If you own or operate a retail business of any kind, you know that you have to protect the merchandise you allow customers to purchase. Using various tools to protect your merchandise is the best way to prevent shoplifting, especially when paired with good employee training. The Alpha Spider Wrap is one tool you can use to protect merchandise in boxes and other types of packaging because of its flexible cable structure. In most cases, having one of these strapped to your stock is going to send shoplifters in the other direction; however, if these devices are not properly used, and properly protected themselves, they don’t have the same deterrent as when used properly. There are a few big “no-no’s” to avoid when it comes to using these devices that will keep them as effective theft prevention tools.
I have worked as loss prevention in a department store that sells hardware and tools for several years. Just the other day, there were two suspicious men who came into the tools department that I and my team noticed. They had a particular interest in our portable power tools combo sets. These sets are typically priced at two- to three-hundred dollars. These men were not interested in buying the combo set but were obviously interested in stealing it. As the bearded man picked up the tool set, he immediately began examining the spider wrap containing the item—but there was a big problem. As the criminal soon discovered, the spider wrap was on the box but was not completely tightened. The bearded man and his tall friend wandered around the department for a minute, one speaking to a tools salesperson to distract him. The bearded man came back, crouched down, and slid the cables of the Alpha Spider Wrap off of the edge of the package, defeating the device, and placing it off to the side. He then got up and circled back around, picking the tool set up, and leaving the store with it, rendering no payment.
So the moral of the story is obvious: even if your merchandise has the device to prevent shoplifting attached to it, it won’t necessarily keep it out of the hands of the thieves. This is an obvious statement when read on a piece of paper, but implementing it properly can be much more difficult. Do your employees know how to use a spider wrap device? Do they know how to unlock it, how to lock it, how to tighten it properly, which items to put them on, or where to keep them when they aren’t being used? Do they also know how to properly secure the keys for these devices to prevent these keys from being stolen or misused for theft?
The magnetic keys for Alpha Spider Wraps issued by Alpha Security are also used to disable or unlock many other alpha security devices. If one of these keys gets lost or stolen, your entire store could be at risk! Make sure you have a system that will prevent the theft of these, or their loss by associates. This may include not leaving keys (even tied down) at unattended cash registers, or using a paper log to sign keys in and out. Likewise, make sure your employees are trained to use these devices properly, including unlocking—an area where a lack of training could be a big inconvenience for your customers. Just as important, make sure that they know how to re-secure new merchandise in the store.
For more information contact us: Prevent Shoplifting or call 1.770.426.0547
If you own or operate a retail business of any kind, you know that you have to protect the merchandise you allow customers to purchase. Using various tools to protect your merchandise is the best way to prevent shoplifting, especially when paired with good employee training. The Alpha Spider Wrap is one tool you can use to protect merchandise in boxes and other types of packaging because of its flexible cable structure. In most cases, having one of these strapped to your stock is going to send shoplifters in the other direction; however, if these devices are not properly used, and properly protected themselves, they don’t have the same deterrent as when used properly. There are a few big “no-no’s” to avoid when it comes to using these devices that will keep them as effective theft prevention tools.
I have worked loss prevention in a department store that sells hardware and tools for several years. Just the other day, there were two suspicious men who came into the tools department that I and my team noticed. They had a particular interest in our portable power tools combo sets. These sets are typically priced at two- to three-hundred dollars. These men were not interested in buying the combo set but were obviously interested in stealing it. As the bearded man picked up the tool set, he immediately began examining the Alpha Spider Wrap containing the item—but there was a big problem. As the criminal soon discovered, the Spider Wrap was on the box but was not completely tightened. The bearded man and his tall friend wandered around the department for a minute, one speaking to a tools salesperson to distract him. The bearded man came back, crouched down, and slid the cables of the Alpha Spider Wrap off of the edge of the package, defeating the device, and placing it off to the side. He then got up and circled back around, picking the tool set up, and leaving the store with it, rendering no payment.
So the moral of the story is obvious: even if your merchandise has the device to prevent shoplifting attached to it, it won’t necessarily keep it out of the hands of the thieves. This is an obvious statement when read on a piece of paper, but implementing it properly can be much more difficult. Do your employees know how to use Alpha Spider Wrap? Do they know how to unlock it, how to lock it, how to tighten it properly, which items to put them on, or where to keep them when they aren’t being used? Do they also know how to properly secure the keys for these devices to prevent these keys from being stolen or misused for theft?
The magnetic keys for Alpha Spider Wraps issued by Alpha Security are also used to disable or unlock many other Alpha security devices. If one of these keys gets lost or stolen, your entire store could be at risk! Make sure you have a system that will prevent the theft of these, or their loss by associates. This may include not leaving keys (even tied down) at unattended cash registers, or using a paper log to sign keys in and out. Likewise, make sure your employees are trained to use these devices properly, including unlocking—an area where a lack of training could be a big inconvenience for your customers. Just as important, make sure that they know how to re-secure new merchandise in the store.
