We’re now in a new fiscal year, and what that means for most of us is that changes are coming. What it also means for me is that I have to hear that silly word, “fiscal” used over and over again. Usually at this time of the year, we are able to look back at the previous year’s data and analyze what we did right, and what we can improve upon. Whether you have a liquor store, or a larger store that carries only a small selection of alcoholic products, you may be scared to look, but it’s time to check out what losses occurred and what measures you took last year reduced your loss and increased your profit. This is your chance to see if the investments you made in bottle security products actually paid off.
Don’t get too overwhelmed by the mountains of data that you may have to read over and come up with new plans of action for different areas of the business. Start off with the top five or ten items and go from there, because if you make a huge list, your focus becomes more widespread and you are defeating the entire purpose of the process. Compare your sales from last year to sales from the previous year, then look at your shrink or loss from the same years to find out what percentage of loss you have compared to the sales. After that, list your top losses and see how the bottle locks or other merchandise protection devices you purchased affected your loss in the areas you used them on the products.
You may be surprised, or even excited by the numbers you see in front of you. The loss associated with the bottles you protected with bottle locks may have significantly been reduced. If this is the case, you can choose to keep that plan in place or even increase your bottle security measures on other lower cost items. It really just depends on what your numbers show you, and if you personally observed the devices at work throughout the year. On the other hand, if you look at the numbers and see that the theft has increased or stayed the same, you may want to check out other options like locking up some of the more expensive items in a locked showcase.
Although that may seem like a drastic measure, it will almost definitely stop theft of the items, while it still allows customers to see the merchandise displayed inside the glass case or cage. If this seems like too severe of a change for your situation, you can try to use different types of bottle locks. There are several different options available, so if you were using a certain type of device in the past, you may want to try an EASy bottle guard instead.
The fact is, you need to do whatever you can to stop your loss from growing if you plan on staying in business for years to come. If you’re not taking advantage of this opportunity to look at the data and make needed changes to your business, you’re missing out on valuable information that could save you tons of money. You’re just helping the shoplifters out and hurting yourself. It doesn’t take a lot of time to sit down and look at the numbers and see where improvements need to be implemented.
For more information contact us: (bottle security) or call 1.770.426.0547
We’re now in a new fiscal year, and what that means for most of us is that changes are coming. What it also means for me is that I have to hear that silly word, “fiscal” used over and over again. Usually at this time of the year, we are able to look back at the previous year’s data and analyze what we did right, and what we can improve upon. Whether you have a liquor store, or a larger store that carries only a small selection of alcoholic products, you may be scared to look, but it’s time to check out what losses occurred and what measures you took last year reduced your loss and increased your profit. This is your chance to see if the investments you made in bottle security products actually paid off.
Don’t get too overwhelmed by the mountains of data that you may have to read over and come up with new plans of action for different areas of the business. Start off with the top five or ten items and go from there, because if you make a huge list, your focus becomes more widespread and you are defeating the entire purpose of the process. Compare your sales from last year to sales from the previous year, then look at your shrink or loss from the same years to find out what percentage of loss you have compared to the sales. After that, list your top losses and see how the Bottle Locks or other merchandise protection devices you purchased affected your loss in the areas you used them on the products.
You may be surprised, or even excited by the numbers you see in front of you. The loss associated with the bottles you protected with Bottle Loks may have significantly been reduced. If this is the case, you can choose to keep that plan in place or even increase your bottle security measures on other lower cost items. It really just depends on what your numbers show you, and if you personally observed the devices at work throughout the year. On the other hand, if you look at the numbers and see that the theft has increased or stayed the same, you may want to check out other options like locking up some of the more expensive items in a locked showcase.
Although that may seem like a drastic measure, it will almost definitely stop theft of the items, while it still allows customers to see the merchandise displayed inside the glass case or cage. If this seems like too severe of a change for your situation, you can try to use different types of bottle locks. There are several different options available, so if you were using a certain type of device in the past, you may want to try an EASy bottle guard instead.
