shopping for someone and I became somewhat less concerned of a possible theft attempt. The sales associate approached the man and offered to assist him. The next thing I knew, the “customer” picked up a very expensive wallet, grinned at the sales associate and ran out of the store. I had never seen a shoplifter take a moment to grin before running off and I had to recover from my momentary shock. I did run after the man and eventually caught him and got the wallet back (disclaimer: don’t do this at home, we did not have restrictions on us way back then preventing the pursuit of shoplifters). A little happily ever after moment, that sales associate was my wife and even today, nearly 25 years later, she reminds me that she never trusted the man and I should have taken her call more seriously. SIGH!
I firmly believe that if we had Alpha Security retail anti-theft devices such as the cable lock available and attached to the wallets, the visibility of the lock would have deterred the shoplifter from stealing.
Not every store can afford to staff a Loss Prevention officer due to the expense of the additional payroll. What a store CAN do is invest in retail anti-theft devices such as an Alpha cable lock and benefit financially from reduced theft and improved profits. Find out how Alpha Security can help your store prevent shoplifting.
Get more information on Alpha Security, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
Work in Retail Loss Prevention long enough and you end up with those situations that make you just shake your head and ask yourself, “Did that really just happen?” I had a moment like that when I started off as a department store Loss Prevention Officer. I was in our security office watching our sales floor via a closed circuit television system. One of our top theft departments was handbags and wallets. In order to prevent shoplifting of the highest priced purses, we kept them in lock-up showcases. Everything else was open-sell and protected with electronic article surveillance (EAS) tags, employee customer service and cameras. We did not have the retail anti-theft devices available to us that are on the market today that are available through Alpha Security, such as the Alpha cable lock.
Before I continue my story, everyone knows what a lock-up display case is, however not everyone is as familiar with the Alpha cable lock. The cable lock is made up of a tough, thin, steel cable, connected to an EAS sensitive, housing. The casing or shell has a flashing LED light that makes a visual deterrent to prevent shoplifting by drawing the thief’s attention to the retail anti-theft device. Locks are also tamper proof and will sound a high pitched alarm if someone attempts to cut the cable. Since they are EAS sensitive, if a piece of merchandise with a lock on it is carried too close to EAS antennas the antenna alarm will activate and warn employees of a possible theft attempt. Once alerted, employees can respond to the alarm activation and determine the cause of the alarm or the alarm may cause a crook to drop merchandise and run. I have seen numerous recoveries of merchandise over the years due to EAS alarm activations and proper employee response or merchandise abandoned by would-be shoplifters.
Continuing with my, “Did that really just happen?” story, I was in the camera room monitoring the CCTV system and received a call from a store associate alerting me to a male subject in the handbag department. I asked the associate to give customer service and I would watch on camera. The subject was picking up purses, and wallets, looking at them and then putting them back. I confess I was starting to think this was just a guy gift shopping for someone and I became somewhat less concerned of a possible theft attempt. The sales associate approached the man and offered to assist him. The next thing I knew, the “customer” picked up a very expensive wallet, grinned at the sales associate and ran out of the store. I had never seen a shoplifter take a moment to grin before running off and I had to recover from my momentary shock. I did run after the man and eventually caught him and got the wallet back (disclaimer: don’t do this at home, we did not have restrictions on us way back then preventing the pursuit of shoplifters). A little happily ever after moment, that sales associate was my wife and even today, nearly 25 years later, she reminds me that she never trusted the man and I should have taken her call more seriously. SIGH!
I firmly believe that if we had Alpha Security retail anti-theft devices such as the cable lock available and attached to the wallets, the visibility of the lock would have deterred the shoplifter from stealing.
Not every store can afford to staff a Loss Prevention officer due to the expense of the additional payroll. What a store CAN do is invest in retail anti-theft devices such as an Alpha cable lock and benefit financially from reduced theft and improved profits. Find out how Alpha Security can help your store prevent shoplifting.
Get more information on Alpha Security, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
