CP Hard Tags-3 , EAS-2 , Stop Shoplifting-1 , CP Tags-4
Security Guard Vs. Checkpoint Systems
There are a few retailers that I have seen lately using loss prevention associates dressed as security guards, instead of the undercover approach. I get the deterrence factor of using these people, and I’m not against this as a way to stop shoplifting. If you can find the right people to do the job, train them according to all your policies and local regulations, your store can benefit from their presence. If nothing else, they can make some customers and even the staff feel more safe and secure. However, I think in order to really make a difference and reduce shrink in your store, you should take a look at the additional assistance you can get by introducing an electronic article surveillance system, like Checkpoint. Especially if you have the kind of staff and “security” personnel the store I went to this weekend employs.
I took my daughter shopping for a tie dye kit for her birthday, and the best locally owned place I knew to go was this crazy mix of gift shop and smoke shop that sells everything you can think of. We were greeted and offered help as soon as we walked in the door. My daughter was immediately mesmerized by all the band t-shirts and black light room decorations, so I just wondered around aimlessly, doing what I usually do: figuring out if a store has loss prevention tools in place. First of all, there are two clerks in the middle of this weird round checkout counter. There was a guy walking around the store with a black t-shirt on that said “security” on the back of it. Honestly, I kinda thought he could have actually been the store’s security, but there is the off chance that was just one of the novelty shirts they sell there. I accidentally (on purpose) took a pair of sunglasses I was “looking at” too close to the front door and activated their electronic article surveillance system. One of the clerks looked up from pricing merchandise, the security guy turned around but didn’t come closer, and the other clerk never budged. Now, I’ll admit I don’t look like much of a threat or a typical theft issue for a store like this, so I won’t crack on them too hard. As I really looked around, I could see that all the t-shirts had Checkpoint hard tags on them. All the beanie caps, bandanas, and scarves and more had some form of Checkpoint tags as well.
The store’s staff can’t see everything that happens. They get busy with other customers and things happen that draw their attention away. That’s why it’s so important to utilize Checkpoint tags and Checkpoint hard tags on any merchandise that may be targeted for theft. Clothing and accessories get stolen often because people conceal unpaid items beneath their own clothing when the staff gets distracted. Sometimes these people come in groups in order to create the distractions themselves. Checkpoint tags will alert the staff of the theft attempt as soon as the criminal gets too close to the door and activates the alarm. Also, the thief can’t just pry off Checkpoint hard tags. They can see they will damage the shirt or other item they are trying to steal if they try to tamper with the hard tag that is pinned through, so they will be more likely to just put it back. It might be worth it to some to find out if that’s a real security guard, but they know for sure they’ll be caught if they mess with Checkpoint tags!
Need more information on Checkpoint Hard Tags? Contact us or give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
There are a few retailers that I have seen lately using loss prevention associates dressed as security guards, instead of the undercover approach. I get the deterrence factor of using these people, and I’m not against this as a way to stop shoplifting. If you can find the right people to do the job, train them according to all your policies and local regulations, your store can benefit from their presence. If nothing else, they can make some customers and even the staff feel more safe and secure. However, I think in order to really make a difference and reduce shrink in your store, you should take a look at the additional assistance you can get by introducing an electronic article surveillance system, like Checkpoint. Especially if you have the kind of staff and “security” personnel the store I went to this weekend employs.
I took my daughter shopping for a tie dye kit for her birthday, and the best locally owned place I knew to go was this crazy mix of gift shop and smoke shop that sells everything you can think of. We were greeted and offered help as soon as we walked in the door. My daughter was immediately mesmerized by all the band t-shirts and black light room decorations, so I just wondered around aimlessly, doing what I usually do: figuring out if a store has loss prevention tools in place. First of all, there are two clerks in the middle of this weird round checkout counter. There was a guy walking around the store with a black t-shirt on that said “security” on the back of it. Honestly, I kinda thought he could have actually been the store’s security, but there is the off chance that was just one of the novelty shirts they sell there. I accidentally (on purpose) took a pair of sunglasses I was “looking at” too close to the front door and activated their electronic article surveillance system. One of the clerks looked up from pricing merchandise, the security guy turned around but didn’t come closer, and the other clerk never budged. Now, I’ll admit I don’t look like much of a threat or a typical theft issue for a store like this, so I won’t crack on them too hard. As I really looked around, I could see that all the t-shirts had Checkpoint hard tags on them. All the beanie caps, bandanas, and scarves and more had some form of Checkpoint tags as well.