The fact is, you need to do whatever you can to stop your loss from growing if you plan on staying in business for years to come. If you’re not taking advantage of this opportunity to look at the data and make needed changes to your business, you’re missing out on valuable information that could save you tons of money. You’re just helping the shoplifters out and hurting yourself. It doesn’t take a lot of time to sit down and look at the numbers and see where improvements need to be implemented.
For more information contact us: Bottle Security or call 1.770.426.0547
In the convenience store business there is generally only one clerk on duty at most times, day or night. This gives shoplifters the advantage because the employee is confined to the area behind the counter in order to keep an eye on the register. It is time to give some inventory control back to these employees, and your business can do that with the help of the new Checkpoint N10. This new model is perfect for the compact sales floor and valuable space in a convenience store.
Whether it is a planned theft or an impulse idea, there is a definite need for theft deterrence in this business. In today’s world there is little profit in the selling of gasoline. The real money is made when customers come inside and buy food, sodas, beer, and gadgets. Unfortunately, when you have a lot of customers in the store at once, the clerk is preoccupied at the counter, and there is no one to oversee the sales floor or the walk-in cooler. That is where the Checkpoint N10 can help out. It is a visible and recognizable system, designed smaller, but still as powerful for theft detection.
I know a lot of people that have either worked or been supervisors in this businesses. My assistant manager, my current boss, and my cousin all responded to my questions of what are the actual targets for theft in this environment. All three gave me the exact same answers! Obviously, beer is the number one problem. Especially in locations with walk-in coolers, there is rampant beer theft, mostly people stealing single bottles by concealing them in their clothing. Beef jerky is also a huge problem. I work for a small retail pharmacy and we have a lot of beef jerky theft too. It sounds crazy, but it is an expensive snack. The good news is these items can be tagged so the Checkpoint N10 can detect if someone gets too close to the door with unpaid merchandise.
The other top items on the list was medications and condoms. Many stores choose to keep these behind the counter. Studies show, however, that customers do not like to have to ask for items; they would rather be able to look at them, pick them up, and choose what they want. The store will ultimately lose sales in either situation, if the items are left out unprotected or if they are kept behind the checkout. Gadgets, like phone chargers and cases, are now popular items for thieves as well. Again, these items can be easily tagged with Checkpoint Labels.
The labels and the system serve as excellent deterrents for impulse theft. Most people don’t come in with the intent to steal. The see a line of people waiting, the see the opportunity, and they make the split second decision to give it a try. Checkpoint N10 can help change their minds and stop the thefts.
For more information contact us: 1.770.426.0547 or Antishoplifting.net
In the convenience store business there is generally only one clerk on duty at most times, day or night. This gives shoplifters the advantage because the employee is confined to the area behind the counter in order to keep an eye on the register. It is time to give some inventory control back to these employees, and your business can do that with the help of the new Checkpoint N10. This new model is perfect for the compact sales floor and valuable space in a convenience store.
Whether it is a planned theft or an impulse idea, there is a definite need for theft deterrence in this business. In today’s world there is little profit in the selling of gasoline. The real money is made when customers come inside and buy food, sodas, beer, and gadgets. Unfortunately, when you have a lot of customers in the store at once, the clerk is preoccupied at the counter, and there is no one to oversee the sales floor or the walk-in cooler. That is where the Checkpoint N10 can help out. It is a visible and recognizable system, designed smaller, but still as powerful for theft detection.
I know a lot of people that have either worked orhave been supervisors in this businesses. My assistant manager, my current boss, and my cousin all responded to my questions of what are the actual targets for theft in this environment. All three gave me the exact same answers! Obviously, beer is the number one problem. Especially in locations with walk-in coolers, there is rampant beer theft, mostly people stealing single bottles by concealing them in their clothing. Beef jerky is also a huge problem. I work for a small retail pharmacy and we have a lot of beef jerky theft too. It sounds crazy, but it is an expensive snack. The good news is these items can be tagged so the Checkpoint N10 can detect if someone gets too close to the door with unpaid merchandise.
