Library Security-3 , N10 Antenna-3
Library Book Theft Is Not A New Problem
As early as the twelfth century, it was recorded that libraries had to start chaining books to the walls to protect them from theft. The issue then was that there were so few copies available and when the library received a new edition, the whole town wanted access to it. Library security has remained a priority throughout our history. Even in our current century, 70% of all public libraries report their biggest problem is theft, not lack of resources and public money.
My daughter has always had an affinity for our public library. Before she was even in school, I would take her regularly to the weekly story hour. As she got older she started checking out books for herself and really got to know the library staff. She knew them all by name and they knew her as well. Around the time she turned ten, her favorite place was the genealogy room. There are all kinds of county and state history books housed in there, along with many records of the local family histories. There are birth and death records, property records, and much more. When I asked her about the library security for that room, she said there was none. There was only the lady that specialized in the upkeep of the books in there. Otherwise, there were only signs warning the patrons of the rules for those books. They cannot be checked out, of course. But, people are not supposed to remove more than two books from the shelves at a time. They must remain in the genealogy room and replace the books in the correct place before they leave. For all the value these books hold, more sentimental than monetary, they are really not protected from theft. It can get expensive to do family history research, especially using an online service, but it’s free to do it at the library. And it’s not that complicated if you’re in the genealogy room to simply conceal the book you want and just walk out the door with it.
It would be a shame for any county library to lose these precious resources. They are priceless and many times cannot be replaced. They are useful for students and for anyone trying to piece together their family tree. Libraries have obviously stopped the practice of chaining books to the walls, but they have added security guards and have limited the exits of the building. Many have also added electronic protection for more advanced library security. I have seen that many branches are utilizing Checkpoint Labels to monitor the books going in and out. Of course, that means they have to have a Checkpoint system installed. One of the many systems available for this type of environment is the N10 Antenna System. The N10 Antenna is perfect for the library because the pedestals are smaller, they can be wall mounted, and they do not detract from the classic look that library patrons expect. They are just as powerful and have the same detection capability of the other larger pedestals that you see in many department stores. They also offer the theft deterrence that libraries are looking for. Preventing the loss of books is the number one job of the N10 Antenna System. Library staff can now save the time they lose searching for lost and stolen books and use that time to help people with research.
For more information on Library Protection, contact us or call: 1.770.426.0547
As early as the twelfth century, it was recorded that libraries had to start chaining books to the walls to protect them from theft. The issue then was that there were so few copies available and when the library received a new edition, the whole town wanted access to it. Library security has remained a priority throughout our history. Even in our current century, 70% of all public libraries report their biggest problem is theft, not lack of resources and public money.
My daughter has always had an affinity for our public library. Before she was even in school, I would take her regularly to the weekly story hour. As she got older she started checking out books for herself and really got to know the library staff. She knew them all by name and they knew her as well. Around the time she turned ten, her favorite place was the genealogy room. There are all kinds of county and state history books housed in there, along with many records of the local family histories. There are birth and death records, property records, and much more. When I asked her about the library security for that room, she said there was none. There was only the lady that specialized in the upkeep of the books in there. Otherwise, there were only signs warning the patrons of the rules for those books. They cannot be checked out, of course. But, people are not supposed to remove more than two books from the shelves at a time. They must remain in the genealogy room and replace the books in the correct place before they leave. For all the value these books hold, more sentimental than monetary, they are really not protected from theft. It can get expensive to do family history research, especially using an online service, but it’s free to do it at the library. And it’s not that complicated if you’re in the genealogy room to simply conceal the book you want and just walk out the door with it.
