Alpha Shark Tags-4 WC Blog 411
Wardrobing-4
Return Fraud-3
People Who Engage In Return Fraud Are Like Sharks Taking A Bite Out Of Your Profits; Stop The Feeding Frenzy With Alpha Shark Tags
I’m going to do something you don’t often see, I’m writing an article about return fraud and sharks, an unusual combination right? Now, I don’t know about you but I really enjoy watching shows about sharks. It may be Shark Week on the Discovery Channel or (I’m dating myself here) The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau and it can even be the movie, “Jaws”. With that information in mind I thought I would share a few interesting facts about sharks from Discovery.com in an article titled, “The 15 Most Surprising Facts About Sharks”, by Anastacia Darby, 06/04/2015:
• The whale shark is not only the largest shark species; they are also the largest fish in the world at over 40 feet long.
• The gestation period for a pregnant shark can last from 5 months to TWO YEARS!
• It has been estimated that the bite of the great white shark is up to 4000 PSI. For comparison a tiger has a bite of around 1000 PSI
• Some sharks can cycle through up to 35,000 teeth in a lifetime.
• The blue shark can give birth to up to 135 pups in one litter!
• Hammerhead sharks’ heads aren’t just for show they are equipped with electrical sensors which makes them superior hunters.
Finally from sportfishingmag.com, February 1, 2017 by Devin Golden, “Tagged Mako Shark Travels Record Distance”; “After 600 days, the mako shark, named Hells Bay, After Hells’ Bay Boatworks, traveled more than 13,000 and broke a GHRI for the shark species in the Atlantic Ocean.” While it may not break any bite pounds per square inch records or distance traveled records, Alpha Shark Tags can help stores break the number of people engaging in return fraud due to wardrobing.
Wardrobing takes place when a person buys clothes with the intention of wearing them on only one or two occasions and then returning them with the tags on them and the receipt in hand. While it may not seem like return fraud in the traditional sense of the word such as when someone steals an item and then tries to return it for a refund, when wardrobing takes place there are several hits a store takes. A salesperson who earns a commission may lose their commission when the item is returned after spending time with the customer trying to help them with the purchase. The items are frequently returned damaged so merchandise is returned at full price paid and then damaged out or marked fully out of stock. An item that was stolen may be returned for a reduced price if it has taken a mark down or a store credit is issued when no receipt is presented. But no salesperson is losing a commission and if a receipt is not provided there may be less financial impact on the store. It is also likely the merchandise that was stolen won’t be returned damaged because the thief wants as much money as possible. When Alpha Shark Tags are used on merchandise it prevents wardrobing because it has to be on the merchandise when it is returned in order to get a refund. The tags are one-time use only meaning that the tag stays on a garment until the purchaser pays and takes the item home. Once the buyer decides to keep the item and wear it, THEN the tag is removed by the customer and the item cannot be returned at that point.
The potential for sharks to be in the water give most of us a pause before we go into the ocean or even in rivers, in some instances. For example bull sharks can and do swim in canals and rivers in Florida. We see videos and pictures in the news and on the computer in websites like YouTube and get a little squeamish about dipping a toe in the water after all. Well, those who participate in return fraud pause to reconsider what they are about to do when they see Alpha Shark Tags being used by a merchant.
Consider using Alpha Shark Tags on your merchandise and watch your profits go up as fraud declines. No shark cage necessary, the only people who need to fear are the con-artists who try to take advantage of retailers.
For more information about Alpha Shark Tags contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
I’m going to do something you don’t often see, I’m writing an article about return fraud and sharks, an unusual combination right? Now, I don’t know about you but I really enjoy watching shows about sharks. It may be Shark Week on the Discovery Channel or (I’m dating myself here) The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau and it can even be the movie, “Jaws”. With that information in mind I thought I would share a few interesting facts about sharks from Discovery.com in an article titled, “The 15 Most Surprising Facts About Sharks”, by Anastacia Darby, 06/04/2015:
• The whale shark is not only the largest shark species; they are also the largest fish in the world at over 40 feet long.
• The gestation period for a pregnant shark can last from 5 months to TWO YEARS!
• It has been estimated that the bite of the great white shark is up to 4000 PSI. For comparison a tiger has a bite of around 1000 PSI
• Some sharks can cycle through up to 35,000 teeth in a lifetime.
• The blue shark can give birth to up to 135 pups in one litter!
