WC Blog 467
Checkpoint Tags – 4
Checkpoint labels-3
Inventory Control Begins At Unload
Where should a store’s inventory control process begin? In the store I worked for as a Loss Prevention Manager our inventory control process began on the loading dock. We were a big box retailer and carried a large assortment of items. This included clothing, electronics, food, bedding, etcetera so our unload process played a part in our procedures. Electronic merchandise that was considered high theft would be placed in a locking, rolling cart and after the unloading was completed the cart was locked and rolled by a specialist to the electronics department for processing. The specialist was responsible for placing retail anti-theft devices on merchandise within certain categories or price point ranges. Some items would be tagged with Checkpoint Tags and other items were placed in a locking showcase. Some products were not tagged because they were shipped to the store vendor-source tagged with Checkpoint labels inside the packaging. The benefit of this process was that the number of people with access to potentially high-theft merchandise was limited because of the controls we had in place.
What are Checkpoint tags? Although the term is occasionally applied to hard tags and labels the tag is usually a two-piece device with a pin on one side and a clasping piece on the other. Checkpoint labels are a soft tag that can be peeled from a roll and adhered to an item. Designed to interact with electronic article surveillance (EAS) systems to deter theft and identify persons attempting to steal merchandise from a store, the tags and labels cause EAS systems to activate when carried near a tower. When a thief tampers with a tag it usually results in damage to the merchandise. Labels have a strong adhesive that will leave the circuit behind when someone tries to peel it off. This circuit causes the EAS alarms to sound when tagged goods are carried near the tower location. Shoplifters tend to leave merchandise alone when they see the tags or labels and try to find something else to steal or they will find another store where they can go.
I currently work for a store that has merchandise pushed to the floor and it is tagged there. Much of the work is completed before store opening and during that time there is no concern for customers being around to take something from a cart of merchandise. As the employee works the freight they are to place the appropriate Checkpoint Tags on items as directed by a security chart. This is fine when no customers are in the store but once the doors are open the merchandise on the cart is susceptible to theft. The employee has to walk away to put items up or they may be called to assist someone and they can’t keep pushing the cart back and forth to the stockroom. There have been times in the evening when I have stocked leftover freight the team could not get out and obviously I am working when there are plenty of customers in the store. I also respond to back-up calls at the register so you can see there are times when merchandise that is normally secured is not.
The only exception to this is when there is merchandise already source tagged with Checkpoint labels from the manufacturer. However, we do not know which item they may be. Often a source label is embedded in the packaging so the only way to identify those products would be with a hand scanner which our store does not use. Of course the bad guys don’t know it either until they try to walk out the door with stolen merchandise and the EAS system alarms. That is when employees respond to the alarm and conducts a receipt check then recover the merchandise.
I am of the opinion that merchandise that is going to be secured with Checkpoint Tags should be done while the products are still in the stockroom immediately after a truck unload. I know not every store receives their freight the same way so it might be that boxes and containers may have to be opened and sorted first. However you choose to do it, just don’t send merchandise you intend to protect to the selling floor until the tagging is done. You will have much better results come inventory time.
For more information about Checkpoint Tags contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
Where should a store’s inventory control process begin? In the store I worked for as a Loss Prevention Manager our inventory control process began on the loading dock. We were a big box retailer and carried a large assortment of items. This included clothing, electronics, food, bedding, etcetera so our unload process played a part in our procedures. Electronic merchandise that was considered high theft would be placed in a locking, rolling cart and after the unloading was completed the cart was locked and rolled by a specialist to the electronics department for processing. The specialist was responsible for placing retail anti-theft devices on merchandise within certain categories or price point ranges. Some items would be tagged with Checkpoint Tags and other items were placed in a locking showcase. Some products were not tagged because they were shipped to the store vendor-source tagged with Checkpoint labels inside the packaging. The benefit of this process was that the number of people with access to potentially high-theft merchandise was limited because of the controls we had in place.
