You own clothing stores and are considering how to best protect your investment. You know that shoplifters and even employees are going to try to steal from you and you want to find the most effective clothing security protection available. As a former Loss Prevention associate and Assets Protection Manager with over 25 years of retail experience under my belt, I would like to share some of my thoughts on the subject. First, if you do not have an electronic article surveillance (EAS) system in place, invest in one. If you don’t know where to look for an EAS system, I would suggest Checkpoint Systems as a starting point. Next, you will want to purchase clothing security tags for your merchandise.
Clothing security tags are clipped to the garments and require a special detachment tool to remove them. Without the proper tool, any attempt by a shoplifter or even a dishonest employee, to remove the tag will result in damaged clothing. A thief is not going to go to the trouble of stealing merchandise if it will result in damage since they want to either wear it or re-sell it. Also, devices such as Checkpoint tags are reusable meaning that when a purchase is made the device is removed and retained at the store. They can then be applied to new product as it arrives.
As you are deciding which security tags on clothes you will use that you consider Checkpoint tags for their source tagging program. Working with Checkpoint your merchandise can be shipped to your store(s) from the vendor already protected with clothing security tags. Why is this important? There are two reasons I really like this program. First, consistency in tagging benefits you at the point of sale. When the clothing comes to you tagged, the tags are placed in the same location on like merchandise. When it gets to the register, cashiers know where to find the tag every time. This speeds up the checkout process and minimizes the chance for a false alarm at the doors caused by cashier error. The second reason I believe source tagging is the smart choice is that you spend little payroll on tagging merchandise. I know how tight payroll budgets can be and if I had the choice to spend it on tagging merchandise or driving sales through excellent customer service, I would pick customer service.
In addition to using clothing security tags on clothes for protection, I would recommend a camera system, partly for theft prevention and partially as a safety measure. A public view monitor at the entry way to a store and at the exit is good for making shoppers aware that they are on camera. The downside is cameras have become commonplace and do not have the deterrent value they once did in the retail world. You must be sure if you install a camera you have it positioned to in such a way as to capture face shots. Be aware that many criminals are on to this so they will enter the store with sunglasses on and hats pulled down to obscure their face. I also recommend cameras at the point of sale that can be used to record transactions. This can help to identify employees who may be stealing or criminals who are using fraudulent means to make purchases. Cameras on the sales floor may be usefull, but unless you have someone to monitor them and review video, they will not be extremely helpful in preventing shoplifting.
Finally, spend time training employees. Train on how to effectively provide outstanding customer service, and how it drives sales and reduces shortage. Also, spend time training on the importance of properly removing Checkpoint tags at the point of sales and response to EAS alarm activations. Training must be an ongoing process. If treated as a once and done, training loses its value because people tend to retain information better and practice it when it is reinforced.
Take a multi-pronged approach to protect merchandise. Use cameras, customer service, EAS and Checkpoint tags to defend against theft. A smart investment will pay significant dividends in the future.
For more information on Clothing Security Tags contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
Pre-employment screening – 5 WC blog 107
Background Check company-4
Getting To Know Employees Is Great, BEFORE They Are Hired; Use Pre-Employment Screening
I have worked as a retail manager and as a supervisor in a university library. Part of my responsibilities includes hiring and being sure applicants are free of criminal backgrounds. The University automatically runs pre-employment screenings and my retail employer did as well once I submitted my choice for hiring. For business owners who are not part of a government agency or a national chain, it may be up to the owner to make hiring decisions. If you are that owner, do you make the effort to have background checks run on your prospective employee? From my experience in retail, I found that often the employees who were stealing were doing so because they worked in an area where there could not be a supervisor all the time, such as in a stockroom. Cashiers who were caught stealing often did so because supervisors did not have a significant amount of time to train and coach, they were busy trying to keep lines down, getting change for registers, addressing transaction problems and so forth. How much time do your employees work unsupervised? Can you be in your business 24/7? A background check company can help you feel more at ease about the people you hire.