The other top items on the list was medications and condoms. Many stores choose to keep these behind the counter. Studies show, however, that customers do not like to have to ask for items; they would rather be able to look at them, pick them up, and choose what they want. The store will ultimately lose sales in either situation, if the items are left out unprotected or if they are kept behind the checkout. Gadgets, like phone chargers and cases, are now popular items for thieves as well. Again, these items can be easily tagged with Checkpoint Labels.
The labels and the system serve as excellent deterrents for impulse theft. Most people don’t come in with the intent to steal. They see a line of people waiting, they see the opportunity, and they make the split second decision to give it a try. Checkpoint N10 can help change their minds and stop the thefts.
For more information contact us at Antishoplifting.net or call 1.770.426.0547
Larger, multi-location companies have the advantage of being able to communicate between their different store locations to share shoplifter intelligence. With small businesses, it is a little more difficult because you either have one location, or your stores are not usually as geographically close together. This is where networking comes into play, and is an important tool for your business’s arsenal of anti-shoplifting measures. If you don’t have other nearby locations in your company, you need to reach out to other businesses, even if some of the other businesses are competitors. If shoplifters are stealing from your store, it is a safe bet that they are also targeting nearby businesses. Staying in touch with neighboring business is a must when trying to stop shoplifting in your community.
Why should you share intelligence with a competitor? Because in the war on shoplifting, we are on the same team. Small businesses need to stand together to make more of an effort to work together to stop shoplifting. If you communicate information about a specific shoplifter that has been affecting your store, and the shoplifter is apprehended at your competitor’s store, who wins? The answer is everyone, well except for the shoplifter, of course. The shoplifter is no longer affecting either one of your stores either way.
It’s a good idea to get together every so often and have a meeting with other businesses in the community. Also invite your local law enforcement agency, which will most likely send someone to attend and speak at the event. You would be surprised with the amount of information you will gain from these meetings. You will get a different perspective on what other businesses are doing in regard to anti-shoplifting strategies or devices they may be using. You may also realize that you share some of the same shoplifters. For example, if you have identified a thief that consistently steals from your store at around 3pm on Wednesdays, and then hits another business at around 4pm, you have developed a pattern. This is powerful information that can be used to catch the shoplifter. Even if you attempt to stop the thief at your store and they get away, you know the next place they may be heading, so this can be shared with the other store and law enforcement.
Keeping a good working relationship with area businesses is always beneficial, even if your contact at the other business moves on, they can pass your information on to their replacement and let them know how helpful you have been to them. Remember, the idea and common goal is retail theft prevention. You want to make as much of an impact on theft in your area as possible, so the more partners you have, the easier it will be to catch the shoplifters. On many occasions, I have had other retailers contact me and tell me that they just caught a shoplifter, and the thief also had merchandise from my store in their possession. In some of those cases, our store wasn’t even aware that a theft had occurred. If I wasn’t in contact with the other retailers, there is no telling what would have happened to the merchandise. Communication is key when trying to accomplish any goal, and trying to stop shoplifting in your community is a big goal, so why attempt to do it by yourself?
For more information contact us: (stop shoplifting) or call 1.770.426.0547
Larger, multi-location companies have the advantage of being able to communicate between their different store locations to share shoplifter intelligence. With small businesses, it is a little more difficult because you either have one location, or your stores are not usually as geographically close together. This is where networking comes into play, and is an important tool for your business’s arsenal of anti-shoplifting measures. If you don’t have other nearby locations in your company, you need to reach out to other businesses, even if some of the other businesses are competitors. If shoplifters are stealing from your store, it is a safe bet that they are also targeting nearby businesses. Staying in touch with neighboring business is a must when trying to stop shoplifting in your community.
Why should you share intelligence with a competitor? Because in the war on shoplifting, we are on the same team. Small businesses need to stand together to make more of an effort to work together to stop shoplifting. If you communicate information about a specific shoplifter that has been affecting your store, and the shoplifter is apprehended at your competitor’s store, who wins? The answer is everyone, well except for the shoplifter, of course. The shoplifter is no longer affecting either one of your stores either way.