It would be a shame for any county library to lose these precious resources. They are priceless and many times cannot be replaced. They are useful for students and for anyone trying to piece together their family tree. Libraries have obviously stopped the practice of chaining books to the walls, but they have added security guards and have limited the exits of the building. Many have also added electronic protection for more advanced library security. I have seen that many branches are utilizing Checkpoint Labels to monitor the books going in and out. Of course, that means they have to have a Checkpoint system installed. One of the many systems available for this type of environment is the N10 Antenna System. The N10 Antenna is perfect for the library because the pedestals are smaller, they can be wall mounted, and they do not detract from the classic look that library patrons expect. They are just as powerful and have the same detection capability of the other larger pedestals that you see in many department stores. They also offer the theft deterrence that libraries are looking for. Preventing the loss of books is the number one job of the N10 Antenna System. Library staff can now save the time they lose searching for lost and stolen books and use that time to help people with research.
For more information on Library Protection, contact us or call: 1.770.426.0547
20 USES FOR ALPHA KEEPERS – PART 4
We’ve finally made it! The last in our series covering the best ways to use Alpha Keepers to stop shoplifters. We’ve covered so many great items, but there are still so many uses for these incredible tools. I believe we will be following up with a 20 more ways segment in the very near future! I truly hope you’ve been able to learn something here and will use that to make your store more profitable. To not waste any more time, here are the last 5 uses in our series.
16. Batteries
Whether it’s the high end rechargeable batteries, are the commonly stolen to cook meth brand of lithium batteries, this category continues to plague retailers of all sizes. What’s worse is that in most stores, the retailer doesn’t actually make a profit on name brand batteries. That makes it even more crucial to prevent shoplifting. While impractical to lock up every single battery, Alpha Keepers are a great tool for the higher risk/theft styles.
17. Cigarettes
While there are commonly state and/or local laws in effect around the country that mandate these items be stored behind a counter, there are certain areas where retailers may be able to display these out in the open. Doing so is more convenient to the customer, but makes it that much easier for a criminal to rob you blind! If you desire an open merchandising concept here, an Alpha Keeper is the way to go.
18. Memory Cards/Flash Drives
I have not yet found a more effective way to prevent shoplifting than using an Alpha Keeper. Memory cards are inherently high priced and incredibly small, making them prime targets for boosters. I see these items very commonly in refund fraud cases. Locking them away or behind a peg lock can adversely affect your sales. Using the keeper is a great alternative.
19. Tablets
Everyone that carries computers or tablets probably has a pretty sophisticated security system for the display merchandise. That’s a given, but what about the backstock? How many customers do you turn away each day because they grew tired of waiting on a salesperson to fetch one from the back? Even if it’s one a day, that missed sale can equate to nearly $150,000 of lost sales in a year. What if you were able to display your backstock in a way that made it easier for the customer to simply pick it up and head to the register, all while preventing a thief from swiping your profits away?
20. Anything Else
Take a walk around your store after reading this. Look for items that are constantly reported stolen. Ask yourself if you’ve done all you can to prevent shoplifting. Perhaps you have a popular item that can’t be secured by a traditional EAS device such as a hard or soft tag. Maybe the item is too bulky or oddly shaped that normal tagging just isn’t effective. These are the items that are perfect for Alpha Keepers. While I’m surely not suggesting you clamp everything in your store down inside plastic, just know that there is always a security solution out there to fit your need, and more importantly, your budget.
For more information about Alpha Keeper, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547.
We’ve finally made it! The last in our series covering the best ways to use Alpha Keepers to stop shoplifters. We’ve covered so many great items, but there are still so many uses for these incredible tools. I believe we will be following up with a 20 more ways segment in the very near future! I truly hope you’ve been able to learn something here and will use that to make your store more profitable. To not waste any more time, here are the last 5 uses in our series.
16. Batteries
Whether it’s the high end rechargeable batteries, are the commonly stolen to cook meth brand of lithium batteries, this category continues to plague retailers of all sizes. What’s worse is that in most stores, the retailer doesn’t actually make a profit on name brand batteries. That makes it even more crucial to prevent shoplifting. While impractical to lock up every single battery, Alpha Keepers are a great tool for the higher risk/theft styles.