• Hammerhead sharks’ heads aren’t just for show they are equipped with electrical sensors which makes them superior hunters.
Finally from sportfishingmag.com, February 1, 2017 by Devin Golden, “Tagged Mako Shark Travels Record Distance”; “After 600 days, the mako shark, named Hells Bay, After Hells’ Bay Boatworks, traveled more than 13,000 and broke a GHRI for the shark species in the Atlantic Ocean.” While it may not break any bite pounds per square inch records or distance traveled records, Alpha Shark Tags can help stores break the number of people engaging in return fraud due to wardrobing.
Wardrobing takes place when a person buys clothes with the intention of wearing them on only one or two occasions and then returning them with the tags on them and the receipt in hand. While it may not seem like return fraud in the traditional sense of the word such as when someone steals an item and then tries to return it for a refund, when wardrobing takes place there are several hits a store takes. A salesperson who earns a commission may lose their commission when the item is returned after spending time with the customer trying to help them with the purchase. The items are frequently returned damaged so merchandise is returned at full price paid and then damaged out or marked fully out of stock. An item that was stolen may be returned for a reduced price if it has taken a mark down or a store credit is issued when no receipt is presented. But no salesperson is losing a commission and if a receipt is not provided there may be less financial impact on the store. It is also likely the merchandise that was stolen won’t be returned damaged because the thief wants as much money as possible. When Alpha Shark Tags are used on merchandise it prevents wardrobing because it has to be on the merchandise when it is returned in order to get a refund. The tags are one-time use only meaning that the tag stays on a garment until the purchaser pays and takes the item home. Once the buyer decides to keep the item and wear it, THEN the tag is removed by the customer and the item cannot be returned at that point.
The potential for sharks to be in the water give most of us a pause before we go into the ocean or even in rivers, in some instances. For example bull sharks can and do swim in canals and rivers in Florida. We see videos and pictures in the news and on the computer in websites like YouTube and get a little squeamish about dipping a toe in the water after all. Well, those who participate in return fraud pause to reconsider what they are about to do when they see Alpha Shark Tags being used by a merchant.
Consider using Alpha Shark Tags on your merchandise and watch your profits go up as fraud declines. No shark cage necessary, the only people who need to fear are the con-artists who try to take advantage of retailers.
For more information about Alpha Shark Tags contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
Pre-employment screening-4 WC blog 419
Background Check Company-3
Be A Trainer And A Mentor To A Young Worker But Use Pre-Employment Screening To Aid In Sound Hiring Decisions
There can be challenges in hiring young people to work for you and some employers are reluctant to even try. They may say that they have no experience or that the young people aren’t mature enough to handle the responsibilities that come with the job, especially in retail. What are some of those challenges? Younger employees may be more prone to use their smart phones while working. They may tend to call out frequently especially when their friends are going to go out somewhere like a Friday night football game or a dance, etc. They may not dress appropriately for an interview. Maybe they don’t conduct themselves well in an interview. What if they decide to steal while working for you or give merchandise to their friends? All of these could be legitimate concerns but I would argue that they could be concerns you can have with older workers too. Rather than avoiding hiring young people, it would be a better option to conduct pre-employment screening to help hire the best candidates.
Pre-employment screening is conducted by a background check company specializing in validating a prospective employee’s application and resume. They may also look at a person’s personal history that is open, public information. For example, a criminal history report can be reviewed or a driving record can be researched. Some credit history information is accessible to certain companies and individuals. Much of this information is useful for determining the compatibility of a candidate for a business. In what way? Well, if an applicant has a checkered credit history it might not be a good idea to hire them for a cashiering position. Someone with too many traffic tickets may be a poor fit for a position that requires someone to drive a company vehicle. A nursing home center may want to do a more in-depth search on sex offender registries to ensure the safety of patients in their care. Hiring someone for a position and then learning about their past due to a safety or security issue puts a business owner at risk for a lawsuit.
Can a background check company make a difference when it comes to hiring young people with little or no work experience? It can still be useful to run a pre-employment screening for these applicants even with the lack of work history. You may still find out about driving history or in some situations a serious criminal history. A juvenile’s criminal record may not be able to be researched due to protections for minors but serious crimes could show up if they are treated as adults. A reputable background check company knows what information they may legally obtain and takes precautions to avoid breaking laws that could violate an individual’s rights.
