#10 WAB
Is A Sensormatic System The Cure To All My Shoplifting Woes?
The short answer is NO a Sensormatic System is not the total solution. By itself, your Sensormatic System is not going to stop all your shoplifting problems. However, it will be a VERY important part of the puzzle. As the former Director of Loss Prevention for several major companies, I have more than just a little experience with this topic. I started my loss prevention career at the store level, apprehending shoplifters. As I moved closer to the Board Room, eventually as the Chairman of the Board for the Georgia Retail Association, I saw what it took for companies large and small to fix the shoplifting problem.
For medium to small retailers there are two solutions to shoplifting. The first part is an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) system such as a Sensormatic System. The second part to the solution is an alert and WELL trained staff. I outline most of that in my book which is available online at Amazon and at Barnes & Noble. So let’s explore that in a bit more depth.
Sensormatic systems although simple in scope utilize very complex commercial grade equipment. This equipment is pretty straight forward to the retailer and their staff. It consists of pedestals at the customer doors that detect specialized Sensormatic labels and tags that are placed by staff on merchandise. These labels and tags are either deactivated (labels) or removed (tags) at checkout.
A legitimate customer that makes a purchase walks out the door with their merchandise and goes on their way. A shoplifter that attempts to steal merchandise triggers the pedestals visual and audible alarm, alerting staff. Merchandise is protected 24/7. Labels are disposable and after deactivation go out the door with the merchandise packaging. Tags or more correctly “hard tags” are removed by staff to be reused over and over.
Sensormatic Systems are very cost effective, even more so when you consider what the real cost of a stolen piece of merchandise is. If you lose a $50 piece of merchandise take that number and divide it by your after expenses profit margin (the average is about 2%). So $50/0.02 = $2500.00. That is what you will have to sell to break even on the $50 loss!
The second and as important side to keeping shoplifters at bay is keeping your staff trained. We can help you with this. Our philosophy is that if you are profitable then so are we. Just installing a Sensormatic System without training will not work. At first, you would see some benefit but your losses will begin to creep back up. The same is also true in reverse. Training without a system will not deliver long-term, sustained benefits.
So what kind of training do you and your staff need? Of course, we want you to know how to use the system. How it functions, what problems can arise and how to use Sensormatic tags and labels to their maximum benefit. However, you have to go further. What do you do when you encounter a situation when a customer triggers and alarm? You must have a consistent, customer service approach to an alarm.
In addition we also teach you how to spot and deter shoplifters. The Sensormatic System is your backup. We want to deter the shoplifter the moment they come into the store. It is actually quite easy to spot a shoplifter, if you know what to look for. Once you suspect that someone is trying or may steal from you then you need to approach that situation with certain customer service skills that will deter the shoplifter but delight the good customer. Our method may even lead to add-on sales from your good customers. You see shoplifters hate attention. We help you to exploit that.
So a Sensormatic System and support by Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. together will help you to cure your shoplifting woes. Contact us today about a Sensormatic System for your store and learn more about our great training program that you get FREE of charge with your system. Call 1-770-426-0547 today.
The short answer is NO a Sensormatic System is not the total solution. By itself, your Sensormatic System is not going to stop all your shoplifting problems. However, it will be a VERY important part of the puzzle. As the former Director of Loss Prevention for several major companies, I have more than just a little experience with this topic. I started my loss prevention career at the store level, apprehending shoplifters. As I moved closer to the Board Room, eventually as the Chairman of the Board for the Georgia Retail Association, I saw what it took for companies large and small to fix the shoplifting problem.
For medium to small retailers there are two solutions to shoplifting. The first part is an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) system such as a Sensormatic System. The second part to the solution is an alert and WELL trained staff. I outline most of that in my book which is available online at Amazon and at Barnes & Noble. So let’s explore that in a bit more depth.
Sensormatic systems although simple in scope utilize very complex commercial grade equipment. This equipment is pretty straight forward to the retailer and their staff. It consists of pedestals at the customer doors that detect specialized Sensormatic labels and tags that are placed by staff on merchandise. These labels and tags are either deactivated (labels) or removed (tags) at checkout.
A legitimate customer that makes a purchase walks out the door with their merchandise and goes on their way. A shoplifter that attempts to steal merchandise triggers the pedestals visual and audible alarm, alerting staff. Merchandise is protected 24/7. Labels are disposable and after deactivation go out the door with the merchandise packaging. Tags or more correctly “hard tags” are removed by staff to be reused over and over.
Sensormatic Systems are very cost effective, even more so when you consider what the real cost of a stolen piece of merchandise is. If you lose a $50 piece of merchandise take that number and divide it by your after expenses profit margin (the average is about 2%). So $50/0.02 = $2500.00. That is what you will have to sell to break even on the $50 loss!