The store’s staff can’t see everything that happens. They get busy with other customers and things happen that draw their attention away. That’s why it’s so important to utilize Checkpoint tags and Checkpoint hard tags on any merchandise that may be targeted for theft. Clothing and accessories get stolen often because people conceal unpaid items beneath their own clothing when the staff gets distracted. Sometimes these people come in groups in order to create the distractions themselves. Checkpoint tags will alert the staff of the theft attempt as soon as the criminal gets too close to the door and activates the alarm. Also, the thief can’t just pry off Checkpoint hard tags. They can see they will damage the shirt or other item they are trying to steal if they try to tamper with the hard tag that is pinned through, so they will be more likely to just put it back. It might be worth it to some to find out if that’s a real security guard, but they know for sure they’ll be caught if they mess with Checkpoint tags!
Need more information on Checkpoint Hard Tags? Contact us or give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Background Checks-5 WC blog 105
Background Check Company-5
A Background Check Could Have Prevented Stolen Checks
When I worked as a Loss Prevention Manager for a big box retailer I had a number of cases I investigated that involved credit card and check fraud. Our store was located in a resort area with many hotels and tourist attractions. Several of the cases of financial transaction fraud involved theft from hotel patrons. So who did I often find were the guilty parties involved in these cases? Hotel room attendants who were party to the crimes in several cases, either using the stolen cards or check information themselves or providing it to a third party who, in turn, used the items. I would suspect that had I been able to investigate, I would learn that in these cases there were no background checks conducted. Often, especially in the summer months, hotels ramp up their hiring to meet the needs of the peak tourist season. Mass hiring tends to mean there are few if any background checks conducted because the need is so great.
Why would background checks make a difference in the cases I dealt with? A Background check company can dig into the history of potential new employees. They can check multiple state or local criminal histories, driving records, even education background if the employer requests it. A Background check company can help an employer know more about an applicant than just the questions on an application or what a personality screening supposedly scores a candidate. Had the hotels that employed the housekeepers made the effort to have thorough background checks completed, they may have learned that the people stealing from their guests had prior convictions for crimes.
I recall one specific case I worked in which our store had a customer report that a check had been written at our location from his account, but he insisted he had not been the person who wrote it. He said he had not written any checks at our store when he was visiting our town. I reviewed purchase information and was able to verify we had closed circuit television video recording available. Video review confirmed that the customer making the complaint was not the subject I had on camera. I asked the customer to contact our local police department to file a report, while I made contact with some investigators I knew on the department. After showing detectives the video we had and after they did some investigation at the hotel where the guest had stayed, police arrested a hotel housekeeper. It turned out that while the guest and family were at the beach, the housekeeper rifled through the complainant’s belongings, found the checkbook and removed several checks from the middle of the checkbook.
There is no guarantee that this particular employee had a criminal record and that was not information I sought or was offered. If she did have a record and a background check company had been hired to conduct a screening there is a strong probability it would have been discovered and she may not have been hired. I would also like to add a point here. I understand people need a second chance, and it can be difficult for those with criminal histories to obtain that second chance. That second chance may require the applicant to accept a job that does not place them in a position that may jeopardize the safety and security of others, especially in a job that may leave them alone with little oversight. An employer can use the results received from a background check company to still hire someone, but they may be placed in a different position.
Background checks protect the employer and can protect the clientele of a business. Hiring the wrong people can ruin a company’s brand and reputation. Let a background check company help you know who you are hiring and place people in the right job, it makes good business sense.