All of that said I believe that everyone needs an opportunity to get experience and it is in that first job that a store owner or manager can make a huge impact on a young worker. You may not have thought about it but you can be a mentor to someone in their first job. Yes, it may take a little bit more of your time and some extra effort but you have a chance to teach valuable life lessons to someone in their first job. Consider that you can teach that young person that every job serves a purpose and to take pride in it. Whether it is mopping a floor or emptying trash cans the tasks need to be done. Failing to do so and not doing it properly makes the store look bad and customers won’t want to shop there. Even as a Loss Prevention Manager, when I saw our store outside trash can overflow I would empty them rather than let that be the first impression our customers would see. You can teach them how to provide great service to all customers, the nice ones as well as the rude ones. All of these lessons can be carried with them throughout their lives to make them productive workers and good citizens.
Take a chance on hiring a young person (in addition to experienced workers) and be a powerful influence in someone’s life. Use pre-employment screening to help protect your interests in the process of giving a helping hand to a new worker.
For more information about pre-employment screening contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
There can be challenges in hiring young people to work for you and some employers are reluctant to even try. They may say that they have no experience or that the young people aren’t mature enough to handle the responsibilities that come with the job, especially in retail. What are some of those challenges? Younger employees may be more prone to use their smart phones while working. They may tend to call out frequently especially when their friends are going to go out somewhere like a Friday night football game or a dance, etc. They may not dress appropriately for an interview. Maybe they don’t conduct themselves well in an interview. What if they decide to steal while working for you or give merchandise to their friends? All of these could be legitimate concerns but I would argue that they could be concerns you can have with older workers too. Rather than avoiding hiring young people, it would be a better option to conduct pre-employment screening to help hire the best candidates.
Pre-employment screening is conducted by a background check company specializing in validating a prospective employee’s application and resume. They may also look at a person’s personal history that is open, public information. For example, a criminal history report can be reviewed or a driving record can be researched. Some credit history information is accessible to certain companies and individuals. Much of this information is useful for determining the compatibility of a candidate for a business. In what way? Well, if an applicant has a checkered credit history it might not be a good idea to hire them for a cashiering position. Someone with too many traffic tickets may be a poor fit for a position that requires someone to drive a company vehicle. A nursing home center may want to do a more in-depth search on sex offender registries to ensure the safety of patients in their care. Hiring someone for a position and then learning about their past due to a safety or security issue puts a business owner at risk for a lawsuit.
Can a background check company make a difference when it comes to hiring young people with little or no work experience? It can still be useful to run a pre-employment screening for these applicants even with the lack of work history. You may still find out about driving history or in some situations a serious criminal history. A juvenile’s criminal record may not be able to be researched due to protections for minors but serious crimes could show up if they are treated as adults. A reputable background check company knows what information they may legally obtain and takes precautions to avoid breaking laws that could violate an individual’s rights.
All of that said I believe that everyone needs an opportunity to get experience and it is in that first job that a store owner or manager can make a huge impact on a young worker. You may not have thought about it but you can be a mentor to someone in their first job. Yes, it may take a little bit more of your time and some extra effort but you have a chance to teach valuable life lessons to someone in their first job. Consider that you can teach that young person that every job serves a purpose and to take pride in it. Whether it is mopping a floor or emptying trash cans the tasks need to be done. Failing to do so and not doing it properly makes the store look bad and customers won’t want to shop there. Even as a Loss Prevention Manager, when I saw our store outside trash can overflow I would empty them rather than let that be the first impression our customers would see. You can teach them how to provide great service to all customers, the nice ones as well as the rude ones. All of these lessons can be carried with them throughout their lives to make them productive workers and good citizens.
Take a chance on hiring a young person (in addition to experienced workers) and be a powerful influence in someone’s life. Use pre-employment screening to help protect your interests in the process of giving a helping hand to a new worker.
For more information about pre-employment screening contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
HOW TO DETAIN A SHOPLIFTER AND THE IMPORTANCE OF CHECKPOINT TAGS
So, you have a shoplifting problem in your store. You’re not sure exactly what to do about it. You’re using Checkpoint Tags on your product, but the criminals are still running rampant. You’re frustrated, annoyed, and frankly, pretty angry. You’re about two days away from snapping a shoplifter in half. Does this sound like you? If it does, you’ve come to the right place. You need some guidance on how to physically confront and handle a thief.
