Clothing Security Tags-5 WC Blog 483
Checkpoint Tags-3
Clothing Security Tags Deter Most Thieves
Clothing security tags are really good at deterring and preventing shoplifting. There are times in the world of Retail Loss Prevention when you see someone steal clothing regardless of whether or not merchandise is tagged. It isn’t too surprising that people will do a lot of dumb things but what can be surprising is who we see stealing and sometimes what people are stealing. Checkpoint tags on clothes are effective but it just so happens there are a few people that don’t worry themselves over them. I want to share about two such shoplifters I dealt with in my Loss Prevention Career.
I should take a break from my story about odd shoplifters I have encountered and discuss what clothing security tags are. These aren’t the clothing hang tags from the manufacturer (although soft Checkpoint tags can be embedded in them) I am referring to a hard tag that is attached to a garment. These tags are placed in a prominent location on a clothing item and most of the time will deter a criminal who sees them. The tags are nearly impossible to remove from clothing without damaging the product. When clothes are damaged it renders it useless to the criminal. The tags also have the ability to activate Checkpoint pedestals when carried too close to them. Even when concealed in a bag or being worn by a would-be thief merchandise that is tagged sets off an alarm and lights in a pedestal. Associates respond, conduct receipt checks and using training they have received recover merchandise. So, deterrence and detection can save a store a vast amount of money in reduced shortage.
But like I was alluding to in the beginning of my article not everyone is necessarily concerned about clothing security tags or even Retail Loss Prevention people for that matter. These can turn into odd shoplifting cases. One case I had was as a Loss Prevention Associate in a department store. It was a slow night and I was in the camera room looking for activity. I noticed an older woman walking through departments and she seemed to be browsing. I casually observed her since there was no other activity and she had a large purse in her shopping cart. I thought I noticed her pick up an item without paying much attention to it and place it in her purse. I admit I was shocked as this woman could have been my grandmother! A few more minutes and she did it again. I reviewed my videotape to be sure I saw what I thought I saw. Sure enough she had concealed the item. At that time our store did not use clothing security tags on everything so I was not sure she would set off any alarms when she would eventually leave. Eventually my 72 year old shopper did leave the store without paying for the merchandise. I did stop her and contacted the police. She was released by them to her husband who apparently had to deal with this on a regular basis.
Another odd shoplifter I encountered was when I was a Loss Prevention Manager. I had a male shopper in our lingerie department. I had other experiences like this that were less than pleasant to deal with. The guy was standing behind fixtures and appeared to be looking at female shoppers nearby. I began watching him anticipating that I would have to go and intervene. It wasn’t long before I saw him pick up a piece of lingerie and hide it under his shirt. That was NOT what I was expecting. A few more lingerie items were concealed and he walked towards the doors. In this instance one or more of the items had Checkpoint tags on them and the pedestals alarmed as I stopped him. We returned to the security office and I recovered the merchandise from the blushing blunderer. I’m still not sure if he was blushing for being caught or for what he was stealing. He did get a one-way ride to the city jail where he could share his exploits with the fellas.
Clothing security tags are an effective means of preventing theft and deterring crime. Two things must be remembered. The best protection is when everything is tagged and when you understand that there are a few people who will disregard those tags and steal anyways. Be ready to respond to pedestal alarms and don’t be shocked if it turns out to be someone’s grandmother who is trying to rip you off.
Clothing security tags are important and we can help you with them. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
Clothing security tags are really good at deterring and preventing shoplifting. There are times in the world of Retail Loss Prevention when you see someone steal clothing regardless of whether or not merchandise is tagged. It isn’t too surprising that people will do a lot of dumb things but what can be surprising is who we see stealing and sometimes what people are stealing. Checkpoint tags on clothes are effective but it just so happens there are a few people that don’t worry themselves over them. I want to share about two such shoplifters I dealt with in my Loss Prevention Career.
I should take a break from my story about odd shoplifters I have encountered and discuss what clothing security tags are. These aren’t the clothing hang tags from the manufacturer (although soft Checkpoint tags can be embedded in them) I am referring to a hard tag that is attached to a garment. These tags are placed in a prominent location on a clothing item and most of the time will deter a criminal who sees them. The tags are nearly impossible to remove from clothing without damaging the product. When clothes are damaged it renders it useless to the criminal. The tags also have the ability to activate Checkpoint pedestals when carried too close to them. Even when concealed in a bag or being worn by a would-be thief merchandise that is tagged sets off an alarm and lights in a pedestal. Associates respond, conduct receipt checks and using training they have received recover merchandise. So, deterrence and detection can save a store a vast amount of money in reduced shortage.
But like I was alluding to in the beginning of my article not everyone is necessarily concerned about clothing security tags or even Retail Loss Prevention people for that matter. These can turn into odd shoplifting cases. One case I had was as a Loss Prevention Associate in a department store. It was a slow night and I was in the camera room looking for activity. I noticed an older woman walking through departments and she seemed to be browsing. I casually observed her since there was no other activity and she had a large purse in her shopping cart. I thought I noticed her pick up an item without paying much attention to it and place it in her purse. I admit I was shocked as this woman could have been my grandmother! A few more minutes and she did it again. I reviewed my videotape to be sure I saw what I thought I saw. Sure enough she had concealed the item. At that time our store did not use clothing security tags on everything so I was not sure she would set off any alarms when she would eventually leave. Eventually my 72 year old shopper did leave the store without paying for the merchandise. I did stop her and contacted the police. She was released by them to her husband who apparently had to deal with this on a regular basis.
Another odd shoplifter I encountered was when I was a Loss Prevention Manager. I had a male shopper in our lingerie department. I had other experiences like this that were less than pleasant to deal with. The guy was standing behind fixtures and appeared to be looking at female shoppers nearby. I began watching him anticipating that I would have to go and intervene. It wasn’t long before I saw him pick up a piece of lingerie and hide it under his shirt. That was NOT what I was expecting. A few more lingerie items were concealed and he walked towards the doors. In this instance one or more of the items had Checkpoint tags on them and the pedestals alarmed as I stopped him. We returned to the security office and I recovered the merchandise from the blushing blunderer. I’m still not sure if he was blushing for being caught or for what he was stealing. He did get a one-way ride to the city jail where he could share his exploits with the fellas.
Clothing security tags are an effective means of preventing theft and deterring crime. Two things must be remembered. The best protection is when everything is tagged and when you understand that there are a few people who will disregard those tags and steal anyways. Be ready to respond to pedestal alarms and don’t be shocked if it turns out to be someone’s grandmother who is trying to rip you off.
Clothing security tags are important and we can help you with them. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