For more information contact us: Prevent Shoplifting or call 1.770.426.0547
Every brick and mortar store contains fixtures, columns, merchandise, lights, mannequins and all sorts of equipment. Most stores arrange these to optimize efficiency, maximize profits, and appeal to the customer. Of course, there must always be room to comply with OSHA requirements and local fire code. After all of this is considered, the visibility of the entire sales floor can be an afterthought. Most stores have at least one or two areas in the store that aren’t frequented by shoppers or employees, no matter how small a store may be. These areas can be a hotbed of theft; concealment, defeating security devices, or staging of merchandise. What the best store planners know is that the layout of the store can greatly affect the status of clothing security.
Having worked in loss prevention for many years, I have seen it time and time again. Managers and merchandisers will place some of their best items right inside the doors of the store to catch the eye of passersby, and other customers who enter the store. While this tactic may or may not be effective, it certainly catches the eyes of thieves who may be casing the area for easy targets. A rack of expensive coats just inside the door at the beginning of the fall season is an enticing prospect for grab-and-run thieves.
I once heard a story about a successful grab-and-run at a store within the mall where I had been working. The thieves pulled a minivan up to the curb right outside of the doors. A man exited the vehicle, headed only a few steps inside the door, opened his arms as wide as he could, hugged roughly twelve coats on a rack, lifted them up, and ran right back out of the door, hurdling himself and the merchandise right into the back of the van which then sped off. This only took a matter of seconds to occur. The security team noticed the subject enter the store, and was immediately suspicious. Unfortunately, they had no time to act. In some other cases, thieves have been known to grab entire racks containing merchandise and run out with them. In these situations, even clothing security tags don’t do much to stop the theft. However, had those coats not been only feet from the door, this theft could have likely been prevented.
Likewise, the placement of merchandise and fixtures on the floor may be conducive for a less brazen type of theft; a more typical, sneaky shoplifting. The areas on the sales floor that are frequent sites of theft are called hotspots. They are usually marked by and abundance of price tags on the floor, security devices defeated, or large holes of missing clothing. These areas of the store are enticing to thieves for a reason. Typically, they are the most secluded corners of a store and sometimes, the most dimly-lit. One way of securing clothing in these areas is by placing a convex mirror that would allow a direct line of sight from an area where employees typically are to the hotspot. Alternatively, a camera and public-view monitor (or even a dummy camera) can be installed and will flush out a great deal of theft. The least expensive option is to simply re-arrange your sales floor layout.
The moral of the story is: consider what areas of your store will be the most likely for theft, and develop a plan to minimize that theft. In the long run, it will keep the thieves out and the money in your pockets!
For more information contact us: Clothing Security or call 1.770.426.0547
Every brick and mortar store contains fixtures, columns, merchandise, lights, mannequins and all sorts of equipment. Most stores arrange these to optimize efficiency, maximize profits, and appeal to the customer. Of course, there must always be room to comply with OSHA requirements and local fire code. After all of this is considered, the visibility of the entire sales floor can be an afterthought. Most stores have at least one or two areas in the store that aren’t frequented by shoppers or employees, no matter how small a store may be. These areas can be a hotbed of theft; concealment, defeating security devices, or staging of merchandise. What the best store planners know is that the layout of the store can greatly affect the status of clothing security.
Having worked in loss prevention for many years, I have seen it time and time again. Managers and merchandisers will place some of their best items right inside the doors of the store to catch the eye of passersby, and other customers who enter the store. While this tactic may or may not be effective, it certainly catches the eyes of thieves who may be casing the area for easy targets. A rack of expensive coats just inside the door at the beginning of the fall season is an enticing prospect for grab-and-run thieves.
I once heard a story about a successful grab-and-run at a store within the mall where I had been working. The thieves pulled a minivan up to the curb right outside of the doors. A man exited the vehicle, headed only a few steps inside the door, opened his arms as wide as he could, hugged roughly twelve coats on a rack, lifted them up, and ran right back out of the door, hurdling himself and the merchandise right into the back of the van which then sped off. This only took a matter of seconds to occur. The security team noticed the subject enter the store, and was immediately suspicious. Unfortunately, they had no time to act. In some other cases, thieves have been known to grab entire racks containing merchandise and run out with them. In these situations, even clothing security tags don’t do much to stop the theft. However, had those coats not been only feet from the door, this theft could have likely been prevented.