First things first. What I’m going to lay-out for you should be a guide. Not every store is the same and not every line here may mesh well with your particular store set up. I simply want to share with you my decade of work in the Loss Prevention field in order to help you with your shoplifting problem. Since the majority of my time has been spent in clothing retailers, that’s the examples I will draw upon, but this guide can be applied across any industry that sells things to the open public. So when I use a term for Clothing Security, just image the types of things you can apply that to in your particular store. Now, that’s out of the way, let’s get down to business.
First, take a good look at the product you carry, and the losses you are experiencing. Focus your resources on the top losses in your store. You’ll get the most return on your investment this way. Before every season, I beef up my Clothing Security strategy on what was a high loss item last year, and what will most likely be trending this year. That’s your defense. You have to have a defense; otherwise you’ll like the 2016 Saints. Now let’s go to offense.
It’s 4pm and you notice Billy-Bob hovering around some high end jackets. You notice that he appears more interested in the Checkpoint Tags than the actual jacket. So, being such a savvy manager, you walk over, you greet Billy-Bob and offer to help him find the right size. Well, Billy-Bob says he’s got in under control and walks away with that $400 jacket. You’re intuition tells you something isn’t right, so you keep a good close watch of Billy-Bob as he finds a nice, secluded section of your store.
From your vantage point, Billy-Bob can’t see you, but you have the best view in the house. You watch as Billy-Bob rips off the Checkpoint Tags that you so carefully placed and just as fast, tucks the jacket into his waistline. What do you do? You can either approach him right now and get your stuff back, or you can have him arrested for stealing. A slap on the wrist does not work with these people, so your answer should be “send him to jail!”.
What you want to do is what for Billy-Bob to leave the store completely, that way he can’t argue that he was still going to pay for it. Once he passes your last register and makes it out of the door, then there is no doubt in anyone’s mind that Billy-Bob had full intention of stealing from you. Once Billy-Bob does make it outside, use reasonable force to detain him until the police arrive. Remember the word REASONABLE. Often, it’s as easy as asking the suspect to simply turn around and come back into the store. Don’t get into an all-out brawl with a shoplifter. It’s never worth it.
Once the police arrived, you can explain what happened. Be sure to remain professional, even with the adrenaline flow. Explain that you watched Billy-Bob defeat your Clothing Security device and conceal product and leave the store. ALWAYS press charges. Words spreads fast in the criminal world that you don’t mess around and the more people you send to jail, the smaller the target becomes on your store.
Need information on Checkpoint Tags? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
So, you have a shoplifting problem in your store. You’re not sure exactly what to do about it. You’re using Checkpoint Tags on your product, but the criminals are still running rampant. You’re frustrated, annoyed, and frankly, pretty angry. You’re about two days away from snapping a shoplifter in half. Does this sound like you? If it does, you’ve come to the right place. You need some guidance on how to physically confront and handle a thief.
First things first. What I’m going to lay-out for you should be a guide. Not every store is the same and not every line here may mesh well with your particular store set up. I simply want to share with you my decade of work in the Loss Prevention field in order to help you with your shoplifting problem. Since the majority of my time has been spent in clothing retailers, that’s the examples I will draw upon, but this guide can be applied across any industry that sells things to the open public. So when I use a term for Clothing Security, just image the types of things you can apply that to in your particular store. Now, that’s out of the way, let’s get down to business.
First, take a good look at the product you carry, and the losses you are experiencing. Focus your resources on the top losses in your store. You’ll get the most return on your investment this way. Before every season, I beef up my Clothing Security strategy on what was a high loss item last year, and what will most likely be trending this year. That’s your defense. You have to have a defense; otherwise you’ll like the 2016 Saints. Now let’s go to offense.
It’s 4pm and you notice Billy-Bob hovering around some high end jackets. You notice that he appears more interested in the Checkpoint Tags than the actual jacket. So, being such a savvy manager, you walk over, you greet Billy-Bob and offer to help him find the right size. Well, Billy-Bob says he’s got in under control and walks away with that $400 jacket. You’re intuition tells you something isn’t right, so you keep a good close watch of Billy-Bob as he finds a nice, secluded section of your store.
From your vantage point, Billy-Bob can’t see you, but you have the best view in the house. You watch as Billy-Bob rips off the Checkpoint Tags that you so carefully placed and just as fast, tucks the jacket into his waistline. What do you do? You can either approach him right now and get your stuff back, or you can have him arrested for stealing. A slap on the wrist does not work with these people, so your answer should be “send him to jail!”.