What a background check company can do for you is they can check on an applicant’s past. Many people think that such checks are limited in scope, but a background check company can verify an applicant’s educational experience. In the retail company I worked for executives were required to hold at least a bachelor’s degree. Anyone can put down whatever they want on an application and if no one is running a check you are taking their word for it and you have no idea who this person is. Does your business have a vehicle or vehicles for day to day operations? They can check the driving record of an employee you are allowing to get behind the wheel of your car or truck. And yes, criminal history is an important part of what a pre-employment screening can do for you.
Has this applicant done anything that should concern you? It may be they had a misdemeanor on their record and you are willing to give that person a chance. But what if the applicant has more serious charges that might be an indicator of the behavior they might exhibit in your business with your customers or your other employees? Recently in my research for information on other topics I started coming across some stories in the home healthcare sector that peaked my curiosity. I noticed quite a few cases of home healthcare workers who were arrested for stealing from the people who were in their care. Please understand that this is not an indictment on home healthcare workers. As with any group, the vast majority of employees care about the patients they are assigned to help. They do work long hours and difficult shifts, and I had a relative and a close friend who were both under the care of very good home health care providers. These workers do work with little supervision and are in positions that give them the opportunity to steal from people who are vulnerable. In one case in Greenwich, Connecticut, a home health aid was accused of stealing a total of $163,177 from a 90 year old woman under her care. As reported by greenwichtime.com, on May 1, 2015, the suspect had two other larceny arrests on her record. Additionally, the home health care company that hired the suspect, “would not discuss screening practices” (referring to pre-employment screening).
In another case, a woman was arrested after being accused of stealing more than $25,000 from a client. According to Chron.com, in a Dec. 21, 2015 article, the home healthcare worker was on probation for an earlier case of welfare fraud. In this case, the son stated that background checks did not include fingerprinting so that was how the employee covered her history. While that may be true in this instance, I would argue that a thorough pre-employment screening by a reputable company should be able to uncover a questionable past.
Regardless of the type of business you operate, checking out who your prospective employees are before you hire them only makes good sense. A reputable background check company can conduct solid pre-employment screenings and minimize your risk of bringing the wrong person onto your team.
A Background Check Company is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
I have worked as a retail manager and as a supervisor in a university library. Part of my responsibilities includes hiring and being sure applicants are free of criminal backgrounds. The University automatically runs pre-employment screenings and my retail employer did as well once I submitted my choice for hiring. For business owners who are not part of a government agency or a national chain, it may be up to the owner to make hiring decisions. If you are that owner, do you make the effort to have background checks run on your prospective employee? From my experience in retail, I found that often the employees who were stealing were doing so because they worked in an area where there could not be a supervisor all the time, such as in a stockroom. Cashiers who were caught stealing often did so because supervisors did not have a significant amount of time to train and coach, they were busy trying to keep lines down, getting change for registers, addressing transaction problems and so forth. How much time do your employees work unsupervised? Can you be in your business 24/7? A background check company can help you feel more at ease about the people you hire.
What a background check company can do for you is they can check on an applicant’s past. Many people think that such checks are limited in scope, but a background check company can verify an applicant’s educational experience. In the retail company I worked for executives were required to hold at least a bachelor’s degree. Anyone can put down whatever they want on an application and if no one is running a check you are taking their word for it and you have no idea who this person is. Does your business have a vehicle or vehicles for day to day operations? They can check the driving record of an employee you are allowing to get behind the wheel of your car or truck. And yes, criminal history is an important part of what a pre-employment screening can do for you.