For more information on Background Checks, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
When I worked as a Loss Prevention Manager for a big box retailer I had a number of cases I investigated that involved credit card and check fraud. Our store was located in a resort area with many hotels and tourist attractions. Several of the cases of financial transaction fraud involved theft from hotel patrons. So who did I often find were the guilty parties involved in these cases? Hotel room attendants who were party to the crimes in several cases, either using the stolen cards or check information themselves or providing it to a third party who, in turn, used the items. I would suspect that had I been able to investigate, I would learn that in these cases there were no background checks conducted. Often, especially in the summer months, hotels ramp up their hiring to meet the needs of the peak tourist season. Mass hiring tends to mean there are few if any background checks conducted because the need is so great.
Why would background checks make a difference in the cases I dealt with? A Background check company can dig into the history of potential new employees. They can check multiple state or local criminal histories, driving records, even education background if the employer requests it. A Background check company can help an employer know more about an applicant than just the questions on an application or what a personality screening supposedly scores a candidate. Had the hotels that employed the housekeepers made the effort to have thorough background checks completed, they may have learned that the people stealing from their guests had prior convictions for crimes.
I recall one specific case I worked in which our store had a customer report that a check had been written at our location from his account, but he insisted he had not been the person who wrote it. He said he had not written any checks at our store when he was visiting our town. I reviewed purchase information and was able to verify we had closed circuit television video recording available. Video review confirmed that the customer making the complaint was not the subject I had on camera. I asked the customer to contact our local police department to file a report, while I made contact with some investigators I knew on the department. After showing detectives the video we had and after they did some investigation at the hotel where the guest had stayed, police arrested a hotel housekeeper. It turned out that while the guest and family were at the beach, the housekeeper rifled through the complainant’s belongings, found the checkbook and removed several checks from the middle of the checkbook.
There is no guarantee that this particular employee had a criminal record and that was not information I sought or was offered. If she did have a record and a background check company had been hired to conduct a screening there is a strong probability it would have been discovered and she may not have been hired. I would also like to add a point here. I understand people need a second chance, and it can be difficult for those with criminal histories to obtain that second chance. That second chance may require the applicant to accept a job that does not place them in a position that may jeopardize the safety and security of others, especially in a job that may leave them alone with little oversight. An employer can use the results received from a background check company to still hire someone, but they may be placed in a different position.
Background checks protect the employer and can protect the clientele of a business. Hiring the wrong people can ruin a company’s brand and reputation. Let a background check company help you know who you are hiring and place people in the right job, it makes good business sense.
For more information on Background Checks, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
Alpha Spider Wrap-1 , Alpha Hang Tag-2 , Retail Anti Theft Devices-2 , Prevent Shoplifting-3
Don’t Let Shoplifters Steal The Show
There is no typical thief or shoplifter. They range in age, gender, and race. Ten million people have been caught in just the last five years. Shoplifting affects more than just the store and the criminal. The store has to call the local authorities, so there is the added burden to the police. They have to take their attention and focus off of other potentially harmful people and situations to come deal with the thief. Sometimes the police get there in time to catch and haul the criminal away; other times they just come to take the report. When too much theft occurs, there are the additional costs to make up for those losses and those are usually passed on to the consumer. There is also the loss of sales taxes to the local community. If store managers and their staff are going to prevent shoplifting, they have got to have the retail anti-theft devices they need to get the job done. That is where Alpha Technology comes into play to help stores secure the valuable inventory on their shelves.
Shoplifters are a problem for drug stores, discount stores, grocers, specialty shops, clothing boutiques and more. No matter what your business sells, deterrence is the key to prevent shoplifting. There are many choices when it comes to retail anti-theft devices, and your best security option depends on what you sell. I work for a small retail pharmacy and dealt with two thefts in the last week. Do you realize that many shoplifters will buy something as well as steal from your store in the same visit? I had a guy come in to get a prescription for his young daughter. He turned it in at the pharmacy and walked around the store while he waited for it to be filled. I noticed him in our baby care section, but I assumed he was just killing time. I watched him for a bit, and then went back to working on some other things. A little while later, I found two empty packages over there. So, he bought that medication for his child, but he stole a thermometer and a nasal aspirator. It’s cough and cold season, and to tell the truth, we should have known better than to merchandise those back there unprotected. Now I have those items protected with Alpha Hang Tags. They clip right onto the package, and they can still be hung right on the peg as they had been. Alpha Hang Tags are easily removed by the staff and they are 100% recyclable.