It’s a good idea to get together every so often and have a meeting with other businesses in the community. Also invite your local law enforcement agency, which will most likely send someone to attend and speak at the event. You would be surprised with the amount of information you will gain from these meetings. You will get a different perspective on what other businesses are doing in regard to anti-shoplifting strategies or devices they may be using. You may also realize that you share some of the same shoplifters. For example, if you have identified a thief that consistently steals from your store at around 3pm on Wednesdays, and then hits another business at around 4pm, you have developed a pattern. This is powerful information that can be used to catch the shoplifter. Even if you attempt to stop the thief at your store and they get away, you know the next place they may be heading, so this can be shared with the other store and law enforcement.
Keeping a good working relationship with area businesses is always beneficial, even if your contact at the other business moves on, they can pass your information on to their replacement and let them know how helpful you have been to them. Remember, the idea and common goal is retail theft prevention. You want to make as much of an impact on theft in your area as possible, so the more partners you have, the easier it will be to catch the shoplifters. On many occasions, I have had other retailers contact me and tell me that they just caught a shoplifter, and the thief also had merchandise from my store in their possession. In some of those cases, our store wasn’t even aware that a theft had occurred. If I wasn’t in contact with the other retailers, there is no telling what would have happened to the merchandise. Communication is key when trying to accomplish any goal, and trying to stop shoplifting in your community is a big goal, so why attempt to do it by yourself?
For more information contact us: Stop Shoplifting or call 1.770.426.0547
You read an article on a shoplifting ring that has just stolen $10k worth of electronics from a store. Chances are, you don’t think twice. It’s common. Shoplifting happens every single day, so this is no different. The next day, maybe you see an article where a guy got busted at a local grocery store shoplifting steaks. Chances are, if you’re like me, it invoked a stronger reaction. More on the lines of “I can’t afford to eat steak every night and I HAVE a job!” You don’t have that new electronic device that was stolen yesterday, and yet you still go to work every morning. Why do we have such different reactions to someone stealing meat?
People spend a lot of money at the grocery store, and most folks visit them more often than any other type of retailer. Think about how many times you are in the supermarket every week. Probably more than twice. Since I travel so often, I don’t buy a lot of food at once. I’ll buy just enough to get me through a couple days so nothing spoils. So if I, the legitimate shopper am spending money daily, one could assume that shoplifters are in just as frequently. So on top of ever approaching expiration dates, thin margins, employee theft and a myriad of other sources of loss, I ask again, why is meat theft gaining so much attention? I think it has to everything to do with the perception of the shoplifter. Shoplifting can be a source of shame, and the shoplifter is most often cast in this light and is thus looked down upon; someone below the normal everyday man. So when a prime cut of meat (which is reserved for those who can afford it) is stolen, we think on some level how unfair it is for this person, who doesn’t deserve to eat this, to simply steal it. Why can’t they get a job and pay for that meat?
You are in business to make money. One way you accomplish this is by keeping your prices competitive. In today’s retail climate, customer’s want a bargain, so if they can get that same cut of ham down the road for $.25 less, chances are they will. One way to keep your prices low is to stop meat theft. Grocers nationwide are seeing this trend and it will no doubt grow unless you do something about it. People steal from the grocery store because they are seen as an easy target. Most family run shops lack even the most basic physical security controls and I’ve never run across an LP team at one, either. You have options, though.
First, if you’re not already reaping the benefits of a checkpoint system, I would encourage you to look into them. If you already have one, great. Checkpoint makes an entire line of labels specifically designed for consumable product, such as steak, cheese and other high end cuts. These give you the security you need to minimize shrink and the peace of mind knowing it is 100% safe for your customers. Meat theft will be, in my opinion, a very fast growing theft trend that will plague retailers that don’t take the appropriate steps to secure their inventory. In fact, I saw this first hand just a few days ago at my local grocer. That story and a little more can be found in part three of my series on Meat Theft.