Has this applicant done anything that should concern you? It may be they had a misdemeanor on their record and you are willing to give that person a chance. But what if the applicant has more serious charges that might be an indicator of the behavior they might exhibit in your business with your customers or your other employees? Recently in my research for information on other topics I started coming across some stories in the home healthcare sector that peaked my curiosity. I noticed quite a few cases of home healthcare workers who were arrested for stealing from the people who were in their care. Please understand that this is not an indictment on home healthcare workers. As with any group, the vast majority of employees care about the patients they are assigned to help. They do work long hours and difficult shifts, and I had a relative and a close friend who were both under the care of very good home health care providers. These workers do work with little supervision and are in positions that give them the opportunity to steal from people who are vulnerable. In one case in Greenwich, Connecticut, a home health aid was accused of stealing a total of $163,177 from a 90 year old woman under her care. As reported by greenwichtime.com, on May 1, 2015, the suspect had two other larceny arrests on her record. Additionally, the home health care company that hired the suspect, “would not discuss screening practices” (referring to pre-employment screening).
In another case, a woman was arrested after being accused of stealing more than $25,000 from a client. According to Chron.com, in a Dec. 21, 2015 article, the home healthcare worker was on probation for an earlier case of welfare fraud. In this case, the son stated that background checks did not include fingerprinting so that was how the employee covered her history. While that may be true in this instance, I would argue that a thorough pre-employment screening by a reputable company should be able to uncover a questionable past.
Regardless of the type of business you operate, checking out who your prospective employees are before you hire them only makes good sense. A reputable background check company can conduct solid pre-employment screenings and minimize your risk of bringing the wrong person onto your team.
A Background Check Company is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
Alpha Spider Wrap-5 WC blog 116
Retail Anti-Theft Devices-4
Properly Applying Alpha Spider Wrap Promotes Sales And Improves Customer Service
When I was a Loss Prevention Manager I was introduced to Alpha Spider Wrap and since then I have seen a huge growth in the use of this retail anti-theft device in many different retailers. Sometimes it is placed appropriately on merchandise and other times it is obvious to me someone did not truly understand what they were doing when they attempted to protect merchandise with it. Spider wrap can be an effective way to prevent shoplifting but like any tool, it has to be used properly to be doing the job it was intended to do.
Before I get more specific about how these retail anti-theft devices can be improperly placed, I need to discuss what Alpha Spider Wrap is and what it does. The device has wires that are connected in a main disc and there are two looped wires that extend out the sides. The looped wires extend and retract as needed to fit around the item to be protected. When the proper length is determined, the loops are clasped together and the device is tightened to a snug fit around a box. The wires form a circuit so that if a shoplifter attempts to cut one of the wires, a tamper alarm in the device sounds a high, piercing noise. The wraps are also designed to set off electronic article surveillance antennas if carried through the antennas.
When used properly, as I mentioned above, the Alpha Spider Wrap wires surround a boxed item and it is tight enough that the wires cannot be manipulated or forced over the sides of the box. The protection of retail anti-theft devices give the retailer the ability to display high dollar items on the sales floor and allows customers to pick up and carry merchandise. This flexibility for the retailer allows them to not have to lock everything up in a display case. Customers don’t need to wait for someone with a key to walk by and unlock the case; show the merchandise and either put it back again or walk it to the register to ring the purchase. Frequently this will drive sales up because customers don’t have to wait for service. In fact, according to Help Scout.net, quoting from a 2011 American Express Survey, “78% of customers have bailed on a transaction or not made an intended purchase because of a poor service experience”.
If then one of the benefits of Alpha Spider Wrap is to provide a better service experience by allowing customer access to merchandise, I have to wonder at some of the things I see in some stores. For example, in one store I have observed several boxes of a high dollar headphone set secured with the wraps. This would have been perfect except that the store then had a cable running through all the retail anti-theft devices and securing everything to the shelf. What was the point of using spider wraps if they were going to secure the merchandise down? On at least one occasion I saw wrapped merchandise in a locking display case. Again, I have question to point of using the device if an associate is still required to unlock the case to show it to a customer?