What are Checkpoint tags? Although the term is occasionally applied to hard tags and labels the tag is usually a two-piece device with a pin on one side and a clasping piece on the other. Checkpoint labels are a soft tag that can be peeled from a roll and adhered to an item. Designed to interact with electronic article surveillance (EAS) systems to deter theft and identify persons attempting to steal merchandise from a store, the tags and labels cause EAS systems to activate when carried near a tower. When a thief tampers with a tag it usually results in damage to the merchandise. Labels have a strong adhesive that will leave the circuit behind when someone tries to peel it off. This circuit causes the EAS alarms to sound when tagged goods are carried near the tower location. Shoplifters tend to leave merchandise alone when they see the tags or labels and try to find something else to steal or they will find another store where they can go.
I currently work for a store that has merchandise pushed to the floor and it is tagged there. Much of the work is completed before store opening and during that time there is no concern for customers being around to take something from a cart of merchandise. As the employee works the freight they are to place the appropriate Checkpoint Tags on items as directed by a security chart. This is fine when no customers are in the store but once the doors are open the merchandise on the cart is susceptible to theft. The employee has to walk away to put items up or they may be called to assist someone and they can’t keep pushing the cart back and forth to the stockroom. There have been times in the evening when I have stocked leftover freight the team could not get out and obviously I am working when there are plenty of customers in the store. I also respond to back-up calls at the register so you can see there are times when merchandise that is normally secured is not.
The only exception to this is when there is merchandise already source tagged with Checkpoint labels from the manufacturer. However, we do not know which item they may be. Often a source label is embedded in the packaging so the only way to identify those products would be with a hand scanner which our store does not use. Of course the bad guys don’t know it either until they try to walk out the door with stolen merchandise and the EAS system alarms. That is when employees respond to the alarm and conducts a receipt check then recover the merchandise.
I am of the opinion that merchandise that is going to be secured with Checkpoint Tags should be done while the products are still in the stockroom immediately after a truck unload. I know not every store receives their freight the same way so it might be that boxes and containers may have to be opened and sorted first. However you choose to do it, just don’t send merchandise you intend to protect to the selling floor until the tagging is done. You will have much better results come inventory time.
For more information about Checkpoint Tags contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
There are any number of reasons people shoplift but according to an article in “New Health Advisor” titled, “Why Do People Shoplift?” the reasons they give are:
- Financial Difficulty
- Low Risk
- Peer Pressure
- Emotional Pressure
- Kleptomania
Being the caring, tender-hearted soul I am (yes, my 16+ years in Retail Loss Prevention gave me a soft spot) I think it is important to understand and empathize with the troubled people who dabble in petty larceny. These misguided and perhaps ill people just may need understanding and some re-direction for their lives. You as the business owner and manager should take time to realize you are probably inviting these people to commit their misdeeds by putting out such tempting items within their grasp. Okay, the truth is I can’t spew such drivel much more. It was fun for the first few sentences but I find I’m getting ill. I have zero tolerance for theft and I really don’t care much about the excuses shoplifters give. I think I have heard them all. As far as I’m concerned you steal because you want something for free, perhaps getting a bit of a thrill in the process of committing the crime. Shoplifters may steal to make money from someone else’s hard work or to support a drug habit. Again, I don’t care and I am sure the retail owner isn’t too concerned with the reasons either. Shoplifters think they are getting something for free but there is a cost and that cost is a burden on the retailer (not to mention the customers who pay higher prices). How about retailers getting a break for once? Where are the free goodies for the owner trying to make an honest living? SURPRISE! There are freebies for the good guys too, like the Free Loss Prevention Calculator.