17. Cigarettes
While there are commonly state and/or local laws in effect around the country that mandate these items be stored behind a counter, there are certain areas where retailers may be able to display these out in the open. Doing so is more convenient to the customer, but makes it that much easier for a criminal to rob you blind! If you desire an open merchandising concept here, an Alpha Keeper is the way to go.
18. Memory Cards/Flash Drives
I have not yet found a more effective way to prevent shoplifting than using an Alpha Keeper. Memory cards are inherently high priced and incredibly small, making them prime targets for boosters. I see these items very commonly in refund fraud cases. Locking them away or behind a peg lock can adversely affect your sales. Using the keeper is a great alternative.
19. Tablets
Everyone that carries computers or tablets probably has a pretty sophisticated security system for the display merchandise. That’s a given, but what about the backstock? How many customers do you turn away each day because they grew tired of waiting on a salesperson to fetch one from the back? Even if it’s one a day, that missed sale can equate to nearly $150,000 of lost sales in a year. What if you were able to display your backstock in a way that made it easier for the customer to simply pick it up and head to the register, all while preventing a thief from swiping your profits away?
20. Anything Else
Take a walk around your store after reading this. Look for items that are constantly reported stolen. Ask yourself if you’ve done all you can to prevent shoplifting. Perhaps you have a popular item that can’t be secured by a traditional EAS device such as a hard or soft tag. Maybe the item is too bulky or oddly shaped that normal tagging just isn’t effective. These are the items that are perfect for Alpha Keepers. While I’m surely not suggesting you clamp everything in your store down inside plastic, just know that there is always a security solution out there to fit your need, and more importantly, your budget.
For more information about Alpha Keeper, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547.
Alpha Thunder Tags-5 WC blog 64
Tablet Theft-3
i-pad Theft-3
Don’t Allow Misplaced Medical Devices To Become Stolen Medical Devices Protect Them With Alpha Thunder Tags
People have a tendency to be absent minded and lose track of things rather easily. I am the father of three young adults, I have many years of retail loss prevention experience and my current job is in a university library as an overnight supervisor. How are all these related? In all three situations I deal with or have dealt with people losing things and having things stolen (often due to carelessness). I can’t recall the number of phone calls my wife and I have made to locate “lost” cell phones (my own included). In my loss prevention years I had people walk away from purses and forget where the shopping cart was that had the purse in it. They were adamant someone took their belongings. Sometimes I could find the buggy; the customer had just forgotten how far they walked away from it. Other times the customer became so absorbed in their shopping they walked away and someone had in fact stolen the purse. In the library I am regularly finding students have walked away from i-phones, tablets, computers, wallets and purses, not to mention textbooks. Sometimes they even leave the library and forget their valuables altogether and return panicked, hoping we have located their belongings. Many times they are fortunate and we have the items, but now and then these things are stolen. So how does this relate to mobile medical devices? Many medical offices are now using mobile medical technology and the use of them continues to grow. People are the same anywhere you go and will misplace things such as cell phones or laptops. What happens in the case of a tablet theft, i-pad theft or a laptop theft from a medical office when it has been misplaced and someone picks it up and walks out with it? What information on that device is at risk? Alpha Thunder Tags are a great way to prevent the theft of these mobile medical devices.
Alpha Thunder Tags work with electronic article surveillance (EAS) systems to sound an alarm if someone should attempt to leave a building that has an EAS system in place. The tags themselves are attached directly to a mobile device. If someone attempts to walk through an EAS antenna and they have a device the antenna will sound an alarm and lights built in the antenna will flash, alerting staff that an event is occurring. The Alpha Thunder Tags also have a built in alarm that will activate in addition to the antenna alarm. Should a staff member forget they have a device on their person as they leave the building, theses alarms will activate and the device can be returned. A third protection is a tamper alarm that will sound if someone were to try to remove a tag in an attempt to commit a tablet theft or i-pad theft. Alpha Thunder Tags will not protect against a device being misplaced in an office, but it will keep the device from being picked up by someone who should not have it and stealing it and along with it, all the patient information it contains.