What you want to do is what for Billy-Bob to leave the store completely, that way he can’t argue that he was still going to pay for it. Once he passes your last register and makes it out of the door, then there is no doubt in anyone’s mind that Billy-Bob had full intention of stealing from you. Once Billy-Bob does make it outside, use reasonable force to detain him until the police arrive. Remember the word REASONABLE. Often, it’s as easy as asking the suspect to simply turn around and come back into the store. Don’t get into an all-out brawl with a shoplifter. It’s never worth it.
Once the police arrived, you can explain what happened. Be sure to remain professional, even with the adrenaline flow. Explain that you watched Billy-Bob defeat your Clothing Security device and conceal product and leave the store. ALWAYS press charges. Words spreads fast in the criminal world that you don’t mess around and the more people you send to jail, the smaller the target becomes on your store.
Need information on Checkpoint Tags? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Bug Tag-3 WC Blog 431
Tablet theft -5
Emergency Room Revolution From Paper To Computer Tablets; Protection Of Patient Information Must Be A Priority By Using A Bug Tag
It is remarkable to me how things have changed within the medical care industry. I remember a time when I had to take our son to the emergency room because he got a styrofoam pellet from a bean bag chair lodged in his ear. Before I could have an emergency room doctor examine him I had to complete several pages worth of paperwork just to admit him. I had to do the same thing a few years later when he cut open his chin after a spill he took in our double baby stroller. In both instances it bothered me that it seemed there was more concern over getting the paperwork filled out than to see the patient and get him taken care of. A few days ago I had my own visit to the emergency room of the same hospital. There was a stark difference in how I was served some 20+ years later than when we took our son. The paper was one sheet and I was soon taken in to see a doctor. Only a few minutes after that a nurse came by with a computer tablet on a rolling cart and a keyboard and screen and completed my admission paperwork! I didn’t have to sit and fill out all of that cumbersome information myself. Of course, as I looked at the set up I did wonder what would prevent a tablet theft by a dishonest person. I could not see anything that secured the tablet or iPad to the cart.
How can medical tablet theft or iPad theft be prevented in a hospital or clinic? Is it truly a problem to be concerned about? Let’s address the second question first. Medical tablet theft is a concern as it can lead to compromised patient data. To prevent it from occurring a Bug Tag can be attached to a mobile device and an electronic article surveillance (EAS) pedestal set up at doorways to those areas you don’t want a tablet to be carried out of. The tag has an adhesive that holds it to the device and a tamper alarm that ensures no one can pry it off and steal the device. The Bug Tag also emits a radio frequency wave that acts in conjunction with the EAS pedestal. When a tagged unit is carried too close to a pedestal an alarm built into the pedestal is set off and personnel can respond and recover the iPad or tablet.
As for the question as to whether a medical tablet theft would be a major concern, it certainly would be. Any stored patient data could be used for fraudulent purposes. Personal information including names, addresses and so on could be on a device and accessible by a hacker. It is possible that extracted information could then be sold or used to create fraudulent identification. If enough patients have their identity stolen a report has to be filed with DHHS and potentially large fines may be levied against the institution. This isn’t strictly a matter of cost to the institution it is a matter of loss of trust on the part of clients.
So back to the medical tablet that was in the emergency room where I had to visit. I provided my information as requested by the nurse. I gave my name, address, age, social security number and date of birth (all of the information a criminal could want, right?). Additionally, I was asked about past surgeries, allergies to medications I might have, any prescriptions or medications I was currently taking and who my family doctor is, if I have one. I thought about the questions and wondered to myself what someone with bad intentions could do with all of that information if they were to get their hands on that tablet. My wondering was cut short when the doctor came in to treat my ailment.
Is my information safe and secure? I have to hope so. From what I observed in that E.R., at first glance it appeared there could be a tablet theft by someone brazen enough to try it. I could be wrong but if a Bug Tag had been on that tablet I would have felt much better about the security of that device and my information.