Likewise, the placement of merchandise and fixtures on the floor may be conducive for a less brazen type of theft; a more typical, sneaky shoplifting. The areas on the sales floor that are frequent sites of theft are called hotspots. They are usually marked by and abundance of price tags on the floor, security devices defeated, or large holes of missing clothing. These areas of the store are enticing to thieves for a reason. Typically, they are the most secluded corners of a store and sometimes, the most dimly-lit. One way of securing clothing in these areas is by placing a convex mirror that would allow a direct line of sight from an area where employees typically are to the hotspot. Alternatively, a camera and public-view monitor (or even a dummy camera) can be installed and will flush out a great deal of theft. The least expensive option is to simply re-arrange your sales floor layout.
The moral of the story is: consider what areas of your store will be the most likely for theft, and develop a plan to minimize that theft. In the long run, it will keep the thieves out and the money in your pockets!
For more information contact us: Clothing Security or call 1.770.426.0547
I stopped at a small convenience store for a snack and soda recently. The first thing I saw as I came in the door was a sign that read “If you steal from this store, you will go to jail today”. Actually there were a couple of these hand-written signs on the door, and other similar versions throughout the rest of the store as well. I certainly had no intention of stealing anything anyway, but the vibes I got from this store, because of all these warnings, was not any sort of welcome. I really got the message that there was so much theft I was not safe in this building, so I left without buying anything. I feel sure I was not the first potential customer and sales they lost due to their choices. Instead of threatening every customer coming in the door with this crude signage, they could incorporate a Checkpoint System to protect their inventory.
Two particular models, the Classic Street and Evolve P30 have Standard Ad Panels. They come with panel inserts that simply say “Welcome”, or the store can choose to insert their own. There are several options an owner or manager could choose from when deciding what to place in the panels. Stores could choose to advertise a weekly or monthly sale that is going on. A convenience store could have a drink/snack combo special, or a clothing boutique could have an outfit/accessory special that they want to bring attention to. If the store has bought into some bulk and surplus items, they could use use the Ad Panels to bring attention to a display and create impulse sales. They could use them to indicate the availability of a trending or hot item they now carry.
If there is an upcoming fair or festival, and the store plans to have a booth or display there, they could create anticipation and excitement about the event using the Ad Panels. Community awareness and support among local small businesses is always a winning combination. Use the panels to congratulate a local school team on a win, or encouragement for the big game. The Checkpoint System pedestals work into the aesthetics of the store, instead of giving an impression that the store is unsafe or not secured. Plus the store can choose a custom color for the pedestal bases. (Just speak to your representative about available colors.)
The real win with the Checkpoint System is the functionality of the panels and real control of the store’s inventory. The deterrence to shoplifters is there, without having to make blatant printed threats to the honest cash paying customer. There is a certain recognition of the Checkpoint brand and a would-be thief is immediately made aware that there is product protection in place as soon as they walk in the front door.
For more information contact us at 1.770.426.0547 or Antishoplifting.net
I stopped at a small convenience store for a snack and soda recently. The first thing I saw as I came in the door was a sign that read “If you steal from this store, you will go to jail today”. Actually there were a couple of these hand-written signs on the door, and other similar versions throughout the rest of the store as well. I certainly had no intention of stealing anything anyway, but the vibes I got from this store, because of all these warnings, was not any sort of welcome. I really got the message that there was so much theft I was not safe in this building, so I left without buying anything. I feel sure I was not the first potential customer and sales they lost due to their choices. Instead of threatening every customer coming in the door with this crude signage, they could incorporate a Checkpoint System to protect their inventory.
Two particular models, the Classic Street and Evolve P30 have Standard Ad Panels. They come with panel inserts that simply say “Welcome”, or the store can choose to insert their own. There are several options an owner or manager could choose from when deciding what to place in the panels. Stores could choose to advertise a weekly or monthly sale that is going on. A convenience store could have a drink/snack combo special, or a clothing boutique could have an outfit/accessory special that they want to bring attention to. If the store has bought into some bulk and surplus items, they could use use the Ad Panels to bring attention to a display and create impulse sales. They could use them to indicate the availability of a trending or hot item they now carry.
If there is an upcoming fair or festival, and the store plans to have a booth or display there, they could create anticipation and excitement about the event using the Ad Panels. Community awareness and support among local small businesses is always a winning combination. Use the panels to congratulate a local school team on a win, or encouragement for the big game. The Checkpoint System pedestals work into the aesthetics of the store, instead of giving an impression that the store is unsafe or not secured. Plus the store can choose a custom color for the pedestal bases. (Just speak to your representative about available colors.)
The real win with the Checkpoint System is the functionality of the panels and real control of the store’s inventory. The deterrence to shoplifters is there, without having to make blatant printed threats to the honest cash paying customer. There is a certain recognition of the Checkpoint brand and a would-be thief is immediately made aware that there is product protection in place as soon as they walk in the front door.
For more information contact us at 1.770.426.0547 or Antishoplifting.net