The second and as important side to keeping shoplifters at bay is keeping your staff trained. We can help you with this. Our philosophy is that if you are profitable then so are we. Just installing a Sensormatic System without training will not work. At first, you would see some benefit but your losses will begin to creep back up. The same is also true in reverse. Training without a system will not deliver long-term, sustained benefits.
So what kind of training do you and your staff need? Of course, we want you to know how to use the system. How it functions, what problems can arise and how to use Sensormatic hard tags and labels to their maximum benefit. However, you have to go further. What do you do when you encounter a situation when a customer triggers and alarm? You must have a consistent, customer service approach to an alarm.
In addition we also teach you how to spot and deter shoplifters. The Sensormatic System is your backup. We want to deter the shoplifter the moment they come into the store. It is actually quite easy to spot a shoplifter, if you know what to look for. Once you suspect that someone is trying or may steal from you then you need to approach that situation with certain customer service skills that will deter the shoplifter but delight the good customer. Our method may even lead to add-on sales from your good customers. You see shoplifters hate attention. We help you to exploit that.
So a Sensormatic System and support by Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. together will help you to cure your shoplifting woes. Contact us today about a Sensormatic System for your store and learn more about our great training program that you get FREE of charge with your system. Call 1-770-426-0547 today.
WC Blog 783
Training to reduce employee theft – 4
Employee Theft -4
How Much Do You Know About Preventing Employee Theft? – Part 2
In part 1 of this series I quizzed readers in order to introduce the topic of training to reduce employee theft. My goal is to caution employers not to assume they are readily equipped or knowledgeable about dishonest workers on their teams. I also want to let store managers and owners know that they are not helpless in the hiring of dishonest candidates. There is an arsenal of tools available to managers to minimize losses attributable to employees who are stealing from them. Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. has that toolbox and has been helping store owners reduce shortage due to employee theft since 1983.
In all probability the most important tool for store owners is training to reduce employee theft. When you know how dishonest people are hired, how they steal once they are hired and signals that dishonest employees give that indicate they are stealing you can then take steps to stop that activity. In the quiz I presented several questions that had to do with identifying activity or behaviors that could indicate an employee is stealing. I want managers to recognize that dishonest workers are not going to necessarily be easy to pick out. One example I want to expand on is the overly friendly employee. Now there are people of course who are just naturally warm and outgoing. Then there are the employees who can seem to be friendly but if you can keep from being charmed you realize they fully focus their conversations on YOU. They complement you on your clothes or car or how your hair looks. You should have a big red warning light flashing in your head about these people. There is a good chance they are dazzling you in order to not look suspicious as they are really engaging in employee theft behind your back. I have worked in Retail Loss Prevention long enough that I have dealt with these characters and they are annoying.
Another thing that can make employee thieves more detrimental than shoplifters is that they will often work with others to steal. I have caught employees who recruited other employees to steal with them or pass merchandise to each other (the act of not ringing up merchandise but looking like they are and then bagging the items). I have caught employees having their friends come through their checkout lane and after taking money from the friend as payment, they gave back too much change…in the amount of tens and twenties, clearly not an accident. Without the training and skills to identify this type of employee theft it can take place over a long period of time and lead to hundreds of dollars in losses.
In part 1 I also mentioned briefly theft that is not commonly identified as theft but it does cost an employer a lot of money. Time clock fraud is an excellent example of this. The employee engaged in this activity may have a friend clock in for them when they are not at work. It can also be the worker who clocks in and then takes their time putting their things in a locker, using the restroom to comb their hair or put on makeup and even change into work clothes. It may only seem like 5 or 10 minutes here or there but think about the lost productivity you are paying for over the course of a year. Then there is the employee who steals store property and takes it home. I have seen employees take maintenance tools from the store. In their training to reduce employee theft, Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. covers all of these issues.
Finally there are the employees who have been in good standing for many, many years. These men and women have been trustworthy and dependable but then something happens in their life that dramatically alters their personal situation. These are good people but rather than seek any assistance to deal with their problems they think they can steal some money or merchandise and take care of the problem. They may even have the intention to pay back what they take. There are signs that can give these people away but you have to be in tune to what they say or do that is out of their normal character. Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. covers this in the trainings they offer to employers and managers.
Training to reduce employee theft is not a cure all for every situation but it can help prevent a lot of the losses you would otherwise encounter. Employee background checks and pre-employment drug screening also reduces the likelihood of employee theft. And remember, when all else fails, Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. can also help you with theft investigations and get your store back on the right track.
Employee theft is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
In part 1 of this series I quizzed readers in order to introduce the topic of training to reduce employee theft. My goal is to caution employers not to assume they are readily equipped or knowledgeable about dishonest workers on their teams. I also want to let store managers and owners know that they are not helpless in the hiring of dishonest candidates. There is an arsenal of tools available to managers to minimize losses attributable to employees who are stealing from them. Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. has that toolbox and has been helping store owners reduce shortage due to employee theft since 1983.