For more information, contact us: Grocery Store Meat Theft, or call 1.770.426.0547
You read an article on a shoplifting ring that has just stolen $10k worth of electronics from a store. Chances are, you don’t think twice. It’s common. Shoplifting happens every single day, so this is no different. The next day, maybe you see an article where a guy got busted at a local grocery store shoplifting steaks. Chances are, if you’re like me, it invoked a stronger reaction. More on the lines of “I can’t afford to eat steak every night and I HAVE a job!” You don’t have that new electronic device that was stolen yesterday, and yet you still go to work every morning. Why do we have such different reactions to someone stealing meat?
People spend a lot of money at the grocery store, and most folks visit them more often than any other type of retailer. Think about how many times you are in the supermarket every week. Probably more than twice. Since I travel so often, I don’t buy a lot of food at once. I’ll buy just enough to get me through a couple days so nothing spoils. So if I, the legitimate shopper am spending money daily, one could assume that shoplifters are in just as frequently. So on top of ever approaching expiration dates, thin margins, employee theft and a myriad of other sources of loss, I ask again, why is shoplifting steaks gaining so much attention? I think it has everything to do with the perception of the shoplifter. Shoplifting can be a source of shame, and the shoplifter is most often cast in this light and is thus looked down upon; someone below the normal everyday man. So when a prime cut of meat (which is reserved for those who can afford it) is stolen, we think on some level how unfair it is for this person, who doesn’t deserve to eat this, to simply steal it. Why can’t they get a job and pay for that meat?
You are in business to make money. One way you accomplish this is by keeping your prices competitive. In today’s retail climate, customer’s want a bargain, so if they can get that same cut of ham down the road for $.25 less, chances are they will. One way to keep your prices low is to stop theives from shoplifting steaks. Grocers nationwide are seeing this trend and it will no doubt grow unless you do something about it. People steal from the grocery store because they are seen as an easy target. Most family run shops lack even the most basic physical security controls and I’ve never run across an LP team at one, either. You have options, though.
First, if you’re not already reaping the benefits of a Checkpoint System, I would encourage you to look into them. If you already have one, great. Checkpoint makes an entire line of labels specifically designed for consumable product, such as steak, cheese and other high end cuts. These give you the security you need to minimize shrink and the peace of mind knowing it is 100% safe for your customers. Meat theft will be, in my opinion, a very fast growing theft trend that will plague retailers that don’t take the appropriate steps to secure their inventory. In fact, I saw this first hand just a few days ago at my local grocer. That story and a little more can be found in part three of my series on Meat Theft.
For more information, contact us: Grocery Store Meat Theft, or call 1.770.426.0547
My job is great. I get to work for a pretty awesome company, play with cool stuff and most importantly, I get to throw bad guys in jail. I work LP for a small sporting goods store and I can assure you that there is never a dull moment. I’m not a golfer, but I do enjoy the sport. I also like the technology behind the clubs. So naturally, this section of the store is where I tend to gravitate when I have a little down time. It’s also an area where a shoplifter can make off with a good chunk of money.
I found myself in the store early one Saturday morning before heading to the lake. I was off, and needed a few supplies and of course, drifting to the golf section. Some new drivers had just come in and I was talking to the golf manager as he was putting Alpha O-Tags onto them before putting them on display. We talked for a bit and he walked off, leaving me and an older woman in the golf section. She was a very dignified woman, with a long flowing sundress. She looked as if she were about to enjoy the sunny weekend just as I was.
As I was swinging one of those new drives, she came up with one of her own and asked very confused, as to what the item was on the shaft of the club. It was of course the Alpha O-Tag. I explained it was a store security device and she seemed content with that and walked shrugged her shoulder. She said her husband wanted that club and today was his birthday, but she lamented at the price. I told her he’d be lucky to get that as a gift, especially if he was an avid golfer. We talked for a bit more before I left the area. I needed to grab one more thing from the camping section and I was off to the lake. I grabbed my mosquito spray and headed to the register.