The other issue I see, even in the store I work in, is that the wrap is not tight enough on a box. When there is too much play in the cords, the wrap can be slipped off the box without setting off the tamper alarm. Sometimes the looseness is due to a plastic hang tab that is too stiff and thick and prevents the employee from tightening the wires enough. This can be avoided by either cutting off the hang tab or putting the wire next to it and cranking the device closed. Another problem arises when the wrong sized wrap is used. There are different size wraps and if someone applies a large wrap to a box that is too small it is possible the device can’t be tightened enough to prevent some play in the strands. The remedy is simply to have large and small wraps on hand to ensure the right equipment is used for the right item.
Don’t make customers wait in line for lock up display cases to be opened in order to get products. Proper application and use of Alpha Spider Wrap can promote customer service and drive up sales.
Need information on Alpha Spider Wrap? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
When I was a Loss Prevention Manager I was introduced to the Alpha Spider Wrap and since then I have seen a huge growth in the use of this retail anti-theft device in many different retailers. Sometimes it is placed appropriately on merchandise and other times it is obvious to me someone did not truly understand what they were doing when they attempted to protect merchandise with it. Spider wrap can be an effective way to prevent shoplifting but like any tool, it has to be used properly to be doing the job it was intended to do.
Before I get more specific about how these retail anti-theft devices can be improperly placed, I need to discuss what Alpha Spider Wrap is and what it does. The device has wires that are connected in a main disc and there are two looped wires that extend out the sides. The looped wires extend and retract as needed to fit around the item to be protected. When the proper length is determined, the loops are clasped together and the device is tightened to a snug fit around a box. The wires form a circuit so that if a shoplifter attempts to cut one of the wires, a tamper alarm in the device sounds a high piercing noise. The wraps are also designed to set off electronic article surveillance antennas if carried through the antennas.
When used properly, as I mentioned above, the Alpha Spider Wrap wires surround a boxed item and it is tight enough that the wires cannot be manipulated or forced over the sides of the box. The protection of retail anti-theft devices give the retailer the ability to display high dollar items on the sales floor and allows customers to pick up and carry merchandise. This flexibility for the retailer allows them to not have to lock everything up in a display case. Customers don’t need to wait for someone with a key to walk by and unlock the case; show the merchandise and either put it back again or walk it to the register to ring the purchase. Frequently this will drive sales up because customers don’t have to wait for service. In fact, according to Help Scout.net, quoting from a 2011 American Express Survey, “78% of customers have bailed on a transaction or not made an intended purchase because of a poor service experience”.
If then one of the benefits of the Alpha Spider Wrap is to provide a better service experience by allowing customer access to merchandise, I have to wonder at some of the things I see in some stores. For example, in one store I have observed several boxes of a high dollar headphone set secured with the wraps. This would have been perfect except that the store then had a cable running through all the retail anti-theft devices and securing everything to the shelf. What was the point of using spider wraps if they were going to secure the merchandise down? On at least one occasion I saw wrapped merchandise in a locking display case. Again, I have question to point of using the device if an associate is still required to unlock the case to show it to a customer?
The other issue I see, even in the store I work in, is that the wrap is not tight enough on a box. When there is too much play in the cords, the wrap can be slipped off the box without setting off the tamper alarm. Sometimes the looseness is due to a plastic hang tab that is too stiff and thick and prevents the employee from tightening the wires enough. This can be avoided by either cutting off the hang tab or putting the wire next to it and cranking the device closed. Another problem arises when the wrong sized wrap is used. There are different size wraps and if someone applies a large wrap to a box that is too small it is possible the device can’t be tightened enough to prevent some play in the strands. The remedy is simply to have large and small wraps on hand to ensure the right equipment is used for the right item.
Don’t make customers wait in line for lock up display cases to be opened in order to get products. Proper application and use of Alpha Spider Wrap can promote customer service and drive up sales.
