Checkpoint Systems-3 WC blog 99
Checkpoint Tags -4
Retail Theft Prevention-3
Preventing Theft With Checkpoint Systems Part 2
In the first part of this series I introduced you to Checkpoint systems and some of the benefits it can offer a retail business owner or manager. I discussed the value of electronic article surveillance (EAS) antennas and the importance of having them protecting all building entry and exit points. I also pointed out that there are a variety of antennas and how there are different sizes and styles to suit the needs of different buildings. In this article, I would like to talk about another important part of a Checkpoint security system and that is the Checkpoint tags.
Checkpoint tags are retail theft prevention devices that attach to clothing, hardline merchandise and can even be placed in food packaging. The tags are designed to activate an EAS antenna alarm if it is in the frequency field of the antennas. Tags may come in a hard tag style or a soft label, depending on the type of merchandise your stores carry. Hard tags are reusable, so once removed at the checkout station, they are stored until ready to be placed on new merchandise.
Checkpoint tags work using radio frequency readings between the EAS antennas and the tags themselves. One of the benefits of a radio frequency system over other systems according to two sources I researched is that radio frequency systems tend to have a less expensive infrastructure and have lower tag costs. Checkpoint systems are also energy efficient and cost less to operate than other systems. One other factor to consider is that many items are source tagged by the vendor so tags are already concealed within the packaging. Some razor blade packages for example come already tagged where the customer won’t see it (neither will the shoplifter). Medicines, fragrances, dvd’s and cd’s are frequently source tagged by the vendors.
As a retail theft prevention tool, Checkpoint tags provide a visual deterrent to shoplifters. Hard tags, if placed properly on merchandise are highly visible. Whether the potential criminal is sorting through clothing or looking at hardware to steal, when they notice that merchandise has a protective tag on it they tend to move on to other areas of the store, or they simply leave. I did say the tags have to be properly placed. I have seen situations where a store manager did not want to detract from the ‘appearance’ of clothing so they wanted the placement of tags to be more discreet, for example inside a sweater sleeve near the cuff. Visibility is a key function of these devices so keep them where they can be seen. The practical function of hard tags is that they do activate EAS alarms when they are brought within range of the antennas located at entrances. Even when merchandise is concealed in a bag, purse or backpack, if it has a soft label or the hard tag on it, the EAS alarm sounds and lights built in the antenna flash. Store personnel can respond and determine the cause of the alarm and recover merchandise that otherwise would have been a loss. From my own experiences in Loss Prevention, I have worked in stores with Checkpoint systems and I have seen many merchandise recoveries due to EAS alarm activations. In many instances shoplifters simply got scared and dropped stolen merchandise rather than risk being caught with it on their person.
Retail theft prevention does not need to be complicated when Checkpoint systems are employed in your store. Checkpoint tags and labels on all of your merchandise, whatever you may sell, will deter theft and improve your in stocks and profits.
For more information on Checkpoint tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
In the first part of this series I introduced you to Checkpoint systems and some of the benefits it can offer a retail business owner or manager. I discussed the value of electronic article surveillance (EAS) antennas and the importance of having them protecting all building entry and exit points. I also pointed out that there are a variety of antennas and how there are different sizes and styles to suit the needs of different buildings. In this article, I would like to talk about another important part of a Checkpoint security system and that is the Checkpoint tags.
Checkpoint tags are retail theft prevention devices that attach to clothing, hardline merchandise and can even be placed in food packaging. The tags are designed to activate an EAS antenna alarm if it is in the frequency field of the antennas. Tags may come in a hard tag style or a soft label, depending on the type of merchandise your stores carry. Hard tags are reusable, so once removed at the checkout station, they are stored until ready to be placed on new merchandise.
Checkpoint tags work using radio frequency readings between the EAS antennas and the tags themselves. One of the benefits of a radio frequency system over other systems according to two sources I researched is that radio frequency systems tend to have a less expensive infrastructure and have lower tag costs. Checkpoint systems are also energy efficient and cost less to operate than other systems. One other factor to consider is that many items are source tagged by the vendor so tags are already concealed within the packaging. Some razor blade packages for example come already tagged where the customer won’t see it (neither will the shoplifter). Medicines, fragrances, dvd’s and cd’s are frequently source tagged by the vendors.
As a retail theft prevention tool, Checkpoint tags provide a visual deterrent to shoplifters. Hard tags, if placed properly on merchandise are highly visible. Whether the potential criminal is sorting through clothing or looking at hardware to steal, when they notice that merchandise has a protective tag on it they tend to move on to other areas of the store, or they simply leave. I did say the tags have to be properly placed. I have seen situations where a store manager did not want to detract from the ‘appearance’ of clothing so they wanted the placement of tags to be more discreet, for example inside a sweater sleeve near the cuff. Visibility is a key function of these devices so keep them where they can be seen. The practical function of hard tags is that they do activate EAS alarms when they are brought within range of the antennas located at entrances. Even when merchandise is concealed in a bag, purse or backpack, if it has a soft label or the hard tag on it, the EAS alarm sounds and lights built in the antenna flash. Store personnel can respond and determine the cause of the alarm and recover merchandise that otherwise would have been a loss. From my own experiences in Loss Prevention, I have worked in stores with Checkpoint systems and I have seen many merchandise recoveries due to EAS alarm activations. In many instances shoplifters simply got scared and dropped stolen merchandise rather than risk being caught with it on their person.
Retail theft prevention does not need to be complicated when Checkpoint systems are employed in your store. Checkpoint tags and labels on all of your merchandise, whatever you may sell, will deter theft and improve your in stocks and profits.
For more information on Checkpoint tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