Sounds too good to be true doesn’t it? Better yet, can Loss Prevention be free? What if I told you there IS a Free Loss Prevention Calculator and by using it you can answer the question, “Can Loss Prevention Be Free?” for yourself. Let’s begin with the calculator, what is it? The Free Loss Prevention Calculator is a tool offered by Loss Prevention Systems Inc. (LPSI) that allows a retail store owner or manager to see how much time it would take for an investment in a Checkpoint Security System to pay for itself. Enter your estimated annual sales and how much you are willing to invest in a Checkpoint System and the calculator estimates a shortage reduction from 1.2% to .65% annually, that’s nearly a full HALF percent reduction. The number of months it will take for the system to pay for itself is calculated for you. You read that correctly, over time your retail anti-theft system (electronic article surveillance pedestals, tags, and other equipment) can save you enough money that the system pays for itself in reduced inventory shortage results.
The shoplifters think they are getting free stuff but they are always looking over their shoulder, worrying whether or not they will be caught by Loss Prevention agents. I am giving you the scoop on things that are really free for you to use to improve your bottom line. Speaking of Scoops and freebies, how about “Ruby’s Scoops” from LPSI? These are free Loss Prevention tips you can receive straight to your email. How about signing up for the free online LPSI Magazine? How can anyone beat free advice and informative articles on shoplifting prevention? LPSI provides free tips, advice, humor and information. I truly know of no other company that offers so many FREE resources to potential customers, not just their regular clients.
Shoplifters and those who commit retail fraud may get away with their crimes for a while, but eventually they will be caught. Very few can get away with it without ever paying a price. For the business owners it is time for YOU to get a break. I’ve always said nothing is free but now I have to take back that statement. Can Loss Prevention be free? Yes it can! Does the Free Loss Prevention Calculator cost anything to use it or is there some kind of catch to it? No there’s not. Can I really get free tips and advice on how to prevent theft and fraud? Yes you can, through all of the resources LPSI offers to people who really want expert tips and tricks to make life miserable for shoplifters.
Get more information on the Free Loss Prevention Calculator, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
THE ALPHA 3 ALARM DETERS ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME RING FROM STEALING HIGH DOLLAR MERCHANDISE!
Alpha 3 Alarm: 4 ML Blog 03
Retail Anti-Theft Devices: 3
If you are going to implement merchandise protection throughout your store, why not use the highest quality devices in the Loss Prevention market? I have used several types of retail anti-theft devices in my stores, and the Alpha 3 Alarm I would highly suggest to stores. It significantly aids in reducing shrink and gaining profits when utilized in retailers. The costs are minimal to implement when weighed against gains and benefits. My experience has afforded me the opportunity to work with a majority of theft prevention devices in use today, old and new. I’ve learned that shoplifters benefit each year from retailers who refuse to update their loss prevention plans and their store’s technology. If your trends continually increase, it is time to change your tactics!
One evening, I was in my Loss Prevention camera room scanning to see what activity was going on in my store. After only 30 minutes of watching the cameras, I recognize 3 organized retail crime members who have targeted my location previously. I kept constant camera coverage on the subjects, as my adrenaline starts kicking in. I wait to see what items the professional thieves are going to attempt to boost this time. The subjects boosted several of our high dollar purses the last time, so I figured they would go to the same department again. The purses they target range from $49.99-$169.99 per purse, which can add up quickly in shrink. We lost close to $1,000.00 when they boosted from us the last time, so we depended on the Alpha 3 Alarm improvements to properly deter them. I watch 2 of the subjects go into one of our departments and “act” like they are shopping. The 3rd subject scopes the store as a lookout, watching for associates in the store to ensure no one is following them. The 3rd subject does a hand signal to the other 2 subjects as an “all clear”. They walk over to our purse department and start looking at the higher dollar items. I can see on camera the subjects look at our cables, and start talking amongst each other. They were not expecting our purses to be protected by an Alpha 3 Alarm, since the store did not have this before. We placed the alarms on high dollar merchandise throughout our store, after seeing our shrink increase from merchandise constantly going out the door. The shoplifters continue to search for a row of purses without a cable. They knew if they try to cut the cable, it would alarm bringing immediate attention to them. The subjects end up leaving the department frustrated that all of the purses were cabled, and then exit out of the store. They jump in their car quickly and leave empty handed. An exciting, massive theft prevention for my store! This exact scenario is not uncommon for Loss Prevention teams to see. It’s proven a very effective deterrent out of several retail anti-theft devices that we have tried before.