Need information on Alpha Spider Wrap? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Tablet Theft-4 , CPN10-3 , Thunder Tag-3 , CP Systems-1
Theft In The Medical Office-It Could Be An Inside Job
I took my husband to a follow up appointment from his surgery recently because I was the primary person changing his dressings and I wanted to make sure I was doing it right. When the nurse came in to change them, he asked if I had everything at home I needed to continue for the next couple of weeks. I told him I was running a little low, but I would check at a home health store for the stuff I needed. He walked out of the room for a moment and then came back in with a bag of supplies, including tweezers, bandage scissors, and bandage rolls. He told me to put the bag in my purse and to not tell the doctor he’d given it to me. I did as I was told, but I wondered later if I had done the right thing. Theft from doctor’s offices is actually a pretty common occurrence, mostly just rubber gloves and such, but it can get worse. Money comes up missing from the drawer where they keep patient’s cash payments. An electronic tablet or i-pad theft occurs after the office invests in new technologies. In many cases, it’s not just the patients and their families that the staff has to watch now; internal theft can be a major issue in the medical field too.
Let’s take the i-pad or tablet theft situation. With many doctor’s offices converting to electronic records and more advanced ways to share medical information, these expensive devices are showing up not just in the exam rooms, but in the waiting room as well. Patients use them to check in for their appointments and update their contact information as well. What happens when the patient takes it back to the exam room with them and suddenly it has disappeared? Obviously, everyone will point the finger at the patient themselves or a member of their family that came with them when the tablet theft is discovered. But what if they did give the tablet back as they will surely claim? What if the nurse or assistant simply hid the tablet until they can retrieve it to take home at the end of the day? The patient will be blamed and possibly banned from the practice and no one is the wiser.
We can’t control others motives for stealing, and it’s always harder to deal with when the case is internal. It can happen with a long term employee just as easily as with a new hire. The employee may be under extreme financial pressure, or have a gambling problem. They may have an addiction for luxury spending. They may rationalize an i-pad theft to help themselves since the doctor makes so much money and can afford a new one. Or, just like above, they could see an opportunity and decide to act on it. While you can’t control what motivates people to steal, you can control your surroundings and protect your assets with some new offerings by Checkpoint Systems.
Designed for small spaces and professional settings, the Checkpoint N10, combined with the Thunder Tag, is the way to protect those valuable electronics from external as well as internal theft. The Checkpoint N10 has the same capabilities as its counterparts used in department stores to monitor inventory. But it is smaller and sleeker and will not detract from the setting or atmosphere of a doctor’s office. The Thunder Tag is actually a device that is adhered to the tablet or i-pad and it is the catalyst that will alert staff via the Checkpoint N10 if a theft attempt occurs. If a patient or employee tampers with the Thunder Tag or tries to remove it, it will self-alarm as well. A doctor’s office can fail and go under financially just as easily as a retail establishment. The bills have to be paid and the office equipment that is bought must be maintained and accounted for.
Want more information on the Checkpoint N10 System now? Give us a call: 1.770.426.0547
I took my husband to a follow up appointment from his surgery recently because I was the primary person changing his dressings and I wanted to make sure I was doing it right. hen the nurse came in to change them, he asked if I had everything at home I needed to continue for the next couple of weeks. I told him I was running a little low, but I would check at a home health store for the stuff I needed. He walked out of the room for a moment and then came back in with a bag of supplies, including tweezers, bandage scissors, and bandage rolls. He told me to put the bag in my purse and to not tell the doctor he’d given it to me. I did as I was told, but I wondered later if I had done the right thing. Theft from doctor’s offices is actually a pretty common occurrence, mostly just rubber gloves and such, but it can get worse. Money comes up missing from the drawer where they keep patient’s cash payments. An electronic tablet theft or i-pad theft occurs after the office invests in new technologies. In many cases, it’s not just the patients and their families that the staff has to watch now; internal theft can be a major issue in the medical field too.
Let’s take the i-pad or tablet theft situation. With many doctor’s offices converting to electronic records and more advanced ways to share medical information, these expensive devices are showing up not just in the exam rooms, but in the waiting room as well. Patients use them to check in for their appointments and update their contact information as well. What happens when the patient takes it back to the exam room with them and suddenly it has disappeared? Obviously, everyone will point the finger at the patient themselves or a member of their family that came with them when the tablet theft is discovered. But what if they did give the tablet back as they will surely claim? What if the nurse or assistant simply hid the tablet until they can retrieve it to take home at the end of the day? The patient will be blamed and possibly banned from the practice and no one is the wiser.