In all probability the most important tool for store owners is training to reduce employee theft. When you know how dishonest people are hired, how they steal once they are hired and signals that dishonest employees give that indicate they are stealing you can then take steps to stop that activity. In the quiz I presented several questions that had to do with identifying activity or behaviors that could indicate an employee is stealing. I want managers to recognize that dishonest workers are not going to necessarily be easy to pick out. One example I want to expand on is the overly friendly employee. Now there are people of course who are just naturally warm and outgoing. Then there are the employees who can seem to be friendly but if you can keep from being charmed you realize they fully focus their conversations on YOU. They complement you on your clothes or car or how your hair looks. You should have a big red warning light flashing in your head about these people. There is a good chance they are dazzling you in order to not look suspicious as they are really engaging in employee theft behind your back. I have worked in Retail Loss Prevention long enough that I have dealt with these characters and they are annoying.
Another thing that can make employee thieves more detrimental than shoplifters is that they will often work with others to steal. I have caught employees who recruited other employees to steal with them or pass merchandise to each other (the act of not ringing up merchandise but looking like they are and then bagging the items). I have caught employees having their friends come through their checkout lane and after taking money from the friend as payment, they gave back too much change…in the amount of tens and twenties, clearly not an accident. Without the training and skills to identify this type of employee theft it can take place over a long period of time and lead to hundreds of dollars in losses.
In part 1 I also mentioned briefly theft that is not commonly identified as theft but it does cost an employer a lot of money. Time clock fraud is an excellent example of this. The employee engaged in this activity may have a friend clock in for them when they are not at work. It can also be the worker who clocks in and then takes their time putting their things in a locker, using the restroom to comb their hair or put on makeup and even change into work clothes. It may only seem like 5 or 10 minutes here or there but think about the lost productivity you are paying for over the course of a year. Then there is the employee who steals store property and takes it home. I have seen employees take maintenance tools from the store. In their training to reduce employee theft, Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. covers all of these issues.
Finally there are the employees who have been in good standing for many, many years. These men and women have been trustworthy and dependable but then something happens in their life that dramatically alters their personal situation. These are good people but rather than seek any assistance to deal with their problems they think they can steal some money or merchandise and take care of the problem. They may even have the intention to pay back what they take. There are signs that can give these people away but you have to be in tune to what they say or do that is out of their normal character. Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. covers this in the trainings they offer to employers and managers.
Training to reduce employee theft is not a cure all for every situation but it can help prevent a lot of the losses you would otherwise encounter. Employee background checks and pre-employment drug screening also reduces the likelihood of employee theft. And remember, when all else fails, Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. can also help you with theft investigations and get your store back on the right track.
Employee theft is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
Prevent Shoplifting -3 WC Blog 801
Sensormatic Safers-3
Sensormatic Safers Prevent Petty Larceny Of Pocketable Products
The more I continue to work in retail the more it seems stores have to work harder to prevent shoplifting and theft. I have seen all kinds of things stolen and sometimes I still can’t believe the missing items I find while working on the salesfloor. I have found empty pen refill packages and one Sharpie marker out of a package of 5 missing from a package. I have even found an empty package for store brand tape! C’mon if you’re going to have sticky fingers do you really need store brand tape? Yes, there are all sorts of odd things that can go missing and working the salesfloor I find a lot of empty packages for these products. There are also items that are stolen and I never would have thought about them as high theft items until I found out how frequently crooks will try to return them for a cash refund. In the store where I work one such category of merchandise is label maker tape. Good grief some of these can be nearly $25 for a single tape package and a double tape pack can be almost $40. From my perspective as someone who was in Loss Prevention for about 14 years I look at these tapes and see how small the packages are. They can easily be picked up and placed in a pocket and you would never know it.
Items such as the label maker tapes are a popular because they present a small risk of being caught for a high reward. If you think about it placing a double pack in two jacket pockets and walking out of a store is a pretty easy $80 haul. A good shoplifter can get in and out of a store in less than five minutes with your merchandise. Sensormatic Safers are a solution to this problem and they work with a Sensormatic pedestals. Ah, I know you think you have me now. You have already addressed this possibility in your store policies. YOU don’t allow your store to take back no-receipt merchandise. Let me clue you in on something, your policy is not going to prevent shoplifting I can guarantee that. I have dealt with professional shoplifters and they are a step ahead of you. Since you won’t take back the stolen products then they are more than willing to take it to another business that sells the same product and will give a no-receipt cash refund or merchandise card. If it is a merchandise card they will sell that on the street. An $80 merchandise card can still pull in $20 – $40 in cash. Now you have me in a corner, you are the only store selling the tapes in your area so there is nowhere else to take them. Nice try, please let me refer you to the internet and online market places such as eBay. If that doesn’t convince you there is probably a flea market or mom and pop shop in your area you might want to visit.