This showed my store team the importance of ensuring we are utilizing the Alpha 3 Alarm and making sure we continue to use them as part of our Shrink Action Plan. The boosters could have wiped us out for over 2,000 in just 2 visits to our store. It’s incidents like this that make us realize the importance of keeping our merchandise protection standards updated at the highest standard possible. Even the store associates gave us feedback that they really liked how the cables allow shoppers to securely try on our merchandise without any issues. We were able to expand our purse display, allowing more product to be on the sales floor since utilizing our new devices. Improve your bottom line by taking retail anti-theft devices to the next level!
Need information on the Alpha 3 Alarm? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
If you are going to implement merchandise protection throughout your store, why not use the highest quality devices in the Loss Prevention market? I have used several types of retail anti-theft devices in my stores, and the Alpha 3 Alarm I would highly suggest to stores. It significantly aids in reducing shrink and gaining profits when utilized in retailers. The costs are minimal to implement when weighed against gains and benefits. My experience has afforded me the opportunity to work with a majority of theft prevention devices in use today, old and new. I’ve learned that shoplifters benefit each year from retailers who refuse to update their loss prevention plans and their store’s technology. If your trends continually increase, it is time to change your tactics!
One evening, I was in my Loss Prevention camera room scanning to see what activity was going on in my store. After only 30 minutes of watching the cameras, I recognize 3 organized retail crime members who have targeted my location previously. I kept constant camera coverage on the subjects, as my adrenaline starts kicking in. I wait to see what items the professional thieves are going to attempt to boost this time. The subjects boosted several of our high dollar purses the last time, so I figured they would go to the same department again. The purses they target range from $49.99-$169.99 per purse, which can add up quickly in shrink. We lost close to $1,000.00 when they boosted from us the last time, so we depended on the Alpha 3 Alarm improvements to properly deter them. I watch 2 of the subjects go into one of our departments and “act” like they are shopping. The 3rd subject scopes the store as a lookout, watching for associates in the store to ensure no one is following them. The 3rd subject does a hand signal to the other 2 subjects as an “all clear”. They walk over to our purse department and start looking at the higher dollar items. I can see on camera the subjects look at our cables, and start talking amongst each other. They were not expecting our purses to be protected by an Alpha 3 Alarm, since the store did not have this before. We placed the alarms on high dollar merchandise throughout our store, after seeing our shrink increase from merchandise constantly going out the door. The shoplifters continue to search for a row of purses without a cable. They knew if they try to cut the cable, it would alarm bringing immediate attention to them. The subjects end up leaving the department frustrated that all of the purses were cabled, and then exit out of the store. They jump in their car quickly and leave empty handed. An exciting, massive theft prevention for my store! This exact scenario is not uncommon for Loss Prevention teams to see. It’s proven a very effective deterrent out of several retail anti-theft devices that we have tried before.
This showed my store team the importance of ensuring we are utilizing the Alpha 3 Alarm and making sure we continue to use them as part of our Shrink Action Plan. The boosters could have wiped us out for over 2,000 in just 2 visits to our store. It’s incidents like this that make us realize the importance of keeping our merchandise protection standards updated at the highest standard possible. Even the store associates gave us feedback that they really liked how the cables allow shoppers to securely try on our merchandise without any issues. We were able to expand our purse display, allowing more product to be on the sales floor since utilizing our new devices. Improve your bottom line by taking retail anti-theft devices to the next level!