We can’t control others motives for stealing, and it’s always harder to deal with when the case is internal. It can happen with a long term employee just as easily as with a new hire. The employee may be under extreme financial pressure, or have a gambling problem. They may have an addiction for luxury spending. They may rationalize an i-pad theft to help themselves since the doctor makes so much money and can afford a new one. Or, just like above, they could see an opportunity and decide to act on it. While you can’t control what motivates people to steal, you can control your surroundings and protect your assets with some new offerings by Checkpoint Systems.
Designed for small spaces and professional settings, the Checkpoint N10, combined with the Thunder Tag, is the way to protect those valuable electronics from external as well as internal theft. The Checkpoint N10 has the same capabilities as its counterparts used in department stores to monitor inventory. But it is smaller and sleeker and will not detract from the setting or atmosphere of a doctor’s office.The Thunder Tag is actually a device that is adhered to the tablet theft or i-pad and it is the catalyst that will alert staff via the Checkpoint N10 if a theft attempt occurs. If a patient or employee tampers with the Thunder Tag or tries to remove it, it will self-alarm as well. A doctor’s office can fail and go under financially just as easily as a retail establishment. The bills have to be paid and the office equipment that is bought must be maintained and accounted for.
Want more information on the Checkpoint N10 System now? Give us a call: 1.770.426.0547
Checkpoint Tags-5 WC blog 93
Clothing Security tags-4
Security tags on clothes-3
Urgent! Checkpoint Tags Increase Profits But Lead To Reduction Of Funny Shoplifting Stories
I remember one of my favorite funny shoplifting stories was from my days working as a department store Loss Prevention Officer. It was a time when silk jackets were very popular and we were experiencing some theft of these items in our men’s department. The jackets cost around $90 each, but they were not one of the categories we had any type of security tags on. Due to the theft trend, my boss and I were closely monitoring the area on closed circuit television. This one particular day, a young man and his girlfriend were in the area and the guy started looking at the silk jackets while his girlfriend acted as his lookout. He selected a jacket, wrapped it around the hanger and stuffed it down his pants. I met him at the door as he started to exit and identified myself. He asked me why I had stopped him and I couldn’t help but start laughing and pointed to his side. The end of the hanger was pushing through his shirt making it obvious he had something underneath. I told the young man he either needed some serious medical attention for a broken rib and we needed to call an ambulance, or he had one of our silk jackets concealed under his clothes. He admitted to the theft and the jacket was recovered, no ambulance was necessary for the extraction. He did get a ride, but it was not to the hospital. The incident was humorous, but if we had been using Checkpoint tags it may not have ever taken place.
What difference would Checkpoint tags have made? Checkpoint clothing security tags act first as a visual deterrent to a shoplifter. Most shoplifters will see security tags on clothes and leave that merchandise alone. The everyday shoplifter doesn’t want to try to remove a security device. The second reason Checkpoints tags would have worked is because the store had electronic article surveillance antennas and we used tags on a very limited number of items at the time. If the jackets had been protected with clothing security tags and the young man tried to exit, the alarm would have activated. In many cases, shoplifters will drop merchandise if they set off an alarm. Or if trained store personnel can tactfully recover merchandise because the customer “did not realize an item in their possession had not been paid for”. There are many excuses you can help a potential shoplifter use to return merchandise and leave a store without accusing them of theft.
You may be thinking to yourself, “Wait a minute I thought you said the jackets were made of silk, wouldn’t the Checkpoint Tags have damaged the fabric?” My response is, not necessarily. The Checkpoint Gen 3 Hard Tag series is designed to be used on merchandise without damaging fabric. Security tags on clothes used to be a concern some time ago, especially on delicate fabrics, but pins are not necessarily as thick as they used to be and the clothing security tags close much better today, making them almost impossible to defeat and pry apart.