On the bright side Sensormatic Safers are an affordable and effective method to stymie shoplifters who look for small pieces of merchandise to steal. Flexible Safers are sturdy, locking pouches that incorporate electronic article surveillance that makes it much easier for retailers to prevent shoplifting of those pocketable prizes. The best theft scenario for a shoplifter is to walk into a store with no merchandise protection, no Loss Prevention measures in place and poor customer service. This is the perfect hunting ground for a crooked customer. The addition of an anti-theft system and tags and labels is the first step in deterring criminal activity and reducing theft related shortage.
Remember, I started this article talking about theft that surprised me and has caught me off-guard to some extent. Not everything has to be protected no matter how silly it is to steal such as pen refills. For those items that SHOULD be protected such as label maker tape, ink jet printer cartridges and even batteries Sensormatic Safers are the perfect solution for your store. Pocketable products may be costing you more than pocket change, Sensormatic has the right solution for all the items you sell.
For more information on Sensormatic Safers contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
The more I continue to work in retail the more it seems stores have to work harder to prevent shoplifting and theft. I have seen all kinds of things stolen and sometimes I still can’t believe the missing items I find while working on the salesfloor. I have found empty pen refill packages and one Sharpie marker out of a package of 5 missing from a package. I have even found an empty package for store brand tape! C’mon if you’re going to have sticky fingers do you really need store brand tape? Yes, there are all sorts of odd things that can go missing and working the salesfloor I find a lot of empty packages for these products. There are also items that are stolen and I never would have thought about them as high theft items until I found out how frequently crooks will try to return them for a cash refund. In the store where I work one such category of merchandise is label maker tape. Good grief some of these can be nearly $25 for a single tape package and a double tape pack can be almost $40. From my perspective as someone who was in Loss Prevention for about 14 years I look at these tapes and see how small the packages are. They can easily be picked up and placed in a pocket and you would never know it.
Items such as the label maker tapes are a popular because they present a small risk of being caught for a high reward. If you think about it placing a double pack in two jacket pockets and walking out of a store is a pretty easy $80 haul. A good shoplifter can get in and out of a store in less than five minutes with your merchandise. Sensormatic Safers are a solution to this problem and they work with a Sensormatic pedestals. Ah, I know you think you have me now. You have already addressed this possibility in your store policies. YOU don’t allow your store to take back no-receipt merchandise. Let me clue you in on something, your policy is not going to prevent shoplifting I can guarantee that. I have dealt with professional shoplifters and they are a step ahead of you. Since you won’t take back the stolen products then they are more than willing to take it to another business that sells the same product and will give a no-receipt cash refund or merchandise card. If it is a merchandise card they will sell that on the street. An $80 merchandise card can still pull in $20 – $40 in cash. Now you have me in a corner, you are the only store selling the tapes in your area so there is nowhere else to take them. Nice try, please let me refer you to the internet and online market places such as eBay. If that doesn’t convince you there is probably a flea market or mom and pop shop in your area you might want to visit.
On the bright side Sensormatic Safers are an affordable and effective method to stymie shoplifters who look for small pieces of merchandise to steal. Flexible Safers are sturdy, locking pouches that incorporate electronic article surveillance that makes it much easier for retailers to prevent shoplifting of those pocketable prizes. The best theft scenario for a shoplifter is to walk into a store with no merchandise protection, no Loss Prevention measures in place and poor customer service. This is the perfect hunting ground for a crooked customer. The addition of an anti-theft system and tags and labels is the first step in deterring criminal activity and reducing theft related shortage.
Remember, I started this article talking about theft that surprised me and has caught me off-guard to some extent. Not everything has to be protected no matter how silly it is to steal such as pen refills. For those items that SHOULD be protected such as label maker tape, ink jet printer cartridges and even batteries Sensormatic Safers are the perfect solution for your store. Pocketable products may be costing you more than pocket change, Sensormatic has the right solution for all the items you sell.
For more information on Sensormatic Safers, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
WC Blog 770
Clothing Security -3
Sensormatic Tags – 3
Are You Contributing To Dangerous Crimes When You Don’t Use Sensormatic Tags? Part 2
This two-part series on clothing security and the use of anti-theft tags stemmed from an article I viewed about a shoplifter fleeing from police and crashing her car. In the suspect’s vehicle were two televisions she had stolen from Walmart and a pair of stolen jeans. I mentioned that I did not know if the televisions had security devices on them but if the jeans came from the same store I was fairly certain no Sensormatic tags were used on them. My lead up was to the dangers shoplifters create to others when they lead police on high speed chases to get away for a theft crime. I am not pointing a finger at the police for the pursuit. I am suggesting that if store owners and management would tag ALL of their merchandise the number of these dangerous situations would decline…DRAMATICALLY. But being a person who is sometimes accused of making a point and then driving it into the ground, in this article I am going to discuss other dangers those retailers may be helping contribute to the problem.