Need information on the Alpha 3 Alarm? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Checkpoint Security System – 3 WC Blog 364
Checkpoint Tags – 3
No Joking Around, A Checkpoint System Is A Theft Prevention Tool Not A Toy
Pranks can be fun, I mean let’s face it who doesn’t get a laugh when a good practical joke works and no one is injured or hurt and the joke does not cause embarrassment that makes someone uncomfortable. Television shows like “Candid Camera” used to be extremely funny as the poor victim would be set up and the joke plays out and most people when the camera is pointed out to them would start to laugh. Of course when pranks go too far feelings can be hurt injuries happen or worse someone is placed in a position where they don’t want to go to work anymore. Occasionally Loss Prevention officers can play pranks too, usually with each other and they will hide Checkpoint Tags somewhere on a co-worker’s person or in a laptop bag. It can be funny, especially if the victim is known to be a little “uptight” all of the time. I would never admit to being a party to such a gag when I was younger, I will only say that I have heard of such things taking place. Of course the funny part is when the victim exits through the Checkpoint Security System pedestals and the alarm is activated. The victim is looking around for the cause of the alarm knowing they should be responding to it until they realize everyone is looking at them. Do this to someone who lacks humor and they can get all discombobulated…so I’ve heard.
I realize there are readers who may not know what Checkpoint Tags are so I will take a moment to describe them. They are anti-shoplifting devices that are placed on merchandise to deter and prevent theft of goods. While they may take a variety of forms, some are adhesive labels and others are hard tags that are pinned on clothing, they all operate on radio frequency signals. The tags are designed to emit a specific radio frequency and this signal is picked up by a Checkpoint Security System pedestal(s) usually set up near store entrances and exits. When tagged items are carried too close to pedestals a loud audible alarm sounds alerting store personnel of a problem, often a shoplifter attempting to get out with stolen merchandise. Store associates trained to respond to alarms conduct receipt checks and find the cause of the alarm and handle the situation as they have been appropriately taught to do.
While pulling such gags on co-workers may seem fun and harmless there can be unintended consequences. Aside from potentially angering a co-worker, there is the alarm itself. If the alarm activates while a customer is exiting at the same time, they are not aware of the cause and may become defensive. While a store has the right to ask for a receipt from a customer who sets off the alarm, failing to respond to alarms and/or making false accusations based on an electronic article surveillance (EAS) activation can result in a customer complaint or in an extreme case a lawsuit. If a customer says they were embarrassed because of a false alarm a situation can escalate. This is why it is so important to treat EAS alarm activations seriously and to understand that a Checkpoint Security System is a tool to drive down shortage, not a toy to amuse employees. In the same way that closed circuit television recording should be handled in a secure, professional manner and never as a source of amusement, anti-shoplifting tools should receive the same care.
I know that people are human and prone to doing silly things sometimes. Even Loss Prevention professionals can make silly decisions. Just remember, when the temptation hits you to pull a gag avoid using retail theft prevention tools such as your Checkpoint Tags or any other company property for that matter. I encourage everyone to have fun at work and enjoy what you do, just be smart about how you do it and ensure it would never cause harm or embarrassment to another person or to your employer.
Need information on Checkpoint Tags? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Pranks can be fun, I mean let’s face it who doesn’t get a laugh when a good practical joke works and no one is injured or hurt and the joke does not cause embarrassment that makes someone uncomfortable. Television shows like “Candid Camera” used to be extremely funny as the poor victim would be set up and the joke plays out and most people when the camera is pointed out to them would start to laugh. Of course when pranks go too far feelings can be hurt injuries happen or worse someone is placed in a position where they don’t want to go to work anymore. Occasionally Loss Prevention officers can play pranks too, usually with each other and they will hide Checkpoint Tags somewhere on a co-worker’s person or in a laptop bag. It can be funny, especially if the victim is known to be a little “uptight” all of the time. I would never admit to being a party to such a gag when I was younger, I will only say that I have heard of such things taking place. Of course the funny part is when the victim exits through the Checkpoint Security System pedestals and the alarm is activated. The victim is looking around for the cause of the alarm knowing they should be responding to it until they realize everyone is looking at them. Do this to someone who lacks humor and they can get all discombobulated…so I’ve heard.