There are two other benefits I would like to point out about using Checkpoint tags. First, they are reusable. The hard tags are removed at the point of sale and then re-applied to new merchandise when it is received at the store. There is no need to constantly be replenishing your supply of tags. Second, you can have the tags applied at the source. In other words, you don’t have to use your payroll to have employees tag merchandise. Checkpoint can work with you to have the vendors place tags on from their locations, which ensures consistency in the placement of tags. This makes it easier for cashiers to know exactly where to look for clothing security tags on different products.
Funny shoplifter stories will always be out there, but using security tags on clothes can reduce these stories and improve stock shortage results. This, in turn, increases profit. So, if you prefer dollars over stories, look into using Checkpoint Tags on ALL of your clothes and laugh all the way to the bank!
For more information on Checkpoint Tags contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
I remember one of my favorite funny shoplifting stories was from my days working as a department store Loss Prevention Officer. It was a time when silk jackets were very popular and we were experiencing some theft of these items in our men’s department. The jackets cost around $90 each, but they were not one of the categories we had any type of security tags on. Due to the theft trend, my boss and I were closely monitoring the area on closed circuit television. This one particular day, a young man and his girlfriend were in the area and the guy started looking at the silk jackets while his girlfriend acted as his lookout. He selected a jacket, wrapped it around the hanger and stuffed it down his pants. I met him at the door as he started to exit and identified myself. He asked me why I had stopped him and I couldn’t help but start laughing and pointed to his side. The end of the hanger was pushing through his shirt making it obvious he had something underneath. I told the young man he either needed some serious medical attention for a broken rib and we needed to call an ambulance, or he had one of our silk jackets concealed under his clothes. He admitted to the theft and the jacket was recovered, no ambulance was necessary for the extraction. He did get a ride, but it was not to the hospital. The incident was humorous, but if we had been using Checkpoint tags it may not have ever taken place.
What difference would Checkpoint tags have made? Checkpoint clothing security tags act first as a visual deterrent to a shoplifter. Most shoplifters will see security tags on clothes and leave that merchandise alone. The everyday shoplifter doesn’t want to try to remove a security device. The second reason Checkpoints tags would have worked is because the store had electronic article surveillance antennas and we used tags on a very limited number of items at the time. If the jackets had been protected with clothing security tags and the young man tried to exit, the alarm would have activated. In many cases, shoplifters will drop merchandise if they set off an alarm. Or if trained store personnel can tactfully recover merchandise because the customer “did not realize an item in their possession had not been paid for”. There are many excuses you can help a potential shoplifter use to return merchandise and leave a store without accusing them of theft.
You may be thinking to yourself, “Wait a minute I thought you said the jackets were made of silk, wouldn’t the Checkpoint Tags have damaged the fabric?” My response is, not necessarily. The Checkpoint Gen 3 Hard Tag series is designed to be used on merchandise without damaging fabric. Security tags on clothes used to be a concern some time ago, especially on delicate fabrics, but pins are not necessarily as thick as they used to be and the clothing security tags close much better today, making them almost impossible to defeat and pry apart.
There are two other benefits I would like to point out about using Checkpoint tags. First, they are reusable. The hard tags are removed at the point of sale and then re-applied to new merchandise when it is received at the store. There is no need to constantly be replenishing your supply of tags. Second, you can have the tags applied at the source. In other words, you don’t have to use your payroll to have employees tag merchandise. Checkpoint can work with you to have the vendors place tags on from their locations, which ensures consistency in the placement of tags. This makes it easier for cashiers to know exactly where to look for clothing security tags on different products.
Funny shoplifter stories will always be out there, but using security tags on clothes can reduce these stories and improve stock shortage results. This, in turn, increases profit. So, if you prefer dollars over stories, look into using Checkpoint Tags on ALL of your clothes and laugh all the way to the bank!
For more information on Checkpoint Tags contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
