Clothing security tags are a common and effective way to protect your clothing inventory from shoplifters. The majority of inexperienced and nonprofessional shoplifters won’t know what to do when faced with a security tag. The end result is that these would- be shoplifters end up talking themselves out of stealing the desired merchandise.
For other shoplifters who are faced with a security (or EAS) tag, they are prepared to make an attempt to work around it. These are the shoplifters who will head into a fitting room while they try to figure out what the next step is. A fitting room provides a secluded place to sit and figure out if the security tag can be defeated. If so, this is where they will do it, and if not, the fitting room provides a quiet place for them to decided if they can still steal the clothing.
Some shoplifters will bring tools into a store in anticipation of removing the security tags. They might bring pliers, wire cutters, even high-powered magnets- all of which have been used in attempts at defeating the tags. Some shoplifters have found success with these tools, while others have only managed to damage themselves or the merchandise in the process, leaving the security tags hopelessly intact.
Whether the merchandise has a security tag (defeated or not) or has no clothing security, the fitting room also provides a safe haven for the shoplifter to conceal the clothing they are trying to steal. Small items like earrings or other jewelry can quickly be pried off of the hang cards and pocketed. Larger items can be concealed inside a bag or a purse with little visible evidence, once the shoplifter leaves the fitting room. One of the more problematic methods is for the shoplifter to wear the clothing as the method of theft.
Stolen clothing, such as outerwear or shoes, is relatively easy to spot. One simply compares what the shoplifter had with them when they entered the store, and what they are wearing when they exit. Someone wearing the brand new coat they just picked up from a clothing rack is easy to determine that they are stealing. It is also relatively easy to get the coat back.
Other kinds of clothing, when worn, are much harder to see and identify as being stolen. Many shoplifters will put on swimwear, undergarments, or even layering pants and shirts underneath their street clothes. This makes it harder for store employees to definitively say that they have on stolen merchandise. It is also harder to recover this same clothing. It is also infinitely harder for the shoplifter to allow you to recover the stolen merchandise.
It is not permissible to make a shoplifter strip down to recover clothing that is being stolen. Even if the shoplifter is taken to a private area such as a restroom, or secured office, such a request can be taken as a sexual assault and inappropriate behavior.
If you are in a position where a shoplifter is wearing your store’s clothing, the best way to recover it is to call local law enforcement and alert them to the situation. From there, law enforcement can make the necessary accommodations to recover your merchandise from the shoplifter.
Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase Checkpoint Tags, a Clothing Alarm, Clothing Security or Clothing Security Tags to put Security Tags on Clothes and an Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system.
For more information on Checkpoint tags, clothing security, clothing alarm, or clothing security tags how they can work with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system contact us at security tags on clothes or call 1.770.426.0547
Clothing security tags are a common and effective way to protect your clothing inventory from shoplifters. The majority of inexperienced and nonprofessional shoplifters won’t know what to do when faced with a security tag. The end result is that these would- be shoplifters end up talking themselves out of stealing the desired merchandise.
For other shoplifters who are faced with a security (or EAS) tag, they are prepared to make an attempt to work around it. These are the shoplifters who will head into a fitting room while they try to figure out what the next step is. A fitting room provides a secluded place to sit and figure out if the security tag can be defeated. If so, this is where they will do it, and if not, the fitting room provides a quiet place for them to decided if they can still steal the clothing.
Some shoplifters will bring tools into a store in anticipation of removing the security tags. They might bring pliers, wire cutters, even high-powered magnets- all of which have been used in attempts at defeating the tags. Some shoplifters have found success with these tools, while others have only managed to damage themselves or the merchandise in the process, leaving the security tags hopelessly intact.
Whether the merchandise has a security tag (defeated or not) or has no clothing security, the fitting room also provides a safe haven for the shoplifter to conceal the clothing they are trying to steal. Small items like earrings or other jewelry can quickly be pried off of the hang cards and pocketed. Larger items can be concealed inside a bag or a purse with little visible evidence, once the shoplifter leaves the fitting room. One of the more problematic methods is for the shoplifter to wear the clothing as the method of theft.
Stolen clothing, such as outerwear or shoes, is relatively easy to spot. One simply compares what the shoplifter had with them when they entered the store, and what they are wearing when they exit. Someone wearing the brand new coat they just picked up from a clothing rack is easy to determine that they are stealing. It is also relatively easy to get the coat back.
Other kinds of clothing, when worn, are much harder to see and identify as being stolen. Many shoplifters will put on swimwear, undergarments, or even layering pants and shirts underneath their street clothes. This makes it harder for store employees to definitively say that they have on stolen merchandise. It is also harder to recover this same clothing. It is also infinitely harder for the shoplifter to allow you to recover the stolen merchandise.
It is not permissible to make a shoplifter strip down to recover clothing that is being stolen. Even if the shoplifter is taken to a private area such as a restroom, or secured office, such a request can be taken as a sexual assault and inappropriate behavior.
If you are in a position where a shoplifter is wearing your store’s clothing, the best way to recover it is to call local law enforcement and alert them to the situation. From there, law enforcement can make the necessary accommodations to recover your merchandise from the shoplifter.
Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase Checkpoint Tags, a Clothing Alarm, Clothing Security or Clothing Security Tags to put Security Tags on Clothes and an Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system.
For more information on Checkpoint tags, clothing security, clothing alarm, or clothing security tags how they can work with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system contact us at security tags on clothes or call 1.770.426.0547