I realize there are readers who may not know what Checkpoint Tags are so I will take a moment to describe them. They are anti-shoplifting devices that are placed on merchandise to deter and prevent theft of goods. While they may take a variety of forms, some are adhesive labels and others are hard tags that are pinned on clothing, they all operate on radio frequency signals. The tags are designed to emit a specific radio frequency and this signal is picked up by a Checkpoint Security System pedestal(s) usually set up near store entrances and exits. When tagged items are carried too close to pedestals a loud audible alarm sounds alerting store personnel of a problem, often a shoplifter attempting to get out with stolen merchandise. Store associates trained to respond to alarms conduct receipt checks and find the cause of the alarm and handle the situation as they have been appropriately taught to do.
While pulling such gags on co-workers may seem fun and harmless there can be unintended consequences. Aside from potentially angering a co-worker, there is the alarm itself. If the alarm activates while a customer is exiting at the same time, they are not aware of the cause and may become defensive. While a store has the right to ask for a receipt from a customer who sets off the alarm, failing to respond to alarms and/or making false accusations based on an electronic article surveillance (EAS) activation can result in a customer complaint or in an extreme case a lawsuit. If a customer says they were embarrassed because of a false alarm a situation can escalate. This is why it is so important to treat EAS alarm activations seriously and to understand that a Checkpoint Security System is a tool to drive down shortage, not a toy to amuse employees. In the same way that closed circuit television recording should be handled in a secure, professional manner and never as a source of amusement, anti-shoplifting tools should receive the same care.
I know that people are human and prone to doing silly things sometimes. Even Loss Prevention professionals can make silly decisions. Just remember, when the temptation hits you to pull a gag avoid using retail theft prevention tools such as your Checkpoint Tags or any other company property for that matter. I encourage everyone to have fun at work and enjoy what you do, just be smart about how you do it and ensure it would never cause harm or embarrassment to another person or to your employer.
Need information on Checkpoint Tags? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
ALPHA KEEPERS STOP ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME RING FROM STEALING HIGH VALUE MERCHANDISE!
Alpha Keepers: 4 ML Blog 11
Prevent Shoplifting: 3
As a Loss Prevention expert, I am in charge of protecting the assets in my stores. When it comes to merchandise protection, I am always attempting to find the best protection devices! Each year expert thieves find new ways to shoplifter our high value products, so we must remain on high alert in the fight against preventable loss. Hard tags and spider wraps are not enough in many theft scenarios. Alpha keepers are the highest form of technology out there for retailers to prevent shoplifting. I had to learn the hard way, by taking a big loss from boosters in order to get better merchandise protection devices.
I frequently watch my CCTV cameras to analyze high theft trends and the known shoplifter patterns. I was watching cameras one evening, and noticed an organized retail crime group of 4 subjects on our CCTV. They were quickly scoping the store for associates, making sure no one was following them. I recognized this group because they hit my location two other times. The group targeted our high dollar items previously, before we had Alpha Keepers in use. When they hit us before, they were able to get away with $5,785.00 worth of merchandise, from two visits. Two of the subjects selected merchandise from different areas of the store and stage the merchandise, while the other two subjects keep watch for store personnel. Having seen this group previously, I knew their ultimate target would likely be expensive fragrances. Their prior sections were all small value items, but thieves gravitate toward fragrance due to its easy resale. Upon making it to the perfume area for their grand finale, they noted all items encased with Alpha Keepers. I could see on camera they were not used to dealing with these type of devices. They searched for any bottle without an Alpha Keeper, but could not find it. They tried to remove a bottle from its keeper, but could not pry it apart. Their ultimate plans failed and they left all their merchandise. My store lost nothing in this incident, but could have lost $2,012 & not to mention the return trips that would have followed. After this incident, I have not seen them back in my location. The deterrence piece worked, as it should have. The following month, I had 8 more similar cases like this one. Shoplifters coming in, but noticing the merchandise protection so they leave. This showed my store team the importance of ensuring we are utilizing the Alpha Keepers to prevent shoplifting. It illustrated the need to continue their use as part of our shrink action plan.