Get more information on the Bug Tag, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
It is remarkable to me how things have changed within the medical care industry. I remember a time when I had to take our son to the emergency room because he got a styrofoam pellet from a bean bag chair lodged in his ear. Before I could have an emergency room doctor examine him I had to complete several pages worth of paperwork just to admit him. I had to do the same thing a few years later when he cut open his chin after a spill he took in our double baby stroller. In both instances it bothered me that it seemed there was more concern over getting the paperwork filled out than to see the patient and get him taken care of. A few days ago I had my own visit to the emergency room of the same hospital. There was a stark difference in how I was served some 20+ years later than when we took our son. The paper was one sheet and I was soon taken in to see a doctor. Only a few minutes after that a nurse came by with a computer tablet on a rolling cart and a keyboard and screen and completed my admission paperwork! I didn’t have to sit and fill out all of that cumbersome information myself. Of course, as I looked at the set up I did wonder what would prevent a tablet theft by a dishonest person. I could not see anything that secured the tablet or iPad to the cart.
How can medical tablet theft or iPad theft be prevented in a hospital or clinic? Is it truly a problem to be concerned about? Let’s address the second question first. Medical tablet theft is a concern as it can lead to compromised patient data. To prevent it from occurring a Bug Tag can be attached to a mobile device and an electronic article surveillance (EAS) pedestal set up at doorways to those areas you don’t want a tablet to be carried out of. The tag has an adhesive that holds it to the device and a tamper alarm that ensures no one can pry it off and steal the device. The Bug Tag also emits a radio frequency wave that acts in conjunction with the EAS pedestal. When a tagged unit is carried too close to a pedestal an alarm built into the pedestal is set off and personnel can respond and recover the iPad or tablet.
As for the question as to whether a medical tablet theft would be a major concern, it certainly would be. Any stored patient data could be used for fraudulent purposes. Personal information including names, addresses and so on could be on a device and accessible by a hacker. It is possible that extracted information could then be sold or used to create fraudulent identification. If enough patients have their identity stolen a report has to be filed with DHHS and potentially large fines may be levied against the institution. This isn’t strictly a matter of cost to the institution it is a matter of loss of trust on the part of clients.
So back to the medical tablet that was in the emergency room where I had to visit. I provided my information as requested by the nurse. I gave my name, address, age, social security number and date of birth (all of the information a criminal could want, right?). Additionally, I was asked about past surgeries, allergies to medications I might have, any prescriptions or medications I was currently taking and who my family doctor is, if I have one. I thought about the questions and wondered to myself what someone with bad intentions could do with all of that information if they were to get their hands on that tablet. My wondering was cut short when the doctor came in to treat my ailment.
Is my information safe and secure? I have to hope so. From what I observed in that E.R., at first glance it appeared there could be a tablet theft by someone brazen enough to try it. I could be wrong but if a Bug Tag had been on that tablet I would have felt much better about the security of that device and my information.
Get more information on the Bug Tag, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
Checkpoint Labels-4 WC Blog 412
Retail Theft Prevention – 3
Double Trouble For Employees Trying To Bypass Retail Theft Prevention Devices Part 1
Dishonest employees are not always the smartest bunch of people. They get caught stealing from their employer, go to jail, get a criminal record and then return to the same criminal lifestyle. As much as I dislike shoplifters, I really despise employees who steal from their employer. I had my share of dishonest employees that I caught during my tenure as a Loss Prevention Manager and I don’t mind sharing that I had a lot of satisfaction in catching them stealing then prosecuting them. The only thing that would have been better would have been to catch them a second time but that isn’t likely. The next best thing is if you can almost catch them again. I had not just one but two incidents that were similar to that scenario and quite satisfying. In the first situation the employee had been a cashier, he and several other employees were passing and under ringing merchandise to each other. Since they were passing merchandise through the point of sale (not scanning them over the bar code reader) they were still able to detune any Checkpoint labels that were on merchandise used for retail theft prevention.
Checkpoint labels are electronic article surveillance soft tags that can be applied to many different surfaces. They can be placed on plastic or cardboard hang tags. Labels may also be placed on cardboard boxes and plastic shrink wraps often found on CD’s, video games and DVD’s. Labels have also grown to include specialized versions for cosmetics, shoes and meats. How do they work? The tags send out a radio frequency wave and if the wave is picked up by Checkpoint electronic article surveillance pedestal an alarm is activated. A pedestal alarm is very loud and is combined with flashing LED lights. These alerts let employees know that someone is attempting to steal and they respond to the alert and determine what the criminal is trying to sneak out the doors. Another advantage of using Checkpoint labels is that they can be concealed in merchandise such as purses, wallets, jacket pockets and under meat soaker pads if a retailer is concerned that a thief would try to remove the tags or what they are attached to. Knowing merchandise is protected but being unable to see the labels, makes the labels an ideal retail theft prevention tool. Shoplifters don’t want to have to hunt to find a tag or label, they want to grab merchandise and get out of the store without concern for an alarm sounding.