As luck would have it, I was in line behind the lady whom I had spoken to earlier. She had in her hand that expensive driver that her husband wanted, and I thought how great it must be to have a wife ☺. The cashier rang the item and then removed the Alpha O-Tag. I wasn’t paying that much attention, but thought I heard the cashier only charge her $20. As the lady walked away, I asked the cashier and she confirmed what I had thought I heard. This lady, whom I would never expect to commit a crime, was now walking out of my store with a $600 golf club that she paid a mere $20 for. I ran from the register and stopped her before she left out. The cameras showed her switching the price tags, and due to the in-attentive cashier, she was almost able to get away with it. One thing is for sure though, I guarantee that won’t be a birthday present her husband won’t soon forget!
For more information, contact us: O-Tags, or call 1.770.426.0547
My job is great. I get to work for a pretty awesome company, play with cool stuff and most importantly, I get to throw bad guys in jail. I work LP for a small sporting goods store and I can assure you that there is never a dull moment. I’m not a golfer, but I do enjoy the sport. I also like the technology behind the clubs. So naturally, this section of the store is where I tend to gravitate when I have a little down time. It’s also an area where a shoplifter can make off with a good chunk of money.
I found myself in the store early one Saturday morning before heading to the lake. I was off, and needed a few supplies and of course, drifting to the golf section. Some new drivers had just come in and I was talking to the golf manager as he was putting Alpha O-Tags onto them before putting them on display. We talked for a bit and he walked off, leaving me and an older woman in the golf section. She was a very dignified woman, with a long flowing sundress. She looked as if she were about to enjoy the sunny weekend just as I was.
As I was swinging one of those new drivers, she came up with one of her own and asked very confused, as to what the item was on the shaft of the club. It was of course the Alpha O-Tag. I explained it was a store security device and she seemed content with that and shrugged her shoulders. She said her husband wanted that club and today was his birthday, but she lamented at the price. I told her he’d be lucky to get that as a gift, especially if he was an avid golfer. We talked for a bit more before I left the area. I needed to grab one more thing from the camping section and I was off to the lake. I grabbed my mosquito spray and headed to the register.
As luck would have it, I was in line behind the lady whom I had spoken to earlier. She had in her hand that expensive driver that her husband wanted, and I thought how great it must be to have a wife. The cashier rang the item and then removed the Alpha O-Tag. I wasn’t paying that much attention, but thought I heard the cashier only charge her $20. As the lady walked away, I asked the cashier and she confirmed what I had thought I heard. This lady, whom I would never expect to commit a crime, was now walking out of my store with a $600 golf club that she paid a mere $20 for. I ran from the register and stopped her before she left out. The cameras showed her switching the price tags, and due to the in-attentive cashier, she was almost able to get away with it. One thing is for sure though, I guarantee that won’t be a birthday present her husband won’t soon forget!
For more information, contact us at losspreventionsystems.com, or call 1.770.426.0547
You can basically put shoplifters into two specific groups. One is the professional that steals for a living. They have things planned out ahead of time, and they know more about your store than you think. They typically know when you have the least number of employees in the store, when you are busiest and most distracted, and when you get deliveries. The other group holds the non-professionals. This category consists of the thrill seekers and the opportunists. In order to Prevent Shoplifting Loss, you should have a plan to deal with both groups.
In reality, professionals are harder to stop. They come infrequently and they are highly aware of their surroundings. They can be bold, or spooked easily, so their erratic behaviors when they think they are about to be caught can make them dangerous. In my experiences through the years, I have found it best to be proactive with the pro. Plan ahead, get product protection in place, and make eye contact with every person that comes through your door. When it comes to the professional thief, deterrence is the key.
The non-professional shoplifter can actually be the biggest detriment to your bottom line. They do not fit into any set mold. They can be male or female, young or old, rich or poor, and they can be of any ethnicity. Prevent Shoplifting Loss by keeping an open mind and know that even your most regular customer may steal from you.
There are a number of reasons a non-pro will steal. It could be a teenager or doing it on a dare. It could be someone unemployed that has a need and can’t pay. It could be a little old lady that thinks your prices are too high. It could be any man or woman that sees something they want, but simply doesn’t want to pay for it. The point is, there are people that steal just because the merchandise and the opportunity is there at the right time.