It’s moments like this that make us realize the importance of keeping our merchandise protection standards updated at the highest level possible and evaluating any new techniques or devices on the market the moment they are available for store use. One thing we really liked is that they are available in different sizes; the various sizes lend themselves to products of all sorts in many different departments. We were able to order specific sizes to protect fragrance, electronics, razor products, and other high dollar areas in the store. The customer can also see the product information through the keepers, so it does not inhibit sales. When we analyzed our weekly theft trends in these areas, we noticed a massive decline in these departments. Due to the success rate, we decided to invest in these devices at every location in my district. Improve your bottom line by taking your merchandise protection to the next level. Give boosters the boot as I did, and prevent shoplifting in your business.
Need information on the Alpha Keepers? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
As a Loss Prevention expert, I am in charge of protecting the assets in my stores. When it comes to merchandise protection, I am always attempting to find the best protection devices! Each year expert thieves find new ways to shoplifter our high value products, so we must remain on high alert in the fight against preventable loss. Hard tags and spider wraps are not enough in many theft scenarios. Alpha keepers are the highest form of technology out there for retailers to prevent shoplifting. I had to learn the hard way, by taking a big loss from boosters in order to get better merchandise protection devices.
I frequently watch my CCTV cameras to analyze high theft trends and the known shoplifter patterns. I was watching cameras one evening, and noticed an organized retail crime group of 4 subjects on our CCTV. They were quickly scoping the store for associates, making sure no one was following them. I recognized this group because they hit my location two other times. The group targeted our high dollar items previously, before we had Alpha Keepers in use. When they hit us before, they were able to get away with $5,785.00 worth of merchandise, from two visits. Two of the subjects selected merchandise from different areas of the store and stage the merchandise, while the other two subjects keep watch for store personnel. Having seen this group previously, I knew their ultimate target would likely be expensive fragrances. Their prior sections were all small value items, but thieves gravitate toward fragrance due to its easy resale. Upon making it to the perfume area for their grand finale, they noted all items encased with Alpha Keepers. I could see on camera they were not used to dealing with these type of devices. They searched for any bottle without an Alpha Keeper, but could not find it. They tried to remove a bottle from its keeper, but could not pry it apart. Their ultimate plan failed and they left all their merchandise. My store lost nothing in this incident, but could have lost $2,012 & not to mention the return trips that would have followed. After this incident, I have not seen them back in my location. The deterrence piece worked, as it should have. The following month, I had 8 more similar cases like this one. Shoplifters coming in, but noticing the merchandise protection so they leave. This showed my store team the importance of ensuring we are utilizing the Alpha Keepers to prevent shoplifting. It illustrated the need to continue their use as part of our shrink action plan.
It’s moments like this that make us realize the importance of keeping our merchandise protection standards updated at the highest level possible and evaluating any new techniques or devices on the market the moment they are available for store use. One thing we really liked is that they are available in different sizes; the various sizes lend themselves to products of all sorts in many different departments. We were able to order specific sizes to protect fragrance, electronics, razor products, and other high dollar areas in the store. The customer can also see the product information through the keepers, so it does not inhibit sales. When we analyzed our weekly theft trends in these areas, we noticed a massive decline in these departments. Due to the success rate, we decided to invest in these devices at every location in my district. Improve your bottom line by taking your merchandise protection to the next level. Give boosters the boot as I did, and prevent shoplifting in your business.
Need information on the Alpha Keepers? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