In a February 9, 2019 news story from abc7ny.com “Alleged Victoria’s Secret shoplifter pepper sprays Long Island police”, a 29 year old woman is accused of trying to steal $1,000 worth of merchandise from Victoria’s Secret. During the investigation and arrest the suspect, “…began kicking, punching, biting and spitting at them.” The suspect also, “sprayed pepper spray at both officers.” The suspect was also charged with being in possession of burglary tools. In nbcphiladelphia.com, November23, 2018, the following story appeared, “Shoplifter Pepper-Sprays Worker Trying to Stop Her Police Say”. According to this story a suspected shoplifter was approached by an employee about merchandise she had concealed in a bag at a Macy’s store. When the employee confronted her she pepper sprayed him. Last, I came across this doozy of a story on ktla.com, Dec. 18. 2018, by Marissa Wenzke, “Target Employee Stabbed by Accused Shoplifter in Pasadena: Police”. In this instance, “A Target employee who confronted someone about allegedly shoplifting at a Pasadena store was stabbed in the leg by the accused thief…” All three of the stores in these news reports carry clothing. Whether that is what the shoplifters were trying to steal is unknown. I would feel confident guessing that was the case in at least the Victoria’s Secret Store and more likely than not in the Macy’s store. What I don’t know is if the merchandise that was being taken was protected with clothing security tags or any form of anti-theft device.
Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. recognizes the inherent dangers all shoplifters pose to employees and customers. That is why when they are consulting with clients on matters of shortage reduction and theft prevention one of the most important recommendations they make is that the client use Sensormatic tags and install Sensormatic towers. Shoplifters prefer not to go to stores where aggressive merchandise tagging takes place. They risk picking up merchandise that will cause an alarm and alert store employees. Anti-theft equipment is a deterrent and sends most criminals scurrying to stores where they won’t contend with alarms (or good customer service). Deter these crooks from entering your store and you keep everyone who works for you or shops in your business safer than they would be otherwise.
I would further argue, as I did in Part 1, that when stores do NOT use clothing security tags or other devices they are actually contributing to the increased danger their customers and employees face. I am not saying this is intentional as many small retailers are under the false assumption that they cannot afford a Sensormatic system. This is a false assumption and if you happen to be one of those retailers please visit LPSI’s ROI Calculator tab on their website to find out how affordable a system can be. Despite the reasons a retail loss prevention system may not be installed if it isn’t there the shoplifters know and I assure you that they are making you a target for their activity. That means you are helping to create a dangerous workplace.
Many shoplifters are violent as you have seen in just a few sample articles. There are many, many more such stories out there and I will share them in future articles. What I hope you realize is most dangerous shoplifting incidents can be avoided through the use of Sensormatic tags and systems and professional training (also provided by LPSI). People want to shop where they feel safe, are you doing all you can to help create that environment in your store?
For more information about Sensormatic tags contact us or call 1.770.426.0547.
This two-part series on clothing security and the use of anti-theft tags stemmed from an article I viewed about a shoplifter fleeing from police and crashing her car. In the suspect’s vehicle were two televisions she had stolen from Walmart and a pair of stolen jeans. I mentioned that I did not know if the televisions had security devices on them but if the jeans came from the same store I was fairly certain no Sensormatic tags were used on them. My lead up was to the dangers shoplifters create to others when they lead police on high speed chases to get away for a theft crime. I am not pointing a finger at the police for the pursuit. I am suggesting that if store owners and management would tag ALL of their merchandise the number of these dangerous situations would decline…DRAMATICALLY. But being a person who is sometimes accused of making a point and then driving it into the ground, in this article I am going to discuss other dangers those retailers may be helping contribute to the problem.
In a February 9, 2019 news story from abc7ny.com “Alleged Victoria’s Secret shoplifter pepper sprays Long Island police”, a 29 year old woman is accused of trying to steal $1,000 worth of merchandise from Victoria’s Secret. During the investigation and arrest the suspect, “…began kicking, punching, biting and spitting at them.” The suspect also, “sprayed pepper spray at both officers.” The suspect was also charged with being in possession of burglary tools. In nbcphiladelphia.com, November23, 2018, the following story appeared, “Shoplifter Pepper-Sprays Worker Trying to Stop Her Police Say”. According to this story a suspected shoplifter was approached by an employee about merchandise she had concealed in a bag at a Macy’s store. When the employee confronted her she pepper sprayed him. Last, I came across this doozy of a story on ktla.com, Dec. 18. 2018, by Marissa Wenzke, “Target Employee Stabbed by Accused Shoplifter in Pasadena: Police”. In this instance, “A Target employee who confronted someone about allegedly shoplifting at a Pasadena store was stabbed in the leg by the accused thief…” All three of the stores in these news reports carry clothing. Whether that is what the shoplifters were trying to steal is unknown. I would feel confident guessing that was the case in at least the Victoria’s Secret Store and more likely than not in the Macy’s store. What I don’t know is if the merchandise that was being taken was protected with clothing security tags or any form of anti-theft device.
Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. recognizes the inherent dangers all shoplifters pose to employees and customers. That is why when they are consulting with clients on matters of shortage reduction and theft prevention one of the most important recommendations they make is that the client use Sensormatic tags and install Sensormatic towers. Shoplifters prefer not to go to stores where aggressive merchandise tagging takes place. They risk picking up merchandise that will cause an alarm and alert store employees. Anti-theft equipment is a deterrent and sends most criminals scurrying to stores where they won’t contend with alarms (or good customer service). Deter these crooks from entering your store and you keep everyone who works for you or shops in your business safer than they would be otherwise.
I would further argue, as I did in Part 1, that when stores do NOT use clothing security tags or other devices they are actually contributing to the increased danger their customers and employees face. I am not saying this is intentional as many small retailers are under the false assumption that they cannot afford a Sensormatic system. This is a false assumption and if you happen to be one of those retailers please visit LPSI’s ROI Calculator tab on their website to find out how affordable a system can be. Despite the reasons a retail loss prevention system may not be installed if it isn’t there the shoplifters know and I assure you that they are making you a target for their activity. That means you are helping to create a dangerous workplace.
Many shoplifters are violent as you have seen in just a few sample articles. There are many, many more such stories out there and I will share them in future articles. What I hope you realize is most dangerous shoplifting incidents can be avoided through the use of Sensormatic tags and systems and professional training (also provided by LPSI). People want to shop where they feel safe, are you doing all you can to help create that environment in your store?
For more information about Sensormatic tags contact us or call 1.770.426.0547.
Background check company – 4 wc blog 764
Pre-employment screening -3
Applicant tracking Center-3
Employee Turnover Impacts Shortage – A Background Check Company Can Reduce Turnover Part 1
I believe store employee turnover has an impact on store inventory shortage results and I believe a background check company can reduce turnover. This reason I bring this up is a recent conversation I was having with my store manager. We were talking about the articles I write and he asked if I had ever written about this topic. He told me he is a firm believer that when a store has to hire frequently because workers leave that he thinks it can lead to an increase in employee theft. As long as I have been in retail Loss Prevention I have held the same belief. I told him I did think it was interesting that he brought this up since Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. (LPSI) has been actively helping retailers reduce theft through a series of initiatives they now offer. The conduct pre-employment screenings, drug testing and even make the hiring process easier with the Applicant Tracking Center. Yes, I have thought about it as a topic for articles but LPSI thought about it first and made a way for managers to improve the chances of reducing turnover and hiring workers who will help improve profits for the store.
I know there are many reasons people leave companies they work for be it for a better job opportunity or due to frustration with co-workers or poor management. Sometimes people leave their jobs because they are not truly suited to the position. There are also people who leave jobs because they have been stealing and are cutting out before they are caught. If the morale in a store is flagging that falls on the management team to put fixes in place to make the environment more pleasant. If the employees are leaving because they are not suited to the jobs they have been hired to work in then an Applicant Tracking Center may be just what your store needs. Loss Preventions Systems, Inc. (LPSI) can help you streamline your hiring processes by reducing paperwork, paper files and the time it takes to sort through tons of unqualified applications. At the same time they can help you hire better employees who are far less likely to steal or be potential liabilities. The same process can also aid you in reducing the chance of hiring someone who will cause morale issues. A pre-employment screening process can include a background check that can identify candidates with shady work, education or criminal histories. The drug testing can identify applicants who are engaged in the use of illegal drugs and could cause problems in the workplace.
LPSI’s Applicant tracking center can combine all of these functions into one stop and shop location. The center can be used to create application screening questions that can help you save time in sifting through countless job applications. Set questions that require a specific response to weed out applicants who don’t fit the criteria you seek, for example prior customer service experience, ability to operate office equipment or a certain level of education. You don’t have to interview every single person who applies for a job and you don’t have to comb through those applications if they can be screened before you have to start reviewing. Talk about a time saver!
Once you have your application pool narrowed down you want to know who it is you are strongly interested in. You can conduct your interviews and narrow those results further but you don’t want to make a final decision on a candidate without a bit more information. Interviews, resumes and applications can be deceitful. There are people out there who are really good at creating a false personal history and list of accomplishments. Some of them can even interview extremely well but that is all window dressing in many cases. A background check company can dig into a candidate’s history and find out what a candidate may not want you to know. If your store has high turnover and you haven’t been conducting pre-employment screenings you may be experiencing theft and not making the connection. Do your candidates have a criminal past? Have they hopped from job to job but were selective in their work history on their application? Maybe they hid that information for a reason. Find out BEFORE you hire a candidate what their background really contains.
In Part 2 we will continue the conversation about the way employee turnover impacts store shortage. It is important that you understand the value that a background check company can add to your business. Reduce your turnover and in turn reduce your risk of theft, fraud, safety concerns and reduction in team morale.