I just dismantled a glass security case about a month ago in our diet and nutrition section. Then I discovered we had some diet pills getting stolen. I could give in and put that big heavy case back up, but I know how to fix the problem without that unsightly thing. Today when that replacement box of diet pills arrived with the delivery, I attached an Alpha Spider Wrap. Try to get that box open now; I dare you. Your fingers will break before that cable will. Depending on the size of the package and how you display it for sale, there are many tools like the Alpha Spider Wrap to protect your merchandise. Don’t let the shoplifters win. You’ve got too much to lose. Prevent shoplifting with these tools and many more.
For more information on Alpha Technology, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
There is no typical thief or shoplifter. They range in age, gender, and race. Ten million people have been caught in just the last five years. Shoplifting affects more than just the store and the criminal. The store has to call the local authorities, so there is the added burden to the police. They have to take their attention and focus off of other potentially harmful people and situations to come deal with the thief. Sometimes the police get there in time to catch and haul the criminal away; other times they just come to take the report. When too much theft occurs, there are the additional costs to make up for those losses and those are usually passed on to the consumer. There is also the loss of sales taxes to the local community. If store managers and their staff are going to prevent shoplifting, they have got to have the retail anti-theft devices they need to get the job done. That is where Alpha Technology comes into play to help stores secure the valuable inventory on their shelves.
Shoplifters are a problem for drug stores, discount stores, grocers, specialty shops, clothing boutiques and more. No matter what your business sells, deterrence is the key to prevent shoplifting. There are many choices when it comes to retail anti-theft devices, and your best security option depends on what you sell. I work for a small retail pharmacy and dealt with two thefts in the last week. Do you realize that many shoplifters will buy something as well as steal from your store in the same visit? I had a guy come in to get a prescription for his young daughter. He turned it in at the pharmacy and walked around the store while he waited for it to be filled. I noticed him in our baby care section, but I assumed he was just killing time. I watched him for a bit, and then went back to working on some other things. A little while later, I found two empty packages over there. So, he bought that medication for his child, but he stole a thermometer and a nasal aspirator. It’s cough and cold season, and to tell the truth, we should have known better than to merchandise those back there unprotected. Now I have those items protected with Alpha Hang Tags. They clip right onto the package, and they can still be hung right on the peg as they had been. Alpha Hang Tags are easily removed by the staff and they are 100% recyclable.
I just dismantled a glass security case about a month ago in our diet and nutrition section. Then I discovered we had some diet pills getting stolen. I could give in and put that big heavy case back up, but I know how to fix the problem without that unsightly thing. Today when that replacement box of diet pills arrived with the delivery, I attached an Alpha Spider Wrap. Try to get that box open now; I dare you. Your fingers will break before that cable will. Depending on the size of the package and how you display it for sale, there are many tools like the Alpha Spider Wrap to protect your merchandise. Don’t let the shoplifters win. You’ve got too much to lose. Prevent shoplifting with these tools and many more.
For more information on Alpha Technology, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
Clothing Security-5 WC blog 89
Checkpoint Tags-5
Clothing security tags-3
Clothing Shortage Can Be An Easy Fix With Checkpoint Tags
According to the 2015 Global Retail Theft Report Apparel Specialist retailers in North America experienced the second highest shrinkage rate of all the respondent categories, second only to pharmacies and drugstores. The sad part is, in my opinion, this is unnecessary. Clothing security does not have to be complicated and with the right steps any clothing store can bring shortage down. Using Checkpoint tags to deter theft is a step in the right direction.