Returning to my earlier discussion of my experiences with lost and misplaced valuables, it is never a pleasant experience for someone to lose something that has information in it or on it that is sensitive to them. Wallets, i-pods, computers, all have the potential to harm someone if personal information is obtained by thieves. In the case of a medical tablet theft or i-pad theft, this concern is greatly multiplied. Now we are not talking about information stolen from one person, we are discussing the information of potentially hundreds or thousands of patients being stolen.
If your medical office is using mobile devices or preparing to use them, be sure to talk about the sensitivity of the information on the devices. Discuss the need to be careful to not misplace a device, especially where a thief may have access to it. Remember that people are human and will be forgetful, add the extra measure of protection to your devices with Alpha Thunder Tags.
For more information on Alpha Thunder Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
People have a tendency to be absent minded and lose track of things rather easily. I am the father of three young adults, I have many years of retail loss prevention experience and my current job is in a university library as an overnight supervisor. How are all these related? In all three situations I deal with or have dealt with people losing things and having things stolen (often due to carelessness). I can’t recall the number of phone calls my wife and I have made to locate “lost” cell phones (my own included). In my loss prevention years I had people walk away from purses and forget where the shopping cart was that had the purse in it. They were adamant someone took their belongings. Sometimes I could find the buggy; the customer had just forgotten how far they walked away from it. Other times the customer became so absorbed in their shopping they walked away and someone had in fact stolen the purse. In the library I am regularly finding students have walked away from i-phones, tablets, computers, wallets and purses, not to mention textbooks. Sometimes they even leave the library and forget their valuables altogether and return panicked, hoping we have located their belongings. Many times they are fortunate and we have the items, but now and then these things are stolen. So how does this relate to mobile medical devices? Many medical offices are now using mobile medical technology and the use of them continues to grow. People are the same anywhere you go and will misplace things such as cell phones or laptops. What happens in the case of a tablet theft, i-pad theft or a laptop theft from a medical office when it has been misplaced and someone picks it up and walks out with it? What information on that device is at risk? Alpha Thunder Tags are a great way to prevent the theft of these mobile medical devices.
Alpha Thunder Tags work with electronic article surveillance (EAS) systems to sound an alarm if someone should attempt to leave a building that has an EAS system in place. The tags themselves are attached directly to a mobile device. If someone attempts to walk through an EAS antenna and they have a device the antenna will sound an alarm and lights built in the antenna will flash, alerting staff that an event is occurring. The Alpha Thunder Tag also have a built in alarm that will activate in addition to the antenna alarm. Should a staff member forget they have a device on their person as they leave the building, theses alarms will activate and the device can be returned. A third protection is a tamper alarm that will sound if someone were to try to remove a tag in an attempt to commit a tablet theft or i-pad theft. Alpha Thunder Tags will not protect against a device being misplaced in an office, but it will keep the device from being picked up by someone who should not have it and stealing it and along with it, all the patient information it contains.
Returning to my earlier discussion of my experiences with lost and misplaced valuables, it is never a pleasant experience for someone to lose something that has information in it or on it that is sensitive to them. Wallets, i-pods, computers, all have the potential to harm someone if personal information is obtained by thieves. In the case of a medical tablet theft or i-pad theft, this concern is greatly multiplied. Now we are not talking about information stolen from one person, we are discussing the information of potentially hundreds or thousands of patients being stolen.
If your medical office is using mobile devices or preparing to use them, be sure to talk about the sensitivity of the information on the devices. Discuss the need to be careful to not misplace a device, especially where a thief may have access to it. Remember that people are human and will be forgetful, add the extra measure of protection to your devices with Alpha Thunder Tags.
For more information on Alpha Thunder Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