For more information about a background check company contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
I believe store employee turnover has an impact on store inventory shortage results and I believe a background check company can reduce turnover. This reason I bring this up is a recent conversation I was having with my store manager. We were talking about the articles I write and he asked if I had ever written about this topic. He told me he is a firm believer that when a store has to hire frequently because workers leave that he thinks it can lead to an increase in employee theft. As long as I have been in retail Loss Prevention I have held the same belief. I told him I did think it was interesting that he brought this up since Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. (LPSI) has been actively helping retailers reduce theft through a series of initiatives they now offer. The conduct pre-employment screenings, drug testing and even make the hiring process easier with the Applicant Tracking Center. Yes, I have thought about it as a topic for articles but LPSI thought about it first and made a way for managers to improve the chances of reducing turnover and hiring workers who will help improve profits for the store.
I know there are many reasons people leave companies they work for be it for a better job opportunity or due to frustration with co-workers or poor management. Sometimes people leave their jobs because they are not truly suited to the position. There are also people who leave jobs because they have been stealing and are cutting out before they are caught. If the morale in a store is flagging that falls on the management team to put fixes in place to make the environment more pleasant. If the employees are leaving because they are not suited to the jobs they have been hired to work in then an Applicant Tracking Center may be just what your store needs. Loss Preventions Systems, Inc. (LPSI) can help you streamline your hiring processes by reducing paperwork, paper files and the time it takes to sort through tons of unqualified applications. At the same time they can help you hire better employees who are far less likely to steal or be potential liabilities. The same process can also aid you in reducing the chance of hiring someone who will cause morale issues. A pre-employment screening process can include a background check that can identify candidates with shady work, education or criminal histories. The drug testing can identify applicants who are engaged in the use of illegal drugs and could cause problems in the workplace.
LPSI’s Applicant tracking center can combine all of these functions into one stop and shop location. The center can be used to create application screening questions that can help you save time in sifting through countless job applications. Set questions that require a specific response to weed out applicants who don’t fit the criteria you seek, for example prior customer service experience, ability to operate office equipment or a certain level of education. You don’t have to interview every single person who applies for a job and you don’t have to comb through those applications if they can be screened before you have to start reviewing. Talk about a time saver!
Once you have your application pool narrowed down you want to know who it is you are strongly interested in. You can conduct your interviews and narrow those results further but you don’t want to make a final decision on a candidate without a bit more information. Interviews, resumes and applications can be deceitful. There are people out there who are really good at creating a false personal history and list of accomplishments. Some of them can even interview extremely well but that is all window dressing in many cases. A background check company can dig into a candidate’s history and find out what a candidate may not want you to know. If your store has high turnover and you haven’t been conducting pre-employment screenings you may be experiencing theft and not making the connection. Do your candidates have a criminal past? Have they hopped from job to job but were selective in their work history on their application? Maybe they hid that information for a reason. Find out BEFORE you hire a candidate what their background really contains.
In Part 2 we will continue the conversation about the way employee turnover impacts store shortage. It is important that you understand the value that a background check company can add to your business. Reduce your turnover and in turn reduce your risk of theft, fraud, safety concerns and reduction in team morale.
For more information about a background check company, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
Security Tags On Clothes –3 WC Blog 716
Sensormatic Tags – 3
Don’t Be Detached From Clothing Theft – Use Sensormatic Tags
Do you use security tags on clothes in your store? Are they effective at stopping theft? I ask these questions after reading an article on pjstar.com, “Three suspected shoplifters arrested at J.C. Penney Wednesday” by Leslie Renken, Nov. 15, 2018. She reports that three men were accused of stealing $1,420 worth of athletic clothing. That is no small amount of theft. While that kind of loss by itself may not be a huge blow to a retail chain like Penney’s, it could be a huge blow to a small or medium sized store. Now I have shopped at this chain before and I do know that they use some type of electronic article surveillance tags on some merchandise but I do not know if they are Sensormatic tags or another brand. I also do not know if the items the men were attempting to steal were tagged or not though the article mentions that one of the men appeared to be, “trying to remove the security tab on the bag”. I have no idea what this was in reference to or what the story meant by security tab. What I do know from my many years in Loss Prevention is that the use of anti-theft tags does work. What is not helpful is when shoplifters get a hold of handheld detachers from stores and use them at other locations.