Checkpoint tags for clothing are designed to be a visual deterrent and a physical prevention measure. Attached to a garment these devices are nearly impossible to remove without a detachment key available to retailers from Checkpoint. Attempts to pry or forcibly remove clothing security tags generally results in damaged merchandise. Most criminals are already aware of the problems they will encounter if they steal merchandise with Checkpoint tags and avoid them for other merchandise which is not tagged. This is the visual deterrence effect. Seeing the devices sends the crook to other merchandise and preferably other stores. Aside from being difficult to remove, clothing security tags are also acoustic magnetic or radio frequency compatible meaning they will activate the electronic article surveillance (EAS) antennas at the front doors. This is my hint: if your store(s) does not have an EAS system I highly recommend investing in one.
Along with Checkpoint tags, other steps you can implement for clothing security include having a trained employee at your fitting room. I worked in Loss Prevention for one particular big box retailer that had fitting rooms and occasionally they had a fitting room attendant, but not consistently. When the fitting room attendant was present it was a hit or miss proposition on how well they would do their job. I will only add that we had a lot of empty hangers and clothing tickets on the stall floors. An effective fitting room strategy means limiting the number of items someone may take into a fitting room and keeping it to a reasonable number. Too many items and it becomes difficult for an employee to monitor everyone. Require a number system that hands a patron a number that corresponds to the number of garments they are taking in a fitting room. Do not permit a patron to carry more in unless they exchange an item they already tried on.
Fitting room attendants must also be trained to be firm and physically handle all clothing items being taken into the fitting room. Shoplifters will layer clothes on a hanger, hide merchandise between clothes and partially lift an item to show there is nothing underneath. Clothing security is only going to work if the attendant is aware of the tricks thieves will attempt to play on them. The employee must also count all of the merchandise coming out of the room and if there is something missing, the customer must be required to go back in and retrieve the item. Shoplifters like to tell the employee they left an item in the room and when the employee goes back to check, the shoplifter has left the area.
When an EAS system is installed, clothing security will also require a trained cashier team. They need to understand the importance of removing clothing security tags from all merchandise. Failing to remove tags causes alarms and eventually results in complacency on the part of staff who responds to alarms. Thieves understand that in stores where alarms occur frequently people stop being thorough in their efforts to resolve alarms and simply wave people out the door. Minimizing cashier errors and training people to follow up properly on EAS alarms will result in recovered clothing and when shoplifters understand this, they will take their business elsewhere.
A focus on clothing security will pay big dividends. Use Checkpoint tags and install an EAS antenna system in your store. This, along with attention at the fitting room and you will be well on the way to dramatically reducing shortage and increasing profitability.
For more information on Checkpoint tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
According to the 2015 Global Retail Theft Report Apparel Specialist retailers in North America experienced the second highest shrinkage rate of all the respondent categories, second only to pharmacies and drugstores. The sad part is, in my opinion, this is unnecessary. Clothing security does not have to be complicated and with the right steps any clothing store can bring shortage down. Using Checkpoint tags to deter theft is a step in the right direction.
Checkpoint tags for clothing are designed to be a visual deterrent and a physical prevention measure. Attached to a garment these devices are nearly impossible to remove without a detachment key available to retailers from Checkpoint. Attempts to pry or forcibly remove clothing security tags generally results in damaged merchandise. Most criminals are already aware of the problems they will encounter if they steal merchandise with Checkpoint tags and avoid them for other merchandise which is not tagged. This is the visual deterrence effect. Seeing the devices sends the crook to other merchandise and preferably other stores. Aside from being difficult to remove, clothing security tags are also acoustic magnetic or radio frequency compatible meaning they will activate the electronic article surveillance (EAS) antennas at the front doors. This is my hint: if your store(s) does not have an EAS system I highly recommend investing in one.