The good news is there are some behaviors you can look for that may help identify someone stealing or just considering it. It sounds crazy, but it can work. Humans naturally do not want to get caught. A non-professional thief can exhibit certain behaviors that give them away. They will typically be looking around to see where the employees are, quickly looking back down at the merchandise, then back up again. If an employee approaches, they are likely to become very talkative and over-friendly. If you pay close attention, you can see their autonomic nervous system telling on them. Their pulse may be visible in their throat, they may begin to perspire, and their general movements can become shaky. If they know you are watching them, many times they will begin to pick up random items from the shelf and put them right back down.
I have caught a little old lady stealing hair notions. When I approached her at the door, she came back and paid with a large bill. I have caught three young kids stealing condoms; they cried like babies when I asked for their parents’ phone numbers. I caught a middle aged woman with a purse full of beef jerky and fake nails, and I’ll never forget the young man stealing kid’s cough medicine.
They either felt entitled, did it for the “fun” of it, just wanted the stuff for free, or had a perceived need. They were all caught red-handed because of their behaviors. It wasn’t their age, their skin color, and certainly not because of the clothes they were wearing. Prevent Shoplifting Loss with a clear mind, and open eyes.
For more information contact us: Preventshopliftingloss.net or call 1.770.426.0547
You can basically put shoplifters into two specific groups. One is the professional that steals for a living. They have things planned out ahead of time, and they know more about your store than you think. They typically know when you have the least number of employees in the store, when you are busiest and most distracted, and when you get deliveries. The other group are the non-professionals. This category consists of the thrill seekers and the opportunists. In order to Prevent Shoplifting Loss, you should have a plan to deal with both groups.
In reality, professionals are harder to stop. They come in frequently and they are highly aware of their surroundings. They can be bold, or spooked easily, so their erratic behaviors when they think they are about to be caught can make them dangerous. In my experiences through the years, I have found it best to be proactive with the pro. Plan ahead, get product protection in place, and make eye contact with every person that comes through your door. When it comes to the professional thief, deterrence is the key.
The non-professional shoplifter can actually be the biggest detriment to your bottom line. They do not fit into any set mold. They can be male or female, young or old, rich or poor, and they can be of any ethnicity. Prevent Shoplifting Loss by keeping an open mind and know that even your most regular customer may steal from you.
There are a number of reasons a non-pro will steal. It could be a teenager doing it on a dare. It could be someone unemployed that has a need and can’t pay. It could be a little old lady that thinks your prices are too high. It could be any man or woman that sees something they want, but simply doesn’t want to pay for it. The point is, there are people that steal just because the merchandise and the opportunity are there at the right time.
The good news is there are some behaviors you can look for that may help identify someone stealing or just considering it. It sounds crazy, but it can work. Humans naturally do not want to get caught. A non-professional thief can exhibit certain behaviors that give them away. They will typically be looking around to see where the employees are, quickly looking back down at the merchandise, then back up again. If an employee approaches, they are likely to become very talkative and over-friendly. If you pay close attention, you can see their autonomic nervous system telling on them. Their pulse may be visible in their throat, they may begin to perspire, and their general movements can become shaky. If they know you are watching them, many times they will begin to pick up random items from the shelf and put them right back down.
I have caught a little old lady stealing hair potions. When I approached her at the door, she came back and paid with a large bill. I have caught three young kids stealing condoms; they cried like babies when I asked for their parents’ phone numbers. I caught a middle aged woman with a purse full of beef jerky and fake nails, and I’ll never forget the young man stealing kid’s cough medicine.
They either felt entitled, did it for the “fun” of it, just wanted the stuff for free, or had a perceived need. They were all caught red-handed because of their behaviors. It wasn’t their age, their skin color, and certainly not because of the clothes they were wearing. Prevent Shoplifting Loss with a clear mind, and open eyes.
For more information contact us: Preventshopliftingloss.net or call 1.770.426.0547