So my dishonest employee and friends were committing all of this theft and fraud and nullifying the retail theft prevention devices in the process. I eventually gathered enough evidence on all of them to conduct separate dishonest employee interviews and put them in jail. A few months later my wife and I were walking through a local mall and when we entered one of the clothing stores. I looked at the register stand and what to my wondering eyes did appear? My little thief friend looking like a deer staring at the headlights of an oncoming car. I couldn’t believe he was working retail again so I assumed they had not done a background check on him. I could only assume he was up to his old tricks again if he was in a retail shop. I looked at him and shook my head without saying a word. He left the counter, did not reappear and I never saw him in there again. No, I didn’t catch him again but I got close enough to scare him from ripping off that store.
In part two, I will talk about another employee theft case that almost turned into a double whammy. Employee theft cases can be more costly because employees have access to the tools that can remove or deactivate Checkpoint labels. By being careful in your hiring practices you can avoid the problems that they create, like lost profits. By being observant of employees you can prevent these thefts before they become too big.
Checkpoint labels are important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
Dishonest employees are not always the smartest bunch of people. They get caught stealing from their employer, go to jail, get a criminal record and then return to the same criminal lifestyle. As much as I dislike shoplifters, I really despise employees who steal from their employer. I had my share of dishonest employees that I caught during my tenure as a Loss Prevention Manager and I don’t mind sharing that I had a lot of satisfaction in catching them stealing then prosecuting them. The only thing that would have been better would have been to catch them a second time but that isn’t likely. The next best thing is if you can almost catch them again. I had not just one but two incidents that were similar to that scenario and quite satisfying. In the first situation the employee had been a cashier, he and several other employees were passing and under ringing merchandise to each other. Since they were passing merchandise through the point of sale (not scanning them over the bar code reader) they were still able to detune any Checkpoint labels that were on merchandise used for retail theft prevention.
Checkpoint labels are electronic article surveillance soft tags that can be applied to many different surfaces. They can be placed on plastic or cardboard hang tags. Labels may also be placed on cardboard boxes and plastic shrink wraps often found on CD’s, video games and DVD’s. Labels have also grown to include specialized versions for cosmetics, shoes and meats. How do they work? The tags send out a radio frequency wave and if the wave is picked up by Checkpoint electronic article surveillance pedestal an alarm is activated. A pedestal alarm is very loud and is combined with flashing LED lights. These alerts let employees know that someone is attempting to steal and they respond to the alert and determine what the criminal is trying to sneak out the doors. Another advantage of using Checkpoint labels is that they can be concealed in merchandise such as purses, wallets, jacket pockets and under meat soaker pads if a retailer is concerned that a thief would try to remove the tags or what they are attached to. Knowing merchandise is protected but being unable to see the labels, makes the labels an ideal retail theft prevention tool. Shoplifters don’t want to have to hunt to find a tag or label, they want to grab merchandise and get out of the store without concern for an alarm sounding.
So my dishonest employee and friends were committing all of this theft and fraud and nullifying the retail theft prevention devices in the process. I eventually gathered enough evidence on all of them to conduct separate dishonest employee interviews and put them in jail. A few months later my wife and I were walking through a local mall and when we entered one of the clothing stores. I looked at the register stand and what to my wondering eyes did appear? My little thief friend looking like a deer staring at the headlights of an oncoming car. I couldn’t believe he was working retail again so I assumed they had not done a background check on him. I could only assume he was up to his old tricks again if he was in a retail shop. I looked at him and shook my head without saying a word. He left the counter, did not reappear and I never saw him in there again. No, I didn’t catch him again but I got close enough to scare him from ripping off that store.
In part two, I will talk about another employee theft case that almost turned into a double whammy. Employee theft cases can be more costly because employees have access to the tools that can remove or deactivate Checkpoint labels. By being careful in your hiring practices you can avoid the problems that they create, like lost profits. By being observant of employees you can prevent these thefts before they become too big.
Checkpoint labels are important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