Along with Checkpoint tags, other steps you can implement for clothing security include having a trained employee at your fitting room. I worked in Loss Prevention for one particular big box retailer that had fitting rooms and occasionally they had a fitting room attendant, but not consistently. When the fitting room attendant was present it was a hit or miss proposition on how well they would do their job. I will only add that we had a lot of empty hangers and clothing tickets on the stall floors. An effective fitting room strategy means limiting the number of items someone may take into a fitting room and keeping it to a reasonable number. Too many items and it becomes difficult for an employee to monitor everyone. Require a number system that hands a patron a number that corresponds to the number of garments they are taking in a fitting room. Do not permit a patron to carry more in unless they exchange an item they already tried on.
Fitting room attendants must also be trained to be firm and physically handle all clothing items being taken into the fitting room. Shoplifters will layer clothes on a hanger, hide merchandise between clothes and partially lift an item to show there is nothing underneath. Clothing security is only going to work if the attendant is aware of the tricks thieves will attempt to play on them. The employee must also count all of the merchandise coming out of the room and if there is something missing, the customer must be required to go back in and retrieve the item. Shoplifters like to tell the employee they left an item in the room and when the employee goes back to check, the shoplifter has left the area.
When an EAS system is installed, clothing security will also require a trained cashier team. They need to understand the importance of removing clothing security tags from all merchandise. Failing to remove tags causes alarms and eventually results in complacency on the part of staff who responds to alarms. Thieves understand that in stores where alarms occur frequently people stop being thorough in their efforts to resolve alarms and simply wave people out the door. Minimizing cashier errors and training people to follow up properly on EAS alarms will result in recovered clothing and when shoplifters understand this, they will take their business elsewhere.
A focus on clothing security will pay big dividends. Use Checkpoint tags and install an EAS antenna system in your store. This, along with attention at the fitting room and you will be well on the way to dramatically reducing shortage and increasing profitability.
For more information on Checkpoint tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
Bottle locks-5 WC blog 87
Bottle Security-4
Who’s Sneaking What Out The Back Door? Bottle Security Protects Against Vendor Shortage
Vendor theft and fraud is an easily overlooked source of store shortage. According to the 2015 Global Retail Theft Barometer vendor shortage and fraud resulted in 2.21 billion dollars of shortage for North American retailers. Approximately 10 percent of supermarket shortage was the result of vendor shortage and 5 percent of convenience store shortage was due to vendor shortage. I was unable to determine which vendor items were the largest cause of shortage however, when we take a look at the report we find that in the category of food and beverages the number one most stolen items fell under wine and spirits. I believe the data should at least alert beverage and grocery store owners and managers to the possibility that alcohol vendors may be the source of some amount of store shortage. If this is the case, would it not make sense to employ bottle security measures in your stockroom as well as on your sales floor? Using bottle locks prevent shoplifting but they can also prevent vendor theft in your store.
Bottle locks are designed to fit over the top of a wine or liquor bottle and prevent it from being opened. They are compatible with electronic article surveillance systems so any attempt to remove a bottle with a bottle lock on it will cause an electronic article surveillance antenna to alarm when the protected item passes through the antenna. Any attempt to remove a bottle lock without the proper detachment key can cause a tamper alarm to activate. It is possible that vendors could be working in the store and concealing bottles and exiting through a front entrance and reentering to go back to work. Many grocery stores and convenience stores have electronic article surveillance systems at the front of the store so bottle locks would be effective at this point of entry/exit.
Thinking about your backroom however, what controls do you have in place here? I worked as a Logistics Manager for a period of time and with my experience in Loss Prevention as well, I know that the vendor entrance can be an area of vulnerability for a store. It is easy for your receiving employees to become complacent with vendors they get to know over time. As they become acquaintances with each other, the receiver may not check “empty cases” as thoroughly as they once did for merchandise. Many vendors break down their boxes, stack them on a hand truck and wheel the boxes out the back door. How thoroughly is anyone looking between these stacks for merchandise? Potentially, vendors could be sneaking merchandise back out of the store through an unprotected vendor door and you would not know it. Installing an electronic article surveillance antenna on the vendor door would be the first step in reducing alcohol and wine vendor shortage.