When a retail store arms itself with an electronic article surveillance system (EAS) that business will place security tags on clothes or other merchandise to prevent theft. Tagging may take place in a stockroom or on the salesfloor. The employees doing the tagging should have handheld tag detachers with them while working. There are times when tagging you don’t place a tag on properly or in the wrong location and it needs to be removed and reattached. Having put tags on merchandise myself, I know that errors happen. I have pinned a tag through both sides of a shirt sleeve that would have prevented a customer from trying it on. We used Sensormatic tags on clothing and on comforters to keep people from unzipping a comforter and hiding products inside of them. I would occasionally find a zipper that could be pulled open because another employee did not know how to tag it properly. One way to remove these tags was to gather up all the problem items, take them to the register and detach the tags then attach them properly. The other method was to use a portable detacher and take off the tag where you are working and reattach it. Just from a productivity standpoint this makes more sense than the former. Think about the time it would take to gather up all of those items, go through the steps and then have to restock that merchandise. Portable detachers just make sense to carry when you are protecting goods with an EAS system.
I have found that not all stores do a great job accounting for their security devices. The store may not have a system in place to sign in or out portable detachers and so when a device is misplaced or lost no one realizes it. One feature that makes Sensormatic portable detachers a better choice than some others is that they have internal EAS protection to make them sound the EAS towers if someone tries to steal one. That said let’s face it not all stores do an equally good job at responding to system alarms. Those stores that have not trained their personnel to quickly respond to alarms are the same ones that will probably not be as careful about controlling their detachers. That means there are instances when detachment devices are stolen and may be sold over the internet or used by those persons to shoplift in other stores. This is why even stores that use security tags on clothes need to still train employees on customer service. You never know who is in your store and when customer service is a focus your team will improve sales but also remove opportunity for theft, as we saw in the case above even if the perpetrator has a detachment device.
Sensormatic tags along with a strong customer service culture are a sure means to dramatically reduce shortage. That is why Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. encourages retailers of ALL sizes stop theft through a multi-pronged approach. They support the installation of an EAS system but they also offer manager training to prevent theft, pre-employment drug and background screening and even an Applicant Management Center all of which can aid in improved profits. Find out more about how you can protect your store from clothing theft and other shoplifting and make your business more profitable.
Get more information on Sensormatic tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
Do you use security tags on clothes in your store? Are they effective at stopping theft? I ask these questions after reading an article on pjstar.com, “Three suspected shoplifters arrested at J.C. Penney Wednesday” by Leslie Renken, Nov. 15, 2018. She reports that three men were accused of stealing $1,420 worth of athletic clothing. That is no small amount of theft. While that kind of loss by itself may not be a huge blow to a retail chain like Penney’s, it could be a huge blow to a small or medium sized store. Now I have shopped at this chain before and I do know that they use some type of electronic article surveillance tags on some merchandise but I do not know if they are Sensormatic tags or another brand. I also do not know if the items the men were attempting to steal were tagged or not though the article mentions that one of the men appeared to be, “trying to remove the security tab on the bag”. I have no idea what this was in reference to or what the story meant by security tab. What I do know from my many years in Loss Prevention is that the use of anti-theft tags does work. What is not helpful is when shoplifters get a hold of handheld detachers from stores and use them at other locations.
When a retail store arms itself with an electronic article surveillance system (EAS) that business will place security tags on clothes or other merchandise to prevent theft. Tagging may take place in a stockroom or on the salesfloor. The employees doing the tagging should have handheld tag detachers with them while working. There are times when tagging you don’t place a tag on properly or in the wrong location and it needs to be removed and reattached. Having put tags on merchandise myself, I know that errors happen. I have pinned a tag through both sides of a shirt sleeve that would have prevented a customer from trying it on. We used Sensormatic tags on clothing and on comforters to keep people from unzipping a comforter and hiding products inside of them. I would occasionally find a zipper that could be pulled open because another employee did not know how to tag it properly. One way to remove these tags was to gather up all the problem items, take them to the register and detach the tags then attach them properly. The other method was to use a portable detacher and take off the tag where you are working and reattach it. Just from a productivity standpoint this makes more sense than the former. Think about the time it would take to gather up all of those items, go through the steps and then have to restock that merchandise. Portable detachers just make sense to carry when you are protecting goods with an EAS system.
I have found that not all stores do a great job accounting for their security devices. The store may not have a system in place to sign in or out portable detachers and so when a device is misplaced or lost no one realizes it. Let’s face it not all stores do an equally good job at responding to system alarms. Those stores that have not trained their personnel to quickly respond to alarms are the same ones that will probably not be as careful about controlling their detachers. That means there are instances when detachment devices are stolen and may be sold over the internet or used by those persons to shoplift in other stores. This is why even stores that use security tags on clothes need to still train employees on customer service. You never know who is in your store and when customer service is a focus your team will improve sales but also remove opportunity for theft, as we saw in the case above even if the perpetrator has a detachment device.
Sensormatic tags along with a strong customer service culture are a sure means to dramatically reduce shortage. That is why Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. encourages retailers of ALL sizes stop theft through a multi-pronged approach. They support the installation of an EAS system but they also offer manager training to prevent theft, pre-employment drug and background screening and even an Applicant Management Center all of which can aid in improved profits. Find out more about how you can protect your store from clothing theft and other shoplifting and make your business more profitable.
Get more information on Sensormatic tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