Liquor and wine bottle security should also occur as soon as a vendor delivery takes place. Store employees should add locks to the merchandise as it is checked in and receiving is complete. Once the sales floor is filled, overstock returned to the stockroom already has bottle security in place protecting the merchandise in an area not usually frequented by staff. If you have dishonest vendors or employees for that matter, the locks will act as a deterrent to someone who may want to try to steal and resell bottles or just have their own little party. If you have the additional protection of electronic article surveillance antennas on the vendor entrance you will have the benefit of alarm protection. And one more thing to consider, and EAS antenna on the vendor door won’t just sound for bottle locks, they will alarm for any EAS protected merchandise!
As much as we would like to think we have honest vendors and employees, the fact remains there are dishonest people in our stores. Are you willing to trust your profits and losses on an assumption that none of your vendors would steal from you? What if you could reduce up to ten percent of your shortage simply by adding a bottle security strategy to your vendor program? Use bottle locks and see your shortage results decline and profits rise.
For more information on bottle security, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
Vendor theft and fraud is an easily overlooked source of store shortage. According to the 2015 Global Retail Theft Barometer vendor shortage and fraud resulted in 2.21 billion dollars of shortage for North American retailers. Approximately 10 percent of supermarket shortage was the result of vendor shortage and 5 percent of convenience store shortage was due to vendor shortage. I was unable to determine which vendor items were the largest cause of shortage however, when we take a look at the report we find that in the category of food and beverages the number one most stolen items fell under wine and spirits. I believe the data should at least alert beverage and grocery store owners and managers to the possibility that alcohol vendors may be the source of some amount of store shortage. If this is the case, would it not make sense to employ bottle security measures in your stockroom as well as on your sales floor? Using bottle locks prevent shoplifting but they can also prevent vendor theft in your store.
Bottle locks are designed to fit over the top of a wine or liquor bottle and prevent it from being opened. They are compatible with electronic article surveillance systems so any attempt to remove a bottle with a bottle lock on it will cause an electronic article surveillance antenna to alarm when the protected item passes through the antenna. Any attempt to remove a bottle lock without the proper detachment key can cause a tamper alarm to activate. It is possible that vendors could be working in the store and concealing bottles and exiting through a front entrance and reentering to go back to work. Many grocery stores and convenience stores have electronic article surveillance systems at the front of the store so bottle locks would be effective at this point of entry/exit.
Thinking about your backroom however, what controls do you have in place here? I worked as a Logistics Manager for a period of time and with my experience in Loss Prevention as well, I know that the vendor entrance can be an area of vulnerability for a store. It is easy for your receiving employees to become complacent with vendors they get to know over time. As they become acquaintances with each other, the receiver may not check “empty cases” as thoroughly as they once did for merchandise. Many vendors break down their boxes, stack them on a hand truck and wheel the boxes out the back door. How thoroughly is anyone looking between these stacks for merchandise? Potentially, vendors could be sneaking merchandise back out of the store through an unprotected vendor door and you would not know it. Installing an electronic article surveillance antenna on the vendor door would be the first step in reducing alcohol and wine vendor shortage.
Liquor and wine bottle security should also occur as soon as a vendor delivery takes place. Store employees should add locks to the merchandise as it is checked in and receiving is complete. Once the sales floor is filled, overstock returned to the stockroom already has bottle security in place protecting the merchandise in an area not usually frequented by staff. If you have dishonest vendors or employees for that matter, the locks will act as a deterrent to someone who may want to try to steal and resell bottles or just have their own little party. If you have the additional protection of electronic article surveillance antennas on the vendor entrance you will have the benefit of alarm protection. And one more thing to consider, and EAS antenna on the vendor door won’t just sound for bottle locks, they will alarm for any EAS protected merchandise!
As much as we would like to think we have honest vendors and employees, the fact remains there are dishonest people in our stores. Are you willing to trust your profits and losses on an assumption that none of your vendors would steal from you? What if you could reduce up to ten percent of your shortage simply by adding a bottle security strategy to your vendor program? Use bottle locks and see your shortage results decline and profits rise.
For more information on bottle security, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
